There's a proven way to stop bike theft. So why are so few cities doing it?

Bike theft isn't just a nuisance. It's a serious problem plaguing almost every city in the world, and it stifles bike-friendliness, discourages people from riding, fuels crime and undermines our sense of community. Yet almost no cities are doing anything to seriously tackle the problem.

Almost. One city in the world has come up with a way to combat bike theft that is staggeringly successful. The idea has cut bike theft in half in some neighourhoods, and kept theft down year after year. It's an idea so successful that you'd think people in every city would be scrambling to adapt it for their own use. But the idea has been frustratingly slow to spread.

In this video, I go deep on bike theft and look at its surprisingly broad ramifications and the reasons it has become such a stubborn urban problem. And I look at a program in Vancouver, Canada—a collaboration between the police, a company called 529 Garage and an army of community members—that has found so much success that its proponents are desperate to get other cities on board. But very few have done so, for reasons that might surprise and infuriate you.

Project 529

McGill Study on bike theft

Shifter Memberships are here! If you'd like some bonus content while also supporting this channel, please consider becoming a member.

YouTube memberships

The Ultimate Guide to Bike Commuting and Urban Cycling, A Shifter Course is designed to give newbies the knowledge and confidence to make the bike a bigger part of their lives

A huge thanks to my sponsors this year. They support this channel, so please support them. They also make amazing products that I use every day and endorse without hesitation.

I’ve been riding Priority bikes for a number of years. I love their low-maintenance, belt-drive design, and they offer good quality at a decent price. They signed on as a sponsor for my YouTube channel several years after I started riding them.

My daily summertime bike is the zippy and fun Priority Eight

With its fenders, hub dynamo lights and durable Enviolo internal hub gearing system, I’ve happily ridden the Priority Continuum Onyx through many Canadian winters

Abus Bike Locks. If you’re riding in a city, you need a goodquality bike lock, and you can’t do much better than Abus and their diverse lineup of locks

My book FrostbikeThe Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling

Here is some of the gear I’m currently using. Some of these are affiliate links.

Bike LightsI love dynamo lights that are built into a bike and powered by your pedalling or the wheel’s movement, but if you need aftermarket lights, Lumos offers a number of great options. Their Firefly lights are simple and bright

HelmetIf I’m riding for sports, such as mountain biking or road bike, I like Lumos helmets because they are comfortable and wellbuilt, and you can also easily attach lights to stay as visible as possible on roads

BellI love the sound and quality of the Japanesemade Crane Bells

SaddleYes, they can be pricey, but I’ve joined the ranks of people who think the extra cost for the quality of a Brooks Saddle is worth it, in both durability and comfort

PanniersMy everyday workhorse pannier is Two Wheel Gear’s Pannier Backpack Convertible 2.0

PedalsI’ve not experienced highperformance pedals adding much extra value to my daily riding experience, but these lightup pedals from Redshift are bright, keep me visible at night and grab lots of attention

Phone mountI use Peak Design’s mobile system, including the Universal Bar Mount on my handlebars every day, which I also bring it with me when I travel for bike rentals and bikeshare bicycles

BuffKeeps your face, neck and head warm in the winter, and keeps the sun off in the summer

Follow me!

Bluesky: tombabin.bsky.social

Threads(@tombabin@threads.net)

#cycling #bike #commuting