Outline:

1. San Francisco Bicycle theft facts
   1. 4 million dollars’ worth of bikes are stolen in San Francisco each year
   2. 1 bike is stolen every 3 hours in San Francisco
2. Things you can do to prevent bicycle theft:
   1. Actually locking your bike
   2. Invest in a good lock
   3. Locking it using a proper method
      1. Discuss method advocated by Sheldon Brown
   4. Park your bike next to a nicer bike
   5. Personalize your bike
   6. Parking in a visible spot
   7. Mindful where you lock up
3. Things you can do if you get your bike stolen:
   1. File a police report
   2. Register to BikeIndex.org
   3. Post to Craigslist
   4. Check flea markets, second hand stores
   5. Insurance claim
   6. Spread the word
4. Conclusion sentence

Write-Out:

According to an article from ABC News posted in 2016, approximately 4 million dollars’ worth of bikes are stolen in San Francisco each year.

The article also stated that 1 bike is stolen every 3 hours in San Francisco and many of them are never recovered because they’re being take apart quickly and the parts are being sold.

Though bicycle theft is a big issue in this city, I’m going to talk about some things you can do to prevent your bike from being stolen and what to do if your bike does get stolen.

So to prevent your bike from being stolen, one of the most important things you can do is actually locking your bike. Many people tend to trust the world too much and think they can leave their bike outside a store if you’re just going in for a second or just forget to lock their bike in general, regardless it’s very important to always lock up your bike if your separating from it out in the world.

Invest in a good lock. As we know, cable locks are known for not being effective and being the easiest to cut. More commonly used are steel U-locks, which are a bit expensive but in the end, is less expensive than replacing an entire bike.

You should also lock your bike using a proper method. One popular method that was encouraged by a famous bicycle expert, Sheldon Brown, suggests locking just the back wheel to the bike rack, using a U-lock so that its positioned somewhere inside the back triangle of the frame. As seen in the photo.

This method is liked because it locks the back wheel and the frame, even though you’re technically not locking up the frame.

Though this is not the only way to lock your bike, it is a popular and useful method.

Another strategic move is parking your bike next to a nicer looking bike. Unfortunately, you will never be able to 100% secure your bicycle, but you can at least make your bike look less appealing to a potential thief.

You can also personalize your bike so that is becomes more recognizable. Its less likely for a thief to steal it and it if does get stolen, it will be easier for people or police to recognize it.

Parking in a visible spot is also important if your nearby to your bike. This is pretty self-explanatory but if someone tries to mess with your bike, you’ll be able to easily see and confront them.

Lastly, be mindful where you lock up. Stick with designated bike racks that are cemented in the ground opposed to headless parking meters, sign posts, or chain link fences.

If unfortunately, you follow all these guidelines and your bike still gets stolen, here are a few things you can do.

First, report the theft by filing out a police report with the bike’s serial number or photos you have. You may think it’s pointless but stolen bicycles are sometimes recovered to the police department and without any documentation they can’t be returned to their owners.

You can also register with BikeIndex.org which is the most widely used bicycle registration service in the world. According to their website, they, “ensure that law enforcement, bike shops, individuals, and everyone in between has the information they need to help reunite you with your bike.” It’s simple, secure, and free.

You can also post that your bike was stolen on Craigslist in the bikes section for possible information or tips.

You can check local flea markets, pawn-shops or other second-hand stores. Any place that sells used bicycles is a potential place your bike could’ve ended up.

There is also the option of filing an insurance claim. Sometimes stolen bicycles are included in home insurance policies so it doesn’t hurt to check.

Finally, be sure to spread the word to your friends, family, and followers on social media so that they can be on the lookout for your bike too.

So although bicycle theft is extremely common in San Francisco, and is sometimes inevitable, I hope hearing this information was useful and will benefit you all at some point in the future.

Sources:

https://bikeindex.org

http://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2015/11/20/first-steps-what-to-do-when-your-bike-gets-stolen/

http://www.complex.com/sports/2012/06/10-ways-to-prevent-your-bike-from-getting-stolen/

http://abc7news.com/news/san-francisco-police-target-bicycle-chop-shops/1471296/

Comment on rehearsals:

I chose to do voice memos of my rehearsals because I feel I am able to perform more naturally as opposed to video rehearsals. Through my experience, I found it took a lot of trial and error to be happy with my results but I also realized that if I mess up, it’s possible and okay to keep going and work with it.