An electric bike is a valuable thing to leave on a street. The good news is that thieves look for easy targets, and a simple routine makes your bike a much harder one.
Use two good locks
Use a D-lock through the frame and a solid street stand, plus a second lock of a different type (a heavy chain or a folding lock) for the front wheel. Two different locks need two different tools. In the UK, look for locks tested by Sold Secure: their Gold and Diamond ratings are the ones worth paying for in a city.
Lock smart
- Lock to something that cannot be cut or lifted: a fixed stand, not a thin railing or a sign post.
- Keep the lock off the ground and fill the inside of the D-lock, so there is no room for a jack or bolt cutters.
- Park where people pass by and where CCTV covers the stand.
- Vary where you park if you leave the bike at the same place every day.
Take the battery with you
If your bike has a removable battery, take it with you when you park for more than a few minutes. A bike without a battery is far less attractive to a thief, and it keeps the battery warm in winter.
At home
Bikes are stolen from sheds, garages and shared hallways as well as from the street. Use a ground anchor in the shed or garage, keep the door locked, and do not leave the bike visible from the street. Check that your home insurance covers bikes at home and away, and for what value.
Read your insurance conditions
Many bike and home insurance policies set conditions, for example a minimum lock rating, locking to an immovable object, or keeping the bike in a locked building overnight. Read the policy wording before you rely on it: a claim can be refused if the conditions were not met.
Charge and store the battery safely
Use the charger supplied with the bike, and do not charge a damaged battery. The Office for Product Safety and Standards publishes advice on avoiding e-bike battery fires.
Register and record
Write down your frame number and take photos of the bike. Register it for free on a national bike register such as BikeRegister, which police use to return recovered bikes. A small GPS tracker hidden in the frame can help too.
A two-minute routine
Two locks, a fixed stand, battery in your bag, frame number on file. It becomes second nature within a week. Read more in the City Journal.
This guide is general information for riders in the UK. Rules and product details can change, so check GOV.UK and each bike's specifications before you buy.