Bad bike locking!

I was wondering if anyone here in Chicago has done a research or study on bad bike locking and recorded it on video.

There is this guy in SF that did it, walked around to all kinds of bikes and how they were locked and graded their locking skills.

I think if there is or one is done... a video of this made available to cyclers across chicagoland, would help decrease bike thievery just by our own doing.

Anyone have any knowledge of this?

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Permalink Reply by Eric on May 26, 2011 at 9:56am

Wow, I just wanted to see if we could educate the misinformed of chicago's society....not attack people because they might take up an extra space at the bike rack...

That should be a different topic. Please continue your arguments over "bad bike parking" to another thread.

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 26, 2011 at 11:22am

Giving away bike thief trade secrets again Howard? Next you'll be bringing up the potato peeler gambit.

Where did I put my Bike Keys?

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Permalink Reply by JeffB on May 26, 2011 at 11:43am

So if you understood that I was specifically talking about wave-type racks, why bring up the stickers on the racks I wasn't talking about? And why use those stickers as a justification for parallel parking at wave-type racks? Its ok because a sticker said so?

And how do you know how scarce locking space will become between the time you lock up and the time you leave? If you parallel park at any of the (brand-new) Millennium Park wave racks in the afternoon, there's probably lots of open rack space. But wait a few hours until a concert at 6:30, and rack space fills up pretty quick. So yes, it is selfish to take up four spaces when you can use one. And if you're that concerned with theft, I doubt you have a "typical" u-lock that can be defeated the way you describe (and wouldn't the wheel be destroyed before the lock is? and you specify tool-less, but I don't know how you can know that based on the report; in fact it specifically says "probably... came back with tools").

H3N3 said:

Yes, I know that the stickers are on inverted single U-racks. The Multi-Us are older and there's no good way to lock to them besides taking up several spaces. There's nothing selfish about it unless locking space is clearly scarce for others.

It seems that you assume that if someone disagrees with you that they must have some basic lack of understanding e.g. in this case the type of rack being discussed.

A bike locked in only one place can be lifted and twisted like a giant wind-up key, popping a "typical" U-lock open, which is my guess at the method used in the linked theft report.

I specifically referred to "tool-less" theft-- I'd have been happy to clarify what was meant by that if you would have asked.

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Permalink Reply by JeffB on May 26, 2011 at 2:15pm

I feel the need to defend myself one last time and then I'm done. I started with a post about the bike lock report cards used at Pitchfork and a side comment expressing an opinion about parking methods at a specific type of rack. The one thing I regret in this whole thing was using a derogatory term to describe anyone using that method; so I apologize for saying that specifically. That was unnecessary and is what seemed to set off the escalating responses I've received. What I tried to do after that was respond directly (keeping my emotions in check) to points raised in opposition. What I didn't do was start assigning opinions to other people, like both you and Melanie have done to me, or calling anyone an asshat or a snob (or inserting off topic video clips, however funny they may be). I have an opinion and I expressed it and defended it, both rights you and Melanie have asserted for yourselves; please allow me the same. If you're unwilling to respond directly to the points and questions I raise, then there's really no point in going any further.

FYI, I also apologize for my part in derailing this thread. I'm out.

(and it probably goes without saying, but I won't be attending your Justin Townes Earle picnic, but if I see your bike unnecessarily taking up extra spaces, I (and a lot of other cyclists) are going to be upset :) )

H3N3 said:

Eric, I started a thread here about two years ago (maybe less) which I thought could become one of those ongoing threads like Bike Porn, with the intent of people to post images of unwise/unfortunate locking choices as they see them, also with the hope that it would result in a more educated bike locking populace; Unfortunately it went very much the same way as this thread, with some asshat with reading comprehension difficulties going off about having a thread to ridicule people who don't lock like the condescending snobs on chainlink etc.

As to your initial proposal-- is this something you might be willing to help organize? There are already plenty of resources available to educate cyclists, but they have about the same attraction as web resources telling people to lose weight or quit drinking . . . an entertaining video has at least some potential to pique interest on a more widespread basis.
Eric said:

Wow, I just wanted to see if we could educate the misinformed of chicago's society....not attack people because they might take up an extra space at the bike rack...

That should be a different topic. Please continue your arguments over "bad bike parking" to another thread.

:)

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 26, 2011 at 2:18pm

Wow.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 26, 2011 at 2:41pm

True but you may be forgetting about scrappers who WILL steal a bike that's crappy because the weight will pay for the trouble.

Sol said:

I think that bike in the photo is relatively secure....who would steal a Murray brand bicycle, much less a heavy mountain bike in that color?

I would be curious to know the number of times Murray and Huffy bikes are stolen compared to non department store brand bikes and also the ratio of stolen mountain or hybrid bikes to stolen road bikes.

It is a shame that it comes to this, but ride what no one wants and your risk is much lower. I still use an old style (round key) u lock on my old three speed and no one has so much as thought about taking it. Only true cycling afficianados would appreciate that bike and they are not the ones who would steal it. It is twenty years old with squeeky brakes and a dented fender. On my hybrid bike parked in Lincoln park in broad daylight, they stole my $5 plastic fenders which were bolted on and left the quick release bike light with rechargable batteries which cost more than the fenders. Go figure!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on May 26, 2011 at 2:48pm

It should also say.

Don't leave your bike here over night.

This is Union Station Dumbass NOT Naperville.

No that guy who asked you for spare change won't REALLY watch your bike for you.

Gabe said:

The sticker will say: You're an idiot this is a public area! Lock your bike jackass! (38% of the time) :-)

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Permalink Reply by steve rulz on May 27, 2011 at 5:09am

The sticker should say HUFFY and be large enough to cover a Cervelo logo. That way it doesn't matter how poorly the bike is locked.

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Permalink Reply by Rich S on June 23, 2011 at 7:01am

Just saw this beautiful Jamis Aurora Elite locked with a cable!! On the exact same rack where I had a bike stolen a few years ago. I checked the Jamis website and this bike retails for $1700!! The orange bit of Kryptonite lock you see in the photo is my bike lock. I probably should have taken the photo before locking my bike.

I read on some of the earlier posts that there are some stickers we can put on poorly locked bikes to inform owners of their blunder. Anyone know how I can go about getting a few of those in case I see this bike again???