Scheme of the Month - Cycle Parking Template, LB Southwark
One of Transport for London’s key cycling targets is to increase the amount of cycle parking provision on the highway and London boroughs are invited to bid for funding.
Southwark Council and Southwark Cyclists work together to plan and install cycle parking stands throughout the borough. Each stand costs £100 and installation is by Southwark Council staff.
At the beginning of the process we decided that just highlighting areas that needed additional cycle parking could be a hit and miss method; identifying an exact location is crucial. Southwark Cyclists representative, Alastair Hanton, designed a cycle parking template (see photograph), which is made out of an old piece of leatherette. Exact holes have been cut out to identify Sheffield rack spacing for installations both perpendicular and echelon style. The template has markings for two stands. We have investigated different materials to use but found that many were too light and would fly away in the wind whilst a heavier material could be cumbersome to carry on a bike. We use contractors’ spotmarking spray paint to mark the ground. Photos of the location, together with a GIS based map, are then sent to the contractors for installation.
Locations for installations are identified through various different processes; direct requests; requests for suggestions through local cycling groups’ email lists; requests for suggestions to councillors; seeing bikes locked to other street furniture: All locations are identified from the webmapping section of Southwark Council’s website which includes photographs of each location. The mat can be a talking point from which many interesting conversations regarding cycling and cycle parking have ensued.
For further details please contact Roger Stocker at LB Southwark:
You can access Southwark’s webmaps at: www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/maps/
