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Locking Your Bike
Bike Theft | Tips
for New Students | More Locking
Tips | Special Equipment
The Department of Public Safety is committed to
reducing bicycle theft and vandalism. We
encourage bicycle owners to properly lock their bikes
at designated areas.
Bike Thefts on Campus
Most bike thefts on campus are the result of:
- Bike was not locked at all.
"I just went inside for 2 seconds and
when I came out my bike was gone."
- A cable was used as the primary locking
device. Cables are easy to cut.
- Only the wheel of the bike was locked.
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Tips for New Students
Cable Locks
A good lock and knowing how to use it properly are
important ingredients to success. If you only use
one lock, please do not let it be a cable style of
lock. We do not endorse any particular
manufacturer of locks. Of what are
currently available, U-locks, O-locks and square
link heavy chains with high quality locks have a good
track record. Within these three styles of
locking devices, quality and features differ.
Something to Think About
If you have one bike with you on campus, consider how
you will be using it. If you are going to keep it
locked-up outside, overnight or during class, know that
thieves target expensive mountain bikes. Your
enjoyment and efficiency of riding a bike should not
however be diminished by your choice of bike. Be
practical. In many situations, a simple,
low cost bike may serve your needs adequately.
Instead of an inexpensive, poor quality, new bike from
a department store, you may find better value in a well
functioning second hand bike. Eugene has many
fine bike shops. If
you do not bring a bike with you from home, there is
ample opportunity to purchase one locally.
Record Your Bike's Serial Number
Please take a moment to record your bicycle's serial
number. If your bicycle is stolen, the serial
number is the key piece of information that law
enforcement agencies can use in attempting to recover
your bike. Most bicycle serial numbers are
located on the under side of the bottom bracket shell
near the pedals (you may need to turn your bike over to
find it). Make sure to keep your sales receipt.
A picture of your bike can also be used to your
benefit.
Register Your Bicycle on Campus
Bicycles used on campus are required to be registered.
Bicycle registration is free. When you
register, you will be given a permit sticker that goes
on your bike. Bicycle registration is available
at the Department of Public Safety.
If Your Bicycle is Stolen
Report it immediately to the Department of Public
Safety. We take bike theft seriously. We do
recover stolen bikes. If you see someone tampering with
a bicycle on campus, report it immediately to the
Department of Public Safety. Emergency call boxes
can be found at several outdoor locations throughout
campus.
Disclaimer
Some thieves will stop at nothing to steal a bike.
Often this comes at the expense of destroying the bike
in the process. Every lock can be defeated.
Even if you do all of the right things, your bike may
still be stolen.
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More Locking Tips
Don't lock your bike to something weaker than your bike
lock (small trees, chain link fences, etc.) On
campus, bicycles must be locked to bike racks.
Bicycles not locked to bike racks are subject to
impound.
When off campus and there is no bike rack available,
choose what you lock your bike to carefully. Make
sure your bike cannot be stolen by lifting it over what
you have chosen to lock it to. Test the lock to
make sure your bike is secure. Be respectful of
other traffic. Don't block pedestrian passage or
use handrails, especially wheelchair ramps and
structures near handicapped accessible areas.
If a bike rack is full, find another. Don't try
to squeeze your bike into a space that will not allow
you to lock properly.
Do not lock only one wheel of the bike. If you
are parking head-in with a "wave" rack, park
in the "U" part not, the inverted "U'
part.
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Special Equipment
Quick Release Levers on Wheels
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We
recommend securing your wheels to
prevent theft. Quick release
levers can make removing a wheel easy
and without the need for tools.
It can be useful to remove a wheel
easily if you need to change a flat
tire, transport your bike or want to use
one lock to lock both wheels and the
bike's frame. Quick release levers can
be replaced by slow release levers or
nutted axles. Both of these
options require tools in order to remove
the wheel. A word of caution, even
if your wheels are secured, the quick
release levers themselves can be removed
easily. Hose clamps can also
be used to secure quick release levers,
but don't expect to be able to remove
your wheel quickly with these on. |
Quick release levers on seat tubes
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A quick release
lever on seat tubes serves to clamp your
seat post in place, which holds your
saddle at a desired height. Once
your saddle is set at a comfortable
height, you will probably not need to
adjust it. If you have a quick
release lever and you do not secure your
saddle when you lock your bike,
your saddle may be stolen. For more
security, some people take their saddle
and seat post with them when they lock
their bike. Unlike a quick release
lever on a wheel, a quick release lever
on a seat tube is an item that you may
want to consider replacing with a bolt.
Even if you replace the quick release, a
saddle and seat post can be stolen
quickly with common tools. Other options
include having a dedicated cable on your
saddle or locking your saddle when you
lock your bike. |
Suspension forks
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For forks
that can be removed quickly by releasing
the handlebar stem, consider filling the
stem bolt head with an adhesive.
Including the fork when you lock your
bike is another option. |
Two locks are better than one
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By using two
locks a thief will have to work harder
and longer to steal your bike.
Added time and effort are good
deterrents for bike thieves. Also
consider using two different styles of
locks as it would take different tools
to defeat the locks. In this case,
a cable lock may be effective as a
secondary lock when combined with one of
the recommended locks. |
Accessories
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Do not leave
accessories on your locked bicycle.
Lights, pumps, bags, etc. are very
enticing to steal. Don't tempt
potential thieves. |
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