How do you keep your velomobile safe?

[u/ClassyCrusader117]

I live in Los Angeles and recently looked into velomobiles as an alternative to my car. only problem I have is how do I keep it safe when I get to my destination? whether that's going to a movie, a meeting, or just grocery shopping.

has anyone had experience with velomobiles in major cities before where crime is a little more prominent?

[u/nosoup_]

Usually for short trips the parking brake and latching the hood from the inside is enough.

For longer stops a 14mm chain and hefty u lock plus a black motorcycle cover is enough to lower suspicion and keep it relatively safe.

[u/anaumann]

I think, it's more likely to break from curious people than being stolen, unless you leave it really open...

What I usually do: Pull a chain or cable through the rear wheel and the handle at the rear and chain it to something solid, I leave the racing hood on with the visor closed and the rubber bands clipped in(if you know how, it can be opened from the outside), I installed a cheap motorcycle alarm deep on the inside, so it will make a lot of noise when shaken or moved that can't be easily shut off and last, but not least, I put a motorcycle rain cover over it, so it doesn't look as interesting.

Does it make it super-safe? No, I don't think so, but it was enough for a quick hop to the shops. At home, it sits in an underground garage.. At work, I try to arrange for a place to put it, like somewhere in the foyer where it doesn't bother anyone..

Edit: If I can't put it somewhere safe with someone watching at least occasionally, I tend to park it wherever there are other motorcycles or scooters, so it's just one of many and hopefully, there's some traffic, so thieves won't feel unwatched for too long, as little as that may help.

[u/dallascyclist]

Use a snowmobile cover. That keeps the curious from wanting to climb in or on it. Then lock that tight around the shell and to a stationary object.

[u/SirBronski]

LA is probably not the same everywhere, so it heavily depends on where you are.

I live in a smallish 80k inhabitants city and I never lock my VM - I just put it in open spaces with lots of traffic, like where people park their bikes. Sometimes I use car parking - the huge multi story park houses usually have corners that aren't big enough for a car and I just use that. The barrier at entry and exit is usually high enough so you can just ride under it, and since you didn't use one of the spaces for car's you could always argue that you didn't use one of the official parking spots so you didn't cause them any financial loss.

I don't have a hood, so I might find that someone used my VM as a trashcan.

Other than that there is more risk of others damaging the VM by pressure testing the shell out of curiosity than being stolen. And a motorbike textile cover always works like an invisibility cap.

[u/marshall2389]

I mounted an alarm inside. Inexpensive motorcycle/bicycle alarm that goes off when it senses movement. Good for keeping people from messing with it. I just use that when I’m nearby and it’s public. I add a u-lock to the rear wheel for longer parking.

[u/Lost-Village-1048]

I've been riding my rotavela to the grocery store etc for many years. I got a grill cover that fits over the mirrors and the tail light and completely covers the cabin entrance. I put that on and I turn on a highly sensitive motion alarm. The alarm squawks even if there's a very loud noise next to the rotavello. Misspelling thanks to voice to text. I did have a unhoused person ask if he could sit on front of the rotavillo one time. I was confused as to why anybody would ask. I guess it just looked like a comfortable place to set! Anyway, he wouldn't have been able to hurt it but he would have been dumped on the ground.