For some time now I have been amazed at how people lock their bikes in Auckland.
Classic ‘just lift the bike off the pole’ non-security
Here we have ‘ more of a bracelet than a bike lock’ non-security
… and ‘looks like it came from the $2 shop’ non-security
Originally, I thought it was fool hard and then when I thought more deeply about it, I realised that bike locking levels will be directly related to the chance of getting your bike stolen. You could in fact see bike locking levels as an indicator of bicycle culture and use.
Who in NZ follows the best practice bike locking from the UK techniques
In places where bikes are regularly stolen, people secure their bikes really well like in places such as London or New York. In places with extreme levels of bike theft such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, people start to accept it more as an everyday part of life, bike locking is less extreme and people are instead well insured. So potentially the relationship between levels of theft and bike locking is a bell curve. Places like NZ with low levels of bike theft have flimsy bike locking habits, places like London with higher levels of bike theft have rigorous bike locking, and places like Amsterdam with extreme levels of bike theft have again less stringent bike locking.
What are your thoughts? Does my theory make any sense?
Although the last bike is using a shotty lock, the technique is pretty good. Sure, I would have wound it around a few extra times for less play/movement to be allowed but in public places like auckland cbd I think the fact that a bike even has a lock offers enough of a deterrent that wannabe thieves will try steer clear.
However I did see a shocking example in Takapuna a few weeks back where the bike lock merely passed through a SINGLE spoke…..ugh
Well my security is great, I have a bike lock, but it spends most of the time not connected to anything else but the bike. In Auckland it’s more of a hassle cause no-one steels bikes.
I use it when I’m gone for an excess of 3hours just as a precaution. It just that it’s not really needed.
In NZ society, I just don’t think bikes have that much value. It makes sense that the chance of getting your bike nicked is proportional to its resale value for the thief. I’m not sure what the going rate for a ‘fell off the back of a lorry’ bicycle is in NZ, but it can’t be that much. Are bikes even noticed at all in the street. When I stop to take photos of bicycles, I am well aware that the people around me think I’m a nutter.
I think your right – Unity – however it is getting a lot more popular, so might need to become a little more careful soon!
BIke thieving is a bit of a profession in some countries but it is hard to sustain that here. The market is small and closed. There is even a decent chance that you’ll get a bike back if it is stolen.
In casual day to day use, it seems enough to lock (a not too flash) bike with quite a simple lock, just enough to stop quick opportunists riding off on it. Leaving for longer periods (storing overnight) you probably want a decent lock or to bring it inside.
In my experience, it has got better since the 80s and 90s when mountain bikes were new, trendy and quite expensive and had a nasty habit of being stolen.
I’m not sure about the popularity theory. It may have something to do with the kinds of bikes people ride and what they cost, too.
Wow, that London locking advice is pretty crazy. Each of those locks she had weigh about 2kg and cost about 70 quid. My approach in London was buy cheaper bike and one decent lock but not the very best/heaviest and be careful where I parked. However big the lock is, someone can cut right through it with an angle grinder. At some point you have to decide if it is worth the occasional inconvenience of carrying heavy locks, lugging around wheels/lights/panniers/helmets or just allow that every so often something will get nicked.
Bike locking in Amsterdam is extremely extreme usually with a heavy duty chain and then locks on the wheel. But how people can be so silly as to lock their bikes in those photos really beats me.
Wow. Irrespective of the reasons could this be an area to do with bicycling where NZ is ahead of the rest of the world?
I wonder if its possible for NZ to increase cycling levels without ending up with proportionately higher cycle theft.
Mostly I think any bike worth pinching would get noticed, but its also likely that the owner would be aware of its value and take sensible steps to make sure its properly secured. None of the bikes pictured look especially flashy so are unlikely to be worth the hassle of trying to sell on / or risk of getting caught. I expect the owners would probably have similar views if questioned. I also expect that none of them have ever had a bike nicked so probably don’t understand what a pain it is when it happens.
You should also consider that it DOES make a lot of difference whether one just goes into a shop, or leaves a bike for hours. Something that just prevents some bloke from getting on and riding away is perfectly fine if all you are doing is getting a pint of milk.
If you are looking to stay in the cinema for several hours, you better get a good lock.
Max – agreed.
Usually I try and lock around both the frame and the back wheel, and I’ve got a good solid lock for that at work, and a slightly less good lock for when out and about (but also weighs less than a kg unlike my solid U-lock).
However, in saying that, I’ve been known to use the “Belgian” locking system before today – taking the skewers out, or simply loosening them right off – on the days that I’ve forgotten my lock.
Ive seen the yellow bike in the top picture on the road, it has a Watyl sticker on it like the paint brand!
I have seen bikes looped over a pole before, the owners must have extra confidence in gravity!
Paul, Wattyl used to sponsor the Around Taupo rides and the Wattyl branded bikes were promo effort and are Avanti Blades in the sponsors colours
My preferred techniques, geared to situation:
- Stopping at the dairy/library/vege store for ~10 minutes: I have an el cheapo lock like the one in the second picture just to deter casual jumpers on. Run it around a pole of some kind then through the frame (or frame and front wheel if the pole is suitable).
- Parking for a few hours at a time, or all day: a 5mil thickness steel chain with suitably big Abus padlock, wrapped in an inner tube. Round the pole and through the frame and both wheels.
- Parking for a few hours or more in a really dodgy location: both of the above (el cheapo round front wheel and frame, the big beast through both wheels and the frame) – and then pray for good luck.
Having a really ugly bike helps.