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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Sima Fontanilla | Posted under Recreation and Sports
8 Tips to Parking Your Bicycle Safely
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1. Busy PlaceDon't park your bike somewhere secluded rather pick a spot in a busy public place where there is lots of foot traffic. This will deter thieves. 2. Well litWe don't recommend leaving your bicycle outside overnight but sometimes it can't be avoided. If you must leave your bike outside overnight lock it to a secure post such as a parking meter that is in a well lit location 3. Luggage RacksIf you want to get up in the morning and find your bicycle where you left it, then don't leave it attached to luggage racks or on your porch. Even if you lock it to these types of places it's simply not secure enough to deter a thief. 4. Lock it upWhen you buy a bike lock, get the best possible one you can afford. Don't go cheap on a lock because it's the only thing keeping your bike from a thief. The U-locks are the strongest but they can still be broken. You can reinforce the lock by sliding a cast-iron plumber's 'T' connector, over the locking bar. These connectors are available in most hardware stores. You can also combine two locks for added security. Use one U-lock and one cable lock to secure more parts of your bike. 5. Supervised Bike ParkingSome of the larger cities offer supervised bike parking lots. This means that there are patrol units that continuously pass through the lot watching for the activities of theft. Although there is usually a fee for using these lots, it certainly is a good use of your money. 6. Bike RacksMost popular destinations such as shopping malls will have designated bike racks which will allow you to securely fasten your bike. If there are no bike racks where you need to park your bike, use the base of a parking meter, a lamp standard, or anything secure enough that thieves can't drag your bike away with lock still intact. 7. Quick ReleaseRemove your quick release items from your bike, and do not leave anything personal on your bike when you leave it. Besides the locking mechanism on the frame you should also have special locks for the wheels so they cannot steal the wheels from you. 8. Personalize itMake your bike stand out by personalizing it. Use paint stickers, name tags, engravings, whatever you can think of to make your bike not so attractive to would be thieves. You should also have your bike engraved with a serial number or some type of identifiable mark so that police can easily identify it. You should also keep a written copy of the make, model, color, frame size, components, serial number, date and location of purchase, and any other pertinent information that can be given to the police should your bike become stolen. Photos are also very helpful Having to park your bike is a fact of life that you simply cannot avoid. With that parking comes the risk of theft but by following these 8 simple steps you reduce the risk of becoming a victim. The thieves will move on to easier targets. About The Author: Sima Fontanilla is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - http://www.articleclick.com |
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