The Evening Standard reports that 100,000 new bicycle parking spaces are needed in London to cope with the rise in bicycle transportation over the past several years - a 91% increase since 2000.
I’ve noticed a significant increase in transportation cyclists in my area in the past few years, especially at work. Last year, my bike was one of two or three bikes parked outside everyday. This year, the 20 available spaces are consistently full or nearly full.
To me, this is a good thing. It shows that as cycling becomes a more prominent form of transportation, the needs for viable cycling infrastructure become more apparent. And while it does result in an increase in costs to a city, company, or university, these costs are minimal compared to the costs of parking facilities for automobiles.
From the Evening Standard:
Central London needs 100,000 extra cycle parking spaces to keep pace with soaring bike use, campaigners said today.
An
Evening Standard survey found dramatic differences in provision for
bikes between city centre boroughs. Some of the busiest railway
stations had no parking facilities at all.The lack of secure
cycle facilities has been highlighted by the Evening Standard’s Safer
Cycling campaign, and by Conservative leader David Cameron when his
bike was stolen after he locked it to a 2ft bollard in Portobello Road.The Standard survey found there were more than 25,000 official cycle spaces in central London.
At
the major rail terminals, run by Network Rail, there were 1,211 spaces
for bikes. But some stations, including Cannon Street and Charing
Cross, had none. Spaces at stations are either railings similar to
those used by councils, which can be used to lock two bikes to, or
mounts that hold one.Network Rail plans to add 500 spaces at King’s Cross that will also benefit St Pancras commuters.
Councils have put in about 3,000 spaces in the past year and have plans for more than 2,000 this year.
Official
estimates say 500,000 bike journeys are made in London every day - an
increase of 91 per cent since 2000. The vast majority take place in
central boroughs.Campaigners say this is why cyclists struggle to find suitable secure parking.
One Comment
I think it’s partly a fashion thing, but personally I say whatever it takes.
If we need an economic justification, imagine how much cheaper it must be to arrange for the parking of 10+ bikes compared to one car.
I accept that my reasoning may be the product of late night wishful thinking, but it makes sense to me.