I thought that the plan by Network Rail to have lifts at AP station had been shelved because of lack of funds, along with so many other projects post-pandemic. However, from comments at yesterday's Transport Forum, it seems that funds had actually been allocated for this project!! The transport officers will ask Network Rail about when this project is going to be implemented (they didn't have a rep at the meeting).
Many people have observed that there's been an increase in Lime bikes left around on pavements and in the Park. Uber have been asked about this by transport officers, and said that the numbers of bike trips has increased by 50% during the dry summer! The bikes should not be left on pavements, and Uber aim to remove them within the hour - saying they have increased their staff by 50% to achieve this. Not sure they've got there yet ... These bikes are a major obstruction for the elderly, disabled and buggy-pushers.
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Good to hear this, Annabel. With the Friends we've followed on from Lynn Feathersone's campaign on this to chase NR and GTR, while getting on with permanent and temporary projects to make the station and bridge at least nicer to use. I've been away for a year, back now and picking things up, including refreshing the bridge with more durable projects, including the public footway and surface (made some headway with that previously through the council, more to do now). Haven't heard from NR or the council yet, but they always were a bit slow with keeping us in the loop. Which Transport Forum was this please?
Meanwhile, in work capacity (I'm now working at Campaign for Better Transport, so transport by day, station by night/weekend!) I was on a panel yesterday with Lime and Dott people, as it happens. The 'micromobility' situation is clearly a problematic one, yet also hopeful. Tricky when it's private companies making money from it, frankly, but to link the general issue with local and the station, there were good conversations about modifying station designs to incorporate more bays for what is a growth are. We're working with GTR on a project to revive the station frontage, as it happens, so would like to bring that in. Totally agree that it's a big problem all around the area, though, particularly when pavements are already as narrow as they are. Really unfair on blind and VI, wheelchair users and everyone.
Thanks for all these points, Michael! The Transport Forum was Haringey's - they say they're getting back to having them every 3 months or so (if I remember right), which is good.
Brilliant news that you are working at Campaign for Better Transport - just the kind of expertise that we need in this area! Good to hear that station designs may be modified to have bays for hired bikes (and scooters?) - if I've understood you right.
I read on Twitter (so might not be true!?) that Haringey had told Uber/Lime that their bikes are no longer allowed in the borough?
Ah, well the transport officers didn't know about that on Tuesday. They did say that the Council were considering having their own bike-hiring scheme.
I guess the 50% increase in use of Uber/Lime bikes over the summer may be a welcome indicator of changes in attitudes to cycling, even if the results are not always desirable ...
Ah actually I looked at the app and they have changed the areas you can stop the rides on them - it used to include up to Victoria Road in the north, but now it looks like it stops around Muswell Hill Broadway.
The problem with the Lime bikes is that they are left on pavements and therefore create problems to pedestrians, pushchairs etc. On Wednesday during an LTN brief, more in another post, Cllrs have been told that there's indeed a plan for a borough wide e- bike scheme , probably from next April -May
April-May of which decade!?!
They just need to do with Islington, Hackney etc have done and taken a single car space on basically each road where you can park them.
We were told April -May next year, but obviously I will hold my breath for this to happen to the timescale given considering how things progress in Haringey
Step-free access at Alexandra Palace station is such good news and will make a huge difference. Did you get any sense of when the works are likely to take place?
No, Network Rail hadn't sent a rep to the meeting, unfortunately, so the enquiry will just be passed on to them. I'm told that there are new lifts at Finsbury Park, so they are doing something on this front!
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