Croydon’s cyclists are protesting over a late-notice and unconsulted decision by Southern Rail to remove their secure bike storage at East Croydon Station, leaving them without a safe place to lock up their bicycles.
Short notice: the signs that went up outside East Croydon Station yesterday, barely 11 days before Southern say they will remove the bike racks
Southern posted notices only yesterday, notifying the removal of the cycle facility on July 1.
The rail operators have given no reason for this sudden removal of amenity for their passengers.
The removal will deny a crucial facility to commuters who cycle to East Croydon before enduring a daily train journey into central London.
“This is the only cycle parking around here with available spaces and proper CCTV,” said Chris Galpin, who regularly cycles from his home in Addiscombe to the station on his way to work.
“It’s outrageous they didn’t even bother to ask people what impact this would have. They are treating us with complete contempt.”
A member of the Croydon Cycling Campaign told Inside Croydon: “This arbitrary decision will make it much more difficult for people to choose cycling as part of their journey to work.
“Southern must reconsider the closure and work with their customers and the council to find an acceptable solution. Until then, this valued cycle parking facility should be kept open.”
The decision to remove the bike racks – positioned close to Platform 6, on the Cherry Orchard Road side of the station – blows a hole in any argument that there is anything resembling a considered and joined-up transport policy for the borough.
A dedicated “cycle hub”, provided by the council and which for a brief spell even offered Brompton bike hire, was removed from a site opposite the station to make way for one of the prefab towers at East Croydon. No replacement facility was ever included in or around the private residential developments.
Never replaced: the short-lived ‘Croydon Cycle Hub’. Croydon’s cycling infrastructure lags a long way behind other, more enlightened boroughs
If the station bike racks are removed, the next closest cycle storage facility is on George Street, although this is seen as being higher risk and unacceptable for train passengers who want to leave their bicycles in Croydon.
“Can’t believe that Southern is going to close down the only really secure cycle storage at East Croydon Station,” Addiscombe West councillor Sean Fitzsimons tweeted. “The other site on George Street suffer vandalism and lacks capacity.”
A petition has been raised in response, calling for Southern Rail to keep the crucial cycle parking open.
The petition notes the parking spaces are used by hundreds of people, and that the loss of secure cycle parking would be a step backwards for sustainable transport in Croydon.
“Cycling to the station takes cars off the roads – meaning less traffic for those who do drive, and better air quality for everyone,” said Galpin.
“I hope as many people as possible will sign and share our petition – while there is still time for Southern Rail to pause this decision and have a proper discussion with station users.”
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George Street? That will get nicked within 5 mins
What a joke, will they have a cycle rack at the bridge to nowhere if the damn thing ever opens?
What a shower