3 Tips for Using Bike Racks Properly

In recent years we have seen the popularity of cycling explode and with it, a plethora of bike racks have appeared in our communities. This is great news for cyclists as a new bike can represent a significant investment. However, a cycle rack is only as good as the locks and techniques used to lock the bike. It’s very easy to lock a bike up in the wrong way, and then it’s more susceptible to theft. In this article, we will take a look at three top tips to using a bike rack correctly when locking a bike.

1. Location is Important

A busy location is ideal for locking up your bike and if there is CCTV coverage even better. If the bike is going to be locked up at night, choose bike racks that are located in well lit areas where theft is deterred. Any thief prefers anonymity when they are "working," and public areas offer a significant deterrent to even a determined thief. If the bike rack area is busy, there will also be cyclists arriving and leaving on a regular basis. This level of activity will also be a concern to thieves that are looking for an easy target.

2. Always Choose Bike Racks

It’s always advisable when locking up your bike to choose an immovable object. It’s vital to never lock your bike up to an object that can be easily dismantled or unscrewed, such as wooden posts, scaffolding, chain link fencing, and sign posts. Even a secure metal chain link fence is a bad idea because the links are easier to cut with bolt cutters.

In the past, locking a bike was difficult because it was hard to find appropriate infrastructure to keep the bike secure. These days, bike racks are far more prevalent so it should be easier to find a bike rack near where you need to park. A bike rack is typically made of steel and sunk into concrete making it ideal for locking up your bike. A potential thief will have to focus on your locks rather than the structure that your bike is locked up to and this makes your bike a less attractive target.

3. Don’t Help Thieves

This may seem obvious, but avoid locking up your bike in known crime hotspots and don’t leave your bike alone for long periods of time. If you are going to be a while at the gym or a cinema, park the bike up a couple of streets away. If you’re observed locking your bike at a location with timed events, a thief will know how much time they have to steal your bike. Always use a couple of high quality D locks on your bike; one through the front wheel and fork and one through the back. Avoid using chain based locks as they are easy to cut through quickly.

If they are in the market for bike racks, Perth based business owners and property managers should get in touch with Image Bollards. Our team is looking forward to discussing your project in more detail, and they will be happy to answer your remaining questions.