Where can one safely park a bike in civic?

thy_dungeonman said :

zorro29 said :

Yes, cos a car is /just/ as easy to steal and sell-off without detection as a bike….some bikes costing over $10k.

Agree with previous comments – don’t park your performance bike in the city.

I use my work bike parking at nights/weekends…but I remember they have bike lockers (that look like little boxes) near the bus interchange…still wouldn’t think they’re that secure but definitely better than parking at a standard bike post…

Unfortunately the bike in question is an electric bike, since I wanted to get in and out of the city without a cab, car or bus, and I don’t live nearby. surely there is somewhere secure to lock it even if it costs money.

Ah yeah, that’s a b*ugger – I had an electric bike for a little while and they’re heavy and difficult to park in standard bike parking. I’d still try the lock up boxes on Bunda St as a first stop.

Melbourne has a bike locker place where you pay to park (or even store long term) your bike safely and securely (various locations) – with the number of cyclists in Canberra, they should get that. 🙂

(or one of those mega-awesome automatic systems in Japan…just cos they’re awesome)

How about in front of or somewhere around the Police Station? Just make sure you’re not under the influence when you go to pick it up 🙂

I love all the optimists chiming in with responses to this one – they obviously haven’t been burnt before.

Trust me – I’ve lived in this town for many a year and rode bikes in it for decades. I’ve had my fair share of bikes stolen from me and I’ve seen what drunk/bored/drug-f#$ked/naughty miscreants do to bikes at night in the city.

Your bike will get vandalised and/or stolen at some point if you park it out in an open public location overnight. This is even more likely to happen if you try to hide it away in a hard to see/isoloated location.

Assume that it is going to happen and prepare as best you can. Don’t assume that it’s a lovely little wonderland out there where people will respect someone else’s property – that sort of idea is a fallacy.

Seriously, the best thing to do is to just use a bike that you don’t really care about for this purpose. At least that way it won’t be too enticing to others and it won’t be too devastating to you if actually it does get nicked.

Here’s a few little items on the topic worth a read…

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/cyclists-taken-for-a-ride-20130706-2pj7u.html

http://www.police.act.gov.au/biketheft

Have you considered the area around the South East of London Circuit? Constitution Ave etc?

Isolated on one side by Parkes Way, and has no houses, pubs, or universities nearby. That’s where i would assume there would be the least “drunken” foot traffic.

Places where i would avoid is anywhere north of Akuna St, particularly any block leading up towards braddon maccas, or on mort/lonsdale/northborne. I’d also avoid parking anywhere near (or leading towards) ANU. Someone reasonably organised goes around with bolt cutters and swipes all the bikes every so often…. Particularly around Union Court/University Ave.

thy_dungeonman said :

zorro29 said :

Yes, cos a car is /just/ as easy to steal and sell-off without detection as a bike….some bikes costing over $10k.

Agree with previous comments – don’t park your performance bike in the city.

I use my work bike parking at nights/weekends…but I remember they have bike lockers (that look like little boxes) near the bus interchange…still wouldn’t think they’re that secure but definitely better than parking at a standard bike post…

Unfortunately the bike in question is an electric bike, since I wanted to get in and out of the city without a cab, car or bus, and I don’t live nearby. surely there is somewhere secure to lock it even if it costs money.

Why don’t you ask concierges at some of the hotels or serviced apartments in town if they will take it for you for a fee?

Just be aware that if the reason you want to take your bike is so you can have a few drinks, and cycle home instead of driving, that this is illegal. Your bike (or horse for that matter!) is considered a vehicle, and if you’re breathalysed and over the limit while riding it, you’ll be charged.

I think a quiet corner of a secure car park is probably your best bet. At least there you’re only likely to have people returning to their own cars seeing your bike, instead of random passers by.

Well firstly, if you bike, you’ll still need to keep below 0.05. So you don’t gain any advantage their, you’re just less likely to be tested.

The safest option is to use a bike locker, which are free but must be booked through Canberra Connect. There’s apparently one on the corner of Mort and Bunda Sts according to the website but I can’t say I’ve noticed them in person. You need to supply your own padlock and it’s not beyond theft, but it’s out of sight, out of weather and less likely to come to harm.

Don’t find a quiet corner, there’ll be less traffic but that precisely what thieves like.

“Where can one safely park a bike in civic?”

One is talking funny these days, isn’t one?

zorro29 said :

Yes, cos a car is /just/ as easy to steal and sell-off without detection as a bike….some bikes costing over $10k.

Agree with previous comments – don’t park your performance bike in the city.

I use my work bike parking at nights/weekends…but I remember they have bike lockers (that look like little boxes) near the bus interchange…still wouldn’t think they’re that secure but definitely better than parking at a standard bike post…

Unfortunately the bike in question is an electric bike, since I wanted to get in and out of the city without a cab, car or bus, and I don’t live nearby. surely there is somewhere secure to lock it even if it costs money.

There are various nooks and crannies in the underground car park of the Canberra Centre where I’m sure you could find something to wrap a chain around. Should be reasonably safe under there. Most bike vandalism and theft is an opportunity crime of someone who happens to be walking past and is either drunk or too lazy to walk home.