Green Daily

When you lock up your bicycle in public, do you use a U-Lock? A chain? A plain ol' cable lock?

In this new StreetFilms video, hosts Hal Ruzal (a mechanic at a bike shop) and Kerri Martin (an employee at a bike church) walk around a city street and "grade" anonymous bike owners based on their lock-up jobs. For instance, a bike with the frame, both wheels, and the seat locked gets an "A," while a bike on which the quick-release front wheel is easily accessible receives a lowly "D."

The hosts are light-hearted and seem to know their stuff, and the advice Ruzal gives is helpful (and his kooky, free spirited attitude is refreshing, though his voice can get a little grating by the end of the film). He even points out the price of certain mistakes - literally. ($50 bucks to buy a new bicycle seat, 100 for a nice new wheel). And, uh, if you happen to be looking for a career in bicycle theft, you'll certainly know the right tools to use after watching this video (all the more reason to lock up tight!)

The film is a follow-up from a similar one produced five years ago. While Hal admits that bicyclists have gotten smarter at locking up, there are still simple mistakes being made.