that's about as good as you can do. just lock to solid things and lock next to poorly-locked bikes 
2010-12-25 22:07:07
9
Bike Theft in Oakland/Duquesne University?
Im new to the PGH area, living in Oakland and attending school at Duquesne University. Im just curious how common bike theft is in the area. I've got a Kryptonite NY u-lock and a cable lock but I still worry about losing my bike while Im at school. I leave my bike inside my bedroom at night/when Im home in the day.
2010-12-25 21:34:32
One thing I would do is not park on Forbes. There are three rivers racks up on campus, some by the library as well as other random places on campus. There's also a rack right inside the locust garage. If you don't already, take the time to ride your bike up the hill if your superman, or if your a regular human take it up in the Forbes ave public garage elevator and park it up ON campus. Get to know they security people, a wave will do, and they'll notice if someone who isn't you is messing with your bike. The racks are over flowing in nice weather on Forbes and people come and go but there's no security down there.
2010-12-25 22:15:43
Awesome, thanks for the tips!
2010-12-25 23:03:34
It's a somewhat different environment but farther up on Forbes, I've been locking my bike on the Pitt campus every day from August until last week. My original single U-lock seemed like it could use a little supplement if I was leaving my bike there all day, every day, so I now have two locks on a coat-hanger style rack, locking the front wheel, frame, and rack with the one and the back wheel and frame with the other.
I hate to be so mercenary about it, but Noah's right about strategic location for locking next to a poorly-secured bike. Like the joke about going hiking in bear country, you don't have to outrun the bear, just your hiking buddy.
2010-12-26 18:20:13
Some more locking tips here:
http://www.streetfilms.org/hal-grades-your-bike-locking/#more-435
And in at least one archived article online in the UrbanVelo magazine.
If you're new to the area, definitely try to pick up one of the Pittsburgh Bicycle maps: that'll help you get a jump start on in-city routing. Overall its a safe city, but you may want to learn a few places to avoid at night in the summertime. I work near the hockey arena & Duquesne and find the "jail trail" (officially named the Eliza Furnace trail ) convenient -- not counting the hilly part of your campus.
Welcome to da Burgh & thanks for bringing a bike!
2010-12-26 21:45:09
You have the potential to do a commute that combines the best of two awesome worlds. A, Oakland westward via EFT/Jail Trail, so virtually no traffic (except for the construction detour by Bates); and B, developing superhuman strength by carrying at least yourself if not also a bike up the 212 steps from Second/S.10th/Armstrong Tunnel right up into the DuqU campus.
2010-12-27 01:44:01
My sense is that bike theft is a lot worse in Oakland than around Duq U.
2010-12-29 12:50:58
There are bike racks in the Mercy Hospital garage - right across the street from the edge of Duquesne.
2011-01-05 18:15:25