How to Lock a Bike Properly
The statistics on bike theft are depressing. In 2018, more than 95,000 bicycles were reported stolen across Canada, and over 188,500 bicycles are reported stolen each year in the USA. The chance of recovering your stolen steed are slim at best - many cities report recovery statistics in the range of 1-3%.
No lock is unbeatable (which is a good thing if your lock has seized and YOU need to get it off), so what should you do when you have to leave your bicycle in a public place? Keep would-be thieves at bay by practicing good locking technique. A good lock-job prevents the quick steal, and increases the time a theif needs to spend on your bike, which increases the time they are exposed to being caught in the act.
Good Locking Technique
Good locking technique is a combination of:
- Having a good lock/good locks
- Using your lock(s) properly
- Choosing a good parking spot