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The biggest problem I see restricting the uptake of e-Bikes for urban transport is the risk of theft. You really need secure bike parking at both ends of the j

The biggest problem I see restricting the uptake of e-Bikes for urban transport is the risk of theft. You really need secure bike parking at both ends of the journey given that these are typically $1000+ machines - locks are no obstacle for a determined bike thief! A cheap push-bike, on the other hand, you can feel comfortable parking on almost any street - which is really what makes a bike so convenient in the first place. Better security/anti-theft technology needed. Needs to be effective and convenient!

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agumonkey 9y ago
All bikes get stolen, even the crappiest ones. Theft is the reason I don't use my bike anymore, unless I don't stop.
- maccard 9y ago
  Crappy ones don't get stolen. I lived in an area with rampant bike theft, had 3 bikes stolen, and bought a crappy bike. I didn't even bother locking it most of the time. I sold it when I moved, after 2 years of pretty much daily use.
  - theBobBob 9y ago
    I knew someone that had a pretty decent bike and he purposely made it look crap. He put loads of crappy stickers on it, wrapped different parts of it with different coloured tape etc. Not sure did it actually change anything, but it has never been stolen.
    - agumonkey 9y ago
      There's a counter intuitive effect with high grade bikes. They often have a unique look (frame, colors, tires...). If (IF) the bike is quickly moved far from its original city, other bikers will notice it whenever someone uses it again. Often on bikers board you can read stories of users helping each other out. A generic bike on the other hand .. less chances to be noticed (by definition).
  - jwr 9y ago
    It's really about the ratio of chain thickness to bike crappiness. In general, I'd say anything that requires an angle grinder (serious chain, good U-lock type locks) is fine for most bikes. I'd say the same criteria apply to E-bikes. You do have to make sure you're attaching your bike to something solid, though.
  - c3833174 9y ago
    Then you don't know the meaning of rampant. A friend of mine had welded a small basket, grinded parts of the frame and let them rust, engraved his name on an old bike for commuting, even with a thick motorcycle chain it got stolen.
    - Symbiote 9y ago
      It's not very useful debating this, without giving an area. Rates of bicycle theft vary widely between countries, cities, and sometimes within cities (poor area / rich area, centre / suburbs, residential area / university campus).
  - exodust 9y ago
    Yes but limiting yourself to a crappy bike is depressing. You've giving in to fear of thieves. They have "stolen" your good bike ride, and you're okay with that? Having a good quality bike makes riding more enjoyable, safer, more comfortable, more efficient.
    - jackmott 9y ago
      doesn't have to be actually crappy. good tires, clean chain, horrific looking frame, and its fine.
    - mauvehaus 9y ago
      A bicycle that looks like hammered shit doesn't necessarily make for a bad ride. Initial quality is largely irrelevant if: 0. It's suited to the task (a Wal-Mart mountain bike is lousy for running around town) 1. Stuff degrades gracefully (cheap index shifting generally does not; friction shifters are a far better choice on a cheap bike) 2. You maintain it. 3. You take the time (and money) to find a comfortable saddle for it. Crappy bikes become unfun when they're neglected. Unfortunately, they usually get neglected because they were poorly suited for the intended purpose anyway, or because people don't want to pay a bike shop to tune up a $150 bicycle (which was probably poorly assembled in the first place). This is a case where learning to do the work yourself pays the dividend of both raising the competence of the user and resulting in a useful tool for years to come. Most people would be much better served by an old 10-speed than a new crappy mountain bike. They're better suited to getting around town, immensely tolerant of neglect because there isn't anything that truly needs to be in top shape to run, and easy to put right. And yes, I say this as somebody who has a nice road bike, a nice mountain bike, and a road bike that lives outside all year long, looks like hell and that I wouldn't hesitate to ride 15-25 km.
  - agumonkey 9y ago
    Tell that to my now missing mall brand all plastic low grade mountain bike. It had the lowest value possible; I took the seat, and I parked it because one pedal was failing that day. Not even pretty (blue/white/fluopink) It was at best worth the frame metal.
- dx034 9y ago
  Doesn't seem to be the case in London. I have a £300 bike (price when it was new, now probably worth much less) and use two secure locks (£35 each). It's outside every night and over several years, the only thing that's been stolen was my saddle once. Colleagues of mine with e-bikes or other, more expensive, bikes had parts stolen much more frequently. There's always the risk of vandalism but I guess most thefts will know what an item is worth on ebay, they won't bother about a bike they could only get £50 for. That's the concern with e-bikes, their battery is probably already worth stealing.
- kazinator 9y ago
  In Vancouver, I often see homeless bums with tattered clothes ride nice bikes. Trek, Giant, Specialized and such, with decent grade components: not bottom end crap.
Tepix 9y ago
Are you sure there isn't already some effective anti-theft protection for electric bikes? The one I've seen have a quickly removable control unit on the steering handle. Without it, you can't use the bike. I think ebikes are therefore less prone to theft than regular bikes.
- lm2s 9y ago
  Can't a thief take it, dismantle it and sell the parts? I think that's the most common case for vehicles stolen...
fulafel 9y ago
Most ebikes have a pop-out battery (with lock). It's not a very attractive target of theft without the most expensive part: stolen bikes trade for peanuts. But yes, there's room for more anti-theft solutions. Also, many/most places don't have a bad bike theft problem. Locks are no obstacles for determined house/motorbike/etc thieves either, but people still use those.
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deleted 9y ago

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agumonkey 9y ago

All bikes get stolen, even the crappiest ones. Theft is the reason I don't use my bike anymore, unless I don't stop.

maccard 9y ago
Crappy ones don't get stolen. I lived in an area with rampant bike theft, had 3 bikes stolen, and bought a crappy bike. I didn't even bother locking it most of the time. I sold it when I moved, after 2 years of pretty much daily use.
- theBobBob 9y ago
  I knew someone that had a pretty decent bike and he purposely made it look crap. He put loads of crappy stickers on it, wrapped different parts of it with different coloured tape etc. Not sure did it actually change anything, but it has never been stolen.
  - agumonkey 9y ago
    There's a counter intuitive effect with high grade bikes. They often have a unique look (frame, colors, tires...). If (IF) the bike is quickly moved far from its original city, other bikers will notice it whenever someone uses it again. Often on bikers board you can read stories of users helping each other out. A generic bike on the other hand .. less chances to be noticed (by definition).
- jwr 9y ago
  It's really about the ratio of chain thickness to bike crappiness. In general, I'd say anything that requires an angle grinder (serious chain, good U-lock type locks) is fine for most bikes. I'd say the same criteria apply to E-bikes. You do have to make sure you're attaching your bike to something solid, though.
- c3833174 9y ago
  Then you don't know the meaning of rampant. A friend of mine had welded a small basket, grinded parts of the frame and let them rust, engraved his name on an old bike for commuting, even with a thick motorcycle chain it got stolen.
  - Symbiote 9y ago
    It's not very useful debating this, without giving an area. Rates of bicycle theft vary widely between countries, cities, and sometimes within cities (poor area / rich area, centre / suburbs, residential area / university campus).
- exodust 9y ago
  Yes but limiting yourself to a crappy bike is depressing. You've giving in to fear of thieves. They have "stolen" your good bike ride, and you're okay with that? Having a good quality bike makes riding more enjoyable, safer, more comfortable, more efficient.
  - jackmott 9y ago
    doesn't have to be actually crappy. good tires, clean chain, horrific looking frame, and its fine.
  - mauvehaus 9y ago
    A bicycle that looks like hammered shit doesn't necessarily make for a bad ride. Initial quality is largely irrelevant if: 0. It's suited to the task (a Wal-Mart mountain bike is lousy for running around town) 1. Stuff degrades gracefully (cheap index shifting generally does not; friction shifters are a far better choice on a cheap bike) 2. You maintain it. 3. You take the time (and money) to find a comfortable saddle for it. Crappy bikes become unfun when they're neglected. Unfortunately, they usually get neglected because they were poorly suited for the intended purpose anyway, or because people don't want to pay a bike shop to tune up a $150 bicycle (which was probably poorly assembled in the first place). This is a case where learning to do the work yourself pays the dividend of both raising the competence of the user and resulting in a useful tool for years to come. Most people would be much better served by an old 10-speed than a new crappy mountain bike. They're better suited to getting around town, immensely tolerant of neglect because there isn't anything that truly needs to be in top shape to run, and easy to put right. And yes, I say this as somebody who has a nice road bike, a nice mountain bike, and a road bike that lives outside all year long, looks like hell and that I wouldn't hesitate to ride 15-25 km.
- agumonkey 9y ago
  Tell that to my now missing mall brand all plastic low grade mountain bike. It had the lowest value possible; I took the seat, and I parked it because one pedal was failing that day. Not even pretty (blue/white/fluopink) It was at best worth the frame metal.
dx034 9y ago
Doesn't seem to be the case in London. I have a £300 bike (price when it was new, now probably worth much less) and use two secure locks (£35 each). It's outside every night and over several years, the only thing that's been stolen was my saddle once. Colleagues of mine with e-bikes or other, more expensive, bikes had parts stolen much more frequently. There's always the risk of vandalism but I guess most thefts will know what an item is worth on ebay, they won't bother about a bike they could only get £50 for. That's the concern with e-bikes, their battery is probably already worth stealing.
kazinator 9y ago
In Vancouver, I often see homeless bums with tattered clothes ride nice bikes. Trek, Giant, Specialized and such, with decent grade components: not bottom end crap.

Tepix 9y ago

Are you sure there isn't already some effective anti-theft protection for electric bikes? The one I've seen have a quickly removable control unit on the steering handle. Without it, you can't use the bike. I think ebikes are therefore less prone to theft than regular bikes.

lm2s 9y ago
Can't a thief take it, dismantle it and sell the parts? I think that's the most common case for vehicles stolen...

fulafel 9y ago

Most ebikes have a pop-out battery (with lock). It's not a very attractive target of theft without the most expensive part: stolen bikes trade for peanuts. But yes, there's room for more anti-theft solutions. Also, many/most places don't have a bad bike theft problem. Locks are no obstacles for determined house/motorbike/etc thieves either, but people still use those.

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