Agenda item
Cycle parking
This report informs the Committee of current cycle parking arrangements, types of equipment provided and of levels of demand from residents. The report also provides information on the trial of bike hangars in Brent as a potential measure to provide secure cycle parking for residents that do not have suitable space to store their bikes at home.
Minutes:
Members considered a report that informed of current cycle parking arrangements, types of equipment provided and of levels of demand from residents. The report also provided information on the trial of bike hangars in Brent as a potential measure to provide secure cycle parking for residents that did not have suitable space to store their bikes at home.
Councillor Southwood, Chair, gave a brief overview of the Council’s Cycling Strategy 2016-2021 which set out the Councils aspiration to encourage and support cycling in the borough. The strategy’s specific objectives were informed by a two stage public consultation process that engaged Brent residents and other stakeholders regarding their views and priorities on cycling in the borough.
Sandor Fazekas (Project Development Manager) in setting the background to the strategy stated that since 2014 there had been numerous requests for bike hangars from residents in the borough that had difficulty storing their bikes at home. Following increasing numbers of requests and to learn how bike hangars could potentially benefit residents in Brent, six bike hangars were installed as a pilot scheme, on the public highway and Brent Housing Partnership locations, in Kilburn, Brondesbury Park, Kensal Green and Dollis Hill wards during 2015/2016. Funding for these bike hangars was allocated by Transport for London through the Borough Cycling Programme and locations chosen, applying a set of different criteria that varied according to the nature of the proposed sites.
He continued that the bike hangars were installed in January and February 2016 through the Borough Cycling Programme. A three year maintenance contract was also funded to encourage uptake and modal shift and spaces in the hangars were offered to local residents following a list of prioritisation criteria. Under the agreement Cycle Hoop would provide a management and maintenance service for the bike hangars including rental agreement, allocation of spaces and liaising with Council or housing association. Members heard that in order to encourage uptake residents would only be charged £36 (including VAT) per annum per space for the period under the maintenance contract. After 3 years, the costs will rise to £72 (including VAT) per annum per space.
In the ensuing discussion, members raised questions about the provision of bike hangars on station railings which often resulted in clutter and friction between users. Members also sought clarifications on the arrangements that could be put in place when existing bike hangar user moved house and no longer required the hangar or instances of possible misuse. Officers clarified that thus far, there had been no reported issues of misuse of the bike hangars and that if spaces become vacant this would provide other residents with an opportunity to use the hangers the discount would be transferable. Also, that the bike hangar scheme is principally aimed at residents and funding is available within other improvement scheme budgets to provide ample cycle parking, for example near stations. It was added although terms and conditions would apply, the possibility of new residents in getting a new bike hangar space would depend on availability of hangars, as the scheme was demand led.
In reference to the financial implications, the Chair expressed a view that the 100% increase in charges when the subsidy ended after the 3 year contract period could come as a shock to some of the users and in bringing the discussion to an end the requested officers to explore flexibility in the pricing system whereby the discount could be lower for a longer period, thus reducing the extent of the increase when the subsidy period expired.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the contents of the report and current cycle parking arrangements in the borough be noted;
(ii) that the type of cycle parking facilities that are provided be approved;
(iii) that the outcome from the bike hangar trial be noted and the prioritisation process detailed in the report be approved;
(iv) that the continued delivery of the cycle parking programme be authorised, subject to funding availability.
Supporting documents:
- Brent Cycle Parking, item 5. PDF 141 KB
- Appendix A Brent Cycle Parking Program 2014-2017 sf 16.9.16, item 5. PDF 43 KB
- Appendix B Preferred Cycle Parking Facilities, item 5. PDF 2 MB
- Appendix C Resident Feedback, item 5. PDF 51 KB
- Appendix D Borough Map of Hangar Requests, item 5. PDF 2 MB
- Appendix E Examples of Resident Requests for Bike Hangars, item 5. PDF 46 KB