It’s important to make it as hard as possible for would-be bike thieves to steal your bike. We encourage bike owners to invest in a decent lock, and register their bikes with 529 Garage.
Using a bike lock
Choose the right lock and you’ll be far less likely to have your bike stolen. A good rule of thumb is that you should spend 10% of your bike’s value on a lock.
- Always lock your bike through your bike frame and the rear wheel to a solid object, preferably a solid bike stand.
- We recommend checking the independent security rating Sold Secure (Diamond, Gold, Silver or Bronze) before purchasing your lock, especially if your bike is high value.
- The stronger the lock the better. D-locks are usually the strongest, or there are also chain locks or foldable locks. Avoid flexible spiral cable locks – they’re easy to cut.
- The stronger the lock the better. D-locks are usually the strongest, or there are also hardened steel chain locks or foldable locks. Avoid flexible spiral cable locks and galvanised chain locks - they’re easy to cut.
A guide to bike locks
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D-lock
D-locks are made of heavy D-shaped steel bars. They’re generally the strongest lock of all, and worth the investment. The most secure way to use these on most bikes is to skewer them straight through the rear wheel, around the bike frame.
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Chain lock
Chain locks are flexible and made of solid steel links. The thicker the better for these locks, ideally 8mm plus.
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Foldable locks
Foldable locks are relatively strong, practical and flexible. They can be folded up nice and small, and usually come with a handy mounting pouch for easy carrying.
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Cable locks
Cable locks are easily cut and should not be used as a primary lock. They can be useful for securing your front wheel to help avoid wheel theft.
529 Garage registry
We've partnered with bike security platform 529 Garage – the world's largest community-powered bike recovery service. You can register your e-scooter too.
529 Garage is an online bike registry that is free and easy to use. It enables you to register your bike details, including photos, a description and serial number in minutes.
It means you have all your bike details if your bike is ever stolen, and helps Police return stolen bikes to their rightful owners.
You can buy 529 Garage tamper-resistant shield for your bike, with a unique code, from participating bike stores. This shield acts as a warning sign to thieves to back off because the bike is registered and Police will have no trouble identifying it's stolen.
Where to find the shields in Dunedin
Some of the other great advantages of registering your bike with 529 Garage:
- Your bike will be included in a secure nationwide database.
- If your bike gets stolen, you can use 529 Garage to send an app notification to the local 529 community and have all the details on hand to report the theft to the Police.
- If someone sees your bike, they can contact you anonymously through the app, or you can choose to display your contact information.
- 529 Garage makes it easy for Police to return your bike to you if it's found.
- You can use the database to check if a second-hand bike you're considering purchasing has been flagged as stolen.
Download the 529 Garage app
Visit the App Store (Apple) or the Google Play Store (Android) on your smartphone and download the 529 Garage app to register your bike now.
If you can't download the app, visit the 529 Garage Dunedin website.