Yes, and no. Theft can be a strong possibility, but not “all the time”. It depends a lot on where you lock the bike, its value, and how you lock it.
I have had two bikes stolen twice in about 10 years. One was a hybrid worth about $1k. It was locked with a cable by the side of a Walmart in a neighborhood of questionable reputation. It took me about 15 minutes to get in and out and the cable was cut when I came back. The other was also a hybrid worth about $1k. It was stolen while locked with a cable, in the underground garage of my building. However I have another “cheap” bike from a big retail store locked with a very cheap cable lock in the same garage, and nobody stole it.
So now even if my contract says I can’t bring a bike in the apartment, my “expensive” hybrid takes the elevator with me and stays in my living room. I also now use a thick U-lock because cables are risky. But even then I know very well that leaving it locked with a U-lock outside for any prolonged period of time is also risky.
If you have a “nicer” bike than average, you have to be mentally prepared to have it stolen at some point. Not “all the time”, but maybe a few times in your life, depending on your luck and locations.
I never had a bike stolen even during the few years I was using one as my main form of wheeled transit. It helped though that I never had an expensive bike, always locked it up when I left it (average cable lock), and had somewhere secure to leave it at night.
As LPL will tell you, you don’t need to have the most secure thing on the planet, you just need to be a hard enough target that the thief gives up or picks something else.
If you don’t lock your bike, sure it’ll get stolen from some places.
Bike theft is a crime of opportunity. Nobody is stalking a specific bike to take, it’s usually “oh shit there’s one that looks easy imma take it”
I have a hardened steel U-bolt lock and a thick AF cable (do not get any cables under 1/2in as they can be easily cut with side cutters or even good wire strippers) the U lock goes through the frame, the cable and disc lock go through the wheels as well. I also like to take my seat with me in my bag, since nobody wants to ride a bike without a seat.
Speaking of opposite experience, absolutely. Even if you lock it down, high likelihood of getting stolen, especially if left overnight, and if it’s a ‘high value’ bike, especially an e-bike.
Get an old bike that’s in good mechanical condition but looks shitty.
Alternatively, figure out how to take the bike with you on the bus. My transit system’s buses have bike racks on the front, but if yours doesn’t, get a folding bike (e.g. a Brompton).
I actually used to ride my bike to the closest stop when I lived further away from town.
Locked it up somehwre close, come back and ride it home.
Nowadays my bikes are a little more expensive so I don’t like to lock them where I can’t see them all day, but I’m fairly sure it will still be there when I come back.
The one time it DID get stolen, it was specifically because I forgot my lock that day. I called a friend, we drove around town for a bit and I spotted some guy on it, called the cops and told them I’m about to confront the guy who stole my bike and if they care to show up we’re at the park. (don’t bother saying you want them to intervene, tell them you are confronting someone and they’ll show up thinking maybe someone is about to get shot) and when the guy tried to say he bought the bike heads ago, I told the cop I’m taking the handlebars off to prove something. Took them off with the toolkit I keep in my bag, and pulled out a piece of paper with my name,partial address, and phone number on it. The guy started sprinting the second he realized I have proof it’s mine. I also pulled out my New Bike Day photo of it but the paper with my details inside the frame is a lot harder to argue against.
That’s something I wonder about: don’t bike people get their bikes stolen all of the time?
Maybe I’ve just seen too many Lockpicking Lawyer videos.
Yes, and no. Theft can be a strong possibility, but not “all the time”. It depends a lot on where you lock the bike, its value, and how you lock it.
I have had two bikes stolen twice in about 10 years. One was a hybrid worth about $1k. It was locked with a cable by the side of a Walmart in a neighborhood of questionable reputation. It took me about 15 minutes to get in and out and the cable was cut when I came back. The other was also a hybrid worth about $1k. It was stolen while locked with a cable, in the underground garage of my building. However I have another “cheap” bike from a big retail store locked with a very cheap cable lock in the same garage, and nobody stole it.
So now even if my contract says I can’t bring a bike in the apartment, my “expensive” hybrid takes the elevator with me and stays in my living room. I also now use a thick U-lock because cables are risky. But even then I know very well that leaving it locked with a U-lock outside for any prolonged period of time is also risky.
If you have a “nicer” bike than average, you have to be mentally prepared to have it stolen at some point. Not “all the time”, but maybe a few times in your life, depending on your luck and locations.
I never had a bike stolen even during the few years I was using one as my main form of wheeled transit. It helped though that I never had an expensive bike, always locked it up when I left it (average cable lock), and had somewhere secure to leave it at night.
Speaking from experience, no, they really don’t.
As LPL will tell you, you don’t need to have the most secure thing on the planet, you just need to be a hard enough target that the thief gives up or picks something else.
If you don’t lock your bike, sure it’ll get stolen from some places.
Bike theft is a crime of opportunity. Nobody is stalking a specific bike to take, it’s usually “oh shit there’s one that looks easy imma take it”
I have a hardened steel U-bolt lock and a thick AF cable (do not get any cables under 1/2in as they can be easily cut with side cutters or even good wire strippers) the U lock goes through the frame, the cable and disc lock go through the wheels as well. I also like to take my seat with me in my bag, since nobody wants to ride a bike without a seat.
If your bike is expensive enough it’ll be targeted. People with very valuable bikes don’t leave them in the same place repeatedly for that reason.
Speaking of opposite experience, absolutely. Even if you lock it down, high likelihood of getting stolen, especially if left overnight, and if it’s a ‘high value’ bike, especially an e-bike.
That’s a relief. I’m walking from home to the bus stop currently, but considering a bike to help speed things up.
Get an old bike that’s in good mechanical condition but looks shitty.
Alternatively, figure out how to take the bike with you on the bus. My transit system’s buses have bike racks on the front, but if yours doesn’t, get a folding bike (e.g. a Brompton).
I actually used to ride my bike to the closest stop when I lived further away from town.
Locked it up somehwre close, come back and ride it home.
Nowadays my bikes are a little more expensive so I don’t like to lock them where I can’t see them all day, but I’m fairly sure it will still be there when I come back.
The one time it DID get stolen, it was specifically because I forgot my lock that day. I called a friend, we drove around town for a bit and I spotted some guy on it, called the cops and told them I’m about to confront the guy who stole my bike and if they care to show up we’re at the park. (don’t bother saying you want them to intervene, tell them you are confronting someone and they’ll show up thinking maybe someone is about to get shot) and when the guy tried to say he bought the bike heads ago, I told the cop I’m taking the handlebars off to prove something. Took them off with the toolkit I keep in my bag, and pulled out a piece of paper with my name,partial address, and phone number on it. The guy started sprinting the second he realized I have proof it’s mine. I also pulled out my New Bike Day photo of it but the paper with my details inside the frame is a lot harder to argue against.