The Fool on the Hill: Cycle parking for Auchencairn

The current situation

Auchencairn — despite its hills — has over the past four years become a village where many people cycle; increasingly, people cycle on routine, utilitarian journeys, like going to the shop, or to events in the village hall.

Yet there's almost nowhere to securely park a bike. There is a road sign mast, bearing a 'playground' sign, just downhill from the shop, which routinely has bikes locked to it, and bikes are often leant up against the railings just up the street from the shop, where they restrict the width of the footway. This really isn't ideal.

There's a section of railing outside the main entrance to the village hall, where bikes are sometimes locked. Again, this restricts the footway, and is not ideal.

There is no cycle parking facility at the village school. To be fair,

1. the school is at the very top of the village, which, for most families taking children to school, represents quite a significant climb on a bicycle;
2. there is physically very little space in the geography of the village, either adjacent to existing roads or otherwise, for a segregated cycle path linking the places most families with children live to the school;
3. despite the recent — and welcome — introduction of a 20 miles per hour speed limit through the village, this is not yet well respected, and many parents might be reasonably concerned about encouraging children to cycle to school.

Nevertheless a substantial proportion of the school playground is now reserved for staff parking, and it would not be unreasonable to suggest some cycle parking, perhaps under cover, both for adults visiting the school and for those older children who would wish to, and whose parents would support them to, cycle to school.

Where parking facilities are needed

The Shop

It's clear that cycle parking facilities are needed at the shop. Many customers already cycle to the shop; many people who do not, do not at least in part for want of a secure place to leave their bicycle while visiting it. Cycle parking adjacent to the shop would also serve the business unit in the basement of the same building, presently a children's creche, and the Link Park and allotments.

Cycle parking could be provided either at the rear of the building, adjacent to the bridge over the burn, or in front of the building as a build-out of pavement into the roadway, protected by bollards, taking up the equivalent of one car parking space. This would certainly be controversial, but it would be extremely convenient for shoppers, and, by encouraging more people to cycle to the shop, might actually reduce congestion in a part of the village which is already particularly busy.

This siting would be in accordance to the guidance given on page 215 of Cycling by Design:

When used on-street, it is preferable for Sheffield stands and M-profile stands to be located on space that is reallocated from the road carriageway, before consideration is given to locating stands on the footway.

The Square presents a lesser problem. There is an existing build-out of pavement at the upper mill entry, between the Captain's House and the former Commercial Inn; it currently has a public bench seat and a litter bin, but there is adequate space to add two bicycle stands.

At the school, and in front of it, there is plenty of space; in the existing fenced off parking are in the playground, or else on the grassed island in the road at the junction between the A711 and the unclassified road which leads past the cemetery to Bluehill, Auchenleck and Glenhead.

What should be provided

"Sheffield" or "M-Profile" stands, as illustrated in figure 6.1 on page 214 of Cycling by Design, should be installed, at minimum two at each location. In addition, at the school, a shelter should be provided, such as a "cycle hangar" or "cycle store" as described on pages 220 and 224 of Cycling by Design respectively.

Share on social media