South West Trains have been removing (bolt cropping) bikes not secured to bike racks. These were removed for "security" issues, a spurious excuse if I've ever heard one. I've had two bikes removed, however one has "gone missing". Cost of missing bike £100 plus cost of lock on other bike £30.
The only reason people secure their bikes to other railing is 'cos there not enough bikes stands to cope with the demand which has increased since the banned bikes on peak suburban services.
Anyone else affected ? Can we do anything ?
Bike Removal at Waterloo
-
gar
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
1)If you are insured ,put the bike you don't want on the railings.
2a) Sue them (it sounds like theft and it may be SW Trains)
2b) Take them to the ombudsman; I have won twice recently by doing that against thieving public organisations
3) Publicise their dark deeds
2a) Sue them (it sounds like theft and it may be SW Trains)
2b) Take them to the ombudsman; I have won twice recently by doing that against thieving public organisations
3) Publicise their dark deeds
-
DomT
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
They were doing that near the Royal Albert Hall once - even to the bikes on cycle specific racks, lucky I arrived before they got to mine.
-
troywinters
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
it's criminal damage and theft, security or no security "issues" maybe swt are like central and cant be bothered to provide adequate facilities, I know at Lincoln the cycle parking survey results fell on death ears whereas down the road GNER made a song and dance about improvements after the survey.
-
troywinters
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
I mean are they gonna lift cars off the streets? I doubt it too much feedback likely. still the Israelies have been banning cycling over their border for security reasons for a long time so maybe the current situation is just the opportunity the government is looking for to get rid of nusiance bikers once and for all.
-
gar
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
Is there any way of retrieving the bike, or do they just say "we have removed them.. Get lost?"
-
johno
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
Dave, presumably SWT will have a record of the date, time and place of removal and details of the bike removed. The bike is your property and they are interfering with it regardless of their particular 'security' concerns. Are they relying on any Act or byelaw which allows them to do this?
I would seek these details in writing and ask them to explain what has happened to your bike.
If they are unable to return the property back to you intact (including the lock), then I would send them a a further letter giving a breakdown of your full losses as a result of their action and ask them to reimburse you in full within say 14 days failing which you'll commence proceedings in the County Court for interfering with your property and negligence. Ask for details of their registered office for service of any such proceedings.
From recollection if your claim is worth less than £5,000 you can bring a small claims track claim which can be dealt with quickly and relatively cheaply. Any County Court office will give you assistance here.
I don't know if anyone has tried this approach but unless a bike has been locked up a while and numerous warnings have been left attached to it, I fail to see how they can just remove it. Normally, costs cannot be awarded in these cases and it might well be that SWT would be uncomfortable going to the expense of arguing their view at court and might settle quickly. I hope this helps.
All the best.
I would seek these details in writing and ask them to explain what has happened to your bike.
If they are unable to return the property back to you intact (including the lock), then I would send them a a further letter giving a breakdown of your full losses as a result of their action and ask them to reimburse you in full within say 14 days failing which you'll commence proceedings in the County Court for interfering with your property and negligence. Ask for details of their registered office for service of any such proceedings.
From recollection if your claim is worth less than £5,000 you can bring a small claims track claim which can be dealt with quickly and relatively cheaply. Any County Court office will give you assistance here.
I don't know if anyone has tried this approach but unless a bike has been locked up a while and numerous warnings have been left attached to it, I fail to see how they can just remove it. Normally, costs cannot be awarded in these cases and it might well be that SWT would be uncomfortable going to the expense of arguing their view at court and might settle quickly. I hope this helps.
All the best.
-
johno
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
Dave, presumably SWT will have a record of the date, time and place of removal and details of the bike removed. The bike is your property and they are interfering with it regardless of their particular 'security' concerns. Are they relying on any Act or byelaw which allows them to do this?
I would seek these details in writing and ask them to explain what has happened to your bike.
If they are unable to return the property back to you intact (including the lock), then I would send them a a further letter giving a breakdown of your full losses as a result of their action and ask them to reimburse you in full within say 14 days failing which you'll commence proceedings in the County Court for interfering with your property and negligence. Ask for details of their registered office for service of any such proceedings.
From recollection if your claim is worth less than £5,000 you can bring a small claims track claim which can be dealt with quickly and relatively cheaply. Any County Court office will give you assistance here.
I don't know if anyone has tried this approach but unless a bike has been locked up a while and numerous warnings have been left attached to it, I fail to see how they can just remove it. Normally, costs cannot be awarded in these cases and it might well be that SWT would be uncomfortable going to the expense of arguing their view at court and might settle quickly. I hope this helps.
All the best.
I would seek these details in writing and ask them to explain what has happened to your bike.
If they are unable to return the property back to you intact (including the lock), then I would send them a a further letter giving a breakdown of your full losses as a result of their action and ask them to reimburse you in full within say 14 days failing which you'll commence proceedings in the County Court for interfering with your property and negligence. Ask for details of their registered office for service of any such proceedings.
From recollection if your claim is worth less than £5,000 you can bring a small claims track claim which can be dealt with quickly and relatively cheaply. Any County Court office will give you assistance here.
I don't know if anyone has tried this approach but unless a bike has been locked up a while and numerous warnings have been left attached to it, I fail to see how they can just remove it. Normally, costs cannot be awarded in these cases and it might well be that SWT would be uncomfortable going to the expense of arguing their view at court and might settle quickly. I hope this helps.
All the best.
-
gar
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
they are interfering with it regardless of their particular 'security' concerns. Are they relying on any Act or byelaw which allows them to do this?
The guard ON the train does have dictatorial powers if he cares to use them. Some guards who go insane, do use the powers, and there is little can be done against them.
The same would apply on any SWT property, whether chattel or real estate.
It can hardly be anybody else stealing from SWT property.....or can it?
The office might say, when confronted with the need for a written statement, that they cannot be held responsible for theft on their property.
A dishonest railway employee might make very good money stealing (removing) the bikes and selling them on.
BTP would need to be involved to be certain that
the thefts are by SWT and not by a corrupt employee of it.
If they were my bikes Dave, I would certainly pursue the matter to the utmost, especially re SWT cycle transport policy. Did you say that you have reported the thefts to the Police (BTP)?
Do they have an opinion of the identity
of the bicycles thief? Whether they know it to be done by SWT officially or by an enterprising employee, a written statement , or witness evidence, from BTP, would surely be very useful.
I shall make some enquiries as well
g
The guard ON the train does have dictatorial powers if he cares to use them. Some guards who go insane, do use the powers, and there is little can be done against them.
The same would apply on any SWT property, whether chattel or real estate.
It can hardly be anybody else stealing from SWT property.....or can it?
The office might say, when confronted with the need for a written statement, that they cannot be held responsible for theft on their property.
A dishonest railway employee might make very good money stealing (removing) the bikes and selling them on.
BTP would need to be involved to be certain that
the thefts are by SWT and not by a corrupt employee of it.
If they were my bikes Dave, I would certainly pursue the matter to the utmost, especially re SWT cycle transport policy. Did you say that you have reported the thefts to the Police (BTP)?
Do they have an opinion of the identity
of the bicycles thief? Whether they know it to be done by SWT officially or by an enterprising employee, a written statement , or witness evidence, from BTP, would surely be very useful.
I shall make some enquiries as well
g
-
gar
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/3725908.stm
Dave's story.
This concurs with the story at the other end where somebody was locking the bike shed empty overnight for himself, so that nobody else would have it unless he did NOT want it.
I would still say "corrupt employee" even after reading the bbc/Dave story above.
Dave's story.
This concurs with the story at the other end where somebody was locking the bike shed empty overnight for himself, so that nobody else would have it unless he did NOT want it.
I would still say "corrupt employee" even after reading the bbc/Dave story above.
-
gar
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
Mr Holiday says that instead of banning cyclists from peak times operators should simply charge them for bringing their bikes on the trains at busy times.
They do that....£15/wk!
They do that....£15/wk!
-
gar
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
The ban will come into force on 11 October.
What has happened since?
What has happened since?
-
gar
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
I wonder what johno would say about the corporate responsibility of SWT for the theft of bikes, whether by SWT or by a corrupt employee after reading the background to the
accusation on the bbc.co.uk link above?
To me the duty of care, for the customer's bikes is being ignored, and the theft, whoever has stolen them, is squarely the responsibility of the
Company.
g
I'll leave that for now.
accusation on the bbc.co.uk link above?
To me the duty of care, for the customer's bikes is being ignored, and the theft, whoever has stolen them, is squarely the responsibility of the
Company.
g
I'll leave that for now.
-
gar
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
Last word. I can see Dave's angle to it all.
It is entirely acceptable for SWT to expect their cutomers to carry collapsible bikes to allow economies on passenger space.Buy one at Argos £100, or pay £15/wk for the bike fare
That's all Nada mas niente Caput No finito!
Get a collapsible!
It is entirely acceptable for SWT to expect their cutomers to carry collapsible bikes to allow economies on passenger space.Buy one at Argos £100, or pay £15/wk for the bike fare
That's all Nada mas niente Caput No finito!
Get a collapsible!
-
Andy Tallis
Re:Bike Removal at Waterloo
I refuse to believe a decent bike can be had for £100. What if someone needs to ride 5 miles at either end of the journey? 20 miles a day on a wibbly-wobbly tacky folder! Perhaps the train bosses could try that.