Theft vulnerability varies hugely by location. To make a blanket statement about locking-up--either way-- is foolish.

I fully expect that some day, something will be tampered with or stolen from my bike. Or the whole thing will be taken. I do my best about locking strategies and securing accessories, but I don't let the threat keep me from using my bike for commuting, shopping and errands.

Rochester NY is the car theft capital of New York State. (It's also the murder capital of New York State, but that's a different thread.) Our numbers for these crimes make New York City look like Podunk. Yet, every day people drive their cars and park them places--even in "dangerous" neighborhoods. Why should I live my life differently?

That said, in good weather I generally ride my roadie, even for routine grocery shopping. While not high bling, it is moderate bling and gets comments everywhere I ride it. I won't use it on errands to certain parts of the city. I use my hybrid instead. That's not because I think it's less likely to be stolen, it's because it's cheaper to replace if it is stolen.

It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that only bling bikes get stolen. Bikes are frequently stolen from the rack where I work (the Public Library, where we even provide locks for those who don't have them), and none of them are bling bikes. They're bikes that most avid cyclists would turn their noses up at. But, they represent convenient, disposable transport. Our local car theft stats mirror that as well. Beaters are stolen more regularly that Beemers.

Anyway, it would be very difficult for me to live my life without using my bike for basic transport, commuting, and shopping. I also feel that since cycling is *my choice* for transport, it's *my responsibility* (not the store's) for securing it. Given the complete absence of bike-through grocery stores, banks, barber shops and whatnot, I'll continue to lock-up outside, doing the best I can.