Gunnersbury Station to get Bike Racks

Victory for campaigners after Mayor intervenes

Cyclists campaigning for improved facilities to park bikes around Gunnersbury station have cause for celebration following an announcement that cycle stands are to be provided.

8 'Sheffield' stands are to be installed, providing spaces for 16 cycles, on the footway near the controlled crossing adjacent to the Gunnersbury Station entrance.

Chris Calvi-Freeman, Head of Transport at Hounslow Council said, "We are also scoping the possibility of a covered cycle stand arrangement, but this will take considerably longer as it will need careful design and negotiation with the BSI building owners."

TfL had banned bike parking around the station for “health and safety reasons” because they caused an obstruction to the entrance.

Originally campaigners for improved cycle access at the station had found themselves in a bureaucratic Catch 22 with nobody from TfL able to say who made the original decision to stop cyclists parking around the station but nobody willing to rescind it.

The Ealing Cycling Campaign had raised the issue at the London Mayor's question time and were told by the Mayor, " I will ask TfL to ensure that cycle parking is provided by the end of the year, if necessary on the public highway – and to do what they can to mitigate the reduction in convenience and security."

TfL are funding these stands, which will be available for use by the end of November.

October 31, 2008