Dismal bike rack... owner enlightened!

[Ganymede]

So I went to a local village community centre. Couldn't see any bike racks. Went in and asked where they were, expecting a probably reply of "oh we don't have any, sorry"... but the chaps points behind me to an apparently empty stretch of paving and says: There! This is what I see:

So (just for fun) I try resting my front tyre in one of the dents. Bike begins to slowly keels over. I wheel it back and attach it to a downpipe against the building.

This building was completed only a few years ago. Looking at where these holes are sited I wondered to myself if they didn't want to put racks there as it is right in front of the building and might impede disabled access or something. Of course, if they were full of bikes they would impede access, but believe me, nobody is ever going to leave their bikes here in a million years. I'm writing in.

 

[mjr]

Good grief! I've not seen wheelbender slots for over a decade. I'm amazed anyone still sells the slabs. Or did they cast them specially?

Look into the planning case file. There's no way that should have been signed off as secure cycle parking.

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

We have wheelbenders at work. Its not too bad as there aren't many of us using them but they are rubbish really. I often chain mine to the fence behind them

 

[raleighnut]

They've got them at my doctors too. mind you the trike can't fall over.

 

[Ganymede]

Good grief! I've not seen wheelbender slots for over a decade. I'm amazed anyone still sells the slabs. Or did they cast them specially?

Look into the planning case file. There's no way that should have been signed off as secure cycle parking.

Good call. At present it's just a polite email with some useful links for the committee to mull over.

I sent them this link: http://www.camcycle.org.uk/resources/cycleparking/types/ which has a very damning pic and comment on them.

 

[Ganymede]

Good grief! I've not seen wheelbender slots for over a decade. I'm amazed anyone still sells the slabs. Or did they cast them specially?

Look into the planning case file. There's no way that should have been signed off as secure cycle parking.

I've been told in an email from the hall committee "that when the Village Hall was built in 2005 we were given to understand that the bicycle stands which were installed qualified as being suitable." They don't say who told them and I will suggest they look at it. It's on the agenda for their next meeting.

 

[anotherDave]

There's no way that should have been signed off as secure cycle parking.

These do have a ground anchor, so they're a step up from just slots.

 

[mjr]

These do have a ground anchor, so they're a step up from just slots.

They often used to, but it was only anchored into the slab, fairly easy to knock out, holds a chain or cable conveniently on the ground for attack and discourages use of D locks as primary security. A decent lamppost or drainpipe used to be better.

If the hall committee was told that by a council planning officer then it should be on the planning file (probably a discharge of condition letter) and the only thing you can do formally is escalate a complaint about that (to the Local Gov Ombudsman if needed). Hopefully the hall committee will be reasonable and get a rack of A stands or something else useful.

 

[Twizit]

We have an underground room at work full of about 200 racks just like the ones in the OP. Given the room is very secure it's not really an issue to only lock up a wheel, but those sensible ones amongst us have quickly commandeered the ends of each row and park our bikes across the ends accordingly. Means I can get a D-lock through the frame at least.