POSTED WITHOUT COMMENT:

1,000 Boris bikes kept off roads as residents object

Ross Lydall and Emma Worthington
17.08.10

A series of bizarre protests from residents has left 1,000 “Boris
bikes” stranded in an underground garage and unable to be used by
cyclists.

Councils have refused to grant permission for 76 docking stations,
meaning that Transport for London can only put 5,000 of the 6,000 hire
bikes on the street.

One group of residents claimed it would be a “violation of their human
rights” if a docking station were to be built outside their mansion
block in Bloomsbury.

Another complaint centred on the fact that the bikes would be
positioned under a tree and would be covered in bird-droppings. Many
residents have expressed concern that the bikes would be used by
drunken revellers indulging in “horseplay”. One Kensington resident
said anybody wanting to cycle “will already own a bike”.

An Evening Standard investigation has found that Westminster council
has refused 29 docking stations. Twelve have been refused in
Kensington and Chelsea, seven in Camden, six each in Islington —
including one in Boris Johnson's street — the City of London and
Lambeth, five in Southwark, two each in the Royal Parks and in Tower
Hamlets and one in Hackney.

The shortage of docking stations — there are 335 at present, 65 short
of the 400 that should have been in place for the £140 million
scheme's launch on July 30 — has left 1,000 bikes, each costing around
£350, stranded in TfL contactor Serco's depot in Islington.

It has also meant that “Boris bikers” have complained about shortages
of cycles at Waterloo and other mainline stations, and of a dire
shortage of docking stations around Covent Garden. Serco has now
deployed staff to Waterloo to ensure there are extra bikes and docking
points during the morning and evening rush-hours.

For the whole article, go to:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2b6aj73
or:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...ents-object.do

"Bruce" wrote in message
...

It has also meant that "Boris bikers" have complained about shortages
of cycles at Waterloo and other mainline stations, and of a dire
shortage of docking stations around Covent Garden. Serco has now
deployed staff to Waterloo to ensure there are extra bikes and docking
points during the morning and evening rush-hours.

As an aside, I wonder if the Borisbike project will cause SWT's existing
schemes to be withdrawn? As well as the Bromptons available at Waterloo,
there's another SWT hire scheme based at Richmond?

Paul S

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
POSTED WITHOUT COMMENT:

1,000 Boris bikes kept off roads as residents object

Ross Lydall and Emma Worthington
17.08.10

A series of bizarre protests from residents has left 1,000 "Boris
bikes" stranded in an underground garage and unable to be used by
cyclists.

Councils have refused to grant permission for 76 docking stations,
meaning that Transport for London can only put 5,000 of the 6,000 hire
bikes on the street.

One group of residents claimed it would be a "violation of their human
rights" if a docking station were to be built outside their mansion
block in Bloomsbury.

Another complaint centred on the fact that the bikes would be
positioned under a tree and would be covered in bird-droppings. Many
residents have expressed concern that the bikes would be used by
drunken revellers indulging in "horseplay". One Kensington resident
said anybody wanting to cycle "will already own a bike".

An Evening Standard investigation has found that Westminster council
has refused 29 docking stations. Twelve have been refused in
Kensington and Chelsea, seven in Camden, six each in Islington -
including one in Boris Johnson's street - the City of London and
Lambeth, five in Southwark, two each in the Royal Parks and in Tower
Hamlets and one in Hackney.

The shortage of docking stations - there are 335 at present, 65 short
of the 400 that should have been in place for the £140 million
scheme's launch on July 30 - has left 1,000 bikes, each costing around
£350, stranded in TfL contactor Serco's depot in Islington.

It has also meant that "Boris bikers" have complained about shortages
of cycles at Waterloo and other mainline stations,

How can the refusal to have some "remote" docking stations cause a shortage
at railway stations?

If these other docking stations were in place the spare bikes would be
sitting in THEM.

tim

On 2010\08\17 20:04, Bruce wrote:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...ents-object.do

An Evening Standard investigation has found that Westminster council
has refused 29 docking stations. Twelve have been refused in
Kensington and Chelsea, seven in Camden, six each in Islington —
including one in Boris Johnson's street

Gosh. Furlong Road is a fair distance outside the area of the scheme. It
looks as if Boris ordered that the public purse should pay for a bike
station in his street, even though he owns a bike.

"Basil Jet" wrote in message
...
On 2010\08\17 20:04, Bruce wrote:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...ents-object.do

An Evening Standard investigation has found that Westminster council
has refused 29 docking stations. Twelve have been refused in
Kensington and Chelsea, seven in Camden, six each in Islington —
including one in Boris Johnson's street

Gosh. Furlong Road is a fair distance outside the area of the scheme.
It looks as if Boris ordered that the public purse should pay for a
bike station in his street, even though he owns a bike.

http://londonist.com/2009/06/n1_bewa...has_landed.php

It appears Boris has moved recently.

Peter Smyth

On 2010\08\17 21:58, Peter Smyth wrote:


"Basil Jet" wrote in message
...
On 2010\08\17 20:04, Bruce wrote:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...ents-object.do


An Evening Standard investigation has found that Westminster council
has refused 29 docking stations. Twelve have been refused in
Kensington and Chelsea, seven in Camden, six each in Islington —
including one in Boris Johnson's street

Gosh. Furlong Road is a fair distance outside the area of the scheme.
It looks as if Boris ordered that the public purse should pay for a
bike station in his street, even though he owns a bike.

http://londonist.com/2009/06/n1_bewa...has_landed.php

Jonn Elledge... there's a blast from the past.

In article ,
(Paul Corfield) wrote:

As I had to be walk between Temple and Holborn during the AM peak today
I actually saw a fair few Boris bikes in use. I'd seen them parked on
their stands but not in use. Today they were whizzing along with the
front light shining brightly. It'll be interesting to see whether the
scheme does become part of the mainstream "transport network".

I've been seeing between 2 and 4 each time as I cycle between King's Cross
and westminster.

The Belgrove St station was empty on Monday at 10:10. So not as useful for
me as it might be.

I might have used Boris bikes today because my own bike had a puncture.
Unfortunately it had it in Putney so I had to use the District and Circle
Lines to get it back to Kings Cross and home for repair.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

On 2010\08\18 02:21, wrote:

I might have used Boris bikes today because my own bike had a puncture.
Unfortunately it had it in Putney so I had to use the District and Circle
Lines to get it back to Kings Cross and home for repair.

Shame, a picture of a man riding a Boricycle while carrying his own bike
would have made a great advert.

I noticed yesterday that there's a docking station on Derry Street,
directly opposite the Evening Standard's office. Which is handy for
any stories about them...

In message , Paul Scott
writes

As an aside, I wonder if the Borisbike project will cause SWT's
existing schemes to be withdrawn?

I'd doubt it. The SWT scheme is an entirely different concept - folding
Bromptons that are expected to go on permanent hire, being kept at home
(or at the office) and taken on the train for the daily commute.

Having said that, the scheme seems very low key, and I don't recall
seeing any of the Bromptons in and around Richmond, or on SWT.

--
Paul Terry