blog navigation blog posts Lock your Bike! Nov 9, 2020 11:15 am Share on Facebook Tweet Email The university has been facing a lot of bike thefts across campus. Of the bikes that have been stolen, more than 75% were not locked at all. The importance of locking your bike is growing a considerable amount given the fact we want to protect our bikes. Bike at Illinois wants to make sure our community bikers feel confident about bike safety and the bike locking process, and more students would want to bring their bicycles to campus. Do you know how to lock your bike correctly? Bike at Illinois is here to teach you how to always ensure the security of your bike. The League of American Bicyclists outlines steps you can take to ensure your bike is safe. The steps included are: 1. Buy a good lock, or two: U-locks, also known as D-locks, are a great choice for a reliable primary lock, as they’re the most secure option available. Made of thick reinforced metal, U-locks have fantastic structural integrity. Whilst no lock is totally theft-proof, their strength will go a long way to deter opportunistic thieves. Learn the proper way to lock your bike: a. Solid, sturdy and safe: Your bike is only as secure as the object you’re locking it to. Locking your bike to a solid object, such as a dedicated bike rack or immovable street furniture like a sturdy bench or railing is generally going to be the safest option. b. Low and Tight: When locking your bike frame, placing the lock as close to the bottom bracket as possible and selecting a lock with clearance as tight as possible is advisable. 3. Keep your locks down: Some bike thieves have resorted to filling locking mechanisms with glue or solvents, seizing the lock and rendering the owner's keys useless, allowing thieves to come back when there are fewer people around to steal the bike in the future. 4. Lock by value: Depending on the type of bike you ride, certain components on your bike can carry a big price tag. For example, a carbon wheelset on a road bike can carry a resale value in excess of $1000. Big ticket items can be a target for experienced bike thieves in the know. Locking your frame, followed by your rear and front wheel will go a long way to stop them from being fleeced. And if after reading all of this information, you're still confused on how to protect your bike, check out Bike at Illinois on Instagram @Bikeatillinois. We have a video that shows you how to do it: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_0CU_DJs6P/?igshid=1knge3vevdb01. This is a good way for those who are more visual to watch and apply the techniques shown in the video. So, we recommend that you buy a good and sturdy lock for your bicycle and register your bicycle in the university’s system. Help us help you protect your bicycle. For any question, please contact bike@illinois.edu. Happy and safe Biking! Chantelle Hicks Senior in Advertising College of Media Share on Facebook Tweet Email
blog posts Lock your Bike! Nov 9, 2020 11:15 am Share on Facebook Tweet Email The university has been facing a lot of bike thefts across campus. Of the bikes that have been stolen, more than 75% were not locked at all. The importance of locking your bike is growing a considerable amount given the fact we want to protect our bikes. Bike at Illinois wants to make sure our community bikers feel confident about bike safety and the bike locking process, and more students would want to bring their bicycles to campus. Do you know how to lock your bike correctly? Bike at Illinois is here to teach you how to always ensure the security of your bike. The League of American Bicyclists outlines steps you can take to ensure your bike is safe. The steps included are: 1. Buy a good lock, or two: U-locks, also known as D-locks, are a great choice for a reliable primary lock, as they’re the most secure option available. Made of thick reinforced metal, U-locks have fantastic structural integrity. Whilst no lock is totally theft-proof, their strength will go a long way to deter opportunistic thieves. Learn the proper way to lock your bike: a. Solid, sturdy and safe: Your bike is only as secure as the object you’re locking it to. Locking your bike to a solid object, such as a dedicated bike rack or immovable street furniture like a sturdy bench or railing is generally going to be the safest option. b. Low and Tight: When locking your bike frame, placing the lock as close to the bottom bracket as possible and selecting a lock with clearance as tight as possible is advisable. 3. Keep your locks down: Some bike thieves have resorted to filling locking mechanisms with glue or solvents, seizing the lock and rendering the owner's keys useless, allowing thieves to come back when there are fewer people around to steal the bike in the future. 4. Lock by value: Depending on the type of bike you ride, certain components on your bike can carry a big price tag. For example, a carbon wheelset on a road bike can carry a resale value in excess of $1000. Big ticket items can be a target for experienced bike thieves in the know. Locking your frame, followed by your rear and front wheel will go a long way to stop them from being fleeced. And if after reading all of this information, you're still confused on how to protect your bike, check out Bike at Illinois on Instagram @Bikeatillinois. We have a video that shows you how to do it: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_0CU_DJs6P/?igshid=1knge3vevdb01. This is a good way for those who are more visual to watch and apply the techniques shown in the video. So, we recommend that you buy a good and sturdy lock for your bicycle and register your bicycle in the university’s system. Help us help you protect your bicycle. For any question, please contact bike@illinois.edu. Happy and safe Biking! Chantelle Hicks Senior in Advertising College of Media Share on Facebook Tweet Email
