Bike security is key when cycling to work

January 27, 2025
Bike stored in an office.
Before you store your bike in your office, make sure it is OK with company policy and your co-workers.

You got that shiny new bike for the holidays and have been riding it every day, but now you want to ride it to work as part of your daily commute. You have plotted the course, timed it to make sure you are on time and even figured out where to change your work clothes. There is only one thing left to figure out: where to park your bike.

Before you commute to the office for the first time, it is prudent to determine where you will put your bike. Does your employer have a designated place to park bikes? Is it secure? Is it protected from the elements?

If you have your own office or cubicle, that may be an ideal place to keep your bike. Before you go ahead and stow your bike in your work area, check with HR or management to make sure storing your bike in your space is permitted. If you share your office with other co-workers, it is common courtesy to ask them if they mind you keeping your bike in the office.

If that is not an option, see if your organization has a place to store a bike such as a storage room. Many office buildings have bike rooms or a fenced off place to lock up bikes, while some have bike racks or building infrastructure such as poles or fences to lock a bike to. Make sure if you lock your bike somewhere not designed for the task, clear it with your company first.

When you lock up your bike in a public place, you’ll want to take the necessary steps to protect it.

Here are some basic tips to prevent bike theft.

Use a high-quality U-lock – Chains are good as well, but not as safe as a U-lock. Cables can be used for inexpensive bikes, but they are easier to cut
If you have the means, lock your bike with two locks, which is the most secure.

“The first lock should go around the back wheel, the frame and the bike rack,” an article in thebestbikelock.com suggested. “The second should go around the front wheel, the frame and preferably the bike rack as well. This means the frame is secured in two places and both wheels are secured to the frame and the bike rack.”

If your bike is insured, check that you have an insurance company-approved lock.

Always lock your bike to a secure, fixed object – “Sign poles are not as secure,” explained the City of Portland transportation website.

Better yet, find an object that is cemented into the ground or an object that cannot be easily dismantled.

Try to lock your bike in well-lit and well-traveled areas – Thieves “prefer to be hidden away while they ‘work’,” said thebestbikelock.com. Places with CCTV cameras are ideal.

Remove any parts of components that can be easily removed – Many cyclists have lights, bags, front tires and quick release seats that can be removed to take with you.

Photograph yourself with the bike and record the serial number. These precautions can help you prove the bike is yours if it is stolen and recovered.