D.C. in Bikes-Not-Being-Stolen Shocker!
Via TheWashCycle, the news (to me; the story’s been out for over a month, ouch) that D.C. has for the first time in many years slipped off the list that the lock company Kryptonite keeps of the Top 10 cities with the most bike thefts.
I’ve got no idea how rigorously the data are parsed over at Kryptonite, but its blog post on the subject expresses surprise that Philadelphia rocketed to the top, displacing New York City for the top spot it’s held for the past nine years. “When we did the compilation, there wasn’t even a city close to Philly. Not even close,” says Kryptonite’s Donna T.
It’s even weirder that we’re not on there because, Nationals Park aside, bike-rack availability is lousy here. And empirically, pretty much everyone I know here has had at least one bike stolen. But hey, a win’s a win.
Kryptonite also offers largely common-sense set of bike-locking tips.
Photo by Rockers generation
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11:15 am
Funny enough, some guys must have celebrated the release of this list by stealing my scooter and bike this week—both locked up with Kryptonite chains/locks. Just doing their part to keep DC on the map, I suppose.
5:49 pm
I call BS. I used to work at a local bike shop and folks came in almost daily telling us they had their bikes stolen. I’d estimate less that 25% bothered to report it to the police. Of those who tried to make reports with MPD, many were told they could not without the serial number or receipt/proof of (prior) ownership.
6:41 pm
DC police can’t solve murders. Do you really think they can track down a bike?
When seconds count, the police are minutes away.
1:22 pm
Agreed. Instead of filing out paperwork, use that time to buy an extra lock. Make sure you lock front wheel/frame to a post with one, and lock the back wheel to the frame. I can tell you from personal experience it’s no fun carting home a bike with rear wheel missing.