Cycle parking quality standard: call for expressions of interest

Although there are some excellent cycle parking products being supplied to the UK market there are also other products which fall well below the standard required for safe and comfortable usage and/or bike security'. This project aims at establishing a cycle parking standard

The Bicycle Association (BA) and Sustrans, on behalf of the Cycle Rail Working Group (CRWG), are calling for expressions of interest from consultants for the development of a new UK cycle parking quality standard. 

The CRWG funding and the consultant contract will be managed by Sustrans with additional BA support. The intention is that the completed standard will be made available on the BA website for public access free-of-charge. Consultants wanting to be considered for this work are invited to send initial expressions of interest by the 11th September 2020.

The BA has been working to facilitate the development of a UK quality and security standard for cycle parking hardware and installation, as part of its efforts on behalf of the industry to address cycle theft. 

It says: 'Although there are some excellent cycle parking products being supplied to the UK market there are also other products which fall well below the standard required for safe and comfortable usage and/or bike security'. This project aims at establishing a Standard to enable purchasers of equipment to identify products which are:

• Easy to use (including consideration of disabled people and inclusion generally)

• Safe (for user and their bicycle)

• Secure (enables secure locking)

• Long lasting (corrosion resistant etc)

• Fully in compliance with UK legal requirements

In addition to covering the requirements of the physical equipment itself, the Standard will cover the way that the equipment it to be installed and the layout of cycle parking facilities.

Although this project is being sponsored by the Cycle Rail Working Group, it is expected that the new Standard will be adopted by others procuring cycle parking equipment outside the railway estate and some items covered may be more commonly found off stations than on them.

Theft remains a significant brake on cycling growth: a significant number of people give up cycling altogether if their bike is stolen. Others may be put off cycling a particular journey if they are not confident of secure parking.

Even where cycle parking is provided, there can be issues with cycle parking quality. Too often what is procured is not well designed, inclusive, durable, or correctly installed, making it ineffective both for the purchaser and for users. These are the main issues which the new standard intends to address.

In late 2018, the BA convened a group of initial stakeholders including DfT, TfL, the Cycle Rail Working Group and a number of quality-minded suppliers. The original intention was to draft the standard within this group, but this proved beyond the resources available.

Now (subject only to final, formal confirmation) funding has been secured, via the Cycle Rail Working Group (CRWG), to employ a suitably qualified consultant to develop the new standard.

The CRWG consists of representatives from the Active Travel Alliance, Bicycle Association, British Transport Police, Cycle Proofing Working Group, Department for Transport, Passenger Focus, Network Rail, Transport for London, National Rail train operators and Urban Transport Group. Its aim is to improve access to the rail network for people using bicycles. It is supported by Sustrans, who provide secretarial and logistical support. They are funded in this work by the Department for Transport. The CRWG is chaired by Phillip Darnton of the Bicycle Association.