The first thing about cycling in November is to carry a thick carrier bag under your saddle. (To cover the seat when you leave your bike in a day of drizzle). The second thing is to work out where those overhanging buildings and alcoves are, in places where there are still plenty of people around for security. If you can find such a prized location, you can park up and not have to battle the elements quite so much when you get your locks and kit organised in order to leave your bike and get on with stuff.
There’s plenty of free parking around if you want it in Sheffield, sometimes well constructed Sheffield stands, sometimes a railing without a ‘don’t park your bike’ notice, sometimes a lamppost narrow enough to handle your lock and frame shape.
Because cycling is a virtuous, good for everyone kind of thing, there’s a school of thought that says all cycle parking should be free. If you’re happy with the above approach, why not? We all know that cycling is good for the economy, so let’s all keep asking the council for more decent Sheffield stands where we need them.
But, as you all know by now, we believe there’s more to be done to increase cycling for all Sheffield communities, and we also want to provide more and more high security, safe parking wherever we can.
People with cargo bikes, e-bikes, and costly trikes tend to want that kind of thing rather than a rainy railing. So, because some people need (or prefer) covered, access controlled, high security parking (with CCTV coverage and a secure door to prevent damage, theft and intimidation by miscreants), be in no doubt that we will keep pushing for it in as many locations as possible.
All that stuff costs money to install and maintain, so that kind of parking can never be free: but in our hands, we will ensure it can be very affordable. And that’s our ethos for parking your bike in your city: a choice, to suit everyone, and encourage more Sheffielders to cycle.