U-lock it, or they’ll do it for you

U of W security deems certain bike locks insufficient

Having a flimsy lock can cause stress, but so can having a surprise one added on. Leif Norman

Security for bicycles at the University of Winnipeg used to come in the form of a little yellow flag attached to anything that wasn’t a U-lock, telling you your bike is not safe. Last year, U of W security upped the protection ante by adding their own steel U-lock to as many potential theft cases as possible. This means anyone using a wire lock on their bike could end up having to go to the security office and reclaim their own bicycle.

Chris Rasick, security supervisor at U of W, said this is much less of a hassle than having to replace a stolen bike.

“Some wire locks can be ripped apart with your hands in a few seconds – you don’t even need tools,” he said.

Although the policy protects students from potential theft, University of Winnipeg Students’ Association vice-president internal Courtney Maddock said it may not be ideal.

“The point is to educate people, and it’s making students realize perhaps their locks aren’t efficient, but the approach isn’t necessarily the greatest,” she said.

Maddock expressed concern that the system used might not be making people happy.

“General education, talking to students, putting up signs, [and] word of mouth” would be more effective than the system in place, she said.

The UWSA is uncomfortable with the fact that security is locking students’ bikes without asking them for permission.

Rasick said some people have asked not to be flagged or locked up in the future, but with over 2,000 bikes on campus, it can be tricky to comply.

Brian Peake, a U of W graduate and avid cyclist, said although U-locks are safer, he sometimes still uses a wire lock because of the convenience. Peake was annoyed last year when he found a bright yellow tag on his bike.

“All it did, in my opinion, was draw attention to my bike,” he said. “University students are adults who should have the freedom to make up their own minds about which lock they use.”

Rasick said U of W is in a high-risk area for theft, but since the initiative started a few years ago, bicycle theft has decreased about 42 per cent.

Aubrey Kehler, assistant director of security services at the University of Manitoba, said bicycle theft is not as serious a problem at the university.

“The situation at U of W is different than the University of Manitoba’s because of the geographic location,” she said. “There are pros and cons to the policy, but if theft has been decreased by 42 per cent then there is some progress.”

Published in Volume 64, Number 5 of The Uniter (October 1, 2009)

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