Advocacy & Safety - How to convince someone that you and your bike will be safe?

I really want to get a bike and start commuting to work and school everyday but I am having trouble convincing my Mom and my girlfriend that I will be safe. I know I can take care of myself but I am also worried about my bike security when I am at class. At work I can put it in the warehouse but school they just have the old fashion bike racks and that is it. My mom keeps saying that my tires and handle bars will be stolen. Let me know what you suggest doing in a situation like this.

I just made a habit of coming home in one piece and eventually she stopped nagging.

I have yet to see a handlebar stolen. Make sure any quick release areas you have are secured.

And just getting your tires stolen is quite a hassle for a thief. :P

Tires, or rather wheels getting stolen is likely. Especially if you have quick release and you do not lock them to something or at least run a cable through. It is doubtful your handle bars would be stolen. Have you ever tried to remove them, or even the stem? Not an easy thing to do, nor very valuable. Theives are looking for oppurtunity. They want to get in, steal your property and get out very quickly. Removing handle bars is more time consuming then a theif wants to deal with.

Before I give any suggestions,

Your age and general location of the commutage please...

In regards to safety.. I always mouth off about the craziness I see on the other side of bike lane divider and how glad I am at having to not cope with nutty motorists..

So, they want you to not use your bike in case part of it gets nicked. That's like not washing up the dishes because they will just get dirty again. Explain to them their lack of logic.

They'll steal your seat too. So run a cable lock through the frame/wheels/seat, and then at least one more bar-type lock through the frame.

Bike theft usually isn't all that premeditated. It's typically some amateur/drug addict looking to make a quick buck. A quick easy buck. Having multiple locks is not easy to deal with for them, and it will make a typical thief choose to steal the bike next to yours, the one with only one dainty cable lock through the front wheel, for instance.

Get a couple CREE LED flashlights (Fenix L2D is popular, as is the Rominsen RC-N3), a couple PlantBike SuperFlashes, a safety vest like the road crews wear. That will keep you safe. For the bike, a couple good Kryptonite locks will do, as will good locking strategy (http://sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html).

Keep good quality locks on the racks at school and work. Keys are much lighter than locks. Blinkie lights and helmet or glasses mounted mirror will keep you safe while riding. What bike do you have and what distances do you ride?

How do you commute now? Car? What about car security when your in class. someone could easily reak the window, someone could steal it, etc. My college sub contracted to this crappy towing company who was known to reach inside rolled down windows and pull the parking sticker off windows and drop it in the floor so they could tow the car for not displaying the sticker.
The insurance deductable for a car theft or break in is probably higher than the cost of a bike if thats what they are worried about.

I am 19 I go to the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. The commute is about 30 miles round trip-work,class,home. I work in a warehouse so I can just keep my bike in their with me. It is mainly just security at school. I will be riding either a Kona Jake or a Surly Cross Check not sure which one I am going to get yet.

I am 19 I go to the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. The commute is about 30 miles round trip-work,class,home. I work in a warehouse so I can just keep my bike in their with me. It is mainly just security at school. I will be riding either a Kona Jake or a Surly Cross Check not sure which one I am going to get yet.

Either one is a nice bike... make sure you get a good U lock and secure the bike through the frame with that U lock... and to a secure object.

Dress in bright clothing and use lights after dark.

What about the saddle do they have bolts with keytools? Like you can get for rims on your car?

What about the saddle do they have bolts with keytools? Like you can get for rims on your car?

Pitlocks (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/pitlock.asp).

Those Pitlocks are pretty cool. Thank you all for your help and advice.

So, they want you to not use your bike in case part of it gets nicked. That's like not washing up the dishes because they will just get dirty again. Explain to them their lack of logic.

Well not exactly, the bike might not get nicked, but the dishes will get dirty. So, what's the point of washing them?

Perhaps a better analogy would be not using the wedding china in case it gets broken - just something to keep in a cupboard never to be seen again.

Ask Mom and GF, bicycle or motorcycle?

Use flashing lights even for daytime riding.
Read and follow
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm

Your biggest problem is bike security at school. Especially since you plan on getting a nice cycle. Pit locks and 2 types of frame locks at a minimum. Can you leave a heavy chain lock on the rack or at school? If so, I use a U-lock with cable through the wheels plus this chain lock:
http://www.rei.com/product/731893

I did ask them motorcycle and never brought it up again. I still want one but I really want to get to the point to where I can live comfortable without driving my car for anything but cross town trips in vegas, out of state, and time essential unplanned events.

If you're worried about the bike being stolen, I would suggest going with a less desireable bike than a Kona or Surly. Maybe even get a used bicycle. Yeah, some people steal bikes just for the scrap metal, but others only steal the better ones so they can pawn or sell them. One way to keep them from stealing your high-dollar target is to not have a high-dollar target to steal.

I did ask them motorcycle and never brought it up again. I still want one but I really want to get to the point to where I can live comfortable without driving my car for anything but cross town trips in vegas, out of state, and time essential unplanned events.I assumed so.

But you missed my point. You asked them about a motorcycle; they said NO. You then asked them about a bicycle; they said NO.

Now, if you had asked them "There is insufficient campus parking, I need to get to school and then work, so should I ride a motorcycle or a bicycle?" The question does not open up to a NO answer.:thumb:

I assumed so.

But you missed my point. You asked them about a motorcycle; they said NO. You then asked them about a bicycle; they said NO.

Now, if you had asked them "There is insufficient campus parking, I need to get to school and then work, so should I ride a motorcycle or a bicycle? The question does not open up to a NO answer.:thumb:



I gotcha. I have decided to just get a bike and start using it to workout and stuff at first and when I get use to the bike and the ride I will start commuting. I think I will ride my commute on the weekend so I can find the best and safest route.

I think I will ride my commute on the weekend so I can find the best and safest route.A very smart thing to do. Also, go to the commuter forum with any commuting or bike equipment questions. You will get many good ideas there.

I gotcha. I have decided to just get a bike and start using it to workout and stuff at first and when I get use to the bike and the ride I will start commuting. I think I will ride my commute on the weekend so I can find the best and safest route.

I would also recommend that you drive your commute during the time you will actually be riding it. You may find that you want to change your route, or your schedule...

My wife and my mother have long since stopped expressing their fears of my commuting by bicycle. They figure that if I made this far in life without getting seriously hurt or killed, then I must be either lucky or have some sort of idea what I'm doing.
Now I just have to convince my employer. ;)

As to how to secure your bike:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

If you follow the rules of the road, you are in very little danger. Taking a bath is more dangerous. Having a conversation while eating is more dangerous. If your folks allow you to do those things, it would be irrational to fear your commuting by bicycle.

I gotcha. I have decided to just get a bike and start using it to workout and stuff at first and when I get use to the bike and the ride I will start commuting. I think I will ride my commute on the weekend so I can find the best and safest route.

Good idea, nothing improves cycling safety like experience. For those distances you will need a rack on the back of the bike to carry your stuff. The safest route will probably be the one the the least intersections, as that is where most collisions occur. As you need to slow down for intersections, they also interrupt the rythm of pedalling. Roads with wide outside lanes also makes for easy cycling.

I gotcha. I have decided to just get a bike and start using it to workout and stuff at first and when I get use to the bike and the ride I will start commuting. I think I will ride my commute on the weekend so I can find the best and safest route.

You're 19, a legal adult who from the sounds of it is educated enough to be able to make his own decisions, despite resistance from others. Even if you are still living at home under your mom's roof as a legal adult she can not tell you what to do any more. Neither can your gf for that matter. For one you're not married to her, yet, even if you were she wouldn't be able to tell you no.

As a legal adult who is of sound mind to be able to make his own educated decisions your parents or, if you were married, your wife, have no legal ground to tell you no, you can not purchase something like commute on a bicycle.

Just do it. Sure they may not like it and may be resistant to it, but they'll get over it and move on with life. If your gf leaves you because of it then she probably wasn't worth it to begin with and I'd look at it as not that big of a loss.

So stand on your feet, be a man, make the decision to do and go for it.

So I have commited to getting a bike. Now I just have to find one. Unfortunately that is apparently harder then I though when you know what you want and what price range you want.

When my son was in middle school, he started commuting to school, it was a 4 mile round trip, but the road was kind of nutty in the mornings. So, we read articles on Sheldon Brown's site and a few others, then I bought my son a bright red LED light, a helmet and a bright orange vest, and prayed a lot. I used to worry a lot about his safety but soon realized one often has to risk things to get anywhere in life.
It's a parent's worst fear is that their child will have something bad happen to them. When the child is young, yes, the parent should be doing their utmost to protect them from harm, but when they are teenagers, all you can do is help them do what they are determined to do.
This has also helped me cope because now my son is in the Army, and will likely be in Afghanistan in a few months. But, he's doing what he wants to do, and that's more important than sitting around here trying to make something of himself. Meanwhile, I'm out hitting the roads as a vehicular cyclist and wishing the trucks would give me more space when they pass.

Sorry for the ramble, just some thoughts thrown in, here.

When my son was in middle school, he started commuting to school, it was a 4 mile round trip, but the road was kind of nutty in the mornings. So, we read articles on Sheldon Brown's site and a few others, then I bought my son a bright red LED light, a helmet and a bright orange vest, and prayed a lot. I used to worry a lot about his safety but soon realized one often has to risk things to get anywhere in life.
It's a parent's worst fear is that their child will have something bad happen to them. When the child is young, yes, the parent should be doing their utmost to protect them from harm, but when they are teenagers, all you can do is help them do what they are determined to do.
This has also helped me cope because now my son is in the Army, and will likely be in Afghanistan in a few months. But, he's doing what he wants to do, and that's more important than sitting around here trying to make something of himself. Meanwhile, I'm out hitting the roads as a vehicular cyclist and wishing the trucks would give me more space when they pass.

Sorry for the ramble, just some thoughts thrown in, here.

Those sort of rambles are always the best though. My prayer for your son. I have two cousins, and three friends over there now and I am going into the Air Force ROTC here in a bit.

Those sort of rambles are always the best though. My prayer for your son. I have two cousins, and three friends over there now and I am going into the Air Force ROTC here in a bit.

Thanks for the prayer. :)
Does this mean you are looking to eventually join the USAF then?

If so, according to people I know in the service, the military seems to like giving PT tests to see how much in shape a body really is. Might help quite a bit to ride a bike regularly as well as work on those push-ups, sit-ups and 2 mile run times. :thumb:

Tell them when you're leaving, call when you get there. A few weeks of reassuring phone calls will get them over the hump. Start your commute on an unlabled beater, at least make a decent bike look less desirable. New bikes look nice, even when a bike thief posts a pic on craigslist.

Do you ever see bikes with missing seats or stems at the school? If not, you probably don't need to worry too much about stolen stems or other bolt-on components.

If you want to make it harder to unbolt items: see this post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=173852) about gluing a ball bearing into the hex socket. It has to be pried out if you want to turn the bolt.

As to how to secure your bike:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

If you follow the rules of the road, you are in very little danger. Taking a bath is more dangerous. Having a conversation while eating is more dangerous. If your folks allow you to do those things, it would be irrational to fear your commuting by bicycle.

this post is such an excellent combination of great advice and BS.

Absolutely right on about Sheldon Brown's lock strategy.

True that following the rules of the road will increase your safety as opposed to ignoring the rules of the road.

BUT cycling is a safe enough activity on it's own without engaging in pseudo-logical hyperbole to prove it.

The safer than taking a bath/eating while talking argument is a load of crap. It's not worth the time to deconstruct that argument and expose it's flaws and anyone that needs someone to do that probably couldn't follow the simple logic anyway.

If you want to convince friends and family it's better to use arguments that demonstrate a capacity to see the world as it really is not as we wish it would be.

Most parents never stop worrying about their kids. It's just that parent thing, and nothing wrong about it. As someone said he just came home in one piece every day. Someone suggested looking around and seeing if other bikes are missing parts - if they are what are they missing. Pitlocks are good as are small cables that attach to the seat and then to the bike. Thieves take the easiest route which is usually the fastest. If it slows them down that often is enough. Locks etc only keep honest people honest. Riding a beater to school might not be a bad idea. If you can't cable the front wheel to the rack with the back take it off and put it next to the rear and the bike and lock them together. Again this slows them down. Common sense - look at your bike and think as if you wanted to steal it. What would stop you from taking it. Hey back to Mom... start getting worried when she asks you what you're doing coming around. :)

My mom keeps saying that my tires and handle bars will be stolen. - If you cannot afford to have it stolen you cannot afford to ride it. If you cannot ride it then it is the same as if it were stolen, so you should sell it, atleast you will have the money and not need to store it. Do not live your life avoided the embarassement of minor theft. If it is stolen, get a other bike off craigslist. Read posts on avoiding theft.

As far as personal safety goes read effective cycling by forester and other books. Join a local cycling club to learn the right way to ride safely. Talk to other people you see on bikes, try the LBS for advice. See if there is an alternate safer route. Do not be afraid, but do not assume the objections of mom are 100% imagined. Only you can protecet your personal safety.

I posted a similar question in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=475651&highlight=anxiety).

Hope it helps.

You need not convince the women in your life that riding is safe, only that you respect their opinions and appreciate their concern for you.

most innovative handlebar/seat/axle lock system i've seen yet:
http://www.urbanbiketech.com/product-p/02ga.htm

the trick is that you can only unscrew these with the specially designed 'pit' tool which is any one of 256 precisely etched designs.

I started commuting by bike and my mom was not really happy about it. Not because it was a tough ride....more because there are crazy drivers and the roads are old country roads with heavier traffic and no shoulder. My mom knows I can take care of myself, but cannot control other drivers. For locks I bought the best I could afford. I have an OnGuard Beast chain lock and an OnGuard PitBull U-lock with cable. I also bought a Coleman Max flashlight from Walmart. I also convinced my mom by showing examples of how I could save money and going over the route in a car. Now that I am commuting by bike, even if I had a car, I would still commute by bike most of the time. If they say they are worried about biking in the cold, then give the example of how people ski in the cold all the time.

I don't understand why the approval of your GF and Mom are deal breakers on your decision to commute using a bike. You've consulted them, you, obviously, have considered their opinions. Now, inform them that, having weighed your options, taking into consideration their thoughts on the matter, you have, decided that the bike is the best option for you at this time, their thoughts to the contrary notwithstanding.

Then, buy the bike and start riding.

You are 19, working, going to school. No doubt you are the responsible type, and, form your posts, it is clear you are respectful and considerate. None of those good traits will be compromised by your decisiveness in this rather minor life decision.

Just go do it.

The GF isn't going to leave you, and Mom will learn to respect your decision.

Good luck.

Caruso

The safer than taking a bath/eating while talking argument is a load of crap. It's not worth the time to deconstruct that argument and expose it's flaws and anyone that needs someone to do that probably couldn't follow the simple logic anyway.



Maybe, but I still find it a refreshing perspective compared the usual "cycling in traffic is certain and swift death" argument that is so often spewed around by those who have never even tried it. It kind of balances out what is really the true reality... That cycling isn't as unsafe as most non cyclists believe.

I don't understand why the approval of your GF and Mom are deal breakers on your decision to commute using a bike. You've consulted them, you, obviously, have considered their opinions. Now, inform them that, having weighed your options, taking into consideration their thoughts on the matter, you have, decided that the bike is the best option for you at this time, their thoughts to the contrary notwithstanding.

Then, buy the bike and start riding.

You are 19, working, going to school. No doubt you are the responsible type, and, form your posts, it is clear you are respectful and considerate. None of those good traits will be compromised by your decisiveness in this rather minor life decision.

Just go do it.

The GF isn't going to leave you, and Mom will learn to respect your decision.

Good luck.

Caruso
+1

The path to the least freedom and happiness in life starts with setting up goals that are dependent on other people's behavior.

The path to the least freedom and happiness in life starts with setting up goals that are dependent on other people's behavior.

or to quote bill cosby...

I don't know the secret to success, but I do know the secret to failure; it's trying to please everybody.

Get a Ladies Bike , ostensibly for you Girl Friend. Get a rear view mirror for the handlebars.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/photo_0022-1.jpg

Blackburn makes a nice rear view mirror that attaches with Velcro, as seen in this photo.

Wear a reflective vest, like the kind worn by highway workers.

If you see trouble in the mirror, dismount quickly. That's why I suggest a Ladies Bike. Hit the ground running.