London wall car park

[leemo]

I dont have secure parking at work so I have been using the manned car park under London Wall. How secure is it?

I've felt comfortable leaving my old 3-speed there double d-locked for the last 6 months. Thing is Im missing my 2009 sirrus elite and am thinking of starting to commmute on that again. The sirrus would be not the best but among the better bikes that are in the car park. It a little scratched here and there but in pretty good nick really.

I'd be using two d-locks: an oldish On Guard Brute with 16mm shackle and a Kryptonite Evo 4 with 14mm shackle. Plus the wheel skewers have keyed heads (pin head). The components on the bike are low end shimano but it is a good frame with carbon fork.

Should I take the sirrus or leave it at home and continue on the old 3-speed?

I have some cycle insurance although it would only payout £400 leaving me about £200 short of replacement costs.

 

[Hawk]

It's really a question of choice, no one can quantify the exact risks involved and say "you're better off doing this".

Safety advice for cyclists also suggests that you might want two different types of lock as bike thieves are less likely to carry tools to deal with more than one type of lock. So I'd certainly use both D-locks if you have that option available (leave them in the car park, no need to ride with them every day I guess?) but also consider a chain lock?

If you do buy another lock to keep at the car park, you could maybe go for a Sold Secure MOTORCYCLE lock, the sold secure standard for motorcycles is substantially higher than for bikes, I believe.

Ultimately, if someone wants your bike enough they will be able to get it but leaving it in a manned car park and with excess security on it is probably good enough.

 

[Hawk]

Come to think of it, if it's in a manned car park, maybe the best option for added security is an alarm. There are products out there that will attach to your frame and release a loud alarm noise if they are moved. This would probably be ideal for attracting attention in a manned car park

 

[sabian92]

Low end components or not if a bike looks alright it's a potential theft waiting to happen. Thieves generally see a bike and if it looks shiny, they're tempted to nick it. Personally I'd keep using your old 3 speed - i know you miss your good bike but you'll miss it whole lot more if it's nicked!

 

[Norm]

I use that one when I have to go into town on the motorbike. It seems to be pretty well manned, although the route up from the bike parking to the road isn't that far, but I doubt many would wander through there on scouting missions.

As said above, risk is a dangerous thing to suggest or manage, a chance in a million still happens to five or six people a day in London, but I wouldn't be too worried about using it for a bike.

 

[leemo]

Got in to the car park this morning, locking up my 3 speed and out of the corner of my eye I see a 2009 sirrus elite, same as mine! 'twas double d-locked too. It does seems well manned so I think I shall have a word with the attendants to see whether they have had any bicycle thefts - if not I think I'm going to chance it. Yes I would be annoyed if I lose 200 quid insurance excess if its stolen, but on the other hand there's no point having a 600 hundred quid bike just sitting in the shed day in day out either.

 

[defy-one]

I work directly above that car park - it is manned 24 x 7, but I remember about 10 years ago coming back to my car around midday to find a fat man having sex with a slim young woman in the car NEXT TO MINE !!!!!

Be careful out there :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[leemo]

We'll I've been putting my decent bike in there, well locked, for a couple of weeks now and so far so good. Unless a bike is just cable locked and can be easily cropped I think that theives have easier pickings.

And having been on the old 3 speed for 6 months its so nice to be on the decent bike again; almost like getting a new bike!

 

[Spark]

That's pretty much the motto I have, if there are easier/better targets even from a quick glance then you're laughing.

 

[defy-one]

Never seen scumbags walking around down there except for that one incident lol.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[HannahB]

Hi there! I didn't even know cycle parking existed there, but am keen to try it out, as my new office doesn't have secure cycle parking. Is the access via the main ramp down from London Wall? Is it clear what to do and where to go as a cyclist e.g. do I take a ticket? Are the cycle stands clearly signposted? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help