Three of the biggest fears that cyclists have to face as they make their carbon-conscious commutes are bad weather, getting mowed down by a motorist, and returning to the bike rack after work to find that your bike has been stolen. It's enough to ruin your entire workweek. Not only did someone choose to violate that special bond between you and your wheels, but now you're going to have to find a new source of locomotion.To combat the problem, some groups like StreetFilms are working on educating bikers to do a more thorough job when locking up their bikes. Others, like Dutch cyclists lobby group Fietsersbond, are busy teaching cyclists how to steal bikes. The idea is that by understanding how easy it is to steal a bike, riders will become more conscientious in their bike-locking techniques.
Bikes are the most common form of transportation in the Netherlands and about 700,000 of them get stolen each year. Because most people do a poor job locking up, cities like Amsterdam are a gold mine for petty thieves. The Fietsersbond class actually includes a lock-picking lesson from a "specialist."
Hmm. I say, you might as well take the course. Then, if someone steals your bike, at least you know how to boost someone else's so you can get home. Just kidding, anyone who's seen the neo-realist classic Bicycle Thieves understands the existential crisis that can ensue after a man's bike gets stolen. Actually, wasn't that also the topic of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure?
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