Our Cycling Champion waits in the queue

(Steve Marsden, First point reception, Howden House)












Steve: "I'd like to talk to someone about cycling please"
First Point Receptionist: "Sorry mate, there's 26 motorists in the queue before you!"

How Sheffield Turned it's Back on the Sheffield Stand

As the Sheffield City Council website proudly proclaims, "The first Sheffield Stands were designed and installed in Sheffield in 1986. This simple design has since been widely adopted across the globe. "














As it is symmetrical, the Sheffield stand makes it easy to lock your bike at both ends. It supports your bike as you load it with heavy shopping

However, the city that invented the Sheffield Stand has turned it's back on it. Instead, the Town Planners have insisted on installing a more stylish but less functional alternative:





(These examples are at Howden House, the council admin building in Sheffield)














The curved shape makes it more difficult to lock your bike securely, whilst there is no support for a laden bike at one end.

The council certainly didn't get Best Value out of these ones:


They are a bit too close to the wall to get two bikes on!