New bike parking at work

[LabRatt]

As per the title really. The idea is to stop staff chaining their bikes to nearby railings. The problem is that the new facility looks like this:

Now, I'll not use a wheel-bender anyway, but these seem to be sized for chunky mountain bike tyres so it wouldn't even hold my bike upright. Three sheffield stands installed a couple of feet out would have allowed six bikes instead of three to be parked securely, and wouldn't have taken up significantly more space.
My problem now is how to raise the issue. Our bursar doesn't seem the most approachable person on these matters and I'm not sure she'd accept the criticism. How should I handle this?

 

[Theseus]

Just continue to chain your bike to the railings and ignore them.

 

[snorri]

With tact and diplomacy!
You wouldn't want to give the bursar the impression that this was just a personal gripe on your part so, I would suggest showing her this http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/Info sheets/cycle parking info sheet.pdf which backs up your own views and specifically states that "butterfly" stands should not be used, and why they should not be used.
How you open the subject for discussion in the first place, I will leave to someone else.

 

[Crankarm]

Box of Milk Tray?

 

[fossyant]

Bagsie the one on the end, and park your bike along the wall, with suitable lock through rear triangle and both 'bars'. I did a stint contracting where they had these.

 

[LabRatt]

Bagsie the one on the end, and park your bike along the wall, with suitable lock through rear triangle and both 'bars'.

I've thought of that, or my "make a point" locking style of simply securing the back wheel/frame at one end and the front wheel at the other and taking up all three, but another point is that they're really not secure. They're attached to the wall with standard screws and held together at the hinge with nuts and bolts.

With tact and diplomacy! ... I would suggest showing her this http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files/Info sheets/cycle parking info sheet.pdf ...

Thanks for the link, I'll definitely use that. I won't be riding to work again until Monday, but I think I'll gather the opinions of a few other cyclists and approach as a representative rather than an individual.

 

[jonny jeez]

Perhaps its too late to approach them as the deal is done and any approcah will smack of a "waste of their bursary".

Are there enough riders to club together to help fund/contribute towards decent stands. Mr Bursar would probably admire that approach.

 

[LabRatt]

I think we need some kind of travel committee here (this is moving towards campaigning rather than commuting...) - this is a school with parking (excluding these) for maybe 20 bikes to share between more than 1,000 staff and pupils, so it's a much bigger issue than just protecting my wheels.

Anyway, I just took another picture to show how derisory this attempt is, though I have no idea if there are any other plans for this space:

 

[snorri]

A bit of Googling will reveal quite a number of articles on the topic, they are unanimous in condemning butterfly stands!
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Workplace-Cycle-Parking-Guide.pdf

 

[fossyant]

Handy looking orange pipe there though !

 

[gambatte]

The idea is to stop staff chaining their bikes to nearby railings. The problem is that the new facility looks like this:....
My problem now is how to raise the issue. Our bursar doesn't seem the most approachable person on these matters and I'm not sure she'd accept the criticism. How should I handle this?

Might have been better to involve the staff in the 1st place?
Having the same at my place.
New building... how to encourage cyclists? Buy a crappy bike shelter without asking whats required. 2m wide bike shelter with wheelbenders for 6 bikes!
We've now got the same shelter but with 2 sheffield stands. The stands are still behind my desk though, so the bikes are all indoors (for now)

It was awkward turning round and saying "I know you've spent your money, but you do know no one will use them, don't you? They're called wheelbenders for a reason...."

I also printed out the Sustrans/TFL and other documentation, so as when they threw it back at me I could give them the info.

 

[Drago]

That's a half hearted attempt to appease local residents, and an insult to the people expected to use them.

 

[Stonepark]

I wonder how easy they would be unbolt from the wall to show how unsecure they are......?

 

[davefb]

quick check, exclusion from ctc insurance

"We will no cover theft away from your main residence unless the cycles are secured through the frame by an approved lock to an immovable object"

I assume they mean not..

"i dont think my insurance is valid so can you sign a form saying you will be liable if my insurance doesnt pay up"

Why didn't they discuss this with the relevant people?

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

Seems like they just looked at the prices for the various equipment and picked the cheapest. I understand money can be tight or an issue (especially with schools) but you might as well have nothing at all than these things.