A concerted effort on Tuesday evening at St Albans City Station resulted in somewhere between 110 & 120 bikes being post coded (to help them to be returned to owners if recovered after theft).
We manned the bike parking areas on each side of the line, working in teams of two.
Many commuters complained of cycles being stolen - one chap had had 8 bikes stolen in the course of 20 years commuting.
We also gave away a number of cycle alarms which had been purchased at a generously discounted price by a group of local councils - one of which was St Albans. We understand that the station staff are required to respond when a cycle alarm sounds.
The operator First Capital Connect has recently also given out these alarms to season ticket holders.
Both FCC and British Transport Police are keen to reduce cycle theft, but according to some commuters we spoke to the operation of CCTV remains very unsatisfactory.
Another point of commuter complaint was the shortage of cycle parking places. FCC do attend the St Albans Cycling Forum and always indicate their keenness to attract passengers to cycle to the station. They have a rolling programme of cycle parking provision which is gradually being actioned with delivery believed to be on schedule. Let's see if they keep to it.
Be sure to tell STACC of any problems you encounter.
ALBAN WAY REOPENED ON MARCH 3RD - ON TIME
So the rest of this post is redundant.
Information from Debbi White, Assistant Estates Surveyor, St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 01727 819515 - summary of her letter.
Alban Way will be closed between Camp Road and Orient Way from 11th February for about three weeks (depending on the weather).
This is to allow for works to take place in connection with the Linden Homes & City Station development to provide mains drainage
BUT NOT YET (as previously stated) the (good news) cycling & pedestrian ramp from the site to the Alban Way, giving off-road access to the station.
SADC, appreciating the importance and popularity of the route, had hoped to keep the Alban Way open during the works, but for justifiable safety concerns (a 3.5 metre deep trench is required) closure was the only option.
The work will include re-surfacing affected areas.
Formal notices will appear in the local press and closure notices are erected at Dellfield and Orient Close.
The footpath from Dellfield to Vanda Crescent will remain open
Diversions will be posted.
[[ End of Debbi's Info ]]
Additional info from me....
The first week of closure falls in half term, so the impact will be reduced somewhat.
A number of local school have been notified, STACC have been asked to identify any others which we feel should be notified.
Diversions
Diversion notices in the form of maps are posted at each end of the affected section.
There are no directions posted along the line of the diversion route (only motorists get those), so I have prepared route sheets of my own suggested diversions (below). Please advise any errors to me by way of a comment to this post.
You can print clips from these to take with you if you are not familiar with the area.
Two routes are suggested, one almost entirely on-road & faster, for experienced riders, the other entirely a combination of off-road and quiet roads.
There is a different route sheet for each direction.
Alban Way closure 11 Feb 08
Diversion for EASTBOUND users - ON-ROAD Option
(Traffic conditions could be heavy in some roads at some times, especially around City Station.)
Halfway along Orient Close, instead of going straight ahead, turn left - up slope (also Orient Close)
At Roundabout (London Road Junction) go forward into Grosvenor Rd.
(Option use nearby pelican crossing).
Follow up hill to junction with Ridgmont Rd.
Turn right into Ridgmont Rd.
Go through line of bollards, bearing left (still Ridgmont Rd).
At end turn right into Victoria St. (often busy).
Over railway bridge, forward at traffic lights.
At next junction, main road bears left, go forward into Grimston Rd.
Turn left into Flora Grove.
At fork, bear right to continue in Flora Grove.
Down hill and turn left into Vanda Crescent.
Just before school, take footpath on right (walk).
At end rejoin Alban Way - turning left to cross bridge.
Alban Way closure 11 Feb 08
Diversion for WESTBOUND users - ON-ROAD Option
(Traffic conditions could be heavy in some roads at some times, especially around City Station.)
After bridge over Camp Rd. take footpath on right, beyond school (walk).
At end, turn left (Vanda Crescent).
At end turn right (Flora Grove).
Bear left at junction & follow to tee junction,
where turn right (Grimston Rd.)
At junction with Stanhope Rd, go forward & again forward through traffic lights.
After railway bridge, but before traffic lights, turn left (Ridgmont Rd.)
Forward for 200 metres then right through line of bollards (still Ridgmont Rd)
At junction with Grosvenor Rd, turn left into Grosvenor Rd.
At roundabout (London Rd junction) go forward into Orient Close.
(Option use nearby pelican crossing).
Down incline then turn right to rejoin Alban Way.
Alban Way closure 11 Feb 08
Diversion for EASTBOUND users - OFF-ROAD/QUIET ROAD Option
(Traffic conditions should be very quiet on this route, suitable for children.)
Halfway along Orient Close, instead of going straight ahead, turn left - up slope (also Orient Close), using cycle path.
At junction with London Rd, use pelican crossing to cross London Rd (walk).
Go right & cross Grosvenor Rd, to join cycle path alongside London Rd.
Pass under railway bridge & cross two side roads.
At Cunningham Hill Rd, turn left.
This is a quiet cul-de-sac, so ride on road.
As Cunningham Hill Rd bears right, go left into Barncroft Way.
After 50 metres go through gap with three bollards on right.
Using footway (walk) bear left & go through four bollards.
Still keeping left follow footway and continue alongside Parkview Close.
Continue on footpath alongside playing field, through barriers & down hill.
At Dellfield turn right then take path on left just before junction with Camp Rd.
Up slope to rejoin Alban Way, turn right to cross bridge.
Alban Way closure 11 Feb 08
Diversion for WESTBOUND users - OFF-ROAD/QUIET ROAD Option
(Traffic conditions should be very quiet on this route, suitable for children.)After bridge over Camp Rd. turn left, down slope to Dellfield.
Turn right then after Hawkshill take footpath on left, up hill (walk).
Through barriers and alongside playing field, continue on footway alongside Cell Barnes Lane.
Bear right between four bollards, then through gap with three bollards.
To join Barncroft Way, turning left.
After 50 metres go right into Cunningham Hill Rd.
This is a quiet cul-de-sac, so ride on road.
Just before end (junction with London Rd) go right on shared cycle path.
Cross two side roads & go under railway, continue to Grosvenor Rd.
Cross Grosvenor Rd & take pelican crossing over London Rd (walk).
Join cycle path in Orient Close, go down slope to tee junction.
Turn right to rejoin Alban Way.
Post updated 31 Jan due to fault in Blogger, which resulted in route sheet headings being rendered with font-size of zero!
Post updated 8 Feb due to the closure start date being brought forward (or incorrectly advised) - It is now Feb 11th, not 12th. Plus other detail changes.
The Home Office has some useful tips on bike security on their website, as well as a useful leaflet.
First Capital Connect and the British Transport Police are giving out free cycle alarms at St Albans City Station on Wedndesday 23 and Thurday 29 January. We'd be interested in hearing about the experience of anyone who'se got one, please leave a comment.
The best bet is to use at least one good lock to secure your bike to something fixed, somewhere in plain view..
What is it?
London Road Cycle Route will run off-road from Grosvenor Road to St Vincent Drive, making use of the wide footway (which is currently only used for car parking).
It will continue on-road on (quiet) Admiral's Walk to connect with the existing cycle path which continues to London Colney.
The design provides safe crossing places at junctions.
It will be a very significant addition to our modest cycling infrastructure as it will provide a continuous route from London Colney and London Road
estates to a very useful junction from which journeys can continue off-road along Alban Way or on quieter roads (Old London Road, Approach Road/Riverside Road) and the 30 mph section of London Road into town.
It avoids the need to use the 40mph(+++) section with central refuges which are too daunting for inexperienced cyclists.
Importantly it will make possible many safe cycle journeys to schools and to the City Station.
When?
According to the Highways Partnership meeting of October 24th 2006, work would start about January 2007. - Not achieved.
So Wheeeen???
According to St Albans Cycling Strategy meeting on 16th April 2007, the work would most definitely start that very week. - Not achieved.
So Whe.e.e.e.e.e.nnnn ?????
According to STACC member Ollie's careful scrutiny, looking (on 2nd May 2007) for the smallest indication that something has started......
"There's no sign of any activity on this - not even a road cone! I thought Herts Highways were supposed to start as soon as the works in the High Street were finished. "
But see comments .......
STACC's Richard-571 reports from St Albans Cycling Forum (16th April).....
Just wanted to point up the helpful post-Forum piece in Herts Advertiser
(Thursday 19 April, page 5) in case anyone missed it.
( Article is reproduced below)
Highlights from the article include Larry Heyman of FCC (ex-Thameslink):
1) predicting saturation of car parking capacity by 2012
2) suggesting that "150 cycle spaces could be provided (initially)"
3) ...as a first step towards our medium term target of 1,000 spaces.
Less good news... floating of parking charges for cyclists, and "new
racks will depend on funding which has not been found as of yet".
Jack's contribution to this piece picks up on funding - and makes the point the article
might have started with - "Leave your car at home and get on you bike"
Clearly the Forum has proved useful again...
PS: ....here's a link to a letter about cycling to Royston Station:
http://www.hertsad.co.uk/search/story.aspx?brand=ROYWestOnline&category=Postbag&itemid=WEED19%20Apr%202007%2011:21:11:967&tBrand=ROYWestOnline&tCategory=search
EVEN with a new multi-storey car park being built at St Albans City Station, it’s predicted that by 2012 it will run out of room.
With the steady increase in the city’s growth, the new 813-space car park at the station is likely to be full in five years’ time, according to train operator First Capital Connect’s Integration and partnership manager, Larry Heyman, who also lives in St Albans. He said: “At the moment there is an average of 500 people a day parking at the station but with the fact that there is an awful lot of development in Herts I can imagine that by 2012 that car park could be pretty well full.” Now new ways of enhancing the provision for cyclists are being investigated and after a meeting with the St Albans Cyclists Forum (SCF) this week, Mr Heyman said that 150 new cycle racks could be provided. He also wants many more to be introduced to meet the SCF’s benchmark of 1,000. He said: “At the moment there are 396 racks and on a typical day these are all used and there are an extra 150 cycles chained to lampposts, fences and pretty much anything that doesn’t move.” Due to a lack of space Mr Heyman is now looking into double level cycle racks with a cantilever design and will be going out with the SCF to look at ways other stations have met the cyclists’ needs. This will include some stations where cyclists are charged a fee but FCC want to avoid this wherever possible. Mr Heyman said: “I also want to make sure the new racks are ones that cyclists want to use and that are safe and secure so people can be confident they will find their bike in the same condition as it was left in the morning.” However the new racks will depend on funding which has not been found as of yet. Jack Pia, of the St Albans Cycling Committee and the SCF, said this was achievable: “I think it’s of major importance. Herts County Council realises this and have discussed joint funding. There are a lot more resources for cyclists these days to encourage them to use cars less. The district council also has funds for cycling.” He added: “It’s not just for those who want to save the world, but for people who want to save money and get to work quicker without being held up in traffic. People drive amazingly short distances to get to the station but if you live within two miles or less, it is a hell of a lot easier to cycle.”
Liz adds....
Thanks to Jack for chasing this and getting some good coverage. STACC now await invitation from Larry to visit some other stations to view and comment on their cycle parking provision e.g double decker parking at Guildford Station.
