BICYCLE STAND--Mr. Wheel

Background
Bicycle security has become a highly topical subject of debate for Londoners. Factors such as the introduction of Congestion, Charging questions about security on public transport, concerns over health and carbon emissions have all contributed to a vast ncrease in the numbers of people cycling in the capital. This is despite an inflexibility of current cycle lane, parking and storage infrastructure to deal with it. Provision of adequate facilities remains a priority of the Mayor’s 2004 Cycling Action Plan, objective 3.2 of which describes the need for cycle parking at schools,and pledges
to Implement a programme to introduce quality cycle parking at London schools and further education establishments.So far, Central Saint Martins at Southampton Row has parking space for less than 100 bicycles.This is for a building that regularly sees 2,000 visitors in a day.Evidence suggests that this parking is inadequate from both a space and security perspective. The more bicycles on the road, the more opportunity there is for them to be stolen.80,000 bicycles were stolen last year in London alone.Earlier studies have shown that of the 22% of all cyclists that experienced bicycle theft,17% stopped cycling as a result. The negative impact
cycle theft is having on the Mayor’s desired objective of increasing cycle usage in London couldn’t be stated more clearly.