Forum Topic

Action against hire bikes obstructing pavements - good but what is the plan?

Good to see action on bikes obstructing the pavement.But where is the plan to provide parking spaces?I see no harm when if they are sensibly parked on the pavement and causing no obstruction but it would be better to have dedicated parking. A bit of white or yellow paint here and there and some imagination wouldn't go a miss and would not cost much.Dockless bikes have been around for years now. I thought it was a mistake for Santander Bikes not to go dockless a few years back. It would be great to have low cost cycling near where people live. In the meantime these bikes provide useful transport for many.Bike shelters are fine but you still have the cost and security which is prohibitive for many. Also just like cars many people do not need their own individual bike.Does WBC not have a plan - or TFL even?When did we get stuck in the 1980's?

Ed Robinson ● 1172d7 Comments

Santander bikes at Canary Wharf used to be and probably still are located on the pavement some distance from the roads.There was no cycle path or signs, I never quite knew how this was squared with not cycling on the pavement.Nothing a bit of white/yellow paint wouldn't sort out.

Ed Robinson ● 1170d

The Human Forest e-bikes in the City near Ludgate Hill were corralled together without causing an obstruction;https://flic.kr/p/2o1pSbm

Michael Ixer ● 1170d

Peter it is a good point.Walking to Putney the other day I came across cars, motor bikes and even a workman that had turned the pavement in front of the house he was working on into a little workshop. Not much enforcement there.Car hire companies do not pay extra (as far as I'm aware) extra road tax and private bus/coach/taxi companies can use bus lanes.If it is legal for a member of the public to park a bicycle on the pavement I think we need to be careful in charging private companies. I'm not saying we shouldn't certainly it should be considered - would delivery cyclists be included?My preference would be for regular parking spaces which the companies could make a contribution towards the cost and enforcement and of course community owned bicycles would be better.The docking bikes are old technology and it is just not economical or desirable to put these on every street or close enough to each street.

Ed Robinson ● 1172d

I can't support a private company using the public highway to run its business and store its products - unless they pay something for the privilege.  A cafe or restaurant has to pay the council to put a few tables and chairs out on the pavement, and then only in approved locations.  At least the Barclay/Santander bikes have agreed docking stations, but these new 'disruptive' companies encourage people to leave their bikes 'anywhere' and need to be discouraged.  I suspect they're mainly a data harvesting exercise anyway. I remember a few years ago Wandsworth scooped up all the Mobikes they found 'abandoned' on their streets!

Peter Evans ● 1172d

They are indeed quite expensive. I've also seen the guy round here replacing the batteries, driving a diesel vw golf...

Matt Palmer ● 1172d

I agree although the last time I used one it was a bit more expensive than I realised.They could also incentivize is parked on one of the regular painted bays that do not yet exist.

Ed Robinson ● 1172d

I agree, I've ridden those Lime bikes a few times now and I think they're excellent.What's a bit stupid is that 99% of the time when you end your booking you have to submit a photo of where you left the bike - via the app. If Lime were actually on the ball they could check those photos and penalise you if you leave the bike in a crap position. - get fined enough times and you might consider parking a bit more cleverly.Clearly they can't be bothered though.

Matt Palmer ● 1172d