I have mixed feelings about articles like this. There is good practical advice in there, but it's basically a compilation of adverts while failing to ask why is bike theft so widespread - and no, it's not the fault of students using cheap locks like the article implies - and why do most constabularies seem to do little to police it? Instead, they're far more likely to put out victim-blaming stalls and act as free salespeople for the BikeRegister data broker.
Students: as cycle thefts soar, here’s how to protect your bike
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NNN
in reply to MJ Ray • • •They recommend angle-grinder resistant U-locks, then say they found some U-locks for $30.
No.. there are no angle-grinder-resist locks under about $200. If you don't mail-order, it's $250-$350. Asking freshmen to buy a $350 lock for their $450 bike is a tough ask.
Having worked on campus, my advice is: get a folding bike, like Decathlon/BTwin/Zizzo/Dahon, & keep it in your room. With quick-release pedals, you can slide it under the bed (may need to raise the bed a couple inches).
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MJ Ray
in reply to NNN • •Maybe they found some $30 U-locks that some scammer says is angle-grinder resistant.
I locked my bike up outside the dorm kitchen window and outside office windows for a year, then a student house shed replaced the dorm. It wasn't stolen. But that was long ago. These days, I agree with getting a folding bike now and finding a way to take it in, such as sliding it under the bed.
NNN
in reply to MJ Ray • • •Sadly, I had my commuter bike stolen last year from outside the Humanities & Science buildings, during the workday :( .
It had a Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit lock, which was top-shelf, but predated the angle grinder resist wave of locks. The bike was a Trek MT3400-disc, which is only $150 used.
I replaced the lock with an OnGuard Rocksolid, but that cost more than replacing the bike.