Work is about to start on the long awaited environmentally friendly transport interchange at the front of Derby Railway Station, doubling cycle parking. In a few weeks the North car park will close to cars and the bike racks will be moved to the centre of the car park, along the back wall, but in sight of the main road. A temporary car park and drop-off point will be established in Wellington Street (behind the European Hotel) with the Contractors compound and site office. Post a comment here if you have any problems with the building works and we will get a response. Temporarily, taxis will occupy the station forecourt and buses move to Midland Road while work is carried out on the new taxi ranks and drop-off points in front of the Midland Hotel. This will be completed before work stops for 6 weeks to make way for crowds heading to the Olympics. Then, by end November 2012, the North car park will be reinstated, new bus island and double-deck cycle racks installed in front of the station.
Welcome to Derby – a cycle friendly City!
Some good news at last? Can you post up/ a link the actual plans/design and what the new double deck racks will look like?
Has any research been done to estimate the number of cyclists who would actually like to use cycle racks at the train station? Why cant they install some racks inside the station/on the actual platform 1 – so you have to wheel your bike through the ticket barrier (this would surely reduce thefts from the main public area). regards, Ruth.
Thank you for your comments, Ruth. I can show you a paper copy of the plans if you can make it to the next Derby Cycling Group committee meeting at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 3 April 2012. It is relatively easy to lower an upper rack to the floor, wheel a bike in and return the rack to the top level. There is plenty of metalwork to secure bikes but, as always, it is advisable to use robust lock/s on both wheels and frame.
A couple of years ago ATOC commissioned a national survey on modes of transport to railway stations (http://www.stationtravelplans.com/view-the-pilots?pilot_id=12) that indicated Derby railway station had marginally more bike users than the national benchmark – but far fewer than stations such as Leeds.
I totally agree with you about use of the North end of Platform 1, but fear development there will depend on future railway investment. The current scheme to improve sustainable transport to and from the station and enhance the forecourt appearance is an EU/City Council initiative limited to the outside of the station.
I think having cycle parking right outside the main entrance (rather than tucked away in a dark corner) says to anyone arriving in Derby – “This is a cycle friendly place.”