Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tandemonium on August 7, 2014 at 11:22am

Nice video, covers almost everything I can think of. 1:00 in is particularly useful. Locking up even inside a secure space is important, seems like lots of people are getting bikes stolen from storage spaces and garages lately. Locking up inside perhaps only slows the theft but worth a shot if the thief was expecting an unlocked bike to steal and doesn't have the right tools. 

Also, would you consider adding a segment on bike rack locking etiquette? I see plenty of lock jobs which take up way too much space on overused racks.

-Thanks!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jaik S. on August 7, 2014 at 12:44pm

Well done sir.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 7, 2014 at 12:56pm

One of your finest, Jason.  Sent it to my niece who seems to have some trouble with the concept. :-)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by skyrefuge on August 7, 2014 at 2:15pm

It's interesting that the "Sheldon Brown method" (capturing only the rear wheel in the U-lock, without any frame members) is the locking method shown in all the "YES" examples. But then this is contradicted when we get to the explicit locking instructions, where the U-lock suddenly triples in size, and we're directed to lock around "at least one of the main tubes of the bike".

Was the "Sheldon Brown method" considered inferior, or just too difficult to communicate in this video?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 7, 2014 at 3:09pm

I don't like the opening 38 seconds, and sadly much of the rest of the video (which contains some accurate and very useful information), will be lost on viewers who are still sitting there thinking that no matter what they do, someone can steal their bike in 18 seconds. The lock that gets cut "like buttah" is a round-keyed, bent foot Kryptonite u-lock that hasn't been manufactured since the first term of the (2nd) Bush administration. It appears to be, at best 10 mm. Encouraging people to lock with a decent u-lock to a bike rack or parking meter, would go a long way to reduce stolen bikes in Chicago. The lock used by Jason for demonstrative purposes is NOT a decent U-lock. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on August 7, 2014 at 4:12pm

Oh not to worry, we'll be following up with an epilogue video soon that gets to some of those next level pro tips like the Sheldon Brown method etc. that we couldn't fit into this one! ;)

As for the lock I cut, it was actually a square key kryptonite, one of their "keeper" series purchased about a month ago directly from QBP.

It's definitely still in production, albeit one of their cheapest models. However I've also cut their most expensive Fahgettaboudit locks in only about 15 to 20 more seconds using the same tools. The point being that the amount spent on a lock isn't as important as the combination of technique, location, type of lock etc., and an over-reliance on any one of these components can be a weakness.

Sadly, there is no magic bullet when it comes to theft deterrence (and I think it's best to be straightforward about that from the beginning), but there are strategies that can be combined to mitigate the risks, which truthfully is the best we can do in life. 

But thanks for watching!

Jason Jenkins
Education Specialist
Active Trans

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Quist on August 8, 2014 at 2:00am

For me the choice of lock was quite effective - on first glance it looks very much like the Kryptonite 4 I purchased in 1976, which is still my primary lock. (I'm in the far NW suburbs and seldom lock up in locations where theft is likely.)

Interestingly enough, when I contacted Kryptonite a while back to see about getting a spare key cut, they informed me that they will still honor the lifetime guarantee and replace the lock with its current equivalent. (That I have not done the exchange is testimony to my procrastination, not any difficulty with the process.) All they require is an intact lock and at least one working key.

Active Transportation Alliance said:

As for the lock I cut, it was actually a square key kryptonite, one of their "keeper" series purchased about a month ago directly from QBP.

It's definitely still in production, albeit one of their cheapest models. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on August 8, 2014 at 4:37am

I rode to McDonald's for breakfast this morning and parked my bike without locking it.

After, I road home.

Let's not get hyper-afraid of bike theft; a lot of bikes aren't stolen.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ad on August 8, 2014 at 5:57am

I went on a bike ride with my infant daughter and then left my bike in my fenced-in back yard for less than 15 minutes while getting her settled in the house without locking it.  

The bike was stolen.

Let's not suggest people get hyper-complacent because we have a couple of anecdotal stories where we get away with not locking a bike; a lot of bikes are stolen.    

Bob Kastigar said:

I rode to McDonald's for breakfast this morning and parked my bike without locking it.

After, I road home.

Let's not get hyper-afraid of bike theft; a lot of bikes aren't stolen.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jaik S. on August 10, 2014 at 4:36am

Saw this on my way to the Chicago 10k this morning. Either someone was too drunk last night, or just thought this was a good idea.

• ▶ Reply