Rixtir
09-01-2006, 03:09 PM
So....
I get curious, because there are so many thefts in Portland, so I look through the stolen bike listings here, and I begn to notice a pattern: Most of the stolen bikes were locked up with a cable lock, which was then cut by the bike thief. One was locked by the front wheel only (I've seen this useless locking technique myself). A few weren't locked at all.
Hmmmmm.......
So then today, I'm at Rocco's havin' a slice, and I'm checking out the bikes locked up outside. Two locked with a cable lock. One locked with a u-lock around a low street sign (which a thief could remove and lift the bike up and over). A few more locked up with cable locks. A few more locked with u-locks-- always locked improperly, through the downtube and front wheel, or sometimes, locking the tob tube. I guess those unlocked rear wheels are easily replaced....
Granted, this town may be crawling with tweakers looking for bikes to steal, but they're not doing it by themselves. Every time somebody uses a cable lock, they're helping a thief to steal their bike. Every time somebody uses an improper locking technique, they're inviting a thief to have a go at their bike. Every time somebody leaves their bike unlocked... well, is there any doubt what the thieves will be looking for?
I think a stolen bike walk through downtown-- a strolling workshop on theft prevention, looking at real-life examples-- would be a great way to educate cyclists on what works and what doesn't work.
Anybody else have any other ideas out there?
I get curious, because there are so many thefts in Portland, so I look through the stolen bike listings here, and I begn to notice a pattern: Most of the stolen bikes were locked up with a cable lock, which was then cut by the bike thief. One was locked by the front wheel only (I've seen this useless locking technique myself). A few weren't locked at all.
Hmmmmm.......
So then today, I'm at Rocco's havin' a slice, and I'm checking out the bikes locked up outside. Two locked with a cable lock. One locked with a u-lock around a low street sign (which a thief could remove and lift the bike up and over). A few more locked up with cable locks. A few more locked with u-locks-- always locked improperly, through the downtube and front wheel, or sometimes, locking the tob tube. I guess those unlocked rear wheels are easily replaced....
Granted, this town may be crawling with tweakers looking for bikes to steal, but they're not doing it by themselves. Every time somebody uses a cable lock, they're helping a thief to steal their bike. Every time somebody uses an improper locking technique, they're inviting a thief to have a go at their bike. Every time somebody leaves their bike unlocked... well, is there any doubt what the thieves will be looking for?
I think a stolen bike walk through downtown-- a strolling workshop on theft prevention, looking at real-life examples-- would be a great way to educate cyclists on what works and what doesn't work.
Anybody else have any other ideas out there?