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04-28-97

08-14-95



First of all, be selective choosing where you secure your bike. Access rails and ramps have been provided near the entrances to University buildings to help people with disabilities enter those buildings. The visually impaired use them as a guide to the door, and people with impaired mobility use them for support and balance.

Bicycles chained to access rails or left on ramps may prevent people from getting into the building, and students with disabilities have been injured in falls over carelessly-placed bicycles. Even under the best of circumstances, it can be a challenge for some students to get around campus - please don't add to their difficulty. Never chain a bike to an access rail or park it on a access ramp.

THEFT PREVENTION
  • Bike theft is a nationwide problem, particularly on university campuses. OU is not immune to this problem.
     
  • Bicycles are among the most frequently stolen types of property at OU.
     
  • Most of the bicycles stolen at OU were either:
     
    • UNLOCKED or
       
    • had been secured with
      POOR QUALITY LOCKS
      at the time of the theft.
       
  • It takes only a few seconds for a thief to get away with your bike when it is left unlocked.
     

Here are some suggestions which may help you in preventing a bike theft:

Cable or Chain Lock
1. Use a cable or chain
at least 3/8" in diameter.
2. Use a key lock with a 3/8" hardened
shackle with heel and toe locking.
3. Pull up all slack in the cable or
chain and make sure the lock
is as high off the ground as possible.

U-Locks
1. Bike with quick release wheels
- release the front wheel
and include this with
the rear wheel and frame
 
2. Bike without quick release wheels
- secure the lock through
both tire and frame
 
  • ALWAYS secure the bike to a bike rack! If your bike is not secured to a solid object, all a thief has to do is pick it up and carry it away or toss it into a car trunk or van. This has happened MANY times before - don't let it happen to you.
     
  • Spend at least 10% of the cost of your bike on security. If you have a $1,000 bike you should spend more on your lock and chain or other security equipment than if your bike cost only $100. In any event, consider how much it will cost to REPLACE your bike when deciding how much you can afford to spend PROTECTING your bike.
     
  • CHOOSE carefully where and how you park your bike. Choose well-lighted, public places. Bike thieves prefer that you park in dark less-traveled areas; don't cooperate.
     
  • REGISTER your bike at the OU or Norman Police stations. This provides important information to help recover your bike if it is stolen, and helps the police get it back to you if it is recovered. Bike registration is FREE at OU and Norman and only takes a few minutes.
     
  • REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY - particularly persons loitering around bike racks. We just LOVE to catch bike theives. Help us get them before they get your bike.
     
Remember, no matter how strong your locking system, if you don't lock it - it won't help. Lock your bike. Even if you're only going to be away from it "for a minute" — that's more than enough time for a bike thief.

If you have questions regarding bicycle safety and security contact the OUPD Crime Prevention Unit at 325-2864, or send e-mail to Crime Prevention.

Portions of the text on bike security were obtained from the University of Wyoming Police Department WWW site.

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