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Posted by: GMR Jun 21 2009, 02:07 PM

One of my pet hates is not enough cycle racks in Newbury high street. The government says that we should leave our cars at home and either walk, use public transport or cycle. Local councils half heartily concur. Public transport is expensive; which leaves walking or cycling. Newbury has cycle racks but not enough. Go to Newbury on the busiest days of the week and you will see all the racks used up; in some cases three or four deep. When they are exhausted cyclist chain their bikes to lampposts, benches, and even trees. If the government want us to use our cycles then they must make sure that local governments follow their wishes.

The pictures below was taken of the cycle rack outside WH Smiths in Newbury high street. As you will see a road sign as been fixed/ shackled to the bicycle rack. Is this a good use of cycle racks when they are in such short supply? When I phoned up the council they told me it had nothing to do with them and I should direct my concerns towards the builders. I did and was told it was a council problem. Where do you go? Nobody wants to take responsibility.

http://img3.imageshack.us/i/s4200193.jpg/

http://img3.imageshack.us/i/s4200194.jpg/

The picture below was taken of a cycle rack outside Woolworths store in the high street. As you will see by the picture a car has reversed into them. This has been like this for a couple of weeks. When I contacted the council about this I was told it wasn’t a priority. So I changed tack and said “it doesn’t bode well with the image of a modern Newbury.” The reply was, “We’ll look into it.” I replied sarcastically, “Will it be done in the next 20 years?” “Hopefully" I was told. If they don’t care why should we?

http://img3.imageshack.us/i/s4200197.jpg/

Maybe the Newbury Weekly News might like to do a story on the lack of cycle racks in Newbury and how they are cared for (or not)?

Posted by: Hugh Saskin Jun 21 2009, 03:05 PM

A bad show, really, considering the costs involved are small in civil engineering terms and it's a pity nobody in authority seems too bothered about the problem. Have you tried Sustrans to see if they might be able to rattle a few cages?:

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/home

Posted by: On the edge Jun 21 2009, 03:25 PM

Direct action is often effective. Bolt croppers anyone? Makes one wonder why we employ street wardens.

Posted by: GMR Jun 21 2009, 03:27 PM

Thanks for that.... I'll give it a try.

Glenn

Posted by: GMR Jun 21 2009, 03:29 PM

I agree, but knowing my luck I'll get caught for damaging the property.... at least I'll find out who owns the road works sign

Posted by: cyclist Jun 24 2009, 03:18 PM

West Berkshire Spokes are a much better bet to get this sorted...

www.westberkshirespokes.org

Posted by: GMR Jun 24 2009, 04:04 PM

Thanks, I'll give them a try.

Posted by: GMR Jun 27 2009, 07:25 PM

I phoned the council about the cycle racks in Northbrook street again and was told they knew nothing about it.

Posted by: GMR Jun 28 2009, 02:19 PM

Because the bike racks are either damaged or chained to a road sign, and of course there isn’t enough cycle racks to go around people are starting to use the cages that house the trees or lampposts to secure their bike. Isn’t it time that the council dealt with this problem, instead of burying its head in the sand, like it usually does in the hope the problem will sort itself out? More and more people are using their bikes - as the government wanted - more so in this hot weather so more secure racking is needed.


http://img198.imageshack.us/i/s4200231.jpg/



http://img14.imageshack.us/i/s4200232.jpg/

Posted by: Bill1 Jun 28 2009, 02:37 PM

They hardly "buried their head in the sand" during the floods of 2 years ago.

Posted by: Hugh Saskin Jun 28 2009, 02:44 PM

These characters had a stall at the Thatcham Fun Day today and it was mentioned to them. They made a note of it for action

Posted by: GMR Jun 28 2009, 02:56 PM

What did they bury their head in then?

Posted by: GMR Jun 28 2009, 02:56 PM

I did contact them on the address one of the members left on here. So far they haven't got back to me.

Posted by: GMR Jul 3 2009, 02:26 PM

I think we are finally get there.


They've taped up the damaged cycle racks for repair.

http://img199.imageshack.us/i/s4200002.jpg/


And removed the road sign that was attached to the cycle rack.

http://img6.imageshack.us/i/s4200019.jpg/

Posted by: Darren Jul 3 2009, 03:04 PM

Hmm. Wondering how long the cones and tape will remain. The sign will return once the work re-commences on Monday after the carnival.

danm...

Will write out 100 times

"I must no be so cynical"

PS. Since when has dam-n been a naughty word?

Posted by: GMR Jul 3 2009, 03:25 PM

Good point!!

Damn - I didn't know that

Posted by: Bill1 Jul 3 2009, 04:37 PM

Apparently H E L L is a naughty word too!

Posted by: Bill1 Jul 3 2009, 04:38 PM

****

As proven above

Posted by: GMR Jul 3 2009, 07:14 PM

Did you say hell?

Posted by: Bill1 Jul 3 2009, 08:07 PM

**** yeah!

Posted by: Bill1 Jul 3 2009, 08:09 PM

See! It only worked for you because you put a question mark after it, so if I want to ask what the **** is going on I'll have to change it to heck.

Bloody ****

Posted by: GMR Jul 3 2009, 08:17 PM

Did you mean bloody hell?

Posted by: Bill1 Jul 3 2009, 08:32 PM

Strange how bloody is ok but hell is not.

Posted by: GMR Jul 3 2009, 08:37 PM

what about ******?

Posted by: Bill1 Jul 3 2009, 08:39 PM

No, a row of asterisks is fine

Posted by: GMR Jul 3 2009, 08:45 PM

That is what I thought.

Posted by: GMR Jul 8 2009, 02:47 PM

After getting reassurance from WBC that they won’t attach road signs to cycle racks they did exactly that (albeit outside a different shop this time). When I made contact with one of the workmen they said, “Who are WBC?” and laughed. The left hand doesn’t seem to know what the right hand is doing half the time.


http://img3.imageshack.us/i/s4200127.jpg/


http://img4.imageshack.us/i/s4200128i.jpg/





Photos courtesy of Newburynutters.

Posted by: Iommi Jul 8 2009, 04:31 PM

It is more likely they don't care and probably think there is more important things to worry about.

Next time you are there, rotate the sign over the rack so it is upside down and facing the wrong way.

Posted by: dannyboy Jul 8 2009, 04:48 PM

why would a subcontractor of a subcontractor of a main contractor working for a private company have heard of WBC?

Posted by: GMR Jul 8 2009, 06:39 PM

That has already been done.

Posted by: GMR Jul 8 2009, 06:40 PM

I agree, i doubt if they would... I was talking to somebody in charge.

Posted by: JeffG Jul 8 2009, 09:24 PM

Did you actually say "WBC" or "West Berkshire Council"? Because if you said the former to me, I probably wouldn't realise who you were talking about either. If the latter, it would be odd if the person you spoke to hadn't heard of West Berkshire, or didn't know what a council was.

Posted by: GMR Jul 8 2009, 10:14 PM

I think you missed the irony (i.e. he laughed). I gave it its full title. He then laughed; obviously he heard of them.... but as I read it he was being sarcastic and basically saying "I don't give a monkeys who they are we are doing our job our way."

Posted by: NNo Jul 9 2009, 08:32 AM

The 2 flattened stands are repaired I believe. So just the inconsiderate work sign to sort out. I see it's assembled round the stand rather than locked to it. Is the sign easy to disassemble?

Posted by: GMR Jul 9 2009, 09:16 AM

I think you would need a spanner or something like that to remove it.

You can't accuse the WBC of working too fast to get things done.

Posted by: dannyboy Jul 9 2009, 10:59 AM

Ah, I see - he had the 'I'm In Charge' hi viz jacket on.

Posted by: JMH Jul 9 2009, 11:07 AM

Sand Bags of course

Posted by: GMR Jul 9 2009, 11:19 AM

That's the one; apart from that he said he was in charge.

Posted by: GMR Jul 9 2009, 11:20 AM

Posted by: GMR Jul 10 2009, 07:02 PM

I see they've fixed the cycle racks outside Woolworths old store - eventually.

http://img4.imageshack.us/i/s4200129.jpg/

Pictures courtesy of Newburynutters

Posted by: GMR Jul 11 2009, 08:35 PM

Going into town today it just goes to show you how bad we need more cycle racks. People were chaining their bikes to benches, tree guards and even lamp posts. You can't have a government or council say "use your bikes more and leave your cars at home" and then don't give enough facilities to lock your bikes up.

Posted by: Iommi Jul 11 2009, 11:50 PM

You shoulda taken pictures! It seems to work!

Posted by: JMH Jul 14 2009, 11:35 AM

Your wish has been granted! Well, almost, not sure if the NWN will cover but you have made the headlines on NT!

Posted by: GMR Jul 14 2009, 11:41 AM

I see it, thanks.

Posted by: Bill1 Jul 14 2009, 12:25 PM

Fame at last!

Posted by: GMR Jul 14 2009, 01:42 PM

Yes.... I just got a phone call from Brown asking if I would accept an OBE because of my awareness campaign in the NWN (I've put a smilie just in case you might think I am being serious)

Posted by: Bill1 Jul 14 2009, 08:18 PM

You really didn't have to.


Oh and thats a winkie by the way

Posted by: Darren Jul 14 2009, 08:40 PM

Put Mr Winkie away!!!

Posted by: Hugh Saskin Jul 16 2009, 10:22 AM

Just walked along Northbrook St - racks repaired and roadwork signs removed. A partial success story then -well done GMR, wonder when more racks will be installed?

Posted by: GMR Jul 16 2009, 10:57 AM

Thank you.

They say 20 new racks will be installed… but where and how? Are these new rack going to be installed in Northbook Street (where we need them) or are they earmarked for Parkway when those shops are ready? It has been reported that bike crime has gone up so people will leave their bikes near where they shop and unless we have more new racks in Northbrook street then their promises won’t solve anything.

Glenn

Posted by: Darren Jul 16 2009, 11:21 AM

Thyey also need to do regular clear-ups of all the abandoned bikes and locks on them.

Posted by: Branston Pickle Jul 16 2009, 12:37 PM

It said in the main paper today that West Berks council were going to install more at the north end of Northbrook Street when they get around to 'improving' it

Posted by: GMR Jul 16 2009, 01:53 PM

I wonder if that includes the extra 20 they said they were going to get?

Posted by: GMR Jul 16 2009, 01:54 PM

I agree. It doesn't make Newbury look tidy with all that old stuff hanging of them.

Posted by: blackdog Jul 21 2009, 08:33 AM

I was in town yesterday afternoon - another bent cycle rack (time to get the camera out Glen).

As we have so much CCTV I trust the driver who bent it will be billed for the repairs...

Posted by: GMR Jul 21 2009, 09:29 AM

Thanks.

Where was it? I am going to town later.

Posted by: GMR Aug 31 2009, 10:16 PM

While in town today I noticed that there were some more bent cycle racks. How the **** do they get bent?

Posted by: Darren Aug 31 2009, 10:59 PM

I suspect delivery lorries reversing into them

Posted by: GMR Sep 1 2009, 10:19 PM

if that is the case then you'd think the council would do something about it. After all it must cost them a fortune to fix. On top of that the bollards keep getting damaged. They must spend a fortune on repairs.