We all know that bike thievery is rampant. In both the US and Europe. But have you ever wondered which are the very worst places for bike theft? Here's a handy little table that answers that very question...
Bike Theft: The Top Ten Cities
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Why these cities? I think it's pretty straightforward. These are generally the places where cycling is most popular. These are the cities with the highest number of bikes and the highest proportion of the population cycling regularly...
Bike Usage: The Top Ten Cities
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What does this mean for us? Well, if you live in one of these places, you obviously need to be especially careful with your bike security!
But it also suggests that wherever you live, if there's lots of cyclists, there'll be lots of bike crime.
So if you look around you and see loads of people on bicycles, there's probably loads of people you can't see that want to steal those bicycles! So make sure you're protecting your bike properly. This means buying the best bike lock you can afford and making sure you know how to use it.
The great thing is that getting a decent lock and using it properly will make a real difference. I came across an interesting article when I was researching this post. Essentially, it illustrates how effective simple bike security can be...
The top ten US cities for bike theft list comes from Kryptonite's own research. For years, New York had topped the list as the very worst city in the US for bike crime. However, in recent years it has started to slip, settling at third in the last list that Kryptonite released.
How come?
Well, according to this article, it was just a case of the people of New York wising up. They've realized that they need to spend a bit of money on a decent lock, learn how to secure their bike properly and lock it every time they leave it.
It's as simple as that.
And it's as simple as that for everyone else, too. Find a lock with the right level of protection for your area, make sure it suits your lifestyle, learn how to use it properly and use it every time you leave your bike. The chances are your bike won't be stolen!
Read more on UK bike theft statistics and US bike theft statistics.
Texas cities with the lowest bicycle theft rate.