WATCH: ‘More deterrents needed’- Inverness public react to Hi-Bike vandalism
People in Inverness city centre have said ‘precautions could be taken’ as the Hi-Bikes sharing scheme continues to suffer vandalism, as dozens of bikes are being dumped and damaged across the city centre.
After a recent suspension of the scheme, the initiative has resumed, but the vandalism has only continued.
This was an unprecedented turn for the scheme, which had not seen any vandalism in the first three years of being operational. And with each bike costing around £4500, the scheme has taken a huge financial loss in order to replace the bikes that are broken beyond repair.
One person said: “I think it’s a shame to vandalise them because it’s such a good way for people to get around and it’s better for the environment.
“More deterrents could be put in place, like CCTV cameras beside the bikes.”
Another person commented: “It could be stopped if there was more punishment, but this is too soft a country. We don’t punish people.”
While another person said: “They’re not secure enough, but vandalism of any kind is not to be accepted.”
