Calling all rail-using cyclists!
The Sevenoaks Rail Travellers Association works closely with the Sevenoaks Cycle Forum on common issues – such as getting the inadequate and dangerous cycle racks at Sevenoaks station replaced.
The Association of Train Operating Companies is now conducting a survey on journeys involving both cycle and rail. We think that it’s important that as many rail-using cyclists make their voice heard. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete and closes on 31 January. You can complete the survey online here.
Of course, we won’t see the individual responses. So we would also be interested in any points that you would like to work with the Sevenoaks Cycle Forum to pursue with the rail companies. Please let us have any comments here.
I gather that the same dangerous 2-tier racks have been installed at Orpington (and at Glasgow Caledonian University, and possibly Horsham). The clues are that the units have no detent or latching to hold the sliding trays in place when in the ‘parked’ position, poor geometry so that the entire weight of the bike plus tray has to be lifted, mickey mouse locking points, minimal thickness of galvanising/protective coatings, and tack welding of high stress joints instead of a properly run fillet weld on suitably thick material.
It boils down to buying cycle parking to a specification rather than a price, and (as Scotrail has done) reviewing the products available and inviting suppliers to provide a contract supply price – selecting one or two suppliers as approved products for standard equipment.
Horsham Cyclists have a video of the same collapse which has injured at least 2 users at Sevenoaks before the old stands were removed, and sadly we did not capture the event when an upper tray (4 tack welds) snapped off as someone leaned on it.