By Natasha Gleiser
Ottawa cyclists are worried about their bikes being stolen after last month’s discovery that some locks could be picked with a simple ballpoint pen.
Theft is a problem in Ottawa — 196 bikes were stolen in September, says Tom Cybulski from the Ottawa Police Service records section.
A video circulated on the Internet sparked security concerns last month when it showed a model of U-lock with a tubular mechanism being opened by a Bic pen. The video featured a Kryptonite brand lock, although other manufacturers produce locks with the same mechanism. Kryptonite has since offered free exchanges on its tubular locks.
Citizens For Safe Cycling education co-ordinator Patrick Wray recommends using two locks to prevent theft from lock picking.
He suggests using a U-lock with a flat key locking mechanism as well as a cable lock. He also says to lock bikes in high-traffic, well-lit places.
Locks are not the only source of bicycle security problems in Ottawa. Rosemarie Gerber, administrator of the Ottawa Bicycle Club, says there is also a lack of proper places to secure bikes.
She says people in the Glebe lock their bikes to parking meters because proper alternatives, such as the blue racks seen downtown, are not available. Thieves can easily lift locked bikes over the meters.
Despite these problems, there are still many precautions you can take to secure your bike. Jose Bray, manager and co-owner of Joe Mamma’s Urban Cycles says even tubular locks can be an effective deterrent.
“Most people that steal a bike are doing it because the opportunity’s there,” he says.
Bray says other good ways of avoiding bike theft are to undo the quick release on the tires, causing them to fall off when the bike starts moving, and to take the chain off. Thieves are generally in a hurry and would not notice this until they try to ride away, says Bray.
Cst. Claude Pepin of the Ottawa Police Service recommends that bicycle owners write down their bike’s serial number so it can be returned to them if recovered. Pepin says few bother to do this, and as a result approximately 800 unclaimed bikes are auctioned off yearly.
Gerber says cyclists who don’t use common sense have only themselves to blame.
“It’s an individual thing. If you value your bike then you take the precaution to lock it up as securely as you feel is necessary,” Gerber says.
Bray never leaves his bike anywhere and has even been kicked out of malls for walking through them with his bike.
If keeping your bike with you constantly is not an option, remember to use two locks, keep it in a high-traffic area, and remove easily detachable parts.