Safe to lock a bike next to high traffic establishments even for a few minutes?

[KLizotte]

Powerful Pete,

Yup, she was shocked and pissed that no one in security had bothered to inform employees that this was going on nor have they changed the rack location to something more secure. She has filed a tort claim against EPA and GSA as a result.

In my GSA owned bldg, the guidelines state that personal property is your responsibility and that they are not responsible for loss.

[Dickie]

Update on my buddies bike situation. After waiting three days with the note attached to the bike and the bike remaining locked outside his office… he, errr….. has his bike back. I don’t have all the details but I believe a car jack was involved.

[Powerful Pete]

@Dickie, excellent news.

[AFHokie]

@KLizotte 92977 wrote:

Powerful Pete,

Yup, she was shocked and pissed that no one in security had bothered to inform employees that this was going on nor have they changed the rack location to something more secure. She has filed a tort claim against EPA and GSA as a result.

In my GSA owned bldg, the guidelines state that personal property is your responsibility and that they are not responsible for loss.

It sucks, but the bike rack could be right in front of the guard post and chances are, bikes would still disappear. The guards are there to secure the building, not personal property outside the building. It’s usually the same for cars in the parking lot outside the building so you can’t expect them to watch the bike racks either.

Really, your best bet is getting the building to move the rack within site of the guard post and hope if a guard saw someone cutting a lock they’d inquiry why, but again they’re under zero obligation to do so. If the rack is near the guards I’d make it a point to get to know all the guards. Even if they’re not required to protect the bikes, I’d like to think if I was friendly with the guards and they knew which was my bike they’d be quicker to say something if someone other than me started fiddling with it.

[KLizotte]

@AFHokie 93056 wrote:

It sucks, but the bike rack could be right in front of the guard post and chances are, bikes would still disappear. The guards are there to secure the building, not personal property outside the building. It’s usually the same for cars in the parking lot outside the building so you can’t expect them to watch the bike racks either.

Really, your best bet is getting the building to move the rack within site of the guard post and hope if a guard saw someone cutting a lock they’d inquiry why, but again they’re under zero obligation to do so. If the rack is near the guards I’d make it a point to get to know all the guards. Even if they’re not required to protect the bikes, I’d like to think if I was friendly with the guards and they knew which was my bike they’d be quicker to say something if someone other than me started fiddling with it.

I generally agree with you but, sadly, I’d wager that if seven cars were stolen from their garage they would be acting on it.

[cyclingfool]

@KLizotte 93060 wrote:

I generally agree with you but, sadly, I’d wager that if seven cars were stolen from their garage they would be acting on it.

Agreed. There’s definitely a bias when it comes to this. I experienced it when my bike was stolen in March 2013. Police took a report over the phone, but never even bothered to come and see anything. I feel the reaction would have been a bit more aggressive had my car been stolen. Funny thing is, my Surly was easily worth more than my 1994 model year car, the Blue Book value on which was less than $1000.

[Steve]

@cyclingfool 93065 wrote:

Funny thing is, my Surly was easily worth more than my 1994 model year car, the Blue Book value on which was less than $1000.

Because, I mean, you can’t put a price on a Surly.

[A.C.]

anyone see this yet? I was kinda of surprised at the statistics.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/On-the-Bike-Trail-Your-Bike-Could-be-Stolen-in-Seconds-Locked-or-Not-272022531.html

[dasgeh]

@cyclingfool 93065 wrote:

Agreed. There’s definitely a bias when it comes to this. I experienced it when my bike was stolen in March 2013. Police took a report over the phone, but never even bothered to come and see anything. I feel the reaction would have been a bit more aggressive had my car been stolen. Funny thing is, my Surly was easily worth more than my 1994 model year car, the Blue Book value on which was less than $1000.

I wonder if you reported a “vehicle” stolen, if they would assume car and come…

[83b]

@AFHokie 93056 wrote:

If the rack is near the guards I’d make it a point to get to know all the guards. Even if they’re not required to protect the bikes, I’d like to think if I was friendly with the guards and they knew which was my bike they’d be quicker to say something if someone other than me started fiddling with it.

This is how the racks are configured in my building, so I make sure to say hello when coming and going and also occasionally bring coffee or baked goods. Small bribes are infinitely cheaper than new bikes!

[Author]

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