Posted: 30 07 2004 at 4:04pm | IP Logged

The major should encourage universities to provide safe, secure places to mount bicycles. So where people need secure parking the most there is none. (In university season, just check out the number of bicycles chained against the fence next to the London College of Communication in Elephant & Castle where there is large unused space in front of the university which could be used to provide secure places for bicycles.)

Most students would take the opportunity to ride into university but because of security fears they use an unpopular option of public transport which is hell to use during peak time especially if travelling through Central London by tube.

Getting universities to provide secure packing bays will surely increase the number of cyclist on the road which the major is trying to achieve.

In general the Mayor should get those secure parking bays (small ‘bicycle park’ that can hold many hundreds of bicycles at a small fee which also includes security [cameras] and facilities) that they talk about installed in Waterloo and other places built now and encourage universities to also take part.

Posted: 08 09 2004 at 5:02pm | IP Logged

I agree.

Bike riders should also think about what sort of bike they park in public places. Shiny new mountain bikes are far more likely to attract the attention of thieves than an old Raleigh with a basket on the front. The Mayor and his folks promoting cycling should be having a think about how to get more practical bikes on the road. Look in a bike shop and tell me how many bikes there are with mudguards fitted? v  few. Carrier racks or baskets? Fewer still. Lights? Oh come on! I feel sure there must be a way of re-cycling or refurbishing the thousands of bikes laying dormant in sheds across London that should be in everyday use. I just haven't thought of what it is yet.