{"id":1270,"date":"2016-01-25T12:46:26","date_gmt":"2016-01-25T17:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.soslocksmith.com\/blog\/?p=1270"},"modified":"2016-05-17T15:23:00","modified_gmt":"2016-05-17T20:23:00","slug":"security-tips-cyclists-nyc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.soslocksmith.com\/blog\/security-tips-cyclists-nyc\/","title":{"rendered":"SECURITY TIPS ALL CYCLISTS SHOULD IN NYC"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In this blog entry, we\u2019ll discuss potential solutions to the threat of bicycle theft. These solutions are a practice of a balance between practicality, cost, and convenience. Most people can\u2019t carry around a heavy duty chain and eight locks wherever they go. However, with every compromise for convenience, you\u2019re lowering your security. The more security levels there are for your bike, the less chances it\u2019s going to get stolen – less thieves will even\u00a0attempt\u00a0the theft, and the one\u2019s that do are less likely to succeed.<\/p>\n

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Bike-Theft Statistics<\/h2>\n

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Riding on a bicycle is an integral part of many people\u2019s leisure as well as their commute. It\u2019s an exercise method, a transportation method, and a way to relax. One source of concern for cyclists is how to safely secure bicycles throughout the day – as bikes have become much more widely used, bike theft has also increased. According to the FBI, at least 190,703 bikes are stolen per year – and that statistic is a reflection of\u00a0reported\u00a0thefts. A study in Canada showed that 76% of bikes that are stolen are ones that cost under 500$. This demonstrates the fact that even cheaper bikes are at risk of theft – bike thefts aren\u2019t usually premeditated`, but are rather acted on a spur-of-the-moment level.<\/p>\n

U-Locks<\/h2>\n

Many bike owners really prefer using U-Locks to the typical padlock because it gets rid of the need to carry around a heavy change – which can be both cumbersome and dangerous. You\u2019re going to need more than one U-Lock<\/a> if you\u2019re discarding the chain completely – if this is the case, carry as many U-Locks as possible, as it\u2019ll only make your bike more secure. The best points to place the U-Lock is on the frame, the anchor point, and the wheel of the bike. Make sure that both sides of the U-Lock shackle release – if this doesn\u2019t happen, a potential criminal would only need to cut one side in order to free the bike.<\/p>\n

Padlocks<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a massive variety of padlocks available. You can find padlocks for a measly couple of dollars, and you can find padlocks that cost in the thousands. The criteria that you should focus on in your search are the lock\u2019s<\/a> weight, the thickness of the lock\u2019s body as well as it\u2019s shackle, and a shroud (a piece of metal that covers the sides of the shackle to make it less accessible to potential thieves.) Keep your eyes out for rounded areas on the shackle which indicates that the lock has internalized ball bearings, which prevent it from being \u201cshimmed\u201d, a special kind of lock picking that can be improvised with everyday objects. As a word of warning, try to avoid buying Master Lock products, as their cheap price point is contrasted by their weak and easily broken materials. Be aware that spending some money on a padlock can pay off in its security value.<\/p>\n

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