Minimum cycle/car parking ratio?

[XmisterIS]

Is there a UK law that states that there should be bike stands for X number of bikes for every Y number of cars in a car park?

I ask because my local Lidl has 65 car parking spaces (I cycled round and counted them on my way home today), but guess how many bike stands it has?

One.

Yep. Parking for one, single bike.

The result is that everybody has no other option but to chain their bikes to the only other secure thing around, which is the trolley storage area on the pavement, with the result that the pavement and trolley area get so cluttered with bikes that you can't easily get a trolley out or walk along the pavement!

Now, Lidl tends to be frequented by those people who don't have a lot of money, and those people who don't have a lot of money tend to ride bicycles instead of drive!

You would think that Lidl would have cottoned on to this by now ...

So, if Lidl are legally obliged to provide X bike parking places (which they could fit in, easily, there's loads of room), then I will write to them.

 

[HLaB]

It depends on the policy, sometimes the minimum cycle provision is related to the floor area/ no. of employees etc. and not the car parking provision. What I found was good is maximum parking standards which state that a developer cannot provide more than a certain number but the English government has removed this from direct policy although it still exists up here.

Edit: you can see it at the DEX (eastern expansion) the tesco built prior to the policy is massive and has a massive carpark but little bike parking but the neighbouring Aldi, built after the policy was introduced, has quite a small carpark and plenty of covered cycle parking.

 

[XmisterIS]

I think I'm going to write to them anyway, seeing as they sell cycling kit, I can play on that. How much would it cost for them to install more bike stands? Compared to their annual profit from that store, I would imagine it would be a pittance.

 

[HLaB]

I think I'm going to write to them anyway, seeing as they sell cycling kit, I can play on that. How much would it cost for them to install more bike stands? Compared to their annual profit from that store, I would imagine it would be a pittance.

Check out your local planning policy first and if it is inadequate (sounds like it is) you'll have a stronger hand to get changes, perhaps by highlighting it to the council transportation or planning departments, good luck.

 

[XmisterIS]

Ah! ACtually it's Aldi - I always get those two confused!

Anyway, how's this?

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Dear ...,

I am a regular shopper at your Fareham store and I tend to come by bicycle. I note that there are approximately 65 car parking spaces, and yet there is secure parking for one bicycle (or perhaps two at a push), with the result that at busy times cyclists using the store are left with no option but to secure their bicycles to the rail of the trolley storage area, with the result that that it can be difficult to get a trolley out and the pavement gets cluttered with bikes.

Unfortunately, this happens because you have not provided cyclists with any other option than to secure their bikes there.

I suggest that this problem could be quickly, easily and cheaply solved by the installation of more bicycle racks next to the existing one. There is more than ample space in that area and I would imagine that the racks would be cheap, quick and easy to install.

Furthermore, with rising fuel prices and in consideration of health and environmental benefits of cycling, I suggest that the bicycle parking problem at the Fareham store will only get worse, not better, unless adequate cycle parking facilities are provided.

I suggest that nine further racks should be installed, like the existing one, which is of the simple "staple" variety.

Yours sincerely,

XmisterIS

 

[HLaB]

Ah! ACtually it's Aldi - I always get those two confused!

Anyway, how's this?

---------------------------------------

Dear ...,

I am a regular shopper at your Fareham store and I tend to come by bicycle. I note that there are approximately 65 car parking spaces, and yet there is secure parking for one bicycle (or perhaps two at a push), with the result that at busy times cyclists using the store are left with no option but to secure their bicycles to the rail of the trolley storage area, with the result that that it can be difficult to get a trolley out and the pavement gets cluttered with bikes.

Unfortunately, this happens because you have not provided cyclists with any other option than to secure their bikes there.

I suggest that this problem could be quickly, easily and cheaply solved by the installation of more bicycle racks next to the existing one. There is more than ample space in that area and I would imagine that the racks would be cheap, quick and easy to install.

Furthermore, with rising fuel prices and in consideration of health and environmental benefits of cycling, I suggest that the bicycle parking problem at the Fareham store will only get worse, not better, unless adequate cycle parking facilities are provided.

I suggest that nine further racks should be installed, like the existing one, which is of the simple "staple" variety.

Yours sincerely,

XmisterIS

Playing devils advocate you seem to be coming up with an arbitrary figure, 9. If you can produce evidence that planning policy requires that X are required they are more likely to listen, especially if its a new build or they have further development plans.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

One more than my local Lidl has...

The Aldi on the other hand has more than enough (about 10, never ever seen it full)

 

[snorri]

It is usually easier to influence cycle parking at the planning stage, but a letter to management could be dealt with sympathetically.
I would suggest you specify covered Sheffield Stands rather than "staple type". The Sheffield Stand is a nationally recognised style of stand, and protection from the weather is no bad thing!.