Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Cost of cycle racks in Green Lanes
HOL readers may be interested in the formal answer from the Council to my question about the cost of the bicycle racks in Green Lanes (I have reproduced the Council's written answer to my question in full, but have omitted other Members' earlier seven questions):
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FULL COUNCIL: 21 JULY 2014
WRITTEN ANSWERS TO ORAL QUESTIONS
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ORAL QUESTION 8 - TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT FROM COUNCILLOR CARTER:
How much did the new cycling racks on Green Lanes cost to buy and install?
ANSWER
The Green Lanes major scheme includes the provision and installation of 72 new cycle racks at a cost of £17,000.
However, it became evident to officers following the receipt of the racks in May this year, that they were not fit for purpose with manufacturing and design flaws. The suppliers have agreed to replace all the racks at no additional cost to the Council.
Officers will shortly be consulting Ward Councillors and the Haringey Cycling Campaign to find a suitable alternative design.
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P.S. I have now added all the eight Answers to Oral Questions (in PDF form)
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Councillor
Highgate Ward
Liberal Democrat Party
Tags for Forum Posts: bicycle, design, flaw, management, money, public, racks, supervision, waste
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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So the £235 figure was including installation. Ok, next question: What was the total cycling budget for the Green Lanes regen? Guess what I think it was...
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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John, I note that the Council derives satisfaction that, the racks are to be replaced at "no additional cost to the Council".
However, it seems to me that, either there has been a waste of public money (whether or not it came from Haringey Council coffers), or there has been a waste of time.
More broadly, there has been an economic waste by the specification, approval (?) and installation of these poor, non-standard designs that somebody allowed to go ahead.
I've seen a number of different styles of cycle stand in our Borough: in my opinion, the ones installed in Green Lanes are the least satisfactory of all.
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Permalink Reply by William Booth on
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Yes, for a long time I thought they were actually stands for market stalls or something as they are so obviously not substantial enough to be secure bike stands. Baffling.
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William my understanding is that these are solid (i.e. metal right through).
However, solid or hollow, a rectangular profile is less strong than a circular section, i.e. tubing. I am told they were selected by a firm of architects (!?) and most likely, on aesthetic grounds as I've believed all along.
These stands may be used somewhere on the Continent and were probably imported from that direction as well.
- There needs to be a good reason to depart from the accepted standard and in the case of bicycle stands, IMO thinness and perceived elegance isn't a good enough reason.
- The least desirable feature is the main 'design' aspect that sets them apart from regular bike stands: the right-angled corners. Coupled with the rectangular profile, these represent an unnecessary safety hazard to anyone falling on them, particular young children.
- These ones lack the lower panel that is often seen elsewhere and that few appreciate is a warning for the tapping sticks of the blind, representing another potential hazard.
- Plus, they're not big enough and they lack a range of securing heights.
How little thought went into the spending of £17,000 of public money.
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Good to know there's more to it than just their heft, thanks! I hadn't thought about the softer edges/blind tapping sticks aspects I must say.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Can anyone help me about the "information" (from council staff or others?) claiming that the style of bike racks installed on Green Lanes are also used other European cities?
We were in Brussels for a few days for a family birthday celebration and I kept my eyes open. But those below seemed to be standard pavement bike stands - at least in the city centre. (The litter bins as well.)
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Permalink Reply by maggie on
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From a quick Google of 'French cycle stands', these look the most common. There is probably a "norms Francaise" for cycle stands but can't find it.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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You remind me a bit of an old boss of mine Alan. He was head of planning and went on this incredible holiday going coast to coast by train in Canada. When he got back all of his holiday snaps were of planning application notices.
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ANOTHER subtle point in Alan's holiday snaps (Brussels?) is the oblique angle to the kerb. The stands in the photo are rounded cross-section and rounded corners (good).
Yet another drawback of the stands installed in Green Lanes is that, unnecessarily, they rob width from the pavement because they're perpendicular to the kerb. Whereas, as in Alan's photo (and Maggie's, though apparently not a sidewalk-type pavement) the stands are set diagonally to the kerb.
Intelligence shown on the Continent, elsewhere in Britain and even elsewhere in Haringey – but not in the big Green Lanes refurbishment.
Who signed off on this?
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Good stuff, Clive! When are your LibDem colleagues going to get their teeth into the other failing parts of the Kober Kouncil? I realise that you are spoiled for choice.
Yes Brussels. And not just the posh centre. We walked to an area called Anderlecht near the canal where we saw a building which was converted into studio/workspace for new hi-tech and creative businesses. Sadly the cleanliness of the nearby streets was a lower standard even than the worst corners of Tottenham.
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Thanks for posting the council questions Clive. It's good to see that some of the money from Finsbury Park events is going towards lighting the path from Manor House gate to Endymion Road. I often walk to the tube that way and in the winter it can be a bit worrying.
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