As students and commuters return to campuses this fall, Seatylock, a design-led bike security brand, is drawing attention to the difference between locking a bicycle and securing it against the theft risks that spike each academic year. The company notes that recent campus warnings and independent research together show why lock certification, construction, and technique matter as much as the decision to lock at all.
The timing follows a warning issued on September 3, 2026, by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department, which reported three bicycle and e-scooter thefts between August 27 and September 2 and stated that this period traditionally brings increased theft as returning students place thousands of bikes back on campus. National attention reinforces the concern, with the League of American Bicyclists scheduling a September 8, 2026 webinar on managing bike parking and theft at college campuses.
The underlying problem is substantial. A 2025 peer-reviewed study published in Findings estimated that 2,376,578 adult bicycles are stolen annually in the United States, equal to roughly 709.6 thefts per 100,000 people and approximately 1.44 billion dollars in annual stolen-bike value. Separate peer-reviewed research on patterns in bike theft and recovery found that 59 percent of reported stolen bicycles had been locked at the time, and only 15 percent were recovered.
"Being locked and being securely locked are two different conditions," said Michael Shenkerman, Head of Product at Seatylock. "Independent certification matters more than any brand's internal security scale because it lets riders compare actual resistance across categories rather than judging a lock by its shape. Cables, folding locks, U-locks, and chains are materially different, and campus riders should match protection to the real theft risk they face."
The company treats folded size, usable locking circumference, and plate thickness as separate variables, a framework detailed in the Seatylock Folding Bike Locks Guide. A compact lock can still deliver useful certified security, while insufficient reach may prevent a rider from capturing the frame, wheel, and a fixed anchor together, as explained in the Seatylock Folding Lock Size and Security Guide.
Seatylock interprets that 59 percent figure not as evidence that locks fail, but as a signal that lock construction, independent certification, locking point, and technique change the outcome. The company points to guidance such as that from UC Davis, which advises riders to consider independent ratings including Sold Secure and to select mid-tier or better protection for campus use.
"Folding locks suit normal urban commuting well, but high-risk areas, high-value bikes, and overnight parking can justify a second lock or a higher-security format," Shenkerman added. "Riders make better decisions when they understand where each category fits, which is the purpose of the Seatylock Guide to Folding Lock Security."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSN2qEmJh9I
Founded in 2008, Seatylock designs, produces, and assembles bike security products in-house, including cylinders and keys. Its Foldylock family carries independent Sold Secure certifications, with Foldylock Forever 90 and Foldylock Elite 110 listed at Gold and Foldylock Compact 85 at Silver. The brand operates under the tagline "Protection Perfected by Design."
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For more information about Seatylock, contact the company here:
Seatylock
Michael Shenkerman
info@seatylock.com
3500 S Dupont HWY
Dover 19901-6041
Delaware
USA
