Want to Get Your Kid Biking to School? Consider the ‘Bike Bus.’

Whether you live in a small town or a big city, you’ll probably want to help your kid lock up their bike at school. Unfortunately, bike theft is a common problem in the US, and while no lock can guarantee theft prevention, a good lock, used properly, at least inhibits or deters most would-be bike thieves.

There are four basic types of bike locks: U-locks, chain locks, folding locks, and cable locks. Experts generally agree that cable locks are the least effective because they’re easier to cut, so we don’t advise buying one. And while folding locks, like the one that Wirecutter recommends in our guide to the best bike locks, have some advantages, they offer less security than a chain lock or a U-lock. The right lock for your kid depends on their age and ability to carry heavy things, hold on to keys, and remember codes.

We like chain locks with numeric codes for the very youngest riders, as asking a 7-year-old to keep track of a key feels like a recipe for failure. It might take several tries for your kid to learn how to use the code, but once they get it, it’s easy. And kids chain locks typically weigh less than U-locks, so they tend to be more manageable. (Just be sure to write down that code in case your kid forgets it.)

Top pick

Lightweight chain locks are not the most secure type of lock, but they’re generally easier for kids to lock and unlock than U-locks. This one comes in 13 colors.

You can fold up a chain lock and stuff it into a backpack or wrap it around the bike’s seat post. If your kid locks their bike to a school bike rack, they can consider simply leaving their lock secured to the rack at night to avoid the weight of carrying it back and forth.

The Sportneer Bike Lock, like most chain locks, is covered in a fabric sleeve to prevent scratches, and it is made of a durable steel that only a motivated bike thief with powerful tools could cut through. Plus, it comes in a variety of lengths, thicknesses, and colors, including a fun rainbow pattern.

U-locks are among the most secure types of bike locks. The lightweight Ottolock Sidekick Compact U-lock works well for older elementary students or middle school kids. It’s offered in two bright colors (orange or blue) and comes with three keys. At 26.5 ounces, or 1.65 pounds, it weighs about half as much as Wirecutter’s top-pick bike lock and a third as much as our upgrade pick.

Top pick

This child-size lock is likely to be more secure than a chain lock. But your kid will have to keep track of a key. (Fortunately, it comes with three.)

Older middle schoolers and high school kids will likely be best served by an option from our guide to the best bike locks. These are heavier and more expensive than the Ottolock Sidekick, but they offer more protection from theft.

Once you’ve decided on the best lock for your kid, teach them the basics of how to lock a bike. You can take multiple levels of safety precautions when locking your bike (like threading the lock through the frame and a wheel), so find a lock plan that balances security and achievability.

This article was edited by Alison Rochford and Kalee Thompson.