Brooklyn family considers buying replacement bikes after modest insurance check for theft

"Do you have a way of preventing them from getting stolen again?"

A Brooklyn family of six is debating whether to buy new bicycles as part of their emergency planning after insurance paid only $112 for the ones that were stolen.

The question has also forced them to think about the added expense of storing the bikes securely.

Here's what to know

The family raised the issue in Reddit's r/TwoXPreppers community while worrying about potential disruptions to oil supplies: Should they replace the bicycles?

The poster said the household has about $10,000 set aside for emergency preparedness, but that amount also has to cover a nearby storage unit. Because they keep a substantial reserve of generator fuel, a hospital seven miles away could serve as an emergency destination, according to the poster, who said they work as a physician at another hospital.

They also said access to showers for the family at the hospital where they have credentials was another option.

"Do you have a way of preventing them from getting stolen again?" one commenter asked about the bikes. "We decided to do the same but I wouldn't risk losing the investment."

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More background

The original poster said the family had already tried using tracking devices, but those did not do much to help recover the stolen bicycles.

Even with location data, the question of how to get the bikes back remained unresolved. Tracking had stopped on some of them, while two others were detected in Harlem and the Bronx within 24 hours. At first, the bikes had seemed to be only five blocks away.

When one commenter suggested renters insurance should have covered the theft, the poster replied, "Yes, we got $112 for them."

That left the commenter stunned. They said their own used bicycle had been insured with a payout of $500 toward a replacement bike.

Another commenter said indoor bike storage can be tough for people living in older, smaller homes in dense cities, and explained that they keep their own bicycles locked inside their living space.

What can be done?

The poster's plan for any replacement bikes included a storage unit within walking distance, plus extra locks and more caution about where to leave them.

Commenters also offered ideas to bring down the cost, including buying from a nonprofit that sells donated bicycles to fund children's programs.

The poster worried that even inexpensive bikes would be at risk after seeing listings in the $50 to $75 range. One commenter said they had bought used bicycles through a similar organization for a small fraction of retail price.

Despite the theft concerns, many commenters urged the family to replace the bikes.

"I think it's a good idea and a fun way to get physical activity as a family!" one commenter wrote. "The best preps are ones you use regularly."

Where can I learn more?

Although the original poster was not considering e-bikes, they remain highly sought after in cities.

• A Pennsylvania kennel worker said a masked thief stole their e-bike just 50 feet away.

• San Antonio riders said $1,000 e-bike vouchers changed daily life and cut short car trips.

• A lifelong cyclist traded subway stress for an e-bike, saying the $1,300 purchase restored their freedom.