Or is it too much to expect a bike rack that might fit a common size of bike lock?
As found (eventually, hidden away in the corner) at the Meadowbank Poundstretcher / Gala Bingo / TK Maxx retail park thing.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Sheffield Stand fail
(29 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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That seems like some AWESOME design right there.
I noticed on monday that they'd taken away the Sheffield stands at Cineworld and replaced them with low down wheel benders which provide almost no support for the bike. You have to straddle the bar with the bike and D-lock through the wheel bit to your frame. Very awkward.
Came back to mine lying on top of two others, basically wind/someone careless had managed to flatten all three.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Clucking Bell. They must have inferiority issues..
Posted 12 years ago # -
there is a campaign around bike prking in edinburgh waiting to happen.
Leven st scotmid still hasn't replaced parking (tried to take folder inthe other day; security guard wouldn't let e, but agreed to watch my bike);
Waitrose racks still too few, poorly designed and poorly placed.
others have been mentioned. can we name and shame? or award a prize for good ones?
Posted 12 years ago # -
As found (eventually, hidden away in the corner) at the Meadowbank Poundstretcher / Gala Bingo / TK Maxx retail park thing.
Take it you didn't fancy the wheelbender toastracks outside Sinsberries then? I have used the Sheffield stands in the past with no problems (except they were often full of shopping trolleys - doesn't happen now they insist on a quid coin to operate). My D-locks must be wider than yours (Abus Granit, various models).
Posted 12 years ago # -
can we name and shame?
I can't remember exactly, but I think it's just to the side of the main entrance to the EICC. About four Sheffield stands placed within two inches of the wall, thus rendering them good for locking a wheel and not much else. Think I'll sit the monstrousbike lengthways across them sometime, just to make a point.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@crowriver I didn't know they had racks at that end. I ended up using some fencing as even all the lamp posts were mounted 4 feet up brick columns so couldn't use them. The lock is a Krypotnite.
Posted 12 years ago # -
They remind me or Berwick, ALL of the new town center racks are too fat to fit a standard kryptonite Dlock, ended up securing my bike to the railings on a junction...
Posted 12 years ago # -
I am reminded of the Simpsons sketch were Bart repaints the parking bay lines marginally closer together so when all the teachers pull up at Springfield Elementary they can't get out of their cars for lack of door width.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Actually IIRC Sinsberries have replaced the wheelbenders with some 'designer' Sheffield stands which may be petite enough to accommodate a KryptoBizarro D-lock...
Posted 12 years ago # -
@crowriver - thanks for the tip. Next time I'm tea tray shopping at TK Maxx will head in their direction ;)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Improvedbury:
Space for eight or ten.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I think the Meadowbank Sainsbury's got fed up of people not locking in the wheelbenders and instead, as I did, chaining to the handrail/guardrail around the trolley stop.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The 'Improvedbury' racks are like the ones at Waitrose, Morningside.
SRD: "Waitrose racks still too few, poorly designed and poorly placed"
When you say poorly placed do you mean in relation to the wall (guess that might be an issue with a long bike), or more generally in relation to the front door?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I have a picture on my iPhone of an appallingly sited sheffield stand rack at a Tesco Extra/fuel station near the Dollar Park in Falkirk (unfortunately I can't figure out how to post it on here) The stand is SO badly sited that I have never yet seen it used to secure a bike (not really possible) and dog owners won't even use it to tie up the pooch whilst nipping in for messages. It is fitted with the bars at right angles to the wall of the building and actually touching the wall. The other end of the bar ends less than a foot from the edge of the pavement before the car park begins. Even if you could secure one wheel to it, the rest of the bike would be reversed over by the cars trying to leave the small parking area.It just shows that the planners and installers had no idea of the purpose of the rack or how to actually use it. Very much smacks of "Got to show we're doing our bit for cyclists" but not really having the interest to figure out how to go about it.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Some places have really got it and others haven't. There is not even consistency across stores eg some Morrisons have excellent provision and others none. There was an item on the Cycle Show I think about a company in London offering a gym and secure off-street bike parking and servicing and a shop. I would certainly like to see something similar in Edinburgh.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The improvedbury/Waitrose-Morningside racks are pants/the-work-of-Stan, as the (basically) triangular shape means it's almost impossible to balance a bike against them, compared with a "proper" Sheffield stand, which has a horizantal "top tube".
(The Waitrose ones are also: too close together; too close to the wall; out of sight; and too few).
Phew; there - said it.
Posted 12 years ago # -
RJ _ have you told Waitrose this? I have. several times and in various formats. most recently by twitter. but if you do it too,. maybe they'll listen?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Hmmm, probably should, shouldn't I?
To be fair, the current offerings are an improvement on the previous (Safeway) cheese-wedge wheel-bender thing that was there before, and you don't need a supersize lock :-\
The Comely Bank Waitrose used to have (probably still does? - work moved ...) real, bolted-onto-the-wall wheel-benders. Which is why I would lock to the street-side pedestrian barriers instead.
(Moving slightly OT, I try* to remember to carry a cable to supplement my U-lock - it's a winning combination that allows a bike to be locked safely to almost anything with circumference less than the length of the cable).
* it's at work; the bike's at home.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Comely bank still does have those and ditto I use the pedestrian street furniture to lock my bike to on the rare occasion that I go there.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I have just had an email from Morningside Waitrose -
"I am keen to resolve this situation, and would appreciate your input"
Most positive.
This came because of Twitter rather than CCE directly.
Anyone else had direct contact with/from Morningside Waitrose?
Posted 12 years ago # -
No direct contact with Waitrose, but I do use the stands fairly regularly. The problem isn't really the triangular shape but the tubular structure (which is bolted to the ground) preventing you from positioning your bike properly. The obvious solution would be to have racks that are concreted into the ground rather than the current structure. The racks are very well used and I'm sure that Waitrose could probably cover the cost of new stands.
Posted 12 years ago # -
the other problem is that the stands are particularly awkward if you have a longer than usual bike - eg tandem or tagalong. (especially if they are blocked by falling over bikes.)
I don't see why they can't put the racks in fron the of the window - then we could see bikes from checkout AND not have issue of staff smoking beside them on break.
Posted 12 years ago # -
A regular Sheffield stand would be far preferable. Current design prevents you using a D-lock to secure both the frame and a wheel. The metal bars along the ground that Morningsider mentions are also poorly spaced with regards to wheel spacing. Also the design doesn't really support the bike in any way, beyond attacking a lock to it, so the bikes are often knocked over and those on cable locks can end up in quite a pile. Oh and while they're at it, the racks are on a bit of a slope and when you start to load up the bike with panniers full of tasty Waitrose Essentials (humous, olive oil, parmesan, taramasalata, sun dried tomatoes...) the bike has a habit of rolling away or trying to fall over.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I prefer to lock my bike on the far side of Sainsbury to me precisely because that's where the staff have their ciggie break - my bike is always overlooked by someone likely to run for security if they spied a person with boltcutters attacking the locks.
Admittedly they're about 30 feet away, so I don't have to get my nose tickled by their smoke.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I don't use the Waitrose stands very often, tending to walk there instead.
I would agree with the above points about them being awkwardly shaped and too close together. I'm not too fussed about the location; maybe bikes would be less of a target in front of the window but I suspect that would just bring a feeling of security.
Don't think I've ever seen them full; there must be a few members of staff who keep their bikes there - or maybe the bike I see there a lot belongs to a nearby flat?
Posted 12 years ago # -
and in addition to what kaputnik said, the tendency to roll-away/ fall over is even more pronounced if you have a child in child seat.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I was at Cineworld last week and noticed the mixture of Sheffield stands (popular) and wheelbenders (unused) so I emailed them, and within an hour got a positive response from the "Digital Marketing Manager", Rick Cuthbert.
-----
As a regular cyclist myself, I fully understand your comments and I too would choose the “Sheffield” racks over the type that attach to wheels for the reasons stated.We want to encourage people to cycle to Fountain Park, and provide secure racking wherever possible. I have passed your comments onto the site manager, who will consider what we can do to improve these facilities in the future wherever we have the budget to do so.
Thanks again for your comments, they are much appreciated.
----So not necessarily any action soon, but at least they're aware.
Posted 10 years ago # -
There are grants I believe for employers to put in cycle parking at works. I wonder if there are similar things from such as Sustrans etc?? Point this out and they could make use of such funding to enable them to put in Sheffeild stands sooner?
Posted 10 years ago #
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