Keeping your bike safe: lock it up!

August 22, 2024

Sadly bike theft is on the rise. Even when parking your bike in the Nottingham Cycle Parks, always make sure you park and lock your bike securely.

Firstly, it’s always best to use two locks
Make sure at least one lock is a D-lock (or U-lock) as this is more secure (we recommend at least Silver standard).

Always lock the frame (not just the wheel!) to a cycle stand – lock both wheels and the frame
If you’re using a D-lock (or U-lock), it’s better to lock the bike around the bottom bracket or seat post rather than over the top tube, where the thief can get at it easily
Make the lock as difficult to access as possible by filling the space inside the lock with as much bike and stand as possible.

Lower racks:

Upper racks:

Pull the rack out all the way, and push down to lower it
Place your front wheel into the rack and roll the bike upwards until your whole bike is in the rack
Lift the rack back up
Secure your bike with locks, following the guidance above
Push the rack back into place, as far as it can go.

Choose a busy area with CCTV, if possible
Lock your bike in the middle of lots of other bikes
Always secure your bike to a fixed, immovable bike rack. Do not park illegally (on trees, railings, lamp posts)
Don’t lock your bike right outside places you’ll clearly be for a long time (e.g cinema)
If you know it’s a high theft-risk area, take an extra lock
Be wary of locking your bike in the same location day after day if it’s publicly visible
Consider signing up to Nottingham Cycle Parks and park your bike in over 20 locations across the city and neighbouring borough areas.

Consider marking your bike to make it recognisable
Take photographs of the bike, including any distinctive marks or features on it just in case
Register your bike on a property database – if you love it, log it!

Please be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the Police. For more information, take a look at advice on bike safety from Nottinghamshire Police