Council workers removed 26% more wrongly parked bikes last year than they did in 2012, according to research by the AD.

Every day, an average of 586 bikes are cut free and moved to council depots for collection because they were not properly parked. However, according to cycling union Fietsersbond, in many cases councils are not sticking to the rules and are guilty of ‘simple bike theft’.

Bikes can only removed without warning if they are blocking an emergency exit or form another danger to the public. However, the union says councils are misusing this rule to remove bikes parked in city centres and at railway stations.

Amsterdam was the champion at removing bikes last year – a total of 73,000.