no, all bad ideas have also been invented.

"Edible handlebar" turns up nothing on the USPTO database.

Well maybe because actual function is less important than perceived function these days. And marketing is the only way to influence the perceptions. Safety and security issues are prime territory for the latest and best designs because people want to feel safe and secure whether they are or not.

Oh that sucks and I was thinking about electrocuting a thief when he tries to temper with the lock.

My new bike is gonna weigh a full 100 lbs, and have digital electronic locking, so i'm not concerned about it being whipped away from outside the local corner shop whilst I'm grabbing a cola.

I'm not so unique in this - cable locks aren't worth using but otherwise pretty much anything will do. You can secure your bike adequately for a 3-min stop like that by putting an almost suitcase padlock sized shackle through the chain and front derailleur - then watch them go over the handlebars as they try to ride off, defeated by a brass keyring and the element of surprise...

Pre-meditated theft is something else though, and sorting this problem interests me a little more.

I tried an invisibility cloak, but people kept walking into the bike.

Hello all,

To provide some context, I am not a student at a large prestigious US engineering school. Nor am I a design engineering student. I am a student at a UK college, doing a course on general engineering, which as part of the course, runs a design project to help students better understand the design process, and what goes on between a problem being identified and a product going to market. As part of our project we have to collect some form of research into the market for a potential product, and it would be hugely helpful to me if a few of you could complete the survey in the link at the bottom.

Best Regards,

Michael

Bicycle Security Survey

Really awful survey. I couldn't answer #4 because the question makes little sense--

"How much money would you be willing to spend on something that significantly reduces the likelihood of having your bike stolen, or recovered if stolen?" Significantly reduces the likelihood compared from what? I've already paid for locks that seem to work pretty well, so are you asking me would I pay more for ones that would work better or asking me if I would pay for locks? I couldn't answer how much I'd pay if I don't know that (especially in pounds), and the survey won't let me leave that blank.

Not sure what you expect to learn from that survey--people use locks and will pay money for locks, and being heavy, inconvenient and insecure might be a pretty bad thing.

Thank you to everyone who answered the survey.