Hundreds of motorcyclists took to the streets of Bristol on Saturday to show solidarity with the police in their efforts to tackle the rising tide of bike crime in the city.

Organisers of the Bristol Bike Theft Awareness Ride estimate that 700 motorcyclists participated, setting out from Cribbs Causeway, on the northern outskirts of the city, at noon.

Accompanied by a pair of police motorcyclists, the procession wound its way peacefully through several known hot-spots for bike theft, where many local residents clapped and waved as the cavalcade rumbled through.

Saturday shoppers and tourists stopped and stared as hundreds of bikes passed them on Park street – rated as one of the most fashionable high streets in the country – before passing City Hall and rolling into Fowlers Motorcycles in the city centre at 1.30 pm.

Bristol has witnessed an increase in bike crime recently, particularly in the north of the city, where gangs are stealing bikes to joy-ride and posting pictures on social media. Local motorcyclists organised the Bristol Bike Theft Awareness Ride with four main aims:

1. To raise awareness of the problem and remind motorcycle owners how they can aid the Police in their work.
2. To share tips with riders on keeping their pride and joy safe and secure.
3. To show solidarity with the law-abiding community in Bristol and demonstrate that they are all working together to tackle this issue.
4. To demonstrate support for Avon and Somerset Police and their tireless work in tackling motorcycle thefts and related crime.

Fowlers Motorcycles, which has been serving Bristol’s bikers since 1926, was happy to host the cavalcade as the final destination for the first ever Bike Theft Awareness Ride, and has pledged its support for future events.