Residents' Association Forum

Hello

I am new to this forum, so apologies if this has already been raised and discussed.
What would have to be done to have a bicycle rack at Thames Ditton station with CCTV?

I was regularly cycling to the station and then locking my bike up under the bridge until it got stolen from there 3 weeks ago. I have noticed that someone on the About Thames Ditton Facebook page mentioned that they have had their bike stolen from under the bridge recently also.

There seems to be room to have a cycle rack next to the wall by the telephone box or perhaps on the other side next to the ramp by the woods. I know you can park your bike up on the platform on the London bound side, but there is not much room for more than 3-4 bikes. Esher and Surbiton both have bike racks with CCTV so why can't we have one at Thames Ditton!

Does anyone else think this is a good idea and what can be done to get the council to consider building one?

Thanks

The advantage of putting bikes on the platform is that you get SWT's platform cctv. Trying to get cctv installed and monitored on the street would be a challenge....

If you still want a bike rack in the position indicated, contact  Peter Hickman (see contacts page) and see if he will use some of his "2014/15 discretionary allowance. You could also come to the next Residents' open meeting (Tuesday 23 September VERA FLETCHER HALL at 8 pm) and plead your case.

I have moved into Thames Ditton recently, I also think a bike rack would be handy - if anything it will promote a greener transport philosphy in the village and also hopefully for those who park near station to take some exercise.

I think this is well worth looking at.  Can posters find out who installed the racks at Esher and Surbiton and how and by whom they are monitored?

Any rack at pavement level would have to be sited so as not to cause obstruction to e.g. wheelchair passage by the existing railings and there may be other specifications to which Surrey highways have to adhere.  It may be unlikely that CCTV would be installed to monitor a bike rack at pavement level, although several residents have wanted a CCTV camera at that area for other reasons.  See CCTV threads.  Could be brought up at the police panel before an Open Meeting for the neighbourhood team's views?

A bike rack on a platform would be SW Trains' (or Network rail's??) responsibility.  It might be within sight of existing CCTV but SWT would have to decide what live monitoring would be done and what action taken if there appeared to be theft at the rack.  There is also the obvious point that leaving your bike on the up platform means you have to descend from the down platform and walk up to where you left it on the up one.... 

The most common form of bike rack you see nowadays is the Sheffield stand which is manufactured by Broxap. These are the tubular galvanized cycle stand you see everywhere. I have procured these before on behalf of a number of organisations. They retail for about £30 each. Any general civil contractor can install. I am also in favour of more cycling provisions at the station - surely this should be well supported by the council who are always trying to promote sustainable travel. That small area of scrub land at the side of the station ramp (gated off recently) which is owned by Thames Water would make an ideal location and would help make use of/tidy up this wasted space.

Yes, surely.  This objective features in both Elmbridge Borough Council strategy and that of Surrey County Council.  So we'll see whether it amounts to more than hot air or sustainable bureaucratic box-ticking (but I am sure it will do).

For sake of £60 it must be worth it. 

I cant remember if triangle area is grass or tarmac, either way the road builders may wish to put some tarmac in that area.

I have moved out of central London, where Boris bikes were very handy and supported very well - bikes do cut down on motor travel, just at look at the Dutch model. One step further would be to have one in the village centre - losing a car space outside View gallery would be okay by me at least bikers would then keep to the pavement hopefully

I assume you mean OFF the pavement!

Exactly my thought when I read this thread- that slot which had the broken fence would be ideal. And as someone else has pointed out our layout means a rack on the platform is a bit of a pain on one direction. There is also space on the side of ash path on land I assume is owned by the council.

As a bonus - could be a project that makes the electricity unit a bit less of an eye sore (ie having a nice bike rack in front would beat the current sight !).

Having had my share of wheels nicked when chaining bikes to the railings I would definitely help to support a better rack (not sure how to provide this help - but let me know!).

If you look at how many bikes use the one at Hampton court and the Surbiton one has a wait list I really do think that although the catchment is less so (Hampton court is used by people further afield and Surbiton has the fast train) - I think it would be popular nonetheless.

If you build it - they will come!

Great suggestions all round

Okay, so what is the process of actually getting this, this Summer! 

Seeing as I raised the issue, I am happy to make some enquiries....

I will email Peter Hickman and ask about the discretionary allowance and if he has any suggestions as to how we could proceed from here

Will also try and get down to Esher station and find out who was responsible for the cycle racks and the CCTV there

If anyone else has any suggestions or can assist, please let me know, it will probably be a slow process I am guessing

Thanks
David

Seems like this has been raised by Peter Hickman at the E&TSC on 12 June.

Peter is looking to arrange a meeting with the Sustainability Manager at Surrey County Council for a site visit to move things forward. He sees three potential sites where racks can be installed subject to approval from the owners of the land which are Highways, Thames Water and Elmbridge Borough Council.

Good news!