Cycling on Campus and in York

Bicycles are amazing things. They carry things, and you, from A to B whilst also being amazingly good for your health, and the environment’s too. What more could you want from a two wheeled pedal powered vehicle? And a lot of the time, especially in York, it’s a quicker method of transport than a car or a bus. And so much cheaper.

York is arguably one of the best cities in the country for a cyclist to live in. The roads are wide, there are loads of well signposted, cycle paths/lanes, and the motorists respect you an awful lot more than in other parts of the country. But there are still problems, especially on campus where such a dense population of students happen to leave their bicycles around outside everyday. Theft is a problem, there’s no denying that, but we can help prevent it. The university and the environment officers are constantly working to tackle this problem. New bike sheds will be popping up like spring bulbs within a couple of months but, in the meantime, here’s some friendly advice to help you keep your bikes yours:

Locks:
There are loads of locks on the market. It’s really important to buy a good lock if you care about keeping your bike yours, especially if you spent a bit of money on it. But the main thing is, making sure it is locked. Even if you’re just popping into the bakery, lock your bike up first. This is a major deterrent and prevents opportunistic thieves from getting their mitts on your stuff.

Of course you can use a chain and a padlock, or a cable lock with a combination or a key, or a d-lock. We recommend, if your bike is worth a few bob, spending quite a few bob on your lock too, and they can be pricey. But as a general rule, spend about 20% of the bikes value on a lock. Really! The best ones are either heavy duty motorbike style locks, or gold rated D-locks. No lock can be guaranteed as completely theft proof but with a few pennies spent on them they can really flummox your average campus thief and provide a deterrent for opportunists.

How to lock your bike:
May sound daft, but it’s important to do it properly for all the obvious reasons. I think bullet points are called for:

  • Don’t just lock your bike to itself. Lock it to something.

  • Secure your bike to something secure. Drainpipes made of plastic, or bollards that are only three foot high don’t count. It needs to be something that won’t move and won’t break. Remember to be courteous.

  • Were you can, pass lock through the frame, a wheel and the secure fixture. If there is lots of spare lock still, double up on yourself, this makes breaking the chain more difficult.

  • If possible, don’t leave it locked in the same place for a very long period of time.

  • If you know you’re going to be away for some time try and put it in one of the secure cycle sheds which are provided on campus.

  • If you have anything on your bike that is attached by a quick release system make sure that they are secure too. This is especially important for front wheels and saddles. It isn’t uncommon for people to remove the saddle and take it with them wherever they go.

  • Make sure that any other removable items are carried with you (eg lights) and that any valuable items, even if they’re in a pannier, are removed.

 

How to code your bicycle:
Very simple to do. Could save you a lot of bother. So why not? A sticker or two on your bike saying ‘this has been coded’ acts as a deterrent to thefts, but also helps the police find the rightful owner of a bike. Simply put your postcode and house number on a clean dry part of your frame with a UV pen, preferably somewhere that isn’t handled all that often, say, under the frame, and then put stickers in a clearly visible place stating that your bike has been coded. Sorted!

Details:
It’s really important that you know your stuff about your bike, just in case it ever gets pinched. Write down every little thing about it. There’s a file below which is a form for you to fill in all the details you should have. Make sure that you know the make and model of your bike, the make and model of all accessories, and write down its serial number. 90% of bikes have a serial number and this is the best way to prove a bike is yours if it is recovered after theft. Look for your serial number:

  • underneath the bottom bracket.
  • behind the seat tube.
  • at the base of the front tube.
  • on the rear axel plate.
  • on one of the stays.
  • on the front tube.
  • above the crank.

 

What to do if the worst happens:
If your bike gets stolen, it’s horrible, especially if you need to be somewhere! Hopefully, if you follow the advice in this leaflet, that won’t happen but if it does, it’s REALLY important that you report it, and give as many details as possible to the police/campus security. Numbers can be found on the back of this leaflet.

Contacts:

  • Fulford Cycles - 98 Main Street, Fulford, 01904 620349 - Do student discount and have a fab recovery service.
  • York Cycleworks - 14 Lawrence St, 01904 626664 - Generally nice friendly shop.
  • York Police - 0845 6060247
  • Campus Security - 01904 (43)4444
  • CTC - www.ctc.org.uk - The biggest cycling organisation in the country and very helpful for info in general.

 

Page Created: 13th Jun, 2007
Last Updated: 1:00am on 1st Jan, 1970 by Matthew Knight