An Important Locking Tip...
 

Some might wonder why I would lock my bike to that nice tree instead of that steel post...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...ighlockup2.jpg

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...ighlockup1.jpg

Seeing that the post was a little askew I checked it when I rolled up... I was able to pull it out with no effort at all.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...ighlockup3.jpg

This may have just been due to the poor condition of the post but the design is such that anyone with a small adjustable wrench could loosen the single bolt that holds any of these in place and slip your bike off the pole.

I know that in some areas the posts are deliberately loosened so that any bike attached to it can be stolen rather quickly.

so close
http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/...pg?w=500&h=375

Well, at least it won't fall over...

That is just a lockup fail.

I called the mall where this sign is located and told them it was disconnected... there are bike racks but they are poorly placed in some areas and will what we can do to change that.

You're probably right about this, but I wouldn't blame any municpality that gave fines for locking to a tree. Eventually the tree would get all beat up - they're not made for that.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...ighlockup3.jpg

Good reminder to be aware, but that's not new. About 15-20 years ago fake signs were a popular way for thieves to steal bikes in some larger cities (New York City was known for this). They'd put out fake signs, some even inserted into holes drilled in the concrete, and wait for someone to lock their bike to it. Then its just a simple matter of lifting the sign and taking the bike.

You've probably seen this one, the thief removes the sign from the post so that he can lift the bike off it.

It's best to lock it to a parking meter. The meters themselves are nearly impossible to remove.

The tree will eventually grow wide enough that a u lock can't fit around it.

well I got bad news for you

San Francisco Police recently posted a photo of a thief with battery operated grinder in the middle of the day:

https://twitter.com/SFPDBikeTheft/st...511616/photo/1