Two Tier Cycle Stands

I do not think these are a good idea other than for lightweight road bikes owned by tall riders. I notice that the website shows no photos of a rider actually placing a bike onto the top tier. They are a clear breach of manual handling regulation on both weight and reach criteria. Finally in wet weather the riders are going to have to lift the bike by the dirtiest and slipperiest parts.

Aren’t these like the ones they have at Didcot Station?

As long term cycle commuter from Grove to RCaH I think it is great that they looking to provide additional cycle storage but I agree with the comments of horfalli about these two-tier units. These look like those at Didcot Parkway and I would not like to use them having seen them being used. I think there is enough space around the RCaH to provide more suitable cycle racks. I think we should also encourage them to consult cyclist residents of RCaH including those currently working from home – I haven’t heard anything about it from them yet.

I have frequently used the 2 tier stands at Didcot Parkway. Whilst the bottom deck is pretty painless to sue as you might imagine, the top tier is not for the faint of heart! You need to above a certain height and physical strength to safely use it. It has been clearly designed and tested by some pretty fit people if this was signed off as being suitable for use by all. It isn’t.

As this type of design ages, it doesn’t rust but the does become noticeably harder to use, requiring a lot of strength to pull out the rack (especially when a bike is on it) and safely rotate to put on or take a bike off.

And as described elsewhere, attempting to mount and lift into place, a heavy electric bike above shoulder height will certainly be the preserve of very few.
I can see why this design would be used as a last resort in the absence of space, but it really should be that – a last resort.

I have used the 2 teir system at Didcot (and other stations). I am a short male with a relatively heavy bike and I normally use the upper teir (I reckon its more secure!). So not a problem, though I do agree that as they age, a bit of corrosion and wear makes them more difficult to use. If RCaH are planning to place them where their current stands are (at the back) I’m not sure if there’s sufficient width of path for the upper teir to pull down (but I haven’t checked).

I find that this type of stand is completely inadequate for securing a bike to. The bike is neither retained in an appropriate manner nor is the stand of any use for securing the bike to particularly with a D-lock.

Site has plenty of space to use Sheffield stands.

As a medium height woman, I’ve had trouble with the top tier of the Didcot station storage. I’ve managed to get my bike up there when it’s been fairly empty, but then been really stuck retrieving it later when taller bikes are parked either side and I can’t get the handlebars clear. I always use the bottom now. I would much prefer to see plenty of sheffield stands.

They’re not great if you have a bad back either.

Maybe it would better to remove the unused bikes hogging stands and remove ones that are ridden one way (to/from work) once a month. There are plenty of those around.

I agree with everyone else. If there is a significant lack of space, it’s useful but I struggle to weave/fit my bike into it on ground level. As someone both tall and (reasonably) fit, I can lift the bike up using the mechanism. But not without significant effort and patience.

I would rather get my heavy lifting exercising done through more ergonomic means.

Agree about the two-tier cycle stands. When cycling to the station, I would tend to park my bike a short walk from the station in order to avoid using them. There are various bits of street furniture on nearby patches of grass that will do for the purpose, and it may add time walking to the station but it is worth it in order not to have to use those cycle racks. An alternative I’ve sometimes adopted is to take my bike on the train, even if my final destination is within walking distance of the other station.

Also agree about unused bikes. Bikes for occasional use only should not be in the most heavily used racks. We should have a policy whereby abandoned bikes are tagged and removed entirely, and that racks in higher demand areas are labelled up as being for use on the day only (hopefully self-enforcing but with security having the authority to remove bikes if well signed instructions are blatantly ignored). If someone has a bike for the occasional lunchtime ride up on the Ridgeway or whatever, then I would very much hope that it can be accommodated *somewhere* on site, but maybe in one of the less sought-after locations.

Thank you to everyone that has replied. We’ll now be installing another ground level cycle shelter/rack behind the Research Complex and not a 2 tier one.