Dorthy, we aren't in Kansas anymore
Thankfully, the part of the country I live in is the lovely south. Our "City" of Charlotte, you can lock up your bike with a cable lock on the main streets of the city. I have seen decent bikes left overnight outside bars when their owners take the long (often stumbly) walk home to be able to retrieve their lovely bikes in the morning. UNTOUCHED.
In DC we didn't carry locks under $50. The normal price of a lock was around $100 and came with a warranty, stern instructions of use and a "good luck." Messengers carried around huge chains around their waist during the day as the wrong lock might cost them their bike during their next drop off.
While blog hopping this morning I came across a story about a bicycle shop owner, in Toronto, that had in his multiple warehouses over 2,300 stolen bikes. Now what the hell would you think he is going to do with that? He claims he was keeping them for when gas went over $10 a gallon. Would he sell the cheap Walmart bikes for $600 a pop? And the bike shop quality bikes for twice the MSRP?
I am interested to see what happens as the dollar gets tighter and gas prices go up. Will the theft of bikes incline or will locks be included with each bike purchase? "You can upgrade this cable lock for a Krptonite U-lock for $39.99." Personally I have enough bikes, tires and parts to keep me running for awhile. IF that time ever comes.
What is that famous quote that critical mass cyclist love.... "The revolution will NOT be motorized."
