Cycling UK Forum

Pain in the bottom. I use one of the lock ups at the local hospital where I work and the area is clear in the morning, but in spring and summer its rediculous. I went to get my bike today and found that I couldnt get my bag on the rack as another cyclist has wedged their bike onto the same sheffield stand. There really isnt the space for two bikes on every stand and bikes get tangled up (my friends bike got damaged last year when someone forced their bike into the same slot as his)

Outside the lock up (which holds about 60 stands) there are additional stands, and I have been told there are 1000 stands over all three of southampton's hospital sites. Yet you walk around the hospital and you will find creativity in cycle parking.

I even saw bikes clamped to a bin. You can unscrew the bin and drag the bikes away if you really wanted them and had a nice big van too.

I searched online, asked managers, etc and couldnt find any info on who to get in touch with to allay my concerns. I even contacted Spokes to no avail LOL. In the end I found an email for Human Resources and in the vain hope they might know I have sent them an email. My god why is this so hard to get sorted..?

We have a "green strategy" supposedly kicking off this year, and waaay too many cars for spaces (just as creative in their parking they park on the zebra crossings fwiw). If they can get people on bikes and organised in decent stands it might tidy the place up a bit.

Come to Portsmouth!

My bike has its own little house!

Pormoted by the "wellbeing team as a cycling initiative. It is part of one of the car parks and overlooked by offices and in a busy place!





It does cost me though!

I pay £1 per month for the privilege - which I find quite reasonable

............................or if you have some misplaced loyalty to Southampton

PM Me and I will let you have the details of our "people" - they may be able to offer help and experience as well as funding advice

Loyalty, hahaha!! Ironic.

I'll see how I get on. It was just a frustrating thing that I have to deal with day after day. Winter is usually fine, but summer is the worst. Last year (and I've probably said this a lot already ) some silly person managed to chain their front wheel to one part of the door frame, and the rear to the other side of the frame. So people couldnt get in and out of the lockup without climbing over it.

downfader wrote:Loyalty, hahaha!! Ironic.

With the "friendly" rivalry between the two cities it is always worth a dig!

If you need any help - let me know

As both myself and Mrs.Wildduck are employees at SGH, it sounds as though we need to get our heads together sometime. In the recent survey of staff facilities, I made the same comments about inadequate cycle parking, shower and changing facilities and the problem with the lack of a contraflow cycle lane on the south of the hospital site (to exit out to Coxford Road by the power plant). Whilst these comments were published (along with the comments about more car parking which made up the highest percentage - there's some lateral thinking needed here to some the car parking problem....), I do not see as yet an action plan.

As I said, I think we need to get our heads together. Do you know if the hospital bike users group is still in existence?

My advice - Find out the hospital's financial year. Find out who you need to speak to. Speak to them only if the end of financial year is a long way off.

Publically funded budgets are set in advance. If all works as planned there is usually some contingency (called by any name other than contingency). If is from this money that your impoved bike parking will need to be funded, unless they are forward looking and have already budgeted for it.

If you are late in the financial year the money is already spent. If you then start banging on demanding better facilities all you will do is get yourself moved down the list of what to do with next years money.

Good luck

Have been around the grounds and tallied up all the sheffield and T stands I could find. At 2.30pm I found atleast 2/3rds of the sheffield stands were double parked, so we are effectively over-subscribed by quite some number. I need to add up the tallies as I have it listed in areas.

Wildduck - there are 2 showers on B level center block near the lifts (physio end), you'd need to see security to get access if you dont already have it. They do often break down however and become quite grimey. My job is pretty mucky tbh so I dont bother with a full shower, just a wipe down , I tend to get sweaty from lugging heavy catering gear around all day anyway (not to mention the high temps and humidity)

I think there are also showers on site if you work in theatres. Though it has been a very long time since I have been in those facilities. Car parking has become as rediculous there too, I'm sure you're aware. I have heard little stories that these are local staff members parking when they should be walking/bussing etc - you're never sure how acurate they are though.

I've not heard of a hospital bike user group? I did try to find out - even the Spokes guy said he had not a single contact from the SGH. I will perservere though.

PBA wrote:My advice - Find out the hospital's financial year. Find out who you need to speak to. Speak to them only if the end of financial year is a long way off.

Publically funded budgets are set in advance. If all works as planned there is usually some contingency (called by any name other than contingency). If is from this money that your impoved bike parking will need to be funded, unless they are forward looking and have already budgeted for it.

If you are late in the financial year the money is already spent. If you then start banging on demanding better facilities all you will do is get yourself moved down the list of what to do with next years money.

Good luck

Sorry mate, missed this bit.

As far as I'm aware you are correct in the forward planning and contingency. I'm also 90% sure the Trust will argue the toss and do more for drivers. Our financial year has just started this month.

It sounds like this is likely to be a problem for quite some time. Keep up with the campaigning, and good luck with it - but maybe in the meantime you should get a folding bike, and park it in your locker?

rbrian wrote:It sounds like this is likely to be a problem for quite some time. Keep up with the campaigning, and good luck with it - but maybe in the meantime you should get a folding bike, and park it in your locker?

LOL!! If only. I love bromptons but my locker is 30x60x30 in size. I can barely get my uniform, helmet and casual clothes in.

Would have thought Facilities Dept would be worth a try.
Good luck.

Big emphasis now on encouraging healthy living practices amongst employees. May be interesting what mileage we can get out of this for cyclists.

As for showers, there is also some in the intensive care areas but only a few and usually end up as dumping grounds. As you are well aware from your description, these are few, difficult to access, often in a poor state of cleanliness and repair and poorly advertised. I stand by my original comment of poor and insufficient shower and changing facilities, especially considering SUHT's insistence of not cycling to/from work in inform (which I fully agree with but additionally my view is that NO clinical staff should be wearing uniform commuting to work by ANY means).

A cycle users group existed back when I was a student circa 94/5 but I have heard little since. I suspect it is defunct and needs resurrecting, particularly in light of the Trust's recent, and overdue, launch of the Cycle to Work scheme which is proving popular.

I'm not in work this week (on leave before I start my new role), but I suggest we pool our resources at some point in the near future rather than tackle this separtely. Please feel free to PM me anytime.

Better than Royal Bournemouth who are currently refusing to implement the Cycle to Work Scheme!

I'm amazed that the NHS, who any reasonable person would expect to promote healthy transport, appears so slow/obstructive to implement the Cycle to Work scheme. I was equally disappointed to note in the recent NHS report into being more environmental friendly, that whilst cycling for business was mentioned, their was nothing on employees commuting to work, nor recommending that all NHS trusts implement the cycle to work scheme.

NHS a flag carrier for healthy living? It doesn't appear to be the case when it comes to cycling.