A cycle parking rack in Stevenage has been damaged beyond repair by a driver who collided with the luminous green bicycle-shaped structure. However, some locals say it is no bad thing as it was an “ugly eyesore”.
The council broke the news the rack outside Tesco, one of three installed on Stevenage High Street last year, was no more after a motorist drove into it, leaving it unsafe to use. The driver did not stop at the scene and has not been identified.
Cllr Lloyd Briscoe, executive member for transport said: “Over the Christmas period, the bike rack outside Tesco was hit by a car and had to be removed due to safety concerns.
“The design of the racks has proved to be a discussion point for many residents, with several sharing views on how often they are used, to how they are easy to spot.
“Before this incident happened, the council conducted a survey about the Old Town High Street and one particular question within that focused on these bike racks.
“We asked if we should keep them, move them, or replace them. We are in the process of reviewing these responses and will let everyone know what we plan to do in the not too distant future.”
You may have noticed that the bike rack outside Tesco has been removed; the reason for this is because a car drove into it. The rack was damaged beyond repair – leaving it unsafe to use and therefore has been taken away. ? pic.twitter.com/Laicur1W91
— Stevenage Council (@StevenageBC) January 5, 2022
The bright bike rack was removed at a cost of £213 to Stevenage Borough Council, but not everyone was sad to see it go.
While some pointed out it was a well-used facility that should be replaced, others hoped any replacement would be more practical and less green.
Iain Kilmurray said: “Great to see the eyesore has been removed! Now install a suitable bike rack within the paved area. Stevenage has 40+ miles of cycle path separated from the highway, but parking bikes where vehicles are making manoeuvres a good idea?”
Eamonn Walsh added: “It’s not great if this costs the council but it was extremely ugly.”
The racks, designed by Cyclehoop, have been spotted elsewhere too, by road.cc’s Simon, for example, who spotted this group tucking into a cheeky Nandos on one just off Regent Street.
13 thoughts on ““Eyesore” cycle rack removed…but only because driver smashed into it”
Judging by the way the car
Judging by the way the car trashed it I doubt it was sturdy enough to deter many bike thieves either. Classic case of form over function.
Well, I suppose it was very
Well, I suppose it was very hard to see. Blends into the background…
Invisible to most apart from
Invisible to most apart from when it’s an eyesore. It was probably weaving all over the road and passing cars on the inside.
Quote:
Could someone point out to Mr Kilmurray that you’re not supposed to carry out manoeuvres where there’s a bike rack?
I await Grant Schapps comment
I await Grant Schapps comment about destruction of public property and closing the “loophole” in the law.
Where they’re going wrong is
Where they’re going wrong is not making them Cecil Rhodes bike racks, or ones in the form of the good ship Brooks.
Why is it an eyesore? I’m
Why is it an eyesore? I’m sure Stevenage has cars parked everywhere, and a MacDonalds, and lots of bins…it is idiotic to pick out a bike rack as aesthetically offensive over all the other man-made junk in town centres.
While I’m on a rant, my council refuses to put up Switch Off Engines signs on a street where drivers constantly idle while parked – on the basis that it is street clutter. There’s nothing but clutter on that street, it’ll make not a scrap of difference to how cluttered it looks.
Though others have pointed
Though others have pointed out that the rack part was flimsy and you could argue for spending the money on lots of boring but functional racks I do rather like having a few of these out and proud ones. Just trying to combat cycle invisibility and all things connected with it.
They should definitely bring in those numbered tabards for drivers to stop them commiting crimes with impunity. Numbers on things, that’ll catch ’em.
chrisonatrike wrote:
Great idea. Let’s get Mr. loophole to campaign for it.
I was a bit confused by the
I was a bit confused by the description as outside Tesco as the New Town has a large Tesco next to the pedestrianised shopping area so I assumed it was in the large car park. It would definitely have boosted the look of the area.
However I found it outside the Tesco Express in the Old Town, a couple of miles away. Have to say it is such an eyesore that I must have blocked it out on my recent visits to the Old Town.
It does seem really unlikely
It does seem really unlikely that none of the businesses there have cctv which cover the pavement
Pretty sure that ATM will
Pretty sure that ATM will have a security camera, at the very least. Wonder if anybody checked it? Rhetorical question.
Further proof, if ever it was
Further proof, if ever it was needed, that highly visible colours make things highly visible to the extent that it’s impossible to crash into them.