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Commuters angry at (temporary) closure of Finsbury Park bike lock-up

TfL say closure will allow improvements including tandem parking

London commuter cyclists are furious that a secure bike lockup in North London is to be closed for a month over Easter.

The bicycle storage at Finsbury Park is used by commuters for parts of their journey - and they say they risk their bikes being stolen without it.

For 50p a day, 125 cyclists are able to leave their bikes securely.

Transport for London (TfL) say the closure will allow for improvement work, including space to repair bikes and new facilities for storing tandems and disability-adapted bikes.

Cyclist Chris Rigby, who commutes to his work in Soho from Haringey, told the Evening Standard: “I haven’t been informed about any of the changes.

“For me it means I’m going to have to travel by train. I can’t park my bike anywhere else.

“I would either have to walk or use the train and the train from Haringey to Finchley is always busy.

“The cycle park at the moment, it’s secure, it’s got a guy there. I wouldn’t feel comfortable locking it outside and in the open.”

Tom Bogdanowicz, senior campaign officer from the London Cycling Campaign, said: “Providing better access non-standard bikes, often used by people with disabilities or those travelling with children, is very welcome.

“While we note that the works will only take a month we would like to see temporary facilities installed for the existing users of the cycle park given that the parking stands directly outside the station are usually full.  

“They must provide an alternative so as not to lose the cyclists. We don’t want these people getting in cars and clogging up the roads.”

Lilli Matson, TfL’s Head of Strategy and Outcome Planning, said :“The Finsbury Park Cycle Park is due to temporarily close for a month at the end of March for improvement work, which includes the introduction of basic repair facilities and new spaces for non-standard cycles.

“We apologise for the inconvenience as we carry out these improvements that will make the facility even better.

“Alongside the Mayor we’re committed to making cycling safer and easier for all Londoners, which is why we’re providing more investment than ever before, including in creating more safe, easy and well-connected cycling routes and improving cycling facilities across London.”

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9 comments

Avatar
pcb21 | 7 years ago
2 likes

A blessing in disguise for this Chris Rigby fellow - he will soon learn it is quicker just to cycle all the way rather than faffing with the Tube from Finsbury Park to Soho

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to pcb21 | 7 years ago
0 likes

pcb21 wrote:

A blessing in disguise for this Chris Rigby fellow - he will soon learn it is quicker just to cycle all the way rather than faffing with the Tube from Finsbury Park to Soho

he could park his bike in Soho here, at a cost, for the duration:

https://www.h2bikerun.co.uk/h2-commute/

i used it a couple of years ago when our work bikeshed and showers were closed for about 3 months. Pricey, but very good, and worth it. Still cheaper than the tube, I think.

Avatar
ChairRDRF | 7 years ago
0 likes

It shouldn't be too difficult to find sites for temporary facilities like "toast racks".

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burtthebike | 7 years ago
0 likes

It seems somewhat short sighted not to have temporary cycle parking when you're closing a much used cycle park for a month.  The spokesperson makes lots of polite noises, but doesn't explain the lack of temporary facilities, so I hope LCC and CUK are pursuing this with vigour.

Avatar
steve8787 | 7 years ago
6 likes

Cyclist Chris Rigby, who commutes to his work in Soho from Haringey, told the Evening Standard “I haven’t been informed about any of the changes.

 

Well you have now. Its January, Its closing at the end of March.

Avatar
beezus fufoon | 7 years ago
1 like

whinging git - Soho to Harringey is only 6 miles - he could walk it easily enough in a couple of hours - he's complaining about having to walk 40 minutes to the station!

Avatar
brooksby replied to beezus fufoon | 7 years ago
1 like

beezus fufoon wrote:

whinging git - Soho to Harringey is only 6 miles - he could walk it easily enough in a couple of hours - he's complaining about having to walk 40 minutes to the station!

Six miles? I wonder why he can't just cycle the whole distance? I've only visited that there London as a tourist and occasional business trips, in both cases without a bike, but it's often quicker even to walk than to use the Tube IMO.

Avatar
martib | 7 years ago
6 likes

Starting to sound like drivers, the local rag or the daily fail, get the pitchforks out and burn down the offices because a facility is going to to be temporarily closed, so it can be improved and provide a better facility in the long run indecision

Avatar
JonD replied to martib | 7 years ago
1 like

martib wrote:

Starting to sound like drivers, the local rag or the daily fail, get the pitchforks out and burn down the offices because a facility is going to to be temporarily closed, so it can be improved and provide a better facility in the long run indecision

 

But if that's a significant part of one's journey, then a month is a pretty big deal. Locking up bikes in London is a risky business at the best of times, it's not exactly surprising they're hacked off losing a supervised area. Temporary supervised lockup somewhere else shouldn't exactly be impossible, there's building works all over London that have taken over road and pavement, a bit more for cycle stands surely can't be that much of a deal.

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