Public buildings and cycle parking.

[Sara_H]

I find it very surprising that there isn't some push to encourge local authorities to provide cycle parking.

Two disappointing episodes for me have been:

When I had to go to court to deliver some papers. There's a car park, but no cycle parking. I was in the process of fastening my bike to the fence when the security guard came and told me it wasn't allowed. He directed to a Sheffield stand outside a shop about half a mile away.

My ex-husbands grandma died recently. I wanted to attend the funeral, but wasn't able to take the day off work, though my boss did agree to let me leave for a couple of hours. The crematorium is set in huge grounds with (you've guessed it) ample car parking facilities. I rang up on the morning of the funeral to find out where the cycle parking was located to be told they don't have any.
I wrote to bereavement services to express my disapointment, only to be told that they're on a tight budget and they can't justify spending money on cycle parking. How much does a sheffield stand cost to install and maintain FFS?

We seem to be subjected to ill conceived cycle safety campaigns by local government all the time, but if they can't even be bothered to provide the very basics of cycle parking outside their buildings, why should anyone else bother?

 

[MontyVeda]

I understand your frustration with the security guard, but is there not a lamppost, drainpipe or other suitable bit of 'furniture' at the crem one could use?

 

[Sara_H]

I understand your frustration with the security guard, but is there not a lamppost, drainpipe or other suitable bit of 'furniture' at the crem one could use?

Not really, there's a car park to the side and a sort of public square to the front - he was saying I wasn't allowed to attach bike to anything on the courts grounds. My d lock won't go round lamp posts etc. And I think that's rather besides the point. If public services are offering car parking, I think they should also be offering cycle parking.

 

[pixiepie]

My council has a small budget (£10k per year) to install Sheffield stands in places that would be useful e.g. outside shops, train stations, public buildings etc. Try finding out if your council has a cycling officer and if they have a similar scheme. If so, I'm sure they would be happy for your suggestions.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

This is the reason I don't use d-locks but carry a chain long enough to go round lamp posts or similar.

 

[Chris Norton]

Boston could just do with more bike parking full stop let alone at public buildings.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I'd like to see more suitable places to secure bikes at football grounds. I'd love to cycle to more games but most stadiums have either laughable facilities or none at all.

 

[buggi]

tomorrow i have to go car shopping (shock, horror!) and i'm already wondering where the hell i'm going to put my bike. doubtful they will have cycle racks at showroom! LOL

 

[MrJamie]

It's so annoying when you find one of those areas where there really isn't anything to lock your bike to. I wondered if there's a reason why pubs don't seem to like to install bike racks. I can only think of two with crappy wheelbenders and the rest I have to use street furniture or only visit the pub when I can stay outside with my bike.

Also google streetview is very useful for looking for a parking spot in advance of visiting somewhere

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I'd like to see more suitable places to secure bikes at football grounds. I'd love to cycle to more games but most stadiums have either laughable facilities or none at all.

I hate football work at at Celtic, Ibrox and Hampden sometimes, also at the Rugby Stadium.
Before my first ever shift in any of them I popped in to ask security where I was allowed to park my bike on match day. There is always an allocated place for bikes only the stewards know about
Good thing at least your bike is near a security guard, the guard might not be exactly guarding it but acts as a deterrent - one hopes!

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Well my club, Falkirk, have a good shelter between the car park and the stadium that seems to be supervised and the staff at Alloa let me in a side gate to lock the bike inside the ground, but Airdrie has the wee wheel bender things tucked around a corner out of sight and I can't seem to see anything at other grounds when I've looked.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Not really, there's a car park to the side and a sort of public square to the front - he was saying I wasn't allowed to attach bike to anything on the courts grounds. My d lock won't go round lamp posts etc. And I think that's rather besides the point. If public services are offering car parking, I think they should also be offering cycle parking.

I suspect the Security Guard was on a mission of his own. Letter to court manager and if no joy follow up with HMCTS. The Ministry of Justice is very keen to emphasise its green credentials and at one time had a reasonably senior bod on the case with an enviro science graduate as her sidekick.

 

[Pale Rider]

I The Ministry of Justice is very keen to emphasise its green credentials and at one time had a reasonably senior bod on the case with an enviro science graduate as her sidekick.

Two more public servants we could easily do without.

If they sacked all these wasters there would be money for bike stands.

 

[snorri]

My council has a small budget (£10k per year) to install Sheffield stands in places that would be useful e.g. outside shops, train stations, public buildings etc. Try finding out if your council has a cycling officer and if they have a similar scheme. If so, I'm sure they would be happy for your suggestions.

I think most councils would say the same, but of course they have a lot more than £10K at their disposal, but a political decision has been taken to allocate only £10k towards cycle parking.
A bit of pressure on councillors from individuals or cycling organisations can sometiimes help councils to "find" exra money in order to provide the odd Sheffield Stand.