I don’t see it as a surprise that more and more businesses are putting up bike parking racks and stands for their customers to use.
In fact, it is becoming more common in recent years to ride a bike to a café, a restaurant, a mall, school, or even a business establishment than it was just a few years ago.
It is for many reasons that more people are choosing to travel by bike rather than by car.
There is no doubt that a bike is a great means of commuting, as it does not require gas or the need to wrestle for parking spaces like car drivers do all the time.
In order to avoid bike theft from your bike, it is important that you know how to lock your bike to the bike parking rack and stands outside businesses, since you will see more bike parking racks and stands.
First, let’s take a look at the three main types of parking racks and stands you are more likely to see when you are on the road.
3 Major Types of Bike Parking Rack/Stand
Sheffield Stands
The Sheffield parking stand can be found more commonly in public places than any other type of bike stand. It is a type of stand that can accommodate a variety of different types of bicycles.
In Sheffield stands, you can run your U-lock through your bike frame to secure it so you do not have to worry about losing it.
Two-Tier Racks
It is known as two-tier rack because it has an upper and lower tier. As a result of having such tiers, one rack is capable of holding more than one bike at once. Two-tier racks are usually used at train stations or anywhere that needs high levels of bike parking. You can either secure your bike to the lower or upper tier depending on your preference.
With the lower tier, you will have the option to feed your U-lock through the locking bar. On the upper tier, you will have to lower the upper tray first in order to gain access to the locking bar if you choose to use it.
Vertical and Semi Vertical Racks
Both in residential and commercial buildings, vertical and semi-vertical racks are very common and are available in a wide variety of styles. Some of these locks can be locked with a U-lock, but most of them only let you lock the rear or front wheels of your bike. This means that if you need to lock other parts of your bike, you will need to use a chain.
Now that you have an idea of what the most common types of bike parking racks are, let’s take a look at what we need to do next.
How to Lock Your Bike to a Bike Parking Rack
Lock with a Secured Lock
A very important aspect of bike parking racks that you shouldn’t take for granted is the kind of lock that you use to secure your bike. There are many locks to choose from ranging from thin ones to thick ones. If you want your bike to be secure, you need a sturdy lock.
If you want to secure your bike against a parking rack, you should get a U-lock. This type of lock is made from hardened metal and is shaped like the letter U or the letter D. With this type of lock, you can lock the bike frame and one wheel together. As far as security is concerned, they are the most reliable since they cannot be cut easily. Thieves will usually prefer bikes with thinner locks at public bike parking areas than those with U or D locks.
Use More Than One Lock
It is true that you have locked your bike with a U-lock, but you still need to secure it with another lock as well. You need to lock your rear wheel and other parts of your bike as well, which is why you need to secure them with another lock like a chain or a cable lock. The idea that a bike can’t be stolen if it has been secured multiple times is not deterring a thief.
It is important to be aware that such a thief could be caught if he or she attempts to cut all the locks, which can discourage him or her from attempting to do so. Additionally, if your bike has a quick-release feature, you can use it to remove your front wheel. The wheel can be taken inside with you or locked to the rear wheel and the parking rack.
Choose an Immovable Bike Parking Rack
You can always be sure that an immovable bike parking rack will always be safer than a short tree, pole, or other thing that can be moved, such as a tree. For instance, a tree can be cut down and a thief can gain access to your bike. In order to secure your bike while outdoors safely, you will always need to find a bicycle parking rack that is available in many public areas.
Tips to Safely Secure Your Bike to a Parking Rack
There are several tips that you can use if you want to further increase the security of your bike:
Invest in a Good Lock
When you think about it, it might be cheaper to buy a good lock rather than have to buy a new bike if someone steals your bike, even though good locks like U and D locks are quite expensive. When you think about it, it might be cheaper to buy a good lock rather than having to buy a new bike when your bike is stolen.
Lock both Wheels and Frame
It is important that you don’t just lock your bike frame to a bike parking rack but that you also lock your bike wheels to the rack. This can be accomplished by using multiple locks to secure your bike.
Ensure the Lock is Tight Enough
There should be no space between you and your locked bike when you lock it. In order to make it harder for someone to cut through the chain lock, you should run the chain lock several times across the frame and the wheels of your bike. If you are using a U or D lock, you should also minimize the space between you and your locked bike.
Take Your Bike Accessories Along
If you want to make your bike less appealing to a thief, you should take whatever part of your bike that you can lay your hands on along with you, namely the seat, one wheel, or any other accessories that you can lay your hands on.
Park at a Conspicuous Place
Make sure you choose a place that is visible enough to be able to park and lock your bike. Often, people park at the entrance of a store, office, or restaurant, since there is a lot of foot traffic and excellent lighting in these areas, which can ward off a thief. If the facility offers bike parking, you need to make sure that there are strong bike parking racks that you can lock your bike to if the facility has one.
Park Near CCTV Cameras
As far as CCTV cameras are concerned, it is quite common. They have been installed for the purpose of recording all the activities that take place inside and outside of such establishments. Consequently, it is a good idea to park your bike in a place where it can be captured by a camera. If something goes wrong with your bike, you can ask to see clips of what happened from the camera. It is also possible for the police to use this information to track down who got away with it.
Choose Steel and Durable Structures as Alternatives
As a result, if there is no bike parking rack at the place you are at, you should only lock your bike to a strong, steel, or resilient structure. Structures such as gates, fences, strong trees, poles, etc. are good options. Just make sure that whatever structure you choose is well grounded into the ground or wall.
Go With a Cheaper Bike
When you run a short errand and you have two bikes at your disposal, you should choose the cheaper of the two. If you can reserve your expensive bike for cycling events and outings with friends and family, then thieves won’t be so eager to steal it if it won’t fetch them much money. That way, thieves aren’t so eager to steal it.
Individualize Your Bike
It is possible to set your bike apart by adding some unique flare to it. Painting your bike with a bright color or adding a unique element to it will help it stand out. A bike that stands out is not necessarily very attractive to thieves because such bikes easily attract their attention.
Conclusion
The thieves are always seeking any opportunity to steal a bike at any given time. Once they are in possession of your bike, it takes just a minute for them to carry out their plan. And once they are on your bike, they can leave so fast that it would be hard for you to catch up with them on foot. You must ensure that you never leave your bike unattended at any time. Even if you are just stopping at a store for a quick trip, you should secure your bike to an immovable object or bike parking rack.
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