Commuting - Other people's locks on my bike.

What do you do when other people decide to help make your bike a little more secure by adding their lock to yours?

I tried to leave school today and found that I couldn't. Someone had locked their bike up and included my top tube in their cable. After an internal debate, I added a nasty note and my own lock to their bike. Then went and called campus security. About an hour and a half later, one of the state cops came by with a hand tool and snipped their lock, added his own, and let me go. If the other bike had returned, I was planning to release their bike after they had paid me $20/hour for the time I had to waste. The best part was getting to stand out in 45 degree weather waiting for someone to come, when I am already sick.

If they had anything more secure than a padlock I might still be there. What would you have done?

i probably would have waited a while, then left a note with my phone number. i would have tried going to the campus police, but they're useless for everything (no offense to anyone here who may have that job, i'm just talking from experience at my school)
i was almost left in this situation a month or so back. i walked out of the school library just in time to see some guy locking his top tube to the ring and MY top tube with his large kryptonite u-lock. sometimes i have good timing (though ask any girl and they'll disagree)

I'd use a battery operated Dremel to cut through the guy's top tube and the bike rack. Much faster than attacking a good lock. If it's carbon you get through in seconds.

I'd use a battery operated Dremel to cut through the guy's top tube and the bike rack. Much faster than attacking a good lock. If it's carbon you get through in seconds.

Ouch!

How bizarre. Any idea why?

How bizarre. Any idea why?

Because people don't like to hassle with finding a clear path. I once had a guy lock his bike to my bikes fork...needless to say I was mad because I was already in a rush, so his bike was left unlocked :p

Wow, I'm impressed with such restraint. If that happened to me I would snap. I would sit it out and wait, basically because I wouldn't have much choice. Oooh when they return...

I think even a bad lawyer could convince a jury that temporary insanity sets in after 2 or 3 hours under such circumstances.

Because people don't like to hassle with finding a clear path. I once had a guy lock his bike to my bikes fork...needless to say I was mad because I was already in a rush, so his bike was left unlocked :p
I would have left it unlocked too. . . behind some bushes, with each wheel and the saddle behind some different bushes.

I would have left it unlocked too. . . behind some bushes, with each wheel and the saddle behind some different bushes.

yall are suckers, I'd have 2 bikes to bring home

yall are suckers, I'd have 2 bikes to bring home

BEHOLD! A bike thief is born!

I would have left it unlocked too. . . behind some bushes, with each wheel and the saddle behind some different bushes.


It was one of those cheap walmart bikes that requires a wrench to removes the wheels. Had I had a worse day I would have been horrible and bent some spokes, but I had a great day that day.

@propagandrew: Why would I want a wal mart bike when I have 3 perfect good bikes, only one weighs at 30, but its a 1979 steel frame :D

@Silverexpress: How is it an accident if you wrap it around my fork and wheel? Thank god for QR wheels slip off the wheel the put it back on

I had this happen at the college I went to last year. Fortunately it was a small college so I went through all of the classes until I found the culprit and dragged him out of his class to free my bike.

He was lucky I found him quickly because his lock was crap and I was close to popping it and leaving him unlocked.

Incidentally, it's a known tactic of some bike theives to do the lock on trick. They then return at a later time when less people are about to undo their lock and if a return lock on has been done crack that lock as well before walking off with a nice new bike to sell for crack money. So if you ever find your bike has been locked on then don't leave it with a nice note. Contact the police/security who should be familiar with this and be able to help.

There is no way I'd be calm. I'd call the police too and I don't think the police would be so friendly in these parts to add another lock once they cut the one around my bike. I'm surprised you were that nice too about that situation.

Sometimes people are just idiots. Still, I think other cases could be potential situations where thieves may be using that to come back later when you've given up to steal your bike. Be careful when you happen on that situation.

Koffee

I would most likely have done exactly the same as the OP (after I calmed down. i have a wee temper).

I would sue him for bike hijacking

Funny, it's not OK to be a bike thief, but it is OK to be a bike vandal? Hmmm, double standards there

Funny, it's not OK to be a bike thief, but it is OK to be a bike vandal? Hmmm, double standards there

I guess I wouldn't really call it "vandalism" since the action being taken is only being done in order to free your own bike, so you can get home! If the moron hadn't locked their bike to yours in the first place then you wouldn't have to remove a portion of the idiot's top tube. I think a hacksaw to the top tube is a viable solution in this case. Let the nit-wit try to fix his or her bike or at least salvage the parts. Claiming the bike as your own property (i.e. stealing the bike) might be crossing the line though. Just my opinion.

This happened to me recently. I spent some time flipping out, then as I was walking off (having relocked my bike) the guy who locked his bike to mine appeared. He was very apologetic, but still. How do you lock your bike to someone else's? I was already pissed off because it had put his bike next to mine in such a way that it made unlocking my lock difficult. And the kicker was, some woman watched me flip out, and she turned out to be waiting for him. Why not just tell me he'd be right out?

Had that happen to me a few years ago. Called the cops, they cut his lock (cheapie Master cable lock), then asked me if I wanted his bike. When I said no, they tossed it in the back of the squad car, and said, "Well, if he wants it back, it'll be at the impound yard, unless we sell it first. After all, he ABANDONED it."

:) Gotta love idiots.

Someone once locked their bike/u-lock to my u-lock. When I left I felt bad about leaving their bike unsecured, but I couldn't wait around, although I did look around a bit.

Al

Once I had someone use my heavy chain to lock up their bike (3/8" stainless steel link chain about 3' long & 10lbs, I would leave the chain locked to rack) .
I was working in an industrial area, parking was about a mile away, and many people would ride from the parking lot to the front gate.
I was barely able to lock my bike with theirs that day.
When I left, I locked the other guys bike with my lock, I had another chain & lock at home that I brought the next day.
I left my lock on the bike for 3 days, that guy did a lot walking he wasn't planning on!!

Sometimes people are just idiots. Still, I think other cases could be potential situations where thieves may be using that to come back later when you've given up to steal your bike. Be careful when you happen on that situation.I wonder how the police tell the difference between that situation, and a thief locking up your bike with his lock, and then calling the cops to come remove your lock from "his" bike...

That's only one of the reasons I lock my bike with two locks. (The other one being the quick-releases on the front wheel and seat).

When I was about 15 I used to take the bus to school (5 miles) but occasionally I'd cycle. Well, one day I cycled to school (on my new Falcon "Black Shadow") and left the bike in the bike-shed, as usual, and locked with a (crummy) combination lock. Later that afternoon, I was in a Latin class, and happened to look out the window to see some of the 6th formers on bikes cycling around outside - occasionally they were allowed to do this instead of "games" (rugby-football or cross-country running) - and then I noticed that some fat slob had a bike exactly like mine… what a coincidence… !!!! …coincidence! my ar**se!!!! I raced outside (despite shouts of protestation by the Latin master), grabbed the bicycle-thief, and started pounding on him… It annoyed the hell out of me that I got reprimanded for taking things into my own hands, while the Fat Slob, who admitted breaking the combination lock to get at my bike as he didn't have one of his own to ride, got of scott-free! (he actually went on to become Head-Boy (!!!)) - anyway, I've hated the scum-bag ever since, so Simmonds, if you're still out there and able to read this, just consider that all the misfortune and ills that have bedevilled you throughout your miserable life might have been avoided if you had kept your filthy hands off my bike!!!

- Wil

funny same thing happened to me recently....

luckily the guy was just walking away and i said hey, is this your bike?

he was very aplologetic....

I avoid bike racks because of a long list of problems...the major one being that few racks are even half as sturdy as my locks and many racks are not designed for the correct "U-lock around rear wheel" locking procedure. And now, ONE more reason to avoid bike racks.

One bike rack design I like is the design that is a long steel bar that is shaped like a series of three foot tall "U"'s. That design is used at some local stores and the width of each "U" puts my bike almost two feet from the next bike. Too far away for someone else's bike to interfer with mine. And, these "U racks" are typically made from beefy steel and set in concrete, so they are at least as strong as a parking meter post. And, they are perfect for the "rear wheel to steel post" locking method.

I wish that the installer of these things would put his name and phone number of each rack. I'd like to "lobby" every business I shop at to install one of these things, but their first question would be "Where can you get one?" And, I have no idea who in Houston installs them.

The stands are known as Sheffield Stands (in the UK) and the first point of contact to determine a local supplier should be the local authority. In London we, the London Cycling Campaign, have successfully campaigned to make these the standard and reccomended bicycle rack for a majority of boroughs in London. Any cosmetic variations designed to keep with local characteristics should match strength and installation integrity.

I would urge you to petition your local authority to include these stands as a requirement in any urban development governance documents as a key step in ensuring their proliferation.

Actually it might have been an attempt to steal your bike! Another good reason to put your name or phone number in the seatpost.
Did the security guy demand ID or proof that it was your bike? (probably not) So the ploy is the same, theif calls security to cut the mystery lock, shows that their key fits their lock and wallah! Free bike and you don't have to bring your own tools.

What do you do when other people decide to help make your bike a little more secure by adding their lock to yours?
If they had anything more secure than a padlock I might still be there. What would you have done?

whipped out my BIC pen.

lol owned.

I'd use a battery operated Dremel to cut through the guy's top tube and the bike rack. Much faster than attacking a good lock. If it's carbon you get through in seconds.

I like this idea best. i always wonder what a 12ga shotgun slug load will do to a bike's top tube. hmmm

A pipe cutter tool is a much quieter method of getting through the top tube, than a dremel or shotgun. It's also smaller than a hacksaw, and about as expensive.

You, uh, didn't hear that from me. ;)

Sometimes just to hassle bikers I hop out of my Hummer and place extra locks on a few bikes, then drive off leaking oil. Seriously that would likely really bug me. I'd try to pick the lock, (if it was a round type using a bic pen). Master locks, (mirror keyed) can be easy to pick with a special filed off key. Some locks you can break by hand. I'd love to be able to remove my bike and leave the other unlocked.

Of course how much of this problem is that the city or school has inadequate bike racks?

Yes, Quick, vandalism is still a crime no matter how you wish to rationalize it.

Wow! This is one problem that I had no prior experience since few people ride around here (Los Angeles area). This is another unanticipated reason I am glad I switched to folding bicycles.