Cost of cycle racks in Green Lanes

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cllr Emina Ibrahim on August 4, 2014 at 14:35

Hi Clive

Can I ask you why you are flat refusing to engage with the ward coucillors on the issue? I have no record of any contact from you on the issue. I may be wrong of course you may have contacted my colleagues in Harringay and St Anns. Did you do this ? Apologies if you had and if you have please do forward me the correspondence at emine.ibrahim@haringey.gov.uk

If you had we could have provided you with the information you have posted rather than speculating and theorising. I am glad you are so interested in Green Lanes, support from all ends of the borough is welcome, however we can only achieve the best outcomes by acting in a collegiate manner. If you had contacted me I would certainly have responded and detailed the actions we have taken. I would also have welcomed your attendance at the St Anns and Harringay area forum as you would have been heard the update from the Cabinet member which outlined all you have said here - sorry but this is all nothing new but readily available information that has been provided to the residents. You of course dont need to live in or represent the wards to attend. I know that Stuart Mcnamara has consulted with Adam Coffman who made a very strong case. This type of constructive engagement is so important. I was also contacted by regular HoL poster John Mcmullan on the issue and cycling campaigners. This was very helpful in confirming the concerns I had.

 

Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on August 5, 2014 at 6:35

Morning John,

Regarding the local Councillor's posts about the botched cycle racks, I think there are two key points:

First, the setting out of (some of) the failings of the Council racks, is fair and accurate. It's remarkably candid.

Second, the claim is, that there's been a successful campaign to get the racks replaced: but nothing's changed. If this issue was raised some time ago, why then, weeks later, is there no sign of improvement ?

(N.B. we've had inconsistent messages about the cost factor, see above).

We can only hope that this is the sole issue with the 'Major Scheme', that the Council once tried to pass off as "snagging". Here is the text of a colleague's Member's Enquiry:

why were the original designs as approved by the Green Lanes Strategy Group not used and why were the current ones chosen at a cost of £235 each when they are of poor design and quality replacing sturdier ones in many cases? 

The stands installed are of a square rather than traditional tubular cycle stand style design and was always the intention of the architect. Unfortunately it was not made clear on the notification material, unlike the seats, which are also a variation from the detail shown. The simple design of the stands is supposed to blend in with the surroundings and not detract from or diminish the architecture of the buildings or specialist features. The purchase cost for each stand is £155.

The stands are in fact very robust in their design although the finish (welding) is below standard. We have raised this with the manufacturer and are currently in discussion with our contractor to decide on the appropriate course of action. No decision will be made until the scheme is substantially completed and can be addressed as part of the snagging process.

The question as to who was responsible – in 2013 for the original poor choice and in early 2014 – for the inadequate oversight, is perhaps a discussion for another day.

I suspect that all most cyclists and pedestrians want – without further delay, discussion, engagement, faux "consultation" or hand-wringing – is for the problem to be fixed.

A cyclist and regular
pedestrian on Green Lanes

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Permalink Reply by Lydia R on August 5, 2014 at 12:04

This is just another of those instances I keep talking about, where impressionable dupes in the Council get carried away by the enthusiasms of someone with a few letters after their name and a fluent line in jargon using a lot of words like "conceptual" "visionary" "paradigm shift" "synergy" "push the envelope"--oh, whatever.  It could apply to anything but in this case it turned into sharp corners and no kickplates for blind pedestrians...which no doubt looked so SMART on the watercolour illustrations. It's really irritating when idealism runs smack into the flabby buffers of human imperfection, isn't it?

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Permalink Reply by Lydia R on August 5, 2014 at 12:07

Oh, I forgot to add another buzzword: "empowerment".  For those of you who have forgotten the meaning, don't try to remember.  You are in a state of innocent bliss much to be desired. 

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Permalink Reply by Gordon Curtis on August 5, 2014 at 13:58

What, you mean listening to the advice of a professional?

... imagine.

Permalink Reply by Lydia R on August 5, 2014 at 15:01

Gordon Curtis: "What, you mean listening to the advice of a professional? ... imagine."

Listening to the advice of a professional is a good thing to do, accepting that advice uncritically is not.

Permalink Reply by James R Grinter on August 8, 2014 at 9:03

listening to the advice of a professional... what? 

Still, it's very strange that in other areas of the borough your regular 'sheffield'-style cycle stands have actually been replaced with other designs that - whilst a little strange - were at least functional.

But I'd rather see new stands out there in new places, than existing ones being replaced because of how they 'look'.

Permalink Reply by Gordon Curtis on August 5, 2014 at 17:44

Well obviously not, though it doesn't mean that the criticism will be especially valuable or well-informed.

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Permalink Reply by Lydia R on August 5, 2014 at 18:02

OK. Here is a hypothetical situation; an architect designs a wonderful new take on -- let's say -- a cycle rack, for instance.  The rack is a marvel of lightness and modern angularity.  It defines its space with spare simplicity.  The architect waxes poetik about it.  The eyes of the planning committee glisten in the radiant beams of his oneness with a bright and minimalist plan guiding Haringay away from its Victorian weight, into a clean and ultra-simplified modernity.

That's when you should seek the advice of a 13 year old kid with a mountain bike to see if the thing works.  The child might communicate only in grunts, but his opinion is probably more useful than a whole stack of architects.

Permalink Reply by Gordon Curtis on August 5, 2014 at 18:36

Its almost as if you're determined to prove my point 

Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on August 5, 2014 at 19:11

Me cyaaaaaaan beleeeeeeeeeve it!  Did I snooze off and wake up in late-April 2018?  Are the local Elections on this Thursday? Tell me pleeeeeeze - Emine, Clive, Alan - and and and - me really cyaaaaaan beleeeeeeeve this: LYDIAAAAAA!  What, no Greens or TUSKers in the discussion?

Lucky they gave me automatic electoral registration before I dropped off. Tell me, would these angular cycle racks make handy walking aids? There must be a few of us still around in need of Polling Day Support.

R.V.W.

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Permalink Reply by Lydia R on August 5, 2014 at 19:50

OAE --"Did I snooze off and wake up in late-April 2018?  Are the local Elections on this Thursday?" 

I assure you that I am not electioneering, OAE.  Before the elections I was a contributor and since the elections I am back to making my occasional visits as before.   Up to now, there hasn't been a discussion which engaged me sufficiently but this cycle rack thing is so farcical that it would be irresistable to anyone with even the most microscopic sense of irony.  Of course I had to say something.

Also, in answer to Gordon Curtis "its almost as if you're determined to prove my point", I should add that I am not trying to prove anything.  I am voicing an opinion.  An opinion is very far from a proof although it is true that there are some who are rather hazy about the difference between the two concepts. 

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