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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
Wow, what an exciting time I've been having over the last few days. Looks
like I'm going to have to leave my MTB overnight at a station in Hampshire, although it turns out that there are cycle lockers there too. Quick call to SW Trains, during which they said they had no record of any lockers at the station, and then no reply for two days. Called again, and the lady was genuinely apologetic and contacted the station direct. Turns out there are four lockers there on which four people have paid a deposit and provided passport details for proof. However, it seems that once they have one, there is no monthly charge and they are therefore able to just keep the locker for life even if not using it. Well, that's my impression from here (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/railleaflet04.pdf), and SW Trains confirmed this. If that really is the case, this is ridiculous. I'd be prepared to pay £5 a month to keep my bike in there, and when I didn't want it anymore I wouldn't want to keep shelling out a monthly fee. Allowing them to keep the deposit indefinitely isn't a big enough enticement to give up the locker, expecially as there already is a waiting list. Seems that they need to review this, and install more lockers. I'm not overly happy at leaving my bike outside every night and every weekend for the local scrotes to eye up. I do lock properly, but just know my pedals and handlebars will be had at some point. I can't be expected to remove them every night! Anyone with any local views, as I've done all this research without having ever been to Winchfield station. |
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#2
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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
Hi Elyob,
elyob wrote: Anyone with any local views, as I've done all this research without having ever been to Winchfield station. I have local views, but you might want to mail me for them (address above works and I check it regularly). Mike |
#3
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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
elyob wrote: Well, that's my impression from here (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/railleaflet04.pdf), and SW Trains confirmed this. Very out of date leaflet - many more stations have lockers than indicated there. Re the issue of charging and monitoring use - I'll investigate. Personally, I'm in favour of charging for the lockers (assuming copious free sheffield stands are available as an alternative). Once the rail companies understand that cyclists are willing and able to cough up, there'll be a much greater willingness to provide decent parking. £5 a week sounds reasonable for A1 Gold Standard parking. The landowner would be getting better returns from bike lockers than for car parking. |
#4
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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
"Mike Smith" wrote in message ... Hi Elyob, elyob wrote: Anyone with any local views, as I've done all this research without having ever been to Winchfield station. I have local views, but you might want to mail me for them (address above works and I check it regularly). emailed .. |
#5
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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
"Not Responding" wrote in message ups.com... Very out of date leaflet - many more stations have lockers than indicated there. Re the issue of charging and monitoring use - I'll investigate. You think that's out of date, SWT originally denied any being at the station! Any info, do let me know! Thanks. Personally, I'm in favour of charging for the lockers (assuming copious free sheffield stands are available as an alternative). Once the rail companies understand that cyclists are willing and able to cough up, there'll be a much greater willingness to provide decent parking. £5 a week sounds reasonable for A1 Gold Standard parking. The landowner would be getting better returns from bike lockers than for car parking. I think a charge scenario is better that just a deposit as it'll free any up, even if it's just for two weeks whilst someone goes on holiday. Unfortunately, some people down there would have no problem putting down a hefty deposit, as they know they'll get it back. However, I would also say that some of the people down there have deep enough pockets that they wouldn't blink at £20/month. At £5 a week, I would do it, but only with some assurances. Well, I guess the A1 Gold would be my assurance. But you're right, it then becomes a money spinner, therefore they may be willing to invest more. Which would be nice. |
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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
Not Responding wrote:
Personally, I'm in favour of charging for the lockers (assuming copious free sheffield stands are available as an alternative). Once the rail companies understand that cyclists are willing and able to cough up, there'll be a much greater willingness to provide decent parking. £5 a week sounds reasonable... I thought the lockers had to be 'free' due to Hampshire County Council 'principles' in support of riding to stations. ISTR it is they who set the rules, not SWT spit I think the lockers are more HCC than SWT. tt |
#7
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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
triddletree wrote: Not Responding wrote: Personally, I'm in favour of charging for the lockers (assuming copious free sheffield stands are available as an alternative). Once the rail companies understand that cyclists are willing and able to cough up, there'll be a much greater willingness to provide decent parking. £5 a week sounds reasonable... I thought the lockers had to be 'free' due to Hampshire County Council 'principles' in support of riding to stations. ISTR it is they who set the rules, not SWT spit I think the lockers are more HCC than SWT. Indeed, the chief exec of SWT is a notorious cyclist hater. This is due, in part, to the ferocious campaigning by cyclists that he has had to deal with. SWT continue to demand more car parking at rail stations in Hants. They are fully aware of the huge, unmet demand. HCC and the local authorities are, in principle against this - car parks create traffic which causes congestion, pollution etc. While better car parking provision may, to some extent, reduce overall car-miles you certainly don't want to encourage people to drive into towns. Parkway stations are different and Southampton Airport is a good example where car parking /is/ being allowed to increase. My view is that SWT have not really understood the economics of rail travel and parking provision. Bear in mind that to recover the costs of owning town centre development land, you need to charge at least a pound an hour per car. Few stations charge this much and are, therefore, subsidising drivers. But to really maximise revenue, they need to get more bums on seats and when you can get 8 bikes parked on the same space as one car, the economics become obvious. The real shift will come when the rail companies realise that cyclists are willing and able to pay their way. |
#8
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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
"Not Responding" wrote in message ups.com... Indeed, the chief exec of SWT is a notorious cyclist hater. This is due, in part, to the ferocious campaigning by cyclists that he has had to deal with. He wouldn't have to put up with the campaigning if he just gave us what we want. Seriously, check-out the 'National no-bike-day' thread and see what you think. I know rail station car parking is expensive, but for one day it could be worth it just to show what a problem the country would have without us. -- Dave Lloyd So open minded, my brains dribbled out. |
#9
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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
david lloyd wrote on 16/09/2006 13:35 +0100:
He wouldn't have to put up with the campaigning if he just gave us what we want. Seriously, check-out the 'National no-bike-day' thread and see what you think. I know rail station car parking is expensive, but for one day it could be worth it just to show what a problem the country would have without us. You'd have to get up early to get to the spaces before the regulars. But for just one day it would be worth it! -- Tony "Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory." - Leonardo da Vinci |
#10
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Cycle lockers & SW Trains
david lloyd wrote: "Not Responding" wrote in message ups.com... Indeed, the chief exec of SWT is a notorious cyclist hater. This is due, in part, to the ferocious campaigning by cyclists that he has had to deal with. He wouldn't have to put up with the campaigning if he just gave us what we want. Seriously, check-out the 'National no-bike-day' thread and see what you think. I know rail station car parking is expensive, but for one day it could be worth it just to show what a problem the country would have without us. Rail car parking is cheap as chips. Try buying some town centre development land, surfacing it, lighting it, cleaning it, insuring it, maintaining it etc etc etc and if you want to break even, you'll be charging more than the railways do. |
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