I want to start commuting to work, but afraid of theft. Advice?
 

I'm fairly new to the bicycling scene with my first bike purchased less than a month ago. I'm a nurse at a hospital that is on the bad side of town. I love my work getting to help those who are less fortunate, but I'm hesitant to commute because of fear that my bike will get stolen. The only bike rack we have is outside in a dark lit awning on the side of ER where homeless and crazies are known to frequent, and I've never seen another bike there. I have tried convincing my manager to let me bring my bike up to the floor and put it in a closet or locker room but to no avail. I don't have a lock yet but do plan on purchasing one after I research to find something practical.

Also, what do most people do with their bike accessories when they lock it up? My work hours are from 7am-7pm and when I leave it's fairly dark in the mornings with the sun having yet to rise. I just bought a blinking rear tail light and a headlight that should help with safety when I decide to commute. Should I bring the lights, water bottle, saddle bag and everything except the frame and wheels with me inside?

Welcome To Bike Forums, Zerg!

1) How tall are you?

2) Do you have to climb any serious hills or inclines on your commute?

3) How long is your cycling commute?

PS.

Yes. You'll have to carry everything with you inside the hospital, that's not locked to your bike or rack!

Slim, the OP ain't inquiring about a bike. Take at look at their sig line...

It depends on how concerned you are. In most places if the accessories are fastened on with screws or bolts you can leave them on, if they can easily be removed then take them with you. Use a "U Lock" with a cable. Use the U Lock to lock the rear wheel and frame to the bike rack and put the cable through the front wheel and back to the U Lock. This way the rear rim (the most expensive of the two) is very well secured and as well as the bike as a whole. The cable in the front will likely be enough to discourage someone from stealing it. If you have a quick release seat you will probably want to take that with you.

In some very bad areas people will actually take the wheels with them if they can but if you lock them up properly you should be OK.

Look into replacing the QR on the wheels and saddle with locking skewers like Pit Locks.

Yes. I know, but the person is a nurse. Therefore, I may have another idea, depending upon the OP's responses.

1) 5'10''
2) No serious inclines
3) About 20-25min commute

Thanks everyone for the advice so far. I'm going to start looking for good U-lock and cable.

Buy the cheapest, crappiest bike that you can tolerate riding, and lock it very very securely. Supplement the locks with locking skewers, headset screw, and seat collar.

And you're a nurse? Bring it inside anyway, and if your manager has a problem tell her to stuff it and talk to the shop steward/union rep.

Hey there, Zerg!

In that case, you'll have two alternative choices:

1) Reduce your fear of loss by purchasing a really inexpensive single speed bicycle. Single speeds are usually, both inexpensive and low maintenance. Just lock it up with a NY Fahgettaboudit U Lock and go to work with no worries. Two hundred bucks or less for quite a few decent single speeds.

2) Buy a folding bicycle and carry it inside the hospital and place it somewhere safe. Like under your desk, or inside of a closet, or under a bed, or bench, or something. That way, you don't even need a lock!

Folders ride almost exactly like regular sized bikes, because of their gearing....

*************

Either keep your Escape for weekend recreational rides and exercise, or sell it, and get a really nice road bike. Join a club and become a genuine roadie! ;)

Good Luck! :thumb:

Is there secure car parking/ or parking lot attendant. Maybe there could be a bike rack installed there. What about storage closet/ basement /utility area? Befriend a janitor? Get a cheap singlespeed bike. Get 2 ulocks or a NY fagetabout it chain and leave the locks there so you don't have to carry them around. Tell management, maybe they can help with the lighting or public safety issues.

I got a 2012 Giant Escape 2, I've been concerned about theft as well, though I do lock it up with a U-bolt, and throw on the cable through the wheels if I'll be gone more than a handful of minutes.

I've been thinking about taking a rattlecan to it and giving it the most hideous and low-quality paint job imaginable. I figure if it looks ugly and sloppy instead of new and beautiful at a glance, people will be less likely to come over for a closer look and start getting ideas. Thought I'd ask whether folks thought there was any merit to that idea here, rather than create a new topic for a related idea.

You should also consider talking to the admin of the hospital about your concerns with theft. We had a similar issue here years ago and we ended up with bike lockers in a secured parking ramp and they also partially subsidised a bike shop in the basement that opens up into a very nice trail. The bike shop charges for bike storage (~$90 year) but then you get a locker and showers too. The bike lockers in the ramp are free. Granted we have over 3000 emplyees at this location and a good number that commute on bike. However, if you can find a few others that would interested in commuting on bike or just bring it up with the admin you might be surprised how willing many health care facilites are open to accomodating cycling.

Just because your place has a bike rack it doesn't mean you have to use it. Usually there are other areas where you can lock your bike without worrying as much. But still lock your bike.

If there are security guys slip them a few bucks to keep an eye on it. They might even know an area around the hospital that would be more secure.

I do this. An additional benefit is after a hard ride, a couple blocks of easy walking gives you some time to cool down and relax before you get on with doing whatever you're there for.

I want to start commuting to work, but afraid of theft. Advice?
 

Yes, take your accessories of value with you. People steal anything/everything in all communities.

As for the lock, be sure to measure your locking situation. Don't get a 3' lock when you need 4'. I like my 4' Kryptonite chain that I leave on my workplace bike rack, versus hauling it with me. Unless you are leaving it overnight, I'd think that would do.

I am pretty paranoid about my bikes getting stolen or messed with. I generally don't ride anything worth a ton of money for that reason to commute with. I'd say $300 is probably what my most valuable bike I commute with is worth including lights and other accessories. If you will always worry about your bike than buy a cheap used bike a good lock and you should be totally fine. If you don't want to add to your stable of bikes than just get a good lock as it has been suggested here and don't worry that much about it. Your bike isn't super expensive and its probably going to be ok. As others have suggested you may find some help from your job to lessen your worries. People lock up much more expensive bikes all kinds of places and are fine. If you start riding to work you will probably find lots of people will being looking out for you.

Ride a plain Jane looking bike.
Take all easily removed items off and into work with you.
If you have a quick release seat post clamp bolt, remove the seat and seatpost too.
When you lock it up, park it between the two nicest bikes you can find on the rack.

If they want it they will get it. The game is to make your bike a PITA to steal and look like it's also not worth the effort.

I do this as well. I lock my bike at a rack that is close to a security booth and a camera rather than right outside of work. I haven't given any security guards money to watch my bike but I'm friendly and greet them so that they know who I am and are aware that I'm the owner of that bike.

In times that I've taken my bike somewhere other than work, I'll try to find a place to lock my bike where there's a lot of visibility -- like right in front of a store or a parking garage attendant. I linger a bit and maybe say hi so that, again, people know that that's my bike. Not certain as to how effective it is but my bike hasn't been stolen yet and the one time somebody tried, the EMT guys in the ambulance I had locked my bike by (they were having lunch in the ambulance) knew that it was my bike even though the guy was trying to claim that it was his (he subsequently threw a bottle of alcohol at me, so no, this wasn't a case of mistaken bike identity).

I also try to lock my bike next to either a much nicer looking bike or a bike that looks easier to steal than mine. I don't totally feel great about it, but it was advice I heard from a seasoned bike commuter ...

If you still have to use the high-risk racks, get a beater-bike, one that looks very down-market. It doesn't have to actually be a bad bike, just a good, old one. My beater bike has nuts and bolts instead of quick-release parts.
Lock it with both a U-lock and a decent cable. Lock both wheels to metalwork embedded into the ground.
Remove anything removable, lights, bottles, bags. Put a plastic bag over the saddle.

If the lockup is high risk, you should be concerned about getting jacked whilst trying to unlock your bike. Try using this as your argument.

Regarding removable stuff, you will eventually drop something, usually the most expensive and brittle thing like a front lamp. Minimize the removables. Do you really need a waterbottle? Is the saddle bag in addition to other bags?