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Not surprisingly, as soon as bicycles became more popular, people began stealing them. In parallel with the development of bikes, people began to develop bike locks to protect their investment. Starting in the early 20th century, companies began creating bicycle locks. The earliest bike locks were either larger steel locks designed to fit between the spokes or bicycle locks attached to chains that connected the wheels to the frame. <ref>https://www.historicallocks.com/en/site/h/other-locks/bike-locks/locks-for-bicycles/</ref>
In the 1930s, Optimus, a German company, began manufacturing several different-sized steel locks that could be used on a large range of bicycles. Companies in the United States were also manufacturing bike locks and selling them worldwide. Eventually, Optimus switched to pressed steel to create stronger, more secure locks. Even during World War II, companies continued to sell bike locks to militaries fighting during the war. <ref>https://www.historicallocks.com/en/site/h/other-locks/bike-locks/locks-for-bicycles/</ref> Today, bicycle locks are made by hundreds of companies across the world to protect bikes. [https://thebestbikelockthebestbikelck.com Bicycle safety is still important, and you can check out some of the best modern bicycle locks made today in this article.] Fortunately, modern locks do a better job securing bikes than the ones made back in the 1920s.
==Why did bicycling become less popular in Europe after World War II? ==
