AT to Trial Secure Cycle Cages at Train Stations

Two weeks ago an article in my local paper caught my attention. The article was in relation to the security of bikes locked up at train stations.

As mayor Len Brown strives to convince Aucklanders to stop using cars some of Auckland’s most eco-friendly commuters are calling for more safety measures to protect bikes.

Robyn Rakich’s grandchildren Jordan and Yanya both used to cycle from New Lynn to Fruitvale Road Railway Station to get to school.

The Rakichs would chain their bikes up behind the tennis club at the train station because it was the only realistic place for them to do so.

But on May 16 they returned from school to find Jordan’s bike stolen.

The theft highlights concerns over the safety of bikes at West Auckland’s stations.

Ms Rakich says the theft was very upsetting because the BMX was a joint Christmas and birthday present and now the pair have to walk to the station instead.

“I know that there are secure bike lockers at New Lynn station but I never wanted them to cycle there, it’s far too dangerous with all the traffic.

“If all railway stations had somewhere safe to store their bikes this thing wouldn’t be happening,” she says.

I have long thought having more secure bike parking at stations would be a very good idea. Bikes complement the rail network very well by helping to extend it’s reach and of course takes up a lot less space than car parks. I’m clearly not the only one who things this way:

Every railway station in Auckland has some form of cycle parking but many are limited to just cycle stands.

Of West Auckland’s 10 railway stations only New Lynn station has a covered cycle parking facility with separate lockers for cyclists to secure helmets and bags.

But the Cycle Action Auckland group says more needs to be done to encourage public transport use.

Chairwoman Barbara Cuthbert wants to see secure undercover parking installed for all bus and train stations around the city.

“Providing proper facilities for cyclists would strengthen our whole public transport network,” she says.

Busway has shown us that security and covered parking is the biggest concern for people leaving their bikes at stations.”

But the part that caught my attention was this:

Auckland Transport Media manager Mark Hannan says they are looking to implement covered cycle cages, or parkiteers, at some stations, similar to those found in Melbourne and parts of Europe.

“The first stations to be provided with this facility will be Papakura and Papatoetoe on the southern line and construction is already under way,” Mr Hannan says.

“This trial is taken from similar schemes operating in Melbourne and on other rail corridors overseas. Improvements in cycle parking on western rail stations is something we are looking at investing in.”

Auckland Transport says it is also working to improve access to railway stations.

This includes the Whau Greenways Network Plan involving safer links to stations.

This is excellent news and cycle cages are exactly what I thought would be ideal at stations so I got in touch with AT for some more details. Construction at Papakura and Papatoetoe starts this week while at Onehunga the existing cycle racks will receive a cover over them. The cages have been designed and manufactured in New Zealand and have the capacity for 20 bikes. They will be locked for security, only accessible with a card. Unfortunately it doesn’t appear that the card used to access the cages will be a HOP card but I’m sure AT will clarify what is required when they are ready to be used. If the trials are successful then the cages are likely to be rolled out to other stations and hopefully then they can be integrated with the HOP system to make them easy to use for everyone. And here is what they look like:

As I said earlier, this is excellent and the type of Park n Ride I would much rather see (compared to massive Park n Rides for cars). I really hope it will be a success and will definitely be keeping an eye on them.

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