As more and more citizens look to bicycles as a means of transportation, bicycle locks seem to be under increased scrutiny. Many companies are looking for ways to improve the portability and effectiveness of current lock designs, but some bike designers are looking at it from another angle. Instead of carrying around bulky, heavy locks, why not make the bike a lock. After getting their own bikes stolen, that’s exactly what three engineering students from Chile are setting out to do with the Yerka Project.
The idea behind the project is pretty simple – most lock can be broken while still leaving the bike intact. When the lock is part of the bike, if thieves try to break the lock, it will essentially break the frame rendering the bike unrideable. Continue on to see the Yerka Project in action…
Currently built into a single speed/fixed gear working prototype, the team behind the Yerka Project maintains that the lock is applicable to any frame shape. Even though their prototype uses bolt on wheels, theoretically you should be able to use the locking mechanism to lock the front wheel as well if you were to remove it as with a typical U lock. Details on how the design would effect frame stiffness are limited, but the project is still in its early stages.
Would you be willing to buy a bike where the lock was integrated into the frame?
