Southeastern to add dockless cycle hire spots at more south east London stations
Southeastern are looking to add cycle hire spots to a number of stations across south east London.
A recent Lewisham council report on the roll-out of parking for cycle hire bikes noted the rail company are to explore options at Blackheath, Catford Bridge, Deptford, Grove Park, Ladywell, Lewisham, Lower Sydenham, New Cross, and St Johns.
Some stations already have such spots including Greenwich, Lee and Hither Green.
Many stations around Lewisham are seeing strong growth with thousands of homes planned around many.
Lower Sydenham is currently seeing one block rise featuring hundreds of homes as the area undergoes significant change.
Report
Lewisham Council’s report on cycle hire across the borough also notes that “A Notice of Proposals was published on 30 January with the proposals for Phase 4 delivery that includes an additional 33 bays in Telegraph Hill, Brockley, Rushey Green, Catford South, Ladywell, Hither Green and Lee Green.”
Further work later this year funded via Transport for London’s annual Local Implementation Plan funding will be used “for Phase 5 delivery which includes proposed locations in Blackheath, Lee Green, Hither Green, Grove Park, Catford South, Ladywell, Rushey Green, Downham, Bellingham and Sydenham.
“These locations will be subject to further review including site visits and feasibility designs before being published for statutory consultation”.
TfL put out a press release about the annual LIP funding award last week. The fund has been around for many years now with each borough in London generally receiving between £2 million – £3 million for transport-related projects.
The way TfL and some described it you’d think it was a new policy rather than one in place for twenty-odd years. Of course it’s evolved over time (the current spend is part of the latest three-year plan) but it’s generally the same scheme that’s been around for some time.
Another source of funding looking to be used for 29 bays is “from the Lime London Parking Fund to deliver these additional bays”.
It also stated that Lewisham are to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Lime and Forest “with the latter formally introducing their bikes onto the Lewisham network from the Spring”.
Excellent news and a much better use of space than for car parking. Will need managing well but should be a positive.
No doubt, the bikes will be left strewn everywhere for people to fall over.
Why not prevent the issue from the outset, and have a docked scheme instead?
Would make far more sense.
Absolutely Warnie a docked scheme for the bikes would be much better and safer. Otherwise the bikes will be dumped all over the pavements causing obstacles for people to fall over. Bikes dumped every where is already a problem across London Boroughs.
Absolutely Warnie a docked scheme for the bikes would be much better and safer. Otherwise the bikes will be dumped all over the pavements causing obstacles for people to fall over. Bikes dumped every where is already a problem across London Boroughs.
These bikez need to be docked properly. Rather than left all over the street. Perhaps they should introduce a deposit scheme where when you dock your bike properly you get a refund on tout initial payment to use tbe bike via an app.
These bikes are an excellent idea when used properly safely and responsibily.
I can see the idea of having dockless bike cycle spots at railway stations across Southeast London but isn’t there a risk of hired bikes getting stolen?!
Will these dockless hire spots eradicate the current dangerous hazard of bikes being left all over pavements ?
Deeply unimpressed with the response of LimeBikes when these bikes are reported to them.
Encouraging greater cycle use over driving is to be welcomed but Lime Bikes need to solve this problem – which they show no interest in doing. Highly irresponsible.
Is there any point in my asking why Lewisham is not insisting on docking stations?