Bike racks are becoming increasingly common in our towns and cities. Cycling makes perfect sense from a transportation, health, and environmental perspective. However, many modern bikes are not cheap pieces of equipment, and they can be easily stolen if the rider doesn't take the appropriate action. So, even though we have more bike racks, they are not much use if the cyclist doesn't know how to use them properly. In this article, we will look at three tips that will help you to use a bike rack to protect your cycling investment.

1. Get a Great Bike Lock

This sounds really obvious, but you may be surprised at how many cyclists buy an expensive bike and then lock it up with a cheap piece of garbage lock. A poor quality lock can be quickly removed even if it's attached to the best bike rack in the world. The bike security is almost entirely reliant on the bike lock, and it needs to be up to the job. Don't pick a cable type lock, they are very weak, and the cable can easily be cut with a simple edged tool. A U-lock offers far more protection, and it's a great idea to have two, one for the front and one for the rear. Secure the frame and the wheel because a wheel can be easily removed by a determined thief. If you get the smallest U-locks possible, they will give the bike thief even less leverage to work with.

2. Don't Lock Your Bike Up in an Overcrowded or Isolated Location

An overcrowded space can be just as effective at masking the activities of a thief as an isolated spot where they have time to work undisturbed. Many people pay little attention to what is going on around them anyway, but if there is a big crowd, it can be even harder to notice things. There is also a well known phenomenon called "the bystander effect" that shows that people are less likely to intervene if other people are present. So, if there are large numbers of people around the chances of someone stopping a thief are lessened. It's a better idea to park your bike in a lightly trafficked pedestrian area that has good street lighting and security camera coverage.

3. Register and Track Your Bike

So, you've followed the first two tips, and your bike still got stolen; tough luck. Actually, with a little advance planning, this doesn't have to be the case at all. You can recover your bike by registering it and installing a GPS tracking device. Your local authorities will help you to register your bike with a unique code so that it can be traced back to you. A GPS tracker is easy to fit, get a device that's disguised like a standard bike component and you can be notified if someone is moving it. Then you can track your bike using a simple app on your smartphone and inform the police to recover the bike and catch the thief.

If they are looking for bike racks, Perth based business owners and property managers should contact Image Bollards for expert help and advice.

https://www.imagebollards.com.au/