Oxford like a bike graveyard (From Oxford Mail)

Oxford like a bike graveyard

6:00am Tuesday 9th June 2009

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OXFORD has been left looking like a bike “graveyard” according to a transport expert criticising the city council for failing to clear abandoned cycles.

The chairman of Oxford Pedestrians’ Association, Paul Cullen, joined the Oxford Mail on a three-hour inspection of bike racks last week and discovered 40 abandoned bikes in the city centre.

Mr Cullen said they were an “eyesore” – many of which having fallen victim to theft and vandalism with missing parts or buckled wheels.

He also warned the problem discouraged cyclists by clogging up overcrowded bike racks and deterring bikers who would be fearful of similar damage happening to their property.

Mr Cullen said: “Oxford is a bike graveyard. It’s a bloody eyesore to find abandoned bikes in the middle of the city.

“This isn’t the face Oxford should be showing the world.”

Although Oxfordshire County Council installs most of the bike racks, the city council is responsible for clearing up abandoned bikes.

Last year the council said it removed about 300 bikes in Oxford, however our inspection uncovered an abandoned bike tagged by the council in November threatening removal if it was not claimed within 14 days. The ladies’ Raleigh cycle is still chained up in Broad Street almost seven months later.

Mr Cullen, an independent transport consultant who has worked on transport policy, operations and engineering within local government, added: “The city council are letting Oxford down and the people that live in it because they haven’t got to grips with the problem.”

Our inspection showed the pavement in Turl Street almost completely blocked by bikes parked three abreast outside Jesus College.

In March, Cyclox committee member Simon Banks published a report in which he calculated that 200 of the 1,194 cycle parking places in the city were blocked by abandoned cycles.

Council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We remove bicycles frequently in the city and the last removal was Tuesday, June 2, when we removed two bicycles from the Town Hall.

“We recently tagged bicycles outside the entrance to Worcester Street car park and four bicycles were tagged and will be removed if they’re not reclaimed. We would remind people that the bicycle racks are not a long term parking solution as this increases the likelihood of vandalism.

“We ask cyclists to remove damaged bicycles instead of leaving them and blocking the rack for other users.”

The council said the bicycle in Broad Street would be removed as soon as possible.

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk l On Yer Bike: Page 19

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