4 ms·

In the UK you absolutely need security - London especially anything not held down will be stolen quickly. Battery powered jigsaws to go through locks and chains

In the UK you absolutely need security - London especially anything not held down will be stolen quickly. Battery powered jigsaws to go through locks and chains, bikes stripped of components, etc. Its a whole different world from the safety of NL Granted some of this is because of a culture of more expensive bikes but still if you used a beater bike it wouldnt be safe either

OJFord 4y ago
> London especially Cambridge too, which I think is interesting because it's otherwise often compared to NL et al. for density, relative friendliness, prevalence of attached buggies & wheelbarrows, etc.
- Terry_Roll 4y ago
Aeolun 4y ago
Honestly, that was my initial impression seeing this tweet storm. Living first in the Netherlands and then Japan, it seems like being so fussy about bike stands is wholly unnecessary.
- presentation 4y ago
  Agreed as a Japan resident but having been a SF resident even crappy bikes would be stolen in seconds for sure. So it depends on the place you live in.
t-3 4y ago
- aidenn0 4y ago
  Where I live in the US, bicycle theft is rampant. It's in the sweet spot of "sells easily for a decent chunk of change, but cheap enough that the police won't investigate."
- wardedVibe 4y ago
  I'm guessing this isn't near a college campus. The one time I made the mistake of not securing my bike it grew legs and walked off after 20 minutes
m000 4y ago
> In the UK you absolutely need security No. You absolutely need to get a theft insurance for your bicycle. All bicycles parked outside can be stolen. Any "security" measures you may take just tip the risk-reward calculation of the bicycle thief in your favour, and against the folk parked next to you who didn't know better.
- mkl 4y ago
  Theft insurance isn't going to get you to your next destination. It's sensible to have, but not an alternative to a couple of good locks.
  - kqr 4y ago
    Depends on the conditions of the insurance. It could hypothetically pay for a new bike and a few taxi fares. Though at the premium required for that, I suspect locks would be cheaper.
    - mkl 4y ago
      It might later pay you back what you spent monetarily, but the inconvenience is not merely financial. It seems crazy that I'm having to argue that locks and insurance are not interchangeable.
  - c0balt 4y ago
    Fyi, most bike insurances in germany will require you to have your bike locked up against a solid (i.e., non-movable) object with some even putting requirements on locks (shackle diameter, ...). I don't know how much those rules are enforced though I imagine for some claims they may be challenged.
    - Cthulhu_ 4y ago
      That's probably the case for most insurances; they need to know you did at least some work to prevent theft. Do you get to claim theft insurance on your house or car if you left it unlocked?
Chris2048 4y ago
I wonder why it isn't easy to catch bike thieves. The speed with which things are stolen suggest to me a few trap bikes would quickly pay dividends.

OJFord 4y ago

> London especially Cambridge too, which I think is interesting because it's otherwise often compared to NL et al. for density, relative friendliness, prevalence of attached buggies & wheelbarrows, etc.

Terry_Roll 4y ago

Aeolun 4y ago

Honestly, that was my initial impression seeing this tweet storm. Living first in the Netherlands and then Japan, it seems like being so fussy about bike stands is wholly unnecessary.

presentation 4y ago
Agreed as a Japan resident but having been a SF resident even crappy bikes would be stolen in seconds for sure. So it depends on the place you live in.

t-3 4y ago

aidenn0 4y ago
Where I live in the US, bicycle theft is rampant. It's in the sweet spot of "sells easily for a decent chunk of change, but cheap enough that the police won't investigate."
wardedVibe 4y ago
I'm guessing this isn't near a college campus. The one time I made the mistake of not securing my bike it grew legs and walked off after 20 minutes

m000 4y ago

> In the UK you absolutely need security No. You absolutely need to get a theft insurance for your bicycle. All bicycles parked outside can be stolen. Any "security" measures you may take just tip the risk-reward calculation of the bicycle thief in your favour, and against the folk parked next to you who didn't know better.

mkl 4y ago
Theft insurance isn't going to get you to your next destination. It's sensible to have, but not an alternative to a couple of good locks.
- kqr 4y ago
  Depends on the conditions of the insurance. It could hypothetically pay for a new bike and a few taxi fares. Though at the premium required for that, I suspect locks would be cheaper.
  - mkl 4y ago
    It might later pay you back what you spent monetarily, but the inconvenience is not merely financial. It seems crazy that I'm having to argue that locks and insurance are not interchangeable.
- c0balt 4y ago
  Fyi, most bike insurances in germany will require you to have your bike locked up against a solid (i.e., non-movable) object with some even putting requirements on locks (shackle diameter, ...). I don't know how much those rules are enforced though I imagine for some claims they may be challenged.
  - Cthulhu_ 4y ago
    That's probably the case for most insurances; they need to know you did at least some work to prevent theft. Do you get to claim theft insurance on your house or car if you left it unlocked?

Chris2048 4y ago

I wonder why it isn't easy to catch bike thieves. The speed with which things are stolen suggest to me a few trap bikes would quickly pay dividends.