Hi everyone, I'm sorry to hear about all the recent bike theft stories. Getting your bike stolen is heartbreaking. We want to reduce thefts as much as possible so we came up with a "Do's and Don'ts" of locking your bike. I'm sorry it won't do much good for you folks who've already had to deal with getting a bike stolen, but in going forward, they're some good rules to live by.
Good luck to all of you in getting your bikes back. We'll keep our eyes peeled.
How to Lock Your Bike
Bike Pittsburgh has received a number of emails lately from people who have had their bikes stolen. Getting your bike stolen causes severe sadness, stress, and irritability. Avoid these symptoms by following these do's and don'ts:
DOs:
- Do use a U-lock, or NY-strength chain lock, or better yet, two types of locks
- If you keep your bike in your garage, do make sure it's locked to something big and heavy, or attached to the inside of the garage itself. A lot of bikes are taken right out of people's garages.
- Do lock to something secure, not something that can easily be taken apart, or kicked off like a wooden railing.
- Do secure your seatpost and remove any lights and pump/bags from your bike.
DON'Ts:
- Don't lock your bike using only a cable lock unless you have one thick cable lock.
- Don't lock to a chain link fence. The links can easily be cut.
- Don't lock only your wheel, unless that's the only part of your bike you want to keep.
- Don't leave your bike unlocked on your porch. This is the number one "stolen-bike scenario" we hear.
- Don't lock to a sign post or a parking meter without a sign or a parking meter head.
- Don't leave your bike locked in one spot for a long period of time.
- Don't lend your bike to a stranger even if he says he'll bring it right back. This scenario played itself out right here in Pittsburgh recently.
- Don't leave your bike unlocked "for only a minute" while you run into a store etc. It takes less than a minute to steal a bike.
- Try your best not to lock your bike to a tree, it can harm them. We know there are often times no other place to lock to in certain parts of town, but if you have to lock a block or two away it could save a tree. City of Pittsburgh, if you're listening, please at least provide racks in these parts of town where there aren't even meters to lock to.
