Boris docking station drama

[Markymark]

So, we're to be getting a 30 space docking station for Boris bikes a few meteres from my business in central London. Two pay and display spaces are being removed for it. It's a relatively small central London road (maybe 250m?) with 3, NCP type undergrond parking on it!

I'm all for it but oh the drama on the planning application site. I posted a positive comment but am the only one!

It will increase congestion.
It will be too noisy
It will attract undesirable yoofs
Poor cyclists will be at danger as there's lots of cars around

The odd thing is that this is central London, there's no residential parking here so none of the residents will lose out. In fact rather than having taxis/minicabs pull up and sit there with the engine on, it might even improve things

It's so pathetic and I hope that Camden will ignore it - I assume so as there's plenty of docking stations around and I'm sure this is a common theme.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Boris bikes, they are the devils work.

 

[Markymark]

Boris bikes, they are the devils work.

Why? It get loads of tourists out of public transport and cabs. It's great.

 

[winjim]

Undesirable yoofs . Although last time I was over in Scouse I did see a group of lads whizzing around the park. Two of them on pretty cool looking MTBs, doing jumps and stuff, and their mate following... on a Boris bike* .


*Or whatever the Scousers call 'em.

 

[Smurfy]

Just a bunch of petulant motorists protesting about what they regard as a threat to the status quo. I doubt the council will pay any attention to their baseless criticisms.

 

[Crackle]

The title gave me visions of an inflated Boris holding his breath as he failed to dock with IS space station, gently bumping it out of orbit as he tripped over a trailing solar panel.

 

[mjr]

I doubt the council will pay any attention to their baseless criticisms.

Indeed. For any objection to work, it has to be a material concern, which usually means submitted citing planning policy or evidence, whether that's the National Planning Policy Framework, Borough Core Strategy, Local Transport Plan or any of the wide range of other possibilities. Often those will be in conflict and the planning authority has to consider which is more important and should explain that in its report.

 

[Markymark]

Just a bunch of petulant motorists protesting about what they regard as a threat to the status quo.

What's even worse is that I doubt hardly any even have cars being in central London.

 

[Smurfy]

What's even worse is that I doubt hardly any even have cars being in central London.

The way you described it sounded like a street full of offices, probably mostly employing relatively well paid people. My interpretation is that some people just can't stand the thought of provision for people that they think don't contribute to the taxes levied on motorised road users. They also don't like road users who aren't forced to sit in queues of traffic. Of course if everyone on a bike started driving, congestion would get worse, but they'd probably feel comforted by the fact that everyone was sharing the same commuting misery, rather than a small number whizzing past all the queueing cars. Similarly it must be rather galling to waste hours sitting in traffic, having paid huge amounts for an executive saloon, and then watch people on Boris bikes happily sailing past on their merry way on a bike they rented for pennies. It flies in the face of their day to day office life, where powerful, rich people routinely poo on those beneath them. Cyclists, in their view, should be at the bottom of the pile, and should not receive even one crumb of investment.

 

[Pale Rider]

Reminds me of my first go on a Boris bike.

I managed to withdraw one from Holborn and made my way to Soho, stopping at the dock in Great Marlborough Street.

Upon coming to rest, I realised I didn't know what to do, so dithered.

Within a few seconds, there was an impatient sounding voice behind me: "Are you docking?"

Well, I genuinely didn't know what he meant, so I replied that I wasn't sure if I was docking or not.

It slowly became clear there was only one space left, and the impatient voice belonged to a Boris bike rider who wanted to use it.

I waved him forward, not wanting the embarrassment of him watching me prat around trying to dock my bike.

Typical Londoner, always in hurry.