Five tips to prevent your bike from being stolen
Cyclists must invest at least 20% of the price of their bicycle in equipment to prevent theft and robbery
Bikes are a great investment: they give a return to the environment, health and even make you happier. But one issue to be considered when you buy your bike is the issue of safety. In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the cycling capital of the world and considered the best city to cycle, the annual number of bicycle thefts varies from 50 thousand to 80 thousand, that is, even in the most suitable place in the world to cycle, the theft is a serious problem.
There are no statistics on bicycle theft in Brazil, but according to the National Register of Stolen Bicycles, the number of occurrences recorded on the site exceeds two thousand thefts and robberies and the trend is for this number to increase as the number of cyclists grows. The rate is high due to the ease and low risk of stealing a bicycle (as pointed out in the video at the end of this article).
But there are ways you can prevent yourself. Check out some tips to avoid having your bike stolen:
invest in safety
Insurers advise spending the equivalent of 20% of the bike's price on your lock. Keep in mind that with time and the right tools any lock can be broken into; however, a good lock will delay theft and discourage the thief. Consider installing more than one padlock, preferably of different types (rigid and flexible) as these will further delay the process and require more tools, complicating what should be a simple and quick theft.
lock it in a secure place
Preferably secure your bicycle in a bicycle rack or a paracycle, but if none of these options are available, try to lock it in a secure place to prevent theft. Paracycles in the shape of an inverted "U" are the most recommended as they allow the two wheels to be secured.
Important: If your bike has the quick coupler accessory or quick release, secure it too, or take it with you.
Try not to chain your bike to a tree, as thieves' attempts can damage the tree.
U-Lock and D-Lock
They are not theft proof, but they greatly increase the thief's chances of not succeeding. As stated earlier, it is not recommended to invest in just one lock. The ideal is to use the U-Lock (also known as the D-Lock) to secure the rear wheel in place (paracycle, pole, it's up to you - as long as it's a legal place!), and a steel cable to secure the saddle and the front wheel to prevent you from coming back and finding your bike in the same situation as the photo above.
Prefer the ones locked with a key and avoid those with a password combination, as with time and patience it is possible to guess the chosen password.
bicycle registration
Register your bike or search your registration before buying it, so you can avoid buying a stolen bike and allow identification of its owner, making it difficult to steal. Visit the Bike Registrada website for more information.
Why not innovate?
If you have a lot of money to invest in concepts that are coming out of the paper, the possibilities of theft also decrease. The incredible nCycle makes life very difficult for thieves, as its handlebars are the lock itself. Gi Bike uses anti-theft technology on its wheels.
However, not only cyclists must change their habits in order to safely store their bikes. Initiatives such as Biceberg, underground bicycle parking, show that investing in infrastructure aimed at urban mobility is as important as increasing the number of cyclists, ensuring safety and comfort.
Check out the videos on bike theft:
