The Sun comes out – and cycle parking is needed

As spring flowers start to appear with snowdrops lining the lanes crocuses starting to show and days getting longer, many people are now getting out on their bikes. Whitchurch is seeing more cyclists visiting the cafés and shops and enjoying the improving weather.

Here we have often mentioned the distinct lack of cycle parking in the town centre and already this is again becoming a matter of concern. 

Arguably the Whitchurch Silk Mill is the most popular refreshment stop having good parking at the front.
rides from other areas such as Go Ride, ladies Breeze groups, and numerous Cycling Clubs from other towns visit regularly. But it is the town centre where the greatest problems arise such as on the pavements outside the Co-op and Kudos. Some cyclists have said they won't stop in Whitchurch, preferring other nearby localities that do provide facilities. Visiting cyclists need to know their often very valuable machines can be secure and unlikely to be stolen, hence they need parking to be in sight. 

Cycling provision improves trade
Even in a locality like Whitchurch which suffers traffic congestion it must be recognised that for every cycle journey made it is very often one less journey made by car, thus easing the roads for those who have to drive. 
Everyone benefits those who cycle, walk or drive.
We have covered this before.

Need for Council support
Quite why our local councils are not supporting the provision of cycle facilities is bewildering, given the proven benefit cycling provides in providing trade to businesses. The lack of adequate cycle parking simply results in more cycles leaning against shopfronts or obstructing pavements which cause annoyance and doesn't help anybody. Suggestions had been made for the use of Plantlock planters but there was not even a response.
https://cyclewhitchurch.blogspot.com/2024/08/use-of-community-infrastructure-levy.html

Platitudes and reports made about supporting sustainable travel, having climate change policies, and supporting green initiatives are a waste of time unless backed up by real actions.

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Use of Community Infrastructure Levy

Whitchurch Town Council has put out a request for suggestions as to how it should spend CIL. Community Infrastructure Levy is a charge which can be levied on new development. It can be used to help deliver the local infrastructure that is needed to support the development. It is collected by the local planning authority, which in this area is Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The Town Council has stated that it currently holds £13,240.49 of CIL contributions.

It has also stated that:

"The categories of expenditure are Physical (highways & transportation, pedestrian and cycle networks, energy supplies, utilities, flood alleviation measures), Social (education, health, social care, community halls, sports halls) and Green (public open spaces, play areas, parks)."

A suggestion...
Cycle Whitchurch has asked that a small amount of the funding is used to improve cycle parking within the town that would both enhance the street scene, provide an amenity for local and visiting cycle users, and support business and travel needs.
Its provision also supports the aims of the local Neighbourhood Plan, Hampshire's Local Transport Plan and helps mitigate the Climate Emergency.

'Plantlock' cycle parking
It can be placed under
shop windows or in paved areas

Plantlock
The suggestion made is for 'Plantlock' style parking which consists of containers that are dual use – for both containing attractive street enhancing planting as well as providing a place to lock cycles without the need to use shop windows or similar.

It has also been suggested that they could be used for promoting 'edible community planting' such as herbs and similar plants. There are volunteers who could help with this.

Such features are used in many other locations enhancing the local environments.
At low cost it would be a very good use of the some of the CIL monies.
It is hoped Whitchurch Town Council agrees. 

About the Community Infrastructure Levy:
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/planning/policy-and-legislation/CIL/about-CIL

Town Council rejects call for cycle parking

Whitchurch Town Council has rejected a request from a local resident for increasing the cycle parking provision in the town's centre. 

Whitchurch is very popular with visiting cyclists, many of whom bring trade to the town being attracted by the cafés and shops. The town is also often a stop for organised cycle rides and events, and there are local people who use their cycles to visit the local businesses.

However, the lack of suitable cycle parking has led to some cycles being left against shop fronts and in some cases cycles have been left laying on the pavements or even taken into shops blocking doorways.

Council had previously removed cycle stands
Two years ago, in what many felt was a regressive move, the Town Councillors removed most of the cycle parking that had only recently been installed and was starting to be well-used.
Some had claimed that the cycle stands hindered certain businesses from parking vehicles on the pavements for loading/unloading! Meanwhile others considered the Council's decision a knee-jerk reaction to a small orchestrated campaign that went against improving the town centre for all.

The Council reacted by relocating the cycle stands to areas outside the town centre including to the sports ground on the edge of town at Mill Springs where they now sadly reside empty as the sports area remains unused.

Understanding
This latest rejection shows that the Council still has far to go in understanding the wider issues. Towns and villages that recognise the value of provision for cycling (and walking), including parking, invariably see an increase in trade and economic vitality, as well as improving the environment, encouraging Active Travel and supporting Climate Emergency aims. This is also recognised by the Borough and County Councils. Since the cycle parking was removed by the Town Council at least three businesses have closed their doors.

It is a shame the benefits are not seen by Whitchurch Councillors.

*Note: as an aside to the decision not to provide more cycle parking the Councillors requested Whitchurch in Bloom to remove their beautifully decorated cycles from some existing racks. This makes little difference as they did not prevent cyclists using those racks as they simply locked to the colourful bikes. Instead it just removed some lovely bright colour from the town provided by a keen award-winning volunteer group who understand that a pleasant environment attracts more people to use the town facilities.

This cycle parking that helped add trade and vitality was removed by the Town Council. Apparently it was obstructing the pavement – for motorists!

The result of failing to address the need for adequate cycle parking in the town centre means more cycles are still leant against shopfronts or left obstructing footways.
As the weather improves this will inevitably get worse.

Failure to provide adequate cycle parking can lead to obstructions.

Barrier work continues

The excellent work by Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, in removing barriers on cycle routes throughout the UK continues.
Barriers can seriously hinder and stop use of cycle routes by a great many people.

Regretably Whitchurch has some which have been brought to the attention of the Town Council.
These barriers have led to several instances of the less mobile not being able to access the Council's Mill Springs open space. 

Sustrans this month issued the following statement:

"Removing barriers will lead to an increase of illegal use and antisocial behaviour."

This is one of the most common concerns we get when removing restrictive barriers on the National Cycle Network. But did you know removing barriers can actually do the opposite?

In our experience barriers often stop people with wheelchairs, adapted cycles, prams and trailers from using the path, but don't actually prevent those with motorbikes from illegally accessing the path. People with motorbikes can often wheel them under, around or lift them over barriers, or if they're really determined simply find an access point further up the path.

 

Removing barriers enables more people to use routes, making them busier, which can in turn make illegal use and antisocial behaviour less likely. In a trial in London, barrier removal led to a 20% increase in use and a reduction in anti-social behaviour.

This creates a positive feedback loop: people are more likely to use safe paths, so as a route gains a reputation for being safe, the number of people using the route goes up, making illegal use and antisocial behaviour less likely. It's a win-win.

Removing barriers is a key priority for us as we work to make the National Cycle Network more accessible.

 

It gets worse at Mill Springs

 

It is not only the below-standard cycle barriers that restrict users that are causing problems, but now the path surface itself is breaking up, and that’s all before the cycle route / pathway is officially handed into public ownership.

There are now further problems developing on the Mill Springs shared Footpath/CycleWay.

Small mounds are appearing in the tarmac surface as organic material below that had not been removed is starting to push through the substandard construction. These ‘mounds’ are already starting to crack. Over the winter any water in them will freeze and expand, breaking up the surface further and creating a danger not only for cycling but also as a trip hazard to pedestrians and anyone with sight or mobility impairments.

The issue has been brought to the attention of Whitchurch Town Council as this should really be remedied before the path is handed over from the developer into public ownership.

If not dealt with now it may result in expensive maintenance and repair costs as well as potential legal claims which could then fall on local residents to pay. Most are starting to appear at the top end of the site but they are appearing lower down too.

The longer it is left the worse it will become.

Below – just some of the cracks already appearing.