[paulcole]

I also ride a bike a lot in Portland, OR and have never had a bike stolen. Bike theft is not inevitable and there’s a lot you can do to minimize your risk.

Park it near other bikes. Lock it up properly with a good U-Lock (yes, these can be defeated but thieves are more likely to be opportunistic drug addicts than dorky guys with YouTube channels). Add a chain lock around the other tire if you’re super nervous. Don’t leave your bike outside overnight (locked up or not). Bring your bike into your home/apartment - even if your building has a bike room or bike parking area. Add your bike to your renter/homeowners insurance - this is not expensive and adds some peace of mind.

Yes, your bike might get stolen, but a lot of things might happen.

[Zuider]

If you live on the North American continent, you can register your bike at Project 529, which can help in retrieving a stolen bike or ensure you don't buy a stolen one.

https://project529.com/garage

Video on the same topic: There's a proven way to stop bike theft. So why are so few cities doing it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48V9Xtpgq9I

[paulcole]

I don’t even have to watch the video to tell you the answer when it comes to American cities: American cities don’t care about bikes. Many American cities (and American governments, at the local, state, and federal level) don’t care about much of anything, to be honest.

There’s a proven way to avoid putting innocent people to death by lethal injection (death penalty). There’s a proven way to eliminate the terror of medical bankruptcy. Why aren’t these things being done in America?