It's a miracle my e-bike wasn't stolen today
Posted by Electrical-Map-1500@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 36 comments
My bike was parked on 45th between Lex and 3rd in NYC, locked to one of those parking signs with the green pole. When I came back to my bike, my kryptonite lock was no longer attached to my bike and lying on the floor, and my bike was leaning up against the pole as I had left it. The thief apparently detached the pole from the base through the opening (I have no idea how) just enough to slide the lock out? I dunno, I'm still wrapping my head around what happened. Did someone scare the thief away mid-thievery? I'm just sooooo thankful my bike nor my lock were stolen. I'm sure if it was in a different neighborhood, my bike is gone.
Jedski89@reddit
If the lock was sitting on the ground locked, not attached to the bike, then chances are you just didn't lock your bike up properly. I know I've done it in the past, I forever pull on the bike to make sure it's properly secured now.
DanGears@reddit
This is the only logical answer based on OP description of how the lock was on the floor and the bike was still there. If someone lifted the pole up to release the bike, the bike lock would still be attached to the bike, not on the floor.
OP thought they locked their bike up, but didn't.
Crusttedbuddha@reddit
Most poles aren’t secured down which you can pull up
Ok_Armadillo_1336@reddit
To your point: I recently locked up to a bike rack, and as I was doing so, the entire rack just slid on the ground. It wasn't fixed to the ground, and the tubes of rack could have been disconnected with a wrench in seconds. SMH.
wlexxx2@reddit
you probably just absent mindedly did that yourself
possible?
wlexxx2@reddit
or they decided they could not start it, no key, fork locked or something
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
there's no key to start, they easily could have ridden off with it. hell, they could have ridden off with it without the power on.
wlexxx2@reddit
fluke!
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
🙏🏻
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
anything is possible, but highly improbable since i ALWAYS lock it out of muscle memory/habit.
Sea_Improvement_3766@reddit
Ya that's a super busy area. Probably a cop drove by.
slimypeters@reddit
What type or brand of ebike?
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
Ride1up roadster v3. Love this bike
WredditSmark@reddit
I got the V2, perfect bikes for NYC, rarely do I have to push it past 1PAS, but hitting maximum going over bridges is luxurious
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
i only ride on 1PAS. love the bike. it's my 2nd one...first was stolen sadly
sllikskills@reddit
That was David Blaine walking around, and just wanted to see if he still got it
Conscious-Salt-4836@reddit
Bike friendly places like certain areas of Chicago have the right kinds of racks to secure your bike. Still, I can’t see me locking and walking away from my ebike.
Conscious-Salt-4836@reddit
I wouldn’t leave an angry pitbull alone in NYC
TRAKRACER@reddit
I have two disc brake locks. A super heavy Vulcan lock(it adds 15lbs to my frame bag) and a diamond rated ulock. The disc brake locks are pretty loud
slacknsurf420@reddit
Probably someone was watching them and when the thief didn't have a key to start the bike it was glaringly obvious they were robbing
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
Or rather to unlock the ULock
TopRepulsive4766@reddit
Wow NYC. I can't imagine leaving an ebike unattended in a large city like that no matter how many locks I had.
But how about getting one of those loud, obnoxious alarms. They aren't overly expensive and they are really loud. That might help deter thieves in addition to the locks.
TrueNova332@reddit
I live a train ride from Boston and I want to do UberEats and DoorDash there but I don't trust people and knowing Boston there's probably no place to lock it up either
TopRepulsive4766@reddit
Could you maybe use a post (parking meter, lamp post, etc) or a railing to lock your ebike to?
TrueNova332@reddit
It would have to depend on where the restaurant is as some there's not much around though I also want to wait a bit as I'm using my crappy escooter as my ebike with tubeless tires has a flat and there's no holes in the tire so I'm going to try to pump it up again but I need tire sealant to do it so I'm doing UberEats around my city locally to make some money to buy some so I have it
LiamWolf5510@reddit
That’s wild 😳 honestly sounds like you got insanely lucky, NYC bike thieves are usually way more determined than that. Glad you still have your bike though.
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
Trust me, I know. This is my 3rd e-bike..😢
Laserdollarz@reddit
I wouldn't leave any bike alone in NYC without 3 locks tbh
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
yea thinking about getting a 2nd lock. any recommendations?
SSalloSS@reddit
A disc lock for the tire is really cheap and helps a ton
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
THAT is a brilliant idea! Getting one now
Laserdollarz@reddit
Kryptonite is a good brand and I have two. I would put a chain, a u-lock, and a folding lock for maximum security. You can't fully stop thieves, but you can make your bike really really annoying to free.
Obviously, the pole was the weak point here, and you should also consider the permanence of the object you are locking to in the future. My manager once told me to just lock up on the chainlink fence and I had to explain that I could cut through that fence with my pocket knife.
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
Looking into a Kryp. Fuhgettaboutit for the wheel
Fair-Discipline-1005@reddit
You are a very lucky man, do you know that? Probably someone scared the thief...😀👍
Electrical-Map-1500@reddit (OP)
I know!!! I’m counting my blessings right now. You have no idea. AND it getting rdy to downpour too
k-is-for-kate@reddit
OP i like to use a braided steel cable and a U lock. I loop the cable through the wheel, frame, and sometimes the pedal before attaching to the u lock and whatever im locking too. All that and taking the battery with me. Make it a pain and a half to steal