Cyclists will benefit from new storage facilities to be built in Wimbledon in October.
David Churchill, Toby Meyjes, Rhian Hughes and Alec Shilton
Cyclists will benefit from new storage facilities to be built in Wimbledon in October.
Pete Thomas, Merton Council’s Cycling Officer, announced ten bike stands will be introduced on High Street as part of a scheme to tackle storage issues.
The improved storage is a response to lobbying from cyclists to add more guard rails.
Merton Cycling Campaign spokesman, Charlie Lloyd, said: “Central storage is a huge problem in Merton.
“Cycling has much more than doubled in the last five or six years and one of the various problems we find is lack of parking.”
An increased number of guard rails will be welcomed by cyclists who struggle to find secure places to leave their bikes.
Merton cyclist James Yates said: “Having to chain my bike to railings is a worry as the risk of it getting clipped is high.
“I’ve also been the victim of having my bike vandalised and stolen so Merton really could do with more secure places to store bikes.”
South Wimbledon cyclist Rifat Nowosher said: “It’s a good thing the council are doing something about it, as more people are using bikes.
“The current lack of safe places to lock-up leaves bikes vulnerable to thieves.”
Merton Cycling Campaign has been lobbying the Department of Transport since 1995 to improve the standard of cycling facilities for local users.
The initiative forms part of London Mayor Boris Johnson’s wider plans to get Londoners cycling.
