Crowded bike stand in Orange Grove on Monday
When walking in the city centre in the past few days I have been struck by the high levels of occupation of bike stands. This seems to indicate a growth in numbers of people in Bath cycling.
This is likely to be because of some touring cyclists visiting Bath, but also locals lured out on their bikes by the summer weather. There is a need for many more stands.
Around the Guildhall on Monday there were no bike stands vacant. The photo shows about 14 bikes locked to the “car” stand in Orange Grove. In Kingsmead Square last Saturday morning all the stands were occupied, as were the stands outside Waitrose. This is all good news and supports the anecdotal evidence that cycling has been boosted by the opening of the Two Tunnels Greenway.
Last week I met a Spanish family of four, who were staying in Bath and directed them from Widcombe to the Two Tunnels by the least busy route, as they were not keen to mix it with the traffic on Wells Road. More signage to the Two Tunnels path from the city would help people unfamiliar with the area.
An increase in touring cyclists will give a boost to the economy. Particularly as people on bikes spend more than other visitors, because the very nature of the bike means that they carry less than visitors who arrive by other means of transport.
After a couple of months the average use of the Two Tunnels route averaged 527 cyclists per day. Of course most of these will be local leisure cyclists and commuters, but there will be some touring cyclists amongst them.
It would be useful if we could get some firm evidence for how many more people are visiting the city by bike because of the improvement and publicity about the Two Tunnels Path and the Odd Down off road circuit.
Update:
On 29th August there were 18 bikes locked to the “car stand” in Orange Grove – this must be a record. Yesterday on Twitter a bike commuter said that he might have to stop riding his bike into the city because he could not find anywhere to park.
If you have this problem contact your local councillor to complain that there are more cycle stands needed. There are four councillors for the city – Manda Rigby and Brian Webber for Abbey ward and Andy Furse and Dougles Nichol for Kingsmead – its in the city centre where the main shortage is. It might be wise to contact any of these as well as your local councillor.
Further Update:
I have been told that there are new cycle stands to go in to the south of the Guildhall and the bicycle corral (car) is then due to be moved, but it could go into Cheap Street. This is from the team who managed the High Street works, but they will also talk to highways to see if there is a budget for more cycle corrals for the city. I will find out how long it will take to get the extra stands in to the south of the Guildhall.
Hello, I'm Roger Symonds and I have created this blog to highlight local and wider cycling issues. Given the incredible interest and increase in cycling we must not miss this opportunity to provide the the infrastructure that gets even more people out on bikes in a safer environment.
I’ve always wondered why these bike stands are in the shape of a car of all things….
Some are also difficult to access when cars are parked right up to it on both sides, ie one needs to go around the whole chain of parked cars to find a gap to get on to the pavement to be able to access the bike stand (which is usually full).
Regarding visitors on bikes, wouldn’t it be a good idea to put those hire bikes on the Newbridge park and ride for instance? It’s nice and flat from there and visitors could cycle along the towpath, better than waiting for a bus.
Hi Andrea
Thank you for your comments. I am pretty sure that when the new bike hire scheme begins there will be some at the Newbridge Park and Ride. There is a certain irony to having bike stands in the shape of a car. They are designed and made in Bath and can be moved around where needed.
This is my experience whenever I cycle to Bath from my home in Radstock (via Two-Tunnels, naturally, there’s no other sensible, safe and sane route). It’s always quite difficult to find a secure parking spot for the bike.
This must be one in the eye for all those (mostly, it seems, from certain individuals who fancy themselves as future politicians) who insist that it’s pointless promoting cycling in Bath because of all the hills.
No.
It’s not the hills.
It’s the infrastructure.
It’s true: Build it and they WILL come.
I think the number of cycle stands and that they are mostly fullup says volumed for cycling in this city.