Update on the Author

This blog has been quiet as I have stopped commuting from Surbiton. Ironically, the moment this happened I received a call from SW Trains to tell me a parking permit for the Cage was available. I  took up the offer as I still use the Station from time to time.

My example does highlight every thing that is wrong with the system as it stands. I have a place in the Cage and I use it 1-2 times a fortnight, usually later in the morning. I arrive at the Cage at 9.30am and the cage is less than half full, the outside racks are over flowing.  The sensible option would be for SW Trains to over issue places, those eager commuters that arrive for 7-8am trains would get first dips, those that need the security for late night parking would be protected. The facility would protect the maximum number of bicycles. This fact is self evident to all except SW Trains.

Beyond a Joke

The Cage Remains Empty

The now familiar scene at the Surbiton Cycle Cage, this picture was taken at 8.10am and shows that many cyclists are not getting the benefit of the increased security. SW Trains has botched the allocation of spaces in the cage whilst most commuters are finding the open cycle parking spaces heavily congested with all but a couple of spaces remaining at peak arrival times.

Over crowding in the remaining cycle bays

The only fair resolution of the this problem is for all those that applied for a space in the cage to be given access and allow use of the cage on a first come, first serve basis.

The Cage goes Live- Again

And again it does appear to be working.

What is clear, is that at 8.10am, the cage is half empty and I counted only 6 parking spaces for the remainder 0f Surbiton’s cycle commuters.

UPDATE

Still not switched on at home time tonight (6pm). The cage was about 2/3 full with the the other racks over flowing. I noticed that the street bike posts also looked to be busier than usual

Campaign Update

Having written to Councilor Bob Steed of Kingston Council and Ben Plowden of  TFL to highlight how badly SW Trains has spent their money, it is disappointing that that they have failed to respond to my communication. I guess, we are now a long way off from the next election.

What is encouraging is the comments from the station manager that usage will be monitored and cards ‘oversold’. I think the latter is the the most pragmatic solution to the impasse that we currently have. We can not get away from the initial allocation process being highly flawed but those with cards are going to be very upset if the current distribution is ripped up and new applications taken.

If the rail company were to allocate a swipe cards to all those that apply, the places in the cage can be utilised on first come-first served basis. This many not suit the occasional cyclist who arrives at 10am, but will suit the daily commuter or someone needing to park in the evening or overnight.  It would optimize usage and ensure that the maximum number of users will gain the security of the cage at all times.

Embarrassed

OK, this morning the Surbiton cycle cage wasn’t work. Any of us could have parked there, but did you notice too?

The Cage goes Live

As SW Trains switch on the Surbiton secure cycle compound our worst fears are recognised with the cycle rack usage showing just how poor the allocation of resources has been. I have taken these photos today at 8.10am.

I would estimate that the cage is less than half full, a number of the bikes parked there are abandoned and should now have been removed. I park here most days, 12 months of the year, normally at this time this space would have filled up by now. What about the rest of the bike park?

Early commuters are parking further away from the station

Clearly the early birds have failed to gain access to the secure compound, these people are more likely to be commuters who are using the trains everyday and leaving their bikes for the whole day and more likely to be affected my cycle crime as a consequence!

The street side rack is already full,

And commuters are being forced to chain cycles to the railing by the shops

It is clear that the secure compound has displaced regular commuters, is under utilized and highlights that the allocation process failed to deliver the benefits of the compound to those that need and value the facility.

Please sign our petition and help us persuade SW Trains to do something sensible

Update from SW Trains Consumer Service Dept

I have, today exchanged the following correspondence with SWT

Ms Bradley

Am I right to infer from your reply that places in the front cycle park were firstly assigned to people on the waiting list for the secure compound at the back of the station? Users of the front cycle park were not aware that the rear cycle compound was being built last year, the vast majority of commuters are front or back door people.
If this is not the case then why was the front application process not advertised for a month?
Under either scenario the front entrance cyclists have not had a FAIR opportunity to apply for access to the secure compound.
I draw your attention to the following website.

https://cyclesurbiton.wordpress.com/

Regards

David Williams

Our ref:1552249

19 May 2010

Dear Mr Williams

Thank you for your further email.

With regards to the cycle storage at Surbiton.

The first secure cycle compound opened late last year on the downside, was advertised for a month prior and fully subscribed very quickly.  Unsuccessful applicants were put on a waiting list.

The latest compound on the upside has 60 spaces and the waiting list is considerably longer. We are currently contacting these applicants.

Kind Regards
Customer Relations Officer

Lets get Something Done

The recent move by South West Trains to extend and improve security for cycle parking at Surbiton Station is to be applauded. I have been parking at the station for 4 years, 12 months a year, and I have seen demand for parking raise enormously and it is great that they have responded to this need.

What is disgraceful is the way access to the secure area has been handled. I have heard two descriptions as to how places were allocated, one from SWT and one from a (successful) applicant; neither inspires confidence as to the process.

I spoke to the SWT police liaison officer on Wednesday 12th May, when I first saw the poster telling us that spaces had all gone. He called me back to say that the station manager had put up a poster and spaces where taken on a first come, first served basis. All places when within the day.

Another cyclist told me that he had asked at the service counter and had his name had been written down and was later told he had been successful.

What is clear from both of these descriptions is that the process was seriously flawed and unfair;

• Inadequate opportunity for cyclist to apply for spaces
• Insufficient publicity as to how to apply for publicity
• Lack of priority for most frequent users of the facility
• Actively, disadvantages against season ticket holders, as they are less likely to queue at the service counter.

I was aware that the secure compound was coming,  from discussions with SWT Customer Service Centre, when the construction started, I was actively looking out for a notice telling me how to apply for a place. I did ask at the counter, to be told that customers would find out in due course. If I can miss the publicity then there was something flawed.

A lottery for places would have produced a fairer outcome, at least all of us would have had an equal chance.

I am calling for SWT’s to review the allocation process and put in place something that is transparent and in which all cyclist have a equal opportunity to participate. Furthermore they should review usage of the facility so that the heaviest uses are not kept out of the facility by those that only occasionally cycle to the station

Please sign the petition here