Aug

Week of August 22nd

Hi there, Friends!

Even when using a cheap lock, keeping these suggestions in mind should help you thwart some would-be bike thieves:

1. Park in a highly visible place. Avoid locking up in front of movie theaters, museums, schools, train stations, or any other place that requires a lengthy visit. I aim for a spot in front of a coffee shop or restaurant filled with customers sitting behind windows looking out on to the street.
2. Find a secure anchor. It should go without saying, but sometimes even the most obvious anchors turn out to be duds. One time I absentmindedly locked my bike to a topless parking meter. In my previous hometown I discovered that most city signposts could be lifted out of the ground.
3. Avoid crowded bike racks. Jam-packed racks are not just stages for lots of tangling and scratching—to a thief they also provide good cover. It’s far riskier to steal a lone bike than it is pinching one from a bunch.
4. Rotate parking spots. If you lock up in the same place all the time, change locations to prevent nefarious observes from catching on to your routine. Better yet, become a regular at a local business and ask the workers there to keep a casual eye on your bike whenever it’s locked out front.