Rail operators Southern say that they intend to remove bicycle racks from outside East Croydon Station because of security considerations, including the possibility of a car bomb attack on the London to Brighton mainline.
On the rack: Southern says that this bike rack is a security issue and must be removed
Southern posted notices this week notifying that from July 1 the cycle storage facility positioned close to Platform 6, on the Cherry Orchard Road side of the station, is to be removed.
The notices offered no reason for the sudden removal of amenity for passengers who cycle to East Croydon before enduring a daily train journey into central London or elsewhere.
“They are treating us with complete contempt,” said one cycling Southern customer.
More than 300 people have signed a petition in just a couple of days in protest at the short-notice and unconsulted decision by Southern Rail to remove secure bike storage at the station, leaving them without a safe place to lock up their bicycles.
Town Hall sources have confirmed that the matter has never been raised at meetings of the council’s “advisory forum on active, sustainable and accessible transport”, chaired by Tory cabinet member Scott Roche and whose members include representatives of Transport for London and Network Rail (the people who have not managed to complete a pedestrian bridge across the station in 12 years…).
Councillor Roche has made no public comment on the matter.
Southern issued a response to one local councillor who questioned their decision to remove the cycling amenity.
“This bike rack is located within a staff car park,” a Southern spokesbod wrote.
“We have an ongoing challenge with unauthorised vehicles accessing the car park which poses an issue from a security perspective given the proximity of the car park to the train lines and platforms – ie from a car bomb perspective.
“The site has been highlighted as an issue from a security perspective and to mitigate it we need to make the car park secure. Unfortunately, given the layout of the security wall, this will mean the rack itself will no longer be accessible and so will be removed.”
Short notice: the signs that went up outside the station this week
Southern’s late scramble for an explanation said that they “recognise it’s a frustrating situation”, and that “we are hopeful that more [bike storage] can be added in the future as part of wider public realm works for this part of Croydon generally”.
Chris Galpin, the Croydon cyclist who raised the alarm, and the petition, said that he understands concerns about non-staff cars accessing the car park, but added: “Southern’s response makes no sense at all.
“Installing a car barrier while allowing pedestrian and cycle access would be the obvious solution to address the concerns.”
Southern’s response, Galpin said, doesn’t explain the lack of any consultation or the short notice. And he accused Southern of inconsistency in their “security” arrangements.
“The car park at South Croydon Station is right next to the railway – so it seems like there are one set of rules for one part of the borough, and different rules elsewhere.”
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This feeble explanation is an insult to our intelligence.
Anyone can drive a car and park it at East Croydon’s entrance at Billinton Hill, close to the station building that is constructed largely from plate glass. This would be lethal in an explosion.
As Chris Galpin has pointed out, a car bomber determined to attack a passing train could leave it in one of the car parking spaces right next to the railway line at South Croydon station. Same applies to other Southern stations in the area, such as Sanderstead, Waddon, Wallington, etc, etc, you get the picture.
If the general public are using the existing staff car park, Southern can easily fix that with vigorous enforcement by a private parking company. Simply removing the cycle park racks won’t stop drivers parking where they shouldn’t.
If Southern do manage to stop private motorists casually leaving their cars in the staff car park, then they can leave the cycle parking racks where they are.
However, what Southern appear to really want is to remove a public asset needed by fare-paying passengers and replace it with three or four more staff car parking spaces. If so, they should come right out say that, and then apply to Croydon council for planning permission.
To the people who have given this comment a thumbs down – could you explain why? I can’t envision why CCC’s response would be controversial so would like to hear your argument to see if I support it.
Isn’t there another bike rack the other side of the south entrance, between the ATMs and Box Park?
That one is a magnet for thieves https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKj8ckJIhkT/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Even if that were not so, it does not deal with the overall reduction in cycle parking spaces at the station.
For people who live on the Addiscombe side of the tracks, and want to cycle then take the train, it makes for a much less convenient and more difficult journey than is currently the case.
The racks on the footpath outside BoxPark on George Street were not installed correctly. You cannot lock both wheels and your frame to them, something recommended by the Metropolitan Police. If you’ve ever wondered why you see an abandoned bike locked to a rack with a wheel missing, or just a lone wheel, that’s generally the reason why.
We originally installed this shelter and the Josta 2-tier racks in 2012, along with the smaller unit on the other side.
If needed, they could be easily relocated.
https://cycle-works.com/installations/east-croydon-station-gets-josta-2-tier-racks/
They’re fine where they are. Southern has not made a convincing case for their removal, which would unnecessarily inconvenience users.