Today's Winner of the Poorly Locked Bike Contest

This was a single cable lock - used on a bike in Lincoln Square - that I think a fingernail trimmer could have defeated. Why even bother locking your bike?

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on October 22, 2013 at 10:11am

What is going on in this photo? Looks more like an acid trip than an improper locking.

T.K. 8.4 mi said:

"But, I double checked and made sure I didn't lock my bike to yours", she said.

This happened over a year ago. It cost me about 30 minutes of waiting, but no hard feelings. Just laugh it off and try not to do it again!

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Permalink Reply by T.K. 3.5 mi on October 22, 2013 at 10:20am

Trace the lines of the chain lock (white line). She avoided physically locking her bike to mine, but since she put her lock THROUGH my frame and around the pole, I couldn't remove my bike.

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on October 22, 2013 at 10:50am

I've had my shift caught in others' U locks a few times. I've been trying different spots around my office to avoid overcrowding at the few racks in the area.

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Permalink Reply by Mickeal Teague on October 22, 2013 at 11:07am

always good to see what not to do...

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Permalink Reply by Haddon on October 23, 2013 at 5:42am

Reminds me of the work of John Baldessari

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

What is going on in this photo? Looks more like an acid trip than an improper locking.

T.K. 8.4 mi said:

"But, I double checked and made sure I didn't lock my bike to yours", she said.

This happened over a year ago. It cost me about 30 minutes of waiting, but no hard feelings. Just laugh it off and try not to do it again!

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Permalink Reply by igz on October 23, 2013 at 5:43am

took this photo feeling good after an interview (didnt get the job) of the "you are beautiful" sticker. only later did i realize i never locked the bike to anything except the seat.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Keating on October 23, 2013 at 5:51am

I once had a U Lock through the rear wheel and the frame and secured to a bike rack and then a Kryptonite cable securing the front wheel. The thieves cut the cable just to get the front wheel. That's all the evidence I needed that a cable isn't worth much. It wasn't even that nice of a wheel/tire.

Kevin C said:

2013 CSBR theft statistics through 9/26:

913 thefts reported (180 more and we'll tie last year's record total)

243 weren't locked (26.62%)

295 were locked with a cable lock (32.31%) This is shaping up to be a new record.

98 were locked with a Newer U-Lock with a flat key (10.73%)

Anybody else see a lesson here?

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Permalink Reply by Bradford Smith on October 23, 2013 at 7:56am

Last weekend I saw this poor bike with a cut cable. Someone also took the seatpost clamp but left the seatpost and saddle.

Mike Keating said:

I once had a U Lock through the rear wheel and the frame and secured to a bike rack and then a Kryptonite cable securing the front wheel. The thieves cut the cable just to get the front wheel. That's all the evidence I needed that a cable isn't worth much. It wasn't even that nice of a wheel/tire.

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on October 23, 2013 at 11:13am

They literally took everything that wasn't nailed down. Other than the seat and post. I'm surprised they didn't bother with the fork and crank while they were at it.

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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on October 24, 2013 at 12:28am

Not even locked at all for three days even! It looks like another abandoned bike next to another bike that had been locked for more than three months. Another call to 311 to clear up those parking spaces again is in order.