In 2006, the design competition Reinventing the Bike Shed commissioned a video short on how bike thieves operate. This animated short was placed on the competition website in Real format but here it is in MP4 format.

The short was produced by design and research company Bold Creative of London.

Greg Villalobos, Creative Director of Bold Creative, said: "We managed to track down a thief willing to spill the beans and set an animated illustration to his words."

http://www.reinventingthebikeshed.com/

http://www.boldcreative.co.uk

"I abhor the Barrattification of Britain, this defacing of green and brownfield sites by identikit boxes...Let’s plan new-builds with variation, greenery, ecology and community in mind."
WAYNE HEMINGWAY
The Independent, April 2001


Following the publication of this article, property development company George Wimpey called Wayne Hemingway's bluff. Would he and his wife Gerardine, the other half of iconic 1980s clothing brand Red or Dead, help design a new housing development in Gateshead? 

The Staiths South Bank was the result. It's Britain's biggest HomeZone and it now has a bike pool facility for residents.  

HomeZones aim to promote a more balanced relationship between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Rather than prioritising cars, they encourage environments where the spaces between the houses are safe for children to play and for adults to meet their neighbours.


George Wimpey North East is hoping to boost the number of residents who cycle with the introduction of the Cycle@Staiths Initiative, launched on Wednesday by Hemingway. This is a pool of ten bikes for residents’ use. The bikes are free to use. Every household has also been supplied with a £57.50 Halfords voucher to spend on bike kit.