London Cycling Campaign slams poor bike parking facilities at major hospital in capital following spate of thefts

It would be a more enduring legacy, something that could bear his name and continue his memory for years to come. Whereas an iPad or pop-up what not, here today, forgotten tomorrow.

We had problems at our work place situated in an East Midlands city on an industrial estate. Where the entrance to the parking area was open from the street and we were told anyone entering was visible from the reception desk. The bicycle parking itself was good with two large shelters with stands facing one another, the rear had a boundary fence so it was just the entrance that was open. Sadly this meant once inside you were not overlooked. After several incidents and thefts they placed in a bit of fence and gate with lock with a simple number code entry not fool proof but it has so far removed any incidents. Sometimes it is just a bit of thought and simple precautions that can make thieves go eslewhere.

they should but I think its a complicated request to provide, in older buildings in built up areas especially, which often covers alot of NHS buildings, wheres the space ? and how will you secure it properly ?

I keep wondering if maybe the Dutch have invented some magic solution we've just not copied yet, but they just dont seem to have the same bike theft problem.

Awavey wrote:

they should but I think its a complicated request to provide, in older buildings in built up areas especially, which often covers alot of NHS buildings, wheres the space ? and how will you secure it properly ?

I keep wondering if maybe the Dutch have invented some magic solution we've just not copied yet, but they just dont seem to have the same bike theft problem.

It's actually very simple; convert the car parking into secure cycle parking.  There will be a few screams from the drivers, especially the consultants, but it works, as the Dutch found out forty years ago when they did it at their Transport Ministry.

But it assumes there is space for car parking to swap out to begin with and that's not always the case ime in inner city locations. It's an easy politician style statement imo to just demand secure cycle parking everywhere, and it solves it, I mean great idea, we are all on board with that, I wouldnt cycle to work if I felt the storage was unsecured, but the reality is more often complicated by other competing considerations,that building owners or businesses have no control over.

I mean the LCCs complaint is first & foremost anyone can access the current cycle storage areas and axle grind to their hearts content. Well that's still true of secure cycle facilities as cyclists at Cambridges secure railway cycle park will tell you,it might lower the number of bikes stolen,but it doesnt wholly prevent it.

It wouldn't necessarily have to be directly on the premises, though. It would probably be rare that there wasn't any suitable location within a few minutes' walk that could be used, particularly if it was a shared hub. If you roped in businesses in the area as well, you could even potentially get them to chip in to reduce the cost.

Awavey wrote:

But it assumes there is space for car parking to swap out to begin with and that's not always the case ime in inner city locations.

It is exactly because parking is so limited that some of it should be given over to secure cycle parking. My wife was in hospital earlier this week and when I went to collect her, there were cars double parked in the multi-storey - people had parked in the road between the bays on one floor, so that only half the floor was accessible. This is at a time when visiting is not allowed and a lot of outpatient procedures are being put on hold. People who work at the hospital tell me that they'll often spend 40 minutes driving around the car park trying to find a space. However, I would never lock my bike up at the hospital - if my wife had needed me to drop some things off to her at the ward, I probably would have ridden there and taken my bike in with me (no doubt someone would complain, but compared to the alternatives, that is a price worth paying).

Awavey wrote:

I mean the LCCs complaint is first & foremost anyone can access the current cycle storage areas and axle grind to their hearts content. Well that's still true of secure cycle facilities as cyclists at Cambridges secure railway cycle park will tell you,it might lower the number of bikes stolen,but it doesnt wholly prevent it.

Except you wouldn't need an angle grinder at Cambridge's "secure railway cycle park" - reportedly, a lot of the Sheffield stands aren't even bolted to the floor properly. Calling something 'secure cycle parking' and it actually being secure are two entirely different things.

All that said, I would prefer my bike to be stolen when it was parked, than when I am riding it. If we go to far securing cycle parking we could see an increase in bike-jacking - so I'm not really sure what the solution is.

Awavey wrote:

I keep wondering if maybe the Dutch have invented some magic solution we've just not copied yet, but they just dont seem to have the same bike theft problem.

It could be that everyone has a beater for commuting, shopping and locking outside. Therefore where is the market for selling these bikes? everyone has one, no one needs one. Valuable bikes just used for proper rides not everyday use.

Although it seems dutch rioters are happy to use the bikes of others as barricades against the police.

Christopher TR1 wrote:

I would go further and say that everybody should have safe parking for their bike at work.

We are only trying to save the planet after all!

True, should be available to all. However for the NHS it is especially true, since cycling is known to save the NHS money. It is preventative health care, should be a core part of what they do. The fact that it is also a transport solution and an environmental solution too is just a bonus!
Physician, heal thyself.