Secure Bike Parking?

[spen666]

What do you understand or mean by the term secure bike parking?
I ask this question because I was invited by the Football Association (FA) to a focus group at Wembley stadium. I asked them to confirm there was secure bike parking facilities and was told there was, so I headed over there, in the opposite direction from my work to my home.
When I got there, the only bike parking they had was a few sheffield steel stands in a dingy corner of the stadium concourse, open to the public, not covered by CCTV etc.
I had my rant about it here in my blog, including several pictures of the parking provision.

Sweet FA
I have since wondered if I was unreasonable to expect secure parking to be more than somewhere to lock a bike up.
What would you expect if you were told there was secure parking for your bike?

 

[fossyant]

Quality sheffield stands, ideally concreted in, not bolted. Protected by a swipe card or key code access away from the general public.

If unable to be covered or need public access, then in full view of a main 'reception' area, and ideally covered by CCTV. High pedestrian traffic is of some help.

 

[snorri]

They are clearly not very confident regarding their security arrangements when they post a large sign saying 'Cycles left at your own risk'. Not at all reassuring.

 

[leemo]

There's secure parking and then there's secure parking. Worked for one of the banks in Canary Wharf and someone had left a new looking Brompton unlocked in there for weeks. It was never nicked and still there when I left. Was half tempted myself

If cycles are left "at owners risk", then you shouldn't really expect anything because at the end of the day you are the one that stands to lose if the facilities aren't up to scratch. Personally I'd go and scout any facilities myself (including looking at what other bikes are locked there and how they are locked) and make my own assessment before leaving my pride and joy there.

I have a second cheap-looking bike which I use when I don't have confidence in parking security.

Sorry I know that wasn't what you wanted to hear.