4. PROBLEM STATEMENT:
Government agencies found that over 731,286 Americans commuted by bicycle in 2010 and roughly 1.5
million bikes are stolen annually.
Bicycling is an increasing popular hobby in the United States, as well as a more prominent form of
consistent transportation. To prove this trend, the Department of Justice states that, “Between 1992 and
2006, bicycle sales have increased from 15.3 million to 18.2 million per year (an increase of roughly 20
percent)” (Bicycle Theft Statistics). Unfortunately, this trend has gone hand in hand with an increase in
bicycle thefts. The FBI indicates that roughly 1.5 million bikes are stolen in the U.S. each year, a number
that is climbing even as other types of property theft decline. These numbers are difficult to calculate,
however, because according to a Montreal survey, only 36 percent of victims will actually report the theft
to police.
JUSTIFICATION:
In order to justify our problem, our team researched bicycle commuting and theft in the United States
using online reports, articles, and forums. Through this research we discovered that hundreds of
thousands of Americans bike to work every day, and the number of bicycle commuters is rising. We also
found studies on bicycle theft indicating the majority of thefts occur from failure to use an effective lock or
any lock at all. The artifacts below illustrate our initial findings.
BICYCLE COMMUTING
Survey - U.S. Census Bureau1
Summary: The U.S. Census Bureau collected data on bicycle commuting in 375 cities across the United
States for the American Community Survey, a mandatory, ongoing community survey that samples small
populations across the country for government use. The data pulled was from the 2010 American
Community Survey.
Critique: The data pulled from the survey provides validity that many people bike to work daily, so any
bicycle thefts or injuries have the possibility of affecting hundreds of thousands of people, not including
recreational cyclists.
Data: The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey says that 731,286 people in the U.S.
commuted by bike in 2010 and the percent of bike commuters increased by 61.2% from 2000 to 2012.
Study - U.S. Department of Justice2
Summary: The Department of Justice collected data on United States bicycle sales.
Critique: The numbers reported indicate that more and more bikes are being bought annually by
American consumers, allowing one to assume that there is more bicycle use taking place, both in the
forms of commuting and recreation.
Data: The Department of Justice reports that between 1992 and 2006, bicycle sales in the U.S. increased
from 15.3 million units sold to 18.2 million units sold, roughly a 20% increase.
BICYCLE THEFT
Study - National Bike Registry3
5. Summary: The FBI compiled data on the number of instances of bicycle theft in the United States.
Critique: The data indicated that there are staggering numbers of bicycles stolen in the United States
every year, and that the number is rising even as other forms of property theft decline. College students
are also very likely to have their bicycles stolen.
Data:
1.5 million bicycles are stolen (roughly) in the United States each year.
A four-year college student has a 53% chance of having his or her bike stolen
Article - University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign4
Summary: The university noted bike theft as a problem and researched it on its campus, concluding that
students riding relatively inexpensive bicycles and parking them in areas with bike parking were most
subject to theft. They then offered various methods to help prevent theft, in attempt to prevent thefts on
campus.
Critique: The two excerpts from the methods to prevent theft listed below support our problem
statement. The artifacts illustrate the underlying causes of the problem, showing part of the reason why
so many bikes are stolen is because they are locked using poor locks or left unlocked.
Artifacts:
“Lock your bikes - Many people leave their bikes out with no lock at all and these are often picked up by
people looking merely for a quicker way home.”
“Lock your bikes using good locks - ...investing in a good lock when you start will save you money in the
long run because it will minimize the chances that your bike will get stolen.”
Article - Eric Jaffe5
Summary: Jaffe compiled statistics regarding bicycle theft into an article for the Citylab website in
response to a survey conducted in Montreal that found half of all active cyclists have their bikes stolen.
The eight statistics he compiled showed that bike theft is a serious problem, and not many people are
making significant efforts to resolve it.
Critique: These problems provided proof that bike theft is a serious issue that remains unaddressed in
our society today.
Artifacts:
“About half of all active cyclists have had their bikes stolen.”
“Only 2.4 percent of stolen bikes were recovered.”
“Only 37 percent of cyclists are willing to pay for better parking”
“Roughly 36 percent of riders report theft.”
Article - Bicycle Universe6
Summary: The article offers a multitude of methods to prevent bike theft and make it easier to recover
your bicycle if it is stolen in response to site visitors posting instances of theft.
Critique: The excerpts show that bike theft is often not due to the malintent of the thief but rather the
carelessness of the cyclist. The evidence supports the problem of bike theft in America by showing one of
its underlying causes as cyclists never locking their bikes.
Artifacts:
“Get a U-lock. The overwhelming majority of stolen bikes were locked with a cable or chain, or weren't
locked at all.”
“USE your U-lock. Of course this sounds like a no-brainer, but I can't count how many people (myself
included) who have lost bikes that they left unlocked ‘just for a minute.’”
6. Article - Bike Theft Statistics7
Summary: This article provides more statistics about bicycle theft and provides some ways to prevent
your bike from being stolen.
Critique: By giving more numbers regarding theft, this article proved that bike theft is indeed a problem
and shows that using a lock will greatly decrease theft.
Artifacts:
“Each year, between 800,000 and 2 million bicycles--worth some $50 million--are stolen.”
“48% of stolen bikes are recovered by law enforcement, but only 5% of stolen bikes are returned to
their owners.”
“Most stolen bikes are targeted for one simple reason--they were left unlocked and unattended, even if
‘only for a moment’”
Article - Campus Annual Security Report8
Summary: This article focused on one college campus (UC-Berkley) and the bike theft problem there. It
was compiled from data from the campus police.
Critique: The proportion between bike theft and all other kinds of theft gave some sort of a scale for the
rest of the numbers from other sources. Since other numbers we have provided have been nominal (with
no basis for comparison, not proving whether or not it is a relatively serious problem), we needed a
source that compared bike theft to other theft.
Artifacts:
Article - As Bike Thefts Rise, Registration Program Gears Up9
Summary: This source simply provided a statistic as to the increase of bicycle theft over 6 years in the city
of San Francisco. It was based on a city report.
Critique: The article showed that bike theft is not only a problem, but a growing one.
Artifacts: “As cycling increases in S.F., a city report estimates that bike thefts went up 70 percent from 2006
to 2012.”
BICYCLE SECURITY SURVEY RESULTS
Survey - Bicycle Security Survey
Summary: We conducted a survey of 10 questions regarding bicycle security via surveymonkey.com. The
following results are from the response of a sample population of 100 people consisting mostly of
members of various bicycle clubs and some high school and college students.
Critique: Holistically, the data collected supports our problem statement, and there are several specific
questions with notable data.
The first is question 3, which inquired the price of cyclists bikes. Over half of the responders said that the
7. bike they typically ride costs over $1,000, which makes the impact of theft even more significant.
Another notable question was question 4. Over one third of responders did not carry a lock, which
supports the problem of theft as a result of too few people utilizing bike locks.
Additionally, it is important to note that of the 21 responders who had their bikes stolen, 12 were because
of ineffective locks and the other 11 were as a result of the user not locking their bike at all.
Along with these important pieces of data, our open-ended question also provided important feedback.
We asked what people look for in a bike lock, and the responses gave extremely useful advice that will help
us when we move into the design phase of our project.
Artifacts:
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. Q10: What do you look for in a bike lock?
Light weight
theft proof design and material
I have two locks: a U-lock for maximum security and a lightweight retractable cable lock that fits in my
pocket. The cable lock can be easily defeated but is convenient to carry and prevents an impulse theft.
high security. no cable locks or crappy chains.
Small, light, easy to use
That it is very strong. Please feel free to email me as I just got back from 2 weeks in the Netherlands &
observed their bike locks. megesing17@gmail.com Maureen in Chicago
I bike for pleasure and put my bike inside my car enroute to bike rides
Security
I need to lock the wheels as well as the bike frame to something strong and stable.
combination because it is convenient. I own 5 locks, but not all combination.
Hardened steel (no cable).
Small, light, quick to use. Something to keep people honest.
Security, compact.
I guess price and appearance mostly, and ease of carry. Any lock in the world is only going to slow down
the very determined thief. So hopefully whatever I buy (if/when I buy) is intimidating enough looking to
make a potential thief look for an easier target.
Ease of use. Bike is in a hi vis location. My stolen bike was in my van which didn't lock.
Easily transportable, affordable, I know a cable might not be the most secure but hoping just having my
16. bike locked would deter a thief
weight and cost
I haven't needed a lock yet, and I'm not sure what type to purchase, probably a u-lock and cable lock
No loose space between the bike and the lock for a thief to pop open the lock. Thickness of
interwrapped cabling to deter theives from cutting the lock.
Lock both wheels to the frame and the frame to what ever I am Locking it to. This way the wheels
cannot be stolen from the bike. However, I rarely carry a lock because I am rarely in situation where I
need to lock up my bike.
Cheap
Security
combination and easy to carry
Bike Lock attributes: light weight, resistance to being cut, ease to carry with on bike Note 1: When I put
my bike on my car, I use multiple U-locks and heavy bike cables. Note 2: When I road ride, I never leave
my bike unattended. If riding alone, I don't leave it. If riding with a group, there are always group
members with the bikes. Stolen bikes are a REAL problem. Note #3: I have insurance on my road bike.
Note #4: When I tour loaded, I use a very light weight cable lock through the wheels and frame. Seems
people don't mess with a loaded touring bike. Pretty interesting. Note #5: I hope you innovate and
come up with a creative solution. I wish you well!
Small size strong.
not to bulky to carry, strong enough to not get cut into If I had the funds I would get a lock that insures
that if your bike gets stolen they will buy you a new bike because the lock was faulty
Resistance to being defeated. A long time needed to defeat it.
Enough security to deter someone. I know a motivated bike thief can get thru most locks. When
possible I take my bike inside the building where I am going. Fortunately, I can do this at work.
I'd carry one but I don't leave my bike anywhere outside my view. But I'd like to have one that worked
enough so I that I could leave my bike alone somewhere... if I were to have one, it would need to be as
impervious to thieves' tools for cutting locks/chains, etc. as possible. Enough for me to feel confident
leaving it for an hour unwatched. So, something that takes thieves longer than 1 hour to break.
size, weight, ease of use
Ease of use. Does not interfere with riding.
security, strength and a guarentee
Strong and light weight would be nice. This combination doesn't seem to exist.
You should note that I live in Hayward, WI. My bike is either in my garage or on the rack on my car. If on
the car, it is not locked, but the car is close to the bar where I am rehydrating. I don't even own a bike
lock..
I only lock the bike in our bike room (condominium). I don't trust any bike locks to prevent theft (of at
least bike parts) so when I go anywhere, I never leave my book alone. I sit on it.
The lock should look strong enough to dissuade someone from attempting to break it. I follow reviews
on forums and Amazon, etc.
Don't know what it is like in WI but i. Chicago you must always lock your bike. U-lock is a must. Maybe 2
u-locks or u-lock and a cable. Cables can be cut with clippers and there are battery operated angle
grinders that can breech u-locks so location you park is also an issue
Strength to withstand an attack, some sort of insurance against theft due to breaking of the lock is also
reassuring.
I think U locks provide the best security since they are hard to cut or break. It seems that I hear about
cable locks being cut a lot when I talk to employes at various bike shops.
Nothing. I never leave my bike.
Can't be picked and thick enough that it can't be cut! Long enough to go around both front wheel,
frame, and rack/pole. Also light enough that it's not a hassle to carry around. (Still working on that part.
Most I see are still bulky and sort of heavy. I carry mine in a backpack.)
Large size to be able to lock to varoius surfaces
Ease and convenience to carry; lightweight.
Cannot be clipped with small clippers that can be hidden in a coat (thick cable). Additional cable to lock
both tires
I gave up looking for the unbreakable, it simply does not exist... Given the value of the bike, I simply
17. don't ride it when I know I can not take it inside with me
The highest level of security
Light weight, low bulk, good quality
Characteristics that make it difficult to easily cut and also one that will fit through frame, wheel and
around rack to which bike is being locked.
I read a ton of reviews on BikeRadar.com before I bought. If your looking for a reason for the anomaly
for why more bikes are stole, than their riders consider these two facts: 1) I own three bikes and many
serious riders own more than one. 2) many people own bikes they do not ride them. So the bike is in a
garage and theft can occur.
Strength, ease of use, and ability to lock both frame and front wheel.
Lightweight...would only be away for a cpl of minutes...never leave this bike alone
Now want something lighter and bendable. My former, not current, bike was stolen out of our garage
when I neglected to put the garage door down.
Ease of locking and unlocking, ease of carrying it while cycling, and tamper resistance
All I need now is a lock to keep honest people (and petty thieves) honest. Much easier than when I
commuted. Best then is bring the bike into workplace. Good luck with project
Strength, weight, brand recognition
When I bought a look for my first bike (when I just got in US), I didn't care about it. But when I bought a
look for a new bike, I looked for an U-lock.
Most of my rides are training rides so I do not park my bike.When I do park my bike I lock it including
removing the front wheel and locking it to the frame.
Strength. Resistance to theft.
High security rating.
Portability, ability to lock up all parts of bike (frame and wheels), ease and quickness of use
anti-theft guarantee, sturdy u-locks (more expensive and heavier)
Ease of you and carrying on my bike
Easy to use
Ability to carry it on the bike while riding without becoming a nuisance, keyless, secure for my type of
bicycle.
robust design
Reliable
a big beard like bobbys
Robust construction that locks in both wheels and the frame. Good luck with your project. I hope you
come up with a great solution to this problem!
Long enough to go through a wheel, rack, and frame. Difficult to cut through or break. Easy to carry and
open with a legitimate key or passcode.
I ride my bike for fun and fitness so it's rare that I would go someplace and leave it for a long time. Thus,
I rarely bring a lock. I try to use psychology and game theory and so far it's worked. One tactic that I use
is to pretend that my bike is locked up by placing it near bikes that all looked locked up. If I have to lock
my bike up, I put it next to a more expensive looking bike. Note that I can't really say my theories work
since the other bikes haven't been stolen either :-)
It locks
Secure bike lock, that is made of a strong material. Easy to unlock when you know the combination or
have the proper key. Isn't a hassle to use, i.e. gets all tangled up.
Security
Ways to secure both the frame and the front wheel
Easy to carry
Cost
How easy it is and if it is flexible
I look for a lock that isn't too heavy to carry and is easy to use.
Ease of use, ease of carrying, and reliability
1) U.S. Census Bureau. (2013). American Community Survey [Table]. Retrieved from
18. http://bikeleague.org/content/bicycle-commuting-data
2) Bicycle Theft Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from United States
Department of Justice website: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/publications/e060810143.pdf
3) Bicycle Theft. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from National Bike Registry
website: https://www.nationalbikeregistry.com/theft.html
4)Stillwell, K. (2014, September 5). Bike Theft at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved September 12, 2014, from Neutral Cycle website:
http://www.neutralcycle.com/bike-theft-university-illinois-urbana-champaign/
5) Jaffe, E. (2014, April 16). These 8 Depressing Bike Theft Statistics Show Just
How Bad the Problem Is. Retrieved September 12, 2014, from Citylab website:
http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/04/
these-8-depressing-bike-theft-statistics-show-just-how-bad-problem/8890/
6) Bluejay, M. (n.d.). Bike Theft. Retrieved September 12, 2014, from Bicycle
Universe website: http://bicycleuniverse.info/eqp/theft.html
7) Bike Theft Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from Bicycle Law
website: http://www.bicyclelaw.com/p.cfm/bicycle-safety/about-bike-theft
8) Campus Annual Security Report. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from UCPD
Berkley website: http://safetycounts.berkeley.edu/content/
campus-theft-including-bike-theft
9)As Bike Thefts Rise, Registration Program Gears Up. (n.d.). Retrieved September
16, 2014, from San Francisco Gate website: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/
article/S-F-As-bike-thefts-rise-registration-program-5240835.php
53. PRESENTATION AND JUSTIFICATION OF DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
Listed below are the design requirements and design constraints determined by our team. We used the
combination of personal experiences, survey results, and internet research to establish the final
requirements. The requirements below are divided into two categories: initial requirements that we feel
the solution must address and bonus requirements that would further the design if also addressed. The
importance of all items in the initial section is equally weighted for each. Our solution will be successful if it
fulfills the initial design requirements and includes as many bonus requirements as possible. Testing will
take place in a shop on the Waunakee High School campus and documented later in this portfolio.
INITIAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS (IN ORDER OF DECREASING PRIORITY):
1. The locking mechanism must resist theft attempts. We plan to test this by applying multiple common
theft tactics to the lock. Our intended result is that the locking mechanism resists cutting or opening
for at least 2 minutes. That 2 minutes should present either enough time to alert the user of the theft
or enough of a challenge that the thief gives up on the bike. The 2 minutes was decided because the
highest security locks currently on the market withstand an average of 117 seconds of cutting by an
angle grinder before breaking.
2. The locking mechanism must be incorporated into the bike itself OR easily and comfortably fit into a
backpack OR attach to the bike without obstructing riding. We will test the first option by riding a bike
with the locking mechanism installed. The planned outcome is that the rider can bike for at least 5
minutes without obstruction. We intend on testing the second option by placing the lock into a
backpack containing other items and riding it. Our intended outcome is that the rider can comfortably
bike at least 5 minutes with the backpack containing the lock and other items. We plan to test the third
option by attaching the lock to the bike and riding it. This intended outcome is that the rider can bike
for at least 5 minutes without obstruction by or movement of the lock.
3. The locking mechanism must be resistant to the elements. We plan to test the locking mechanism
against simulations of each of these factors, and the ideal outcome will result in each having no effect
on the locking mechanism.
4. The locking mechanism (including any carrying/storage elements) must be quick to install OR must be
professionally installed with the purchase of a bike, if it is attached to the bike. We will test this by
timing how long it takes the average person to install the lock. The intended result is that it takes the
average person less than one hour to install.
5. The locking mechanism must be easy and quick to access and use. We plan to test this by timing how
long it takes the average user to access the lock and use it to lock a bike to a rack or post. Our intended
result is that the user is able to access and use the locking mechanism in 20 seconds or less, the time it
takes to use the Yerka Project locking bike.
6. The locking mechanism must be compatible with differing bike types, sizes, and models. To test this, we
will install and utilize the mechanism on 5-10 bikes of different types, sizes, and models. Our intentions
are that the locking mechanism can be effectively installed and utilized on each bicycle.
7. The locking mechanism must be of lower or comparable price to other locks of the same security
range. We plan to test for this by performing security tests (i.e. cutting with various tools) on our
locking mechanism and 2-3 others of assumed comparable security. Our intention is that the
production cost of our locking mechanism will be less than or equal to that of a tested lock with
comparable security.
8. The locking mechanism must be lightweight. We will test this by weighing the locking mechanism, and
our intention is that it is under 3 pounds, the average weight of u-locks currently on the market.
9. The locking mechanism must be easy and quick to unlock and store again. We will time how long it
takes the average user to unlock and store the lock for carrying. We intend that the user can complete
this test, too, in 20 seconds or less.
10. The locking mechanism must not injure the user with use or bicycle riding. We intend to test this with
our tests from requirements 1 and 4. The planned outcome is that the user will not sustain any injuries,
including minor ones such as cuts or scratches, from riding a bike with the locking mechanism or
utilizing the mechanism.
54. BONUS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:
1. The locking mechanism, if attached to the bike, still allows room for a water bottle cage. We feel it is
important that the locking mechanism is portable, and it would be a bonus if other gadgets stored in
the frame, like water bottle cages, were not sacrificed for its portability.
2. The locking mechanism, if electronic, can be charged and powered completely by riding the bike (no
external power source needed). While typical wall/plug-in charging would be effective, it would be more
economically and environmentally friendly if the locking device could be powered/charged through
riding the bike.
3. The locking mechanism comes in color options that match typical bike colors, do not draw attention,
and/or are popular and aesthetically pleasing.
4. The locking mechanism is key-less, so the user has one less thing to keep track of.
DESIGN CONSTRAINTS:
1. The locking mechanism must be abled to be completed by June 1, 2015.
2. The locking mechanism prototype must be completed within a maximum of $200.00, unless additional
funds are raised by the team.
3. The locking mechanism prototype must be manufactured utilizing the resources provided by
Waunakee High School and/or any outside resources accessible to team members and in a method
that produces minimal waste.
56. Element D
Project Screaming Sledge Hammer
After our criteria were selected the next step was to come up with and eventually choose a solution. The
first step was to brainstorm solutions. We came up with around 90 ideas that were then narrowed down
to a few good ideas that we then applied the SCAMPERR activity to. In the end we were down to five ideas.
Four originals and one combination generated through the SCAMPERR. These ideas included:
Electric theft detection and tracking
Kickstand that locks in place
Resistant to grinding
Die pack that explodes when lock is tampered with
Electronic theft detection and tracking as well as grind resistance
The sketches and explanations for each are on the following pages.
The grind lock would be composed of a strong steel with bars made of Aluminum Oxide or other hard
material,running through it to resist grinding. An outside layer may be added that will melt and coat the
grinder to dull it depending on tests.
57.
58.
59.
60. Conclusion:
The decision matrix indicated that the vibration detection and grind resistant lock was the best solution.
We weighted categories to ensure that designs were evaluated according to how important each criteria
was. Because of this, we are sure that this design concept will result in the best possible design. We
believe that this design will cover the best variety of the constraints and we will continue developing our
new bike lock from this concept.
62. APPLICATION OF STEM PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
The development of our solution, an electronic u-lock, involved utilizing multiple STEM principles. We
applied these principles to our solution from the solution design through the model build to improve the
functionality of the system and better evaluate the elements of the design.
Engineering Practices
First, we identified a problem in bike lock security. Then, we went about deciding on a solution to pursue.
Each member of the team sketched and annotated his or her individual ideas in an Engineer’s notebook,
and we selected an idea using a Decision Matrix. We also will develop a gantt chart to keep our project on
pace, and we will develop a design brief to nail down the specifics of our constraints.
Technology Practices
Much of our process has been focused around technology. We used Autodesk Inventor to create a three-
dimensional model of our design, allowing us to easily visualize and test various sizes of the lock. We tried
different diameters, lengths, and widths of the lock, as we want our lock to universally accessible. Our
design itself features a technological component. We plan to use Multisim and/or Arduino to program our
lock. We also will be using a three-dimensional printer to see how the wiring will work with the locking
mechanism within the lock. The model will also allow us to test some of our deisng requirements.
Mathematics Applications
Cost is going to be crucial if we intend to have a product that can compete in the market. Many high-end
bike locks cost more than one might think, and if we can produce a design that is effective but also cost-
efficient, we will be successful. Much of our cost calculation will be done in Inventor when calculating
volume of materials, but we will also need to estimate other costs of production. To do this, we will need
to know what machining methods we will use to produce the lock.
Science Concepts
Our design involved the application of chemistry and physics principles. Many of our materials were
chosen for their physical and chemical properties, as we were striving for a lock composed of materials
that gave it strength and the ability to resist grinding while still keeping it lightweight and affordable. We
will apply physics principles when calculating the energy generated by the dynamo powering the lock, if we
choose to power it in that manner. We also will follow the scientific method when testing some design
criteria of our lock.
Conclusion
The application of these STEM principles will allow our project to yield a high functioning solution. By
utilizing STEM principles as a guide when exploring solutions and developing ours, our model should meet
all of our design requirements, including the bonus ones.
