Jon Senior said:Quoted message said:I have a bad habit of popping into show houses and apartments and
feigning interest until being told that the exposed, uncovered, shared
sheffield stands are the only bike parking.
Do you do this with genuine intent to move, or just to promote a cycle
storage market?
A little while back I attended a meeting that was considering a planning
application. Outline planning permission was sought for an estate of
about 30 houses, in a small village where all the access roads are so
narrow as to require passing places for bike-meets-car. I assumed that
the application was intended to pave the way for a less disproportionate
application, that could be seen as a definite improvement by the locals.
Several people stood up and made points: the sewerage system couldn't
cope; the land in question was vital to drainage and building on it
would cause flooding, and the standard nimby arguments about the view
from the village school, etc.
I stood up and made an argument about the road access, that I hope
provoked thought amongst everyone there. If the developer were to
come back with a more proportionate plan, they might be seen more
favourably if they take active measures to make the houses attractive
to non car users. Firstly, they should include professional grade
broadband internet in all the houses, to make them more attractive
to people working from home (and of course make it available to
others in the village). Secondly, they should consider sponsoring
alternative means of transport, such as maybe a regular shuttle bus
service to the nearest point with a good/regular bus service
(under two miles away), and secure bicycle parking at that point.
I think the fact that I'm known locally to practice what I preach
may have helped a little with credibility there.
--
Nick Kew
