The Chainlink

what kind of bike parking infrastructure do we need?

So we're hearing a lot about bikes getting stolen, huh? And not just snapped cables, but people using cordless power tools, etc., and getting away quickly. I know this isn't a new phenomenon, but it does seem that the combination of poor economy+police budget cuts+lots of people riding bikes doesn't bode well for us.  Even the cop with whom I filed my stolen bike report told me that there had been a lot of similar reports this spring.  I worry especially about new cyclists--many of us will experience a bike getting stolen, and just get a new one or ride an old one, but a newer cyclist might just give up (not trying to demean new cyclists... I personally know several people who stopped riding after their bikes were stolen).  And I'm worried that some of the gains made by the bicycling community as far as safety and accessibility could be undone by bike thieves. 

To me, it seems that if our locks are so easily defeated, and the lock companies aren't keeping up, maybe it's the infrastructure that we should worry about. (Thinking long-term... nothing that will be resolved this summer). I spent some time in Sacramento last fall and there were bike lockers all over the place-- this seemed smart, although they do take up a lot of space. A law like the one recently passed in NYC requiring bicycle access in office buildings would help a lot in the Loop. But how could we think about secure parking in all neighborhoods, not just the Loop?  What about a shelter in which you need to scan an ID or swipe a credit card to lock your bike there?  Would you pay a fee or a valet to keep your bike safe? As far as I know, Active Trans and CDOT aren't working on parking security issues, but should they? 

I know we won't be able to outsmart every thief, but it just seems patently unfair that we are expected to leave valuable possessions outside all the time, and that it's not considered much of a serious crime when they are stolen. 


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Permalink Reply by Arrak Thumrs on May 4, 2010 at 12:09pm
Dr. Doom said:
those ridiculous New York locks. Might be wrong but I don't think you can angle grind your way through one of those.
It makes no difference to an angle grinder. For cutting-tooth blades, yes. For abrasive grinders, no.

For that matter, I once had a bicycle stolen in NYC that was U-locked and secured with the "New York" chain.
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 15, 2011 at 2:14pm

Active Transportation Alliance is working on a Neighborhood Bikeways Campaign. 

This is a good opportunity to slip in a Neighborhood Bike Parking Campaign, one that works with businesses and aldermen to have them supplement the City's own efforts to install bike racks. 

Businesses and aldermen, using their own money, can put bike parking where CDOT can't. Or purchase styles (like high-capacity) that's not in the CDOT contract. 

 

As always, CDOT is willing to consult with businesses and ward offices about privately-sourced bike parking.

Permalink Reply by Tim S on July 15, 2011 at 2:41pm
Has anyone from the ATA approached Standard or another garage management company about converting a few spots into bike parking. Seems like it would be a great PR move. Hard to manage parking payment though, that said I would pay 2-4 bucks a day to know that my bike was in a Parking Garage. It might give me some piece of mind.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 15, 2011 at 3:10pm

 

Even a cheap $15 Harbor Freight Angle grinder can cut through the toughest of locks or chains with a cheap $.99 blade in a minute or two.   I have an even cheaper angle grinder that Harbor Freight no longer makes that was under $10 and I've been able to cut through just about anything including U-locks. 

 

A Heavy-duty 7" grinder like the $150 Milwaukee-brand will cut through a U-lock 2-3 times as fast as my cheapo one.  Nothing is safe from an angle grinder or a construction-grade Re-bar cutter. 

 

 

 


Arrak Thumrs said:

Dr. Doom said:
those ridiculous New York locks. Might be wrong but I don't think you can angle grind your way through one of those.
It makes no difference to an angle grinder. For cutting-tooth blades, yes. For abrasive grinders, no.

For that matter, I once had a bicycle stolen in NYC that was U-locked and secured with the "New York" chain.

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