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Mayfair man challenges location of bike hire docking stationBarclays Cycle Hire Scheme Albert Embankment impression.jpg

Mayfair man challenges location of bike hire docking station

Legal challenge comes less than three weeks before London scheme is due to start
by Martin Thomas
Sun, Jul 11, 2010 11:36
8

With less than three weeks to go before the Barclay’s Cycle Hire scheme starts in London, a Mayfair man has asked the High Court to prevent one of the planned docking stations from being sited near his home.

According to the BBC, Noel Carroll, 63, said Westminster Council failed to consider the environmental impact of the facility on South Audley Street – due to be installed next week. Transport for London said the site was granted planning consent last August.

About 400 of the docking stations are being positioned across London, with 6,000 bikes available for hire. People will be able to access the bikes in nine boroughs and several Royal Parks in central London from 30 July.

The South Audley Street docking station site is in a conservation area and is close to the Mayfair library and the Grosvenor Chapel, which is a Grade II listed building.

Mr Carroll and other residents are concerned about additional noise and traffic congestion it might create.

He said, "Our beautiful conservation area must not be defaced by this horrible lump of metal. It would bring down this very beautiful place. It would not be a very pretty sight."

Transport for London said it had "worked closely" with London's councils "to identify the most suitable locations for cycle-hire docking stations, with all applications subject to planning consent and including a period of consultation".

"The boroughs, as the planning authorities, make the final decision on whether to approve the locations."

Westminster Council told the BBC it would not comment while the court case was continuing.

London bike hire scheme
Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme
Mayfair
planning
legal challenge
Martin Thomas

Lifelong lover of most things cycling-related, from Moulton Mini adventures in the 70s to London bike messengering in the 80s, commuting in the 90s, mountain biking in the noughties and road cycling throughout. Editor of Simpson Magazine (www.simpsonmagazine.cc). 

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8 comments

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Recumbenteer | 13 years ago
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"Mr Carroll and other residents are concerned about additional noise and traffic congestion it might create."

Mmmm, the NIMBYist selfishness and sheer idiocy of some people never ceases to amaze me.

Consider the roar of traffic of cars vs the whisper of bikes. The fumes of traffic [lots] vs the fumes of bikes [none].

It seems that Mr Carroll lives in an Alice through the looking-glass world.

Congestion? He should look at this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nblloyd/3399179623/

I wonder if the docking station will eradicate some of the on-street parking spaces.
I wonder if Mr Carroll looks to lose the parking space for his car, probably a huge 4WD.

Avatar
Tom Amos | 13 years ago
0 likes

workhard,

Yup, thanks for quoting me there. I'm just expressing my opinion on a cycling scheme that is being organised in the town I live in. Is that allowed?

Seriously, you must be able to survive without your bike for one day? Anyone visiting for a few hours is going to jump on the tube or bus - or walk.

Avatar
mad_scot_rider replied to Tom Amos | 13 years ago
0 likes
Tom Amos wrote:

... thanks for quoting me there. I'm just expressing my opinion on a cycling scheme that is being organised in the town I live in. Is that allowed?

Of course you're allowed to express your opinion - and others are allowed to disagree - isn't dialogue wonderful?

Avatar
Tom Amos | 13 years ago
0 likes

spen,

To be honest, I have some sympathy with this guy. There probably will be some noise generated from the bike stand. I live in south east London and I'm fairly sure there won't be one near me. (thanks Boris!)

This scheme will be the biggest disaster ever. In Paris, every single bike was stolen.

I can't help but think that everyone who lives in London who wants a bike already has one. I cycle everywhere. The only way I could see this scheme working is if the bike hire was free. But then all the bikes would get nicked.

I would love to be proved wrong. It will be interesting to see that if the scheme is a disaster, how quickly will Barclays pull out and demand that their name is removed from the bikes?

Avatar
workhard replied to Tom Amos | 13 years ago
0 likes
Tom Amos wrote:

In Paris, every single bike was stolen.

well if they were then full credit to the people who run the scheme for replacing them as I used them extensivley earlier this year.

Quote:

I can't help but think that everyone who lives in London who wants a bike already has one.

and what of visitors to town? I'd use the scheme nearly every time I come to London. But I ain't going to lug my own bike and a lock up on the train only to come out a meeting to find they are gone....

Avatar
rojo replied to Tom Amos | 13 years ago
0 likes
Tom Amos wrote:

spen,

To be honest, I have some sympathy with this guy. There probably will be some noise generated from the bike stand. I live in south east London and I'm fairly sure there won't be one near me. (thanks Boris!)

This scheme will be the biggest disaster ever. In Paris, every single bike was stolen.

I can't help but think that everyone who lives in London who wants a bike already has one. I cycle everywhere. The only way I could see this scheme working is if the bike hire was free. But then all the bikes would get nicked.

I would love to be proved wrong. It will be interesting to see that if the scheme is a disaster, how quickly will Barclays pull out and demand that their name is removed from the bikes?

The scheme in Dublin, Ireland, has been a resounding success. There were doubts in the weeks coming up to its introduction, whether bikes would be stolen or not, etc. But it succeeded the doubts of the naysayers to become very successful and one of the reasons on increasing the popularity of cycling in Dublin and around Ireland.

Avatar
jezzzer replied to Tom Amos | 13 years ago
0 likes
Tom Amos wrote:

spen,

To be honest, I have some sympathy with this guy. There probably will be some noise generated from the bike stand. I live in south east London and I'm fairly sure there won't be one near me. (thanks Boris!)

This scheme will be the biggest disaster ever. In Paris, every single bike was stolen.

I can't help but think that everyone who lives in London who wants a bike already has one. I cycle everywhere. The only way I could see this scheme working is if the bike hire was free. But then all the bikes would get nicked.

I would love to be proved wrong. It will be interesting to see that if the scheme is a disaster, how quickly will Barclays pull out and demand that their name is removed from the bikes?

Argh this post annoyed me on so many levels.

Avatar
spen | 13 years ago
0 likes

I've just had a look on streetview and frankly this looks like a case of an expensive rather than a beautiful street.

Nimbyism, anyone?

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