I’ve been meaning to post about bike theft for awhile, since I know a few victims in the last year, and it’s the highest rising crime in Los Angeles (viva vigilante justice, though).
Then I saw this article today that even Jenna Bush (daughter of Former President George Bush Jr.) became a victim of bike theft (note that the bikes were in her garage).
Holy crap, people!
According to Kryptonite, a respected lock maker, these are the top ten worst cities for bike theft:
1. Philadelphia, PA
2. Chicago, IL
3. New York City, NY
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Tucson, AZ (tie)
Portland, OR (tie)
7. Denver, CO
8. New Haven, CT
9. Cambridge, MA
10. Austin, TX
This is the 2008 list, so I would not be surprised if Los Angeles ends up in a more recent list.
Kryptonite has a great brochure on how to lock up your bike. The research I did for this post also made me realize how pathetic my lock cable is – it could be snipped in seconds. A good bike lock IS expensive, but is it more expensive to replace your bike?
Check out this rad video where a dude grades how bikes are locked- people even lock down their seats (which you DO gotta do, sigh):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Den2TJcbPf4
Ever had your bike stolen or parts stolen off your bike? Or are you a lock expert? I want to hear from you!!
My Cannondale was stolen 🙁 right off my balcony at the Broadcast Center in LA. The thief had to have climbed a tree from the CBS parking lot and taken it – it was not locked but it’s the 3rd floor!
Holy sugar snap!!! That is CRAZY!!! Bike thieves are out of control here in LA. 🙁 Did you get a new bike? When we goin riding??
I'm shopping for one – I'm on the blocks here at work and am a bit scared to drop the 1.5K or more for a decent ride. I may head down to San Diego and try and find better deals than what I'm finding here in LA too. Did you buy your bike here?
I miss riding around so I've been thinking of just getting a cruiser – PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!!!! – just to go to farmer's markets around LA, not really for the strand along the beach.
BLASPHEMYYYYYYYY!!!
oh god. 1.5k for a bike you probably barely use. gotta keep up the goldbergs though.
The hippie dude was awesome. He belongs up here in SF – almost out-of-place in NY.
-bZj
Like the video, very informative.
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