When the weather warms up — we’re pretty sure that will happen someday — more UW students, faculty and staff enjoy commuting and exploring the campus by bike. Unfortunately, that usually means that the number of bike thefts grows, too.
Even though we’re still feeling the wind chill, we’ve seen an earlier crop of bike thefts this year. In the first two months of the year, 15 UW community members have reported that their bike was stolen from someplace on campus.
Keeping your bike safe is important to us. Follow these best safety practices to keep your bike safe and ready for a spring ride.
1. Register and Identify
Register your bike. Knowing your serial number makes it easier to return your bike to you if it ever gets lost or stolen and then recovered. Recovery does happen!
If your serial number has worn off or the bike never had a serial number, engrave an owner ID on your bike. Use an engraving tool to apply an owner ID, such as your driver’s license number (never use your social security number). Engraving tools can be borrowed from the UWPD. Call 206-543-0507 to learn more.
2. Lock
In the time it takes for you to attend a class or grab a cup of coffee, a bike thief could be pedaling away. Even if you’re making a brief stop, lock up your bike.
- Use a U-lock. The vast majority of bikes stolen on campus are locked with weaker cable locks. Investing in a good lock is worth it to keep your bike. U-locks are not invincible, but they do require more and sawing through them can attract attention.
- Lock your bike correctly. Secure the lock through at least one wheel and the frame. Locking a quick-release wheel (but not the frame) to a rack puts your bike at greater risk of theft.
- Lock to a stationary object that cannot be cut. UW has more than 7,800 spaces at bike racks across campus. Please don’t lock your bike to a railing or a tree.
- Check into getting access to a bike room, locker or house.
Several UW buildings have secure bicycle rooms for use by building occupants, and most residence halls provide bicycle storage in designated bicycle rooms. Access to bike rooms in non-residential buildings should be coordinated through that building’s Building Coordinator. Access to residence hall bike rooms should be coordinated through Housing and Food Services or with the hall’s front desk.
UW also has 11 shared secure bike houses and more than 600 individual lockers that can be rented on an annual basis.
3. Report
- Call 911. If you see suspicious activity around bike racks, give us a call. This is the most frequent way we catch thieves in the act.
- Make a police report when your bike is stolen. If your bike is stolen on campus, you can report online or call UWPD’s non-emergency number, 206-685-8973. If your bike is stolen in the City of Seattle, for bicycles worth $500 or less, use the Seattle Police Department’s online form. For bicycles worth more than $500, call the Seattle Police Department non-emergency line at 206-625-5011. You can also mark your bike stolen on Bike Index.
- Make an anonymous tip. If you know something about a crime, but wish to remain anonymous, you can call the UWPD on its tipline at 206-685-8477.
Remember to follow UW bicycle rules, and have a safe ride!