Public Service Announcement - Cable Locks!

The CSBR interrupts your regularly scheduled threads about helmets, head injuries, reckless cyclists, reckless drivers, and the physics thereof, to bring you the following announcement.

As of noon on May 9th, the CSBR has received 29 stolen bike reports for the month of May. More than half of them (16) were "locked" with some form of cable (cable w/padlock, combination cable, or keyed cable). The most recent report was for a $5000 bike locked to a bike rack in the Loop with a combination cable lock.

Nobody on the chainlink still thinks it's OK to lock their bike with a cable lock, do they?

Carry on...

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Permalink Reply by El Dorado on August 18, 2013 at 1:28pm

Kevin, I would put part of the blame on the bike store employes who sold the guy a $5,000 carbon fiber road bike & did not advise him about bike security.

Permalink Reply by OLB 0.1 on August 18, 2013 at 1:46pm
More large stores should have similar signs.
I asked for a recommendation between 2 u-locks at REI Schaumburg and was informed I probably only needed a cable lock.
It was a Wednesday in February at lunchtime, so they may not have been used to bike questions yet.




h' 1.0 said:

Like:

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on November 15, 2013 at 6:57am

Couldn't readily find a more appropriate thread...

This white Univega in perfect condition has been on my office building's rack maybe all week or more.  I just noticed it isn't actually locked.  Should I *do* something?  Adopt it?  Report it to the building (that may be a good idea, they could hold it a while and leave a notice). Lock it myself and leave a note?  Assume it belongs to someone too broke to afford a lock who's been hoping for the best?  Leave it to destiny?

Permalink Reply by Michelle on November 15, 2013 at 7:13am
I would vote for locking and leaving a note as an immediate response, and calling the building after that.
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on November 15, 2013 at 7:26am

I like this option as well.

Record the serial number, as detailed a description as you can make including any accessories and distinguishing characteristics. You should also check it against the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry listings. If you can get a serial number, you may be able to get CPD to check for it as having been registered or registered as stolen.

Michelle said:

I would vote for locking and leaving a note as an immediate response, and calling the building after that.
Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on November 17, 2013 at 4:04pm
I vote for lock + note.
Permalink Reply by Alex Z on November 18, 2013 at 3:05am

Is it possible that, in Schaumburg, a cable lock is more likely to be sufficient?

 

I don't know anything about Schaumburg, but I would believe that there is less bike theft due to the lower density.


OLB 0.1 said:

I asked for a recommendation between 2 u-locks at REI Schaumburg and was informed I probably only needed a cable lock.
It was a Wednesday in February at lunchtime, so they may not have been used to bike questions yet.
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on November 18, 2013 at 3:43am

The CSBR has no data on Schaumburg bike theft. While it may be true that a cable lock is an adequate theft prevention device in parts of the suburbs/exurbs, it's always better to be too cautious than not cautious enough.

Permalink Reply by Bez on November 18, 2013 at 4:06am

While not Schaumburg, I had an experience in Aurora where I was locking my wheel with 2 u-locks at a Metra station and a girl started telling me how we don't have bike theft there and that what I was doing was basically pointless.  Her bike was stolen shortly after while mine is still locked in the same fashion every day...

Kevin C said:

The CSBR has no data on Schaumburg bike theft. While it may be true that a cable lock is an adequate theft prevention device in parts of the suburbs/exurbs, it's always better to be too cautious than not cautious enough.

Permalink Reply by OLB 0.1 on November 18, 2013 at 5:11am

I only work here and don't ride here often. I would guess it is not as much of a problem. Many of the bikes I see in the area are only locked with a cable lock. I don't think I've ever seen both wheels on a bike locked.

I agree that greater security is needed as you get closer to Chicago or other high density areas.

As Bez pointed out, there is still too much confidence in simple locking methods. I live by Oak Park and am amazed at how many bikes there are only locked with a cable lock or only the frame with a u-lock. Bike theft is definitely a problem there, I have been a victim of it (yes, I should have known better).



Alex Z said:

Is it possible that, in Schaumburg, a cable lock is more likely to be sufficient?

 

I don't know anything about Schaumburg, but I would believe that there is less bike theft due to the lower density.

 

Permalink Reply by David Barish on December 4, 2013 at 5:53am

Such a sad sight to see. One U lock is not enough. Both wheels and the frame need to be secured. Of course, that would not explain the loss of the headset.  I suspect this bike, in a very public location in front of the State of Illinois Building, may have been there for a while. 

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on December 4, 2013 at 6:28am

Sad, true, but I view it as a ringing endorsement for the value of locking your bike to a rack with a u-lock.

David Barish said:

Such a sad sight to see. One U lock is not enough. Both wheels and the frame need to be secured. Of course, that would not explain the loss of the headset.  I suspect this bike, in a very public location in front of the State of Illinois Building, may have been there for a while. 

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