bike theft risk

[gusl]

Is it really possible that bike theft in NYC is worse than in Amsterdam, for bikes parked on the street overnight? It seems to be part of the culture here that no-one leaves their bike outside at night... despite the fact that anyone can set up a surveillance webcam nowadays.

Take back the sidewalk!

I live next-door to a parking garage, and the bike spots cost $175/month (half of the price for cars). If I could afford this, then I could afford to have a bike stolen every 45 days (assuming I get reimbursed for the lock).

Comments

[stepleton.livejournal.com]

Surveillance webcam? The cops don't care.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

not sure whether this is backed up by actual data, but anecdotally bike theft in NYC is supposed to be worse than basically anywhere else. note that Kryptonite makes four security levels of U-lock: low, medium, high, and New York.

[aviatrix.livejournal.com]

Back when I lived in NY, we always used to store our bikes in our apt (or room, if sharing an apt). Even if no one steals it, it's possible someone (and/or a dog) is going urinate on it. Welcome to NY! That unused space over your bed, dresser, or desk is valuable when living in NYC! The NYC bike is both a vehicle and a proudly displayed piece of art. Time to get creative :) http://www.bikerackshops.com/groupgaragestorage.html

While I seriously miss NY sometimes, I don't really miss living there.

[mpnolan.livejournal.com]

Are they just generally apathetic about bike theft? (Not that you implied that necessarily; it just seems plausible that maybe with more severe kinds of crime they couldn't be bothered.)

[bluebear2.livejournal.com]

You could get a folding one that would be easier to carry upstairs.

[stepleton.livejournal.com]

Hear hear!

It's the best thing I own.

[stepleton.livejournal.com]

OK, I don't really know, never having lived in NYC, but bike theft is so rampant, bikes are so cheap, and theft is such an industry there that the chances of the police being able to do anything at all are extremely slim.

It's not just New York. In Cambridge (UK), where bikes and bike theft are everywhere, a friend had his bicycle stolen right outside the police station, on CCTV even. The cops basically said he should have done a better job of securing his property.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that the NYPD takes bike theft seriously, but I think I got this information from a university Public Safety officer, so maybe it was cheap talk.

Also, my understanding is that people who have their bikes stolen routinely check 2nd-hand bike shops, so the city is apparently not as huge as some think.

Today I had my bike sealed and engraved by Columbia Public Safety.

[raflacerda.livejournal.com]

And I thought R$150 for a parking space in São Paulo was expensive.
Bike parking here is still free.