Cycling boost at Liverpool Street

Network Rail has teamed up with Transport for London (TfL) to encourage more commuters in the capital to get on their bikes.

The transport organisations have worked together to install two-tier, ‘double-decker’ parking for cyclists, thereby doubling the number of parking bays from 116 to 233 at Liverpool Street Station.

The new cycle racks are situated in easily-visible areas at the station with CCTV coverage for extra protection from bike theft.

Beating cycle thieves

The storing of bicycles in a space-saving, multi-tiered, arrangement is widespread on the continent and the now the same idea is being touted as a way of beating cycle thieves.

Industrial designer Dominic Hargreaves, has designed for a bike storage hoist for use outside Tube and rail stations.

The bike cradle can be fitted to any wall and is attached to a powered hoist which lowers to the ground by remote control. The front wheel of the bicycle is placed into a cradle and locked in position, and the hoist pulls the bike 2.5 metres up the wall – safely out of the reach of thieves and their bolt cutters.

Protect your bicycle from theft

Once you have bought a good lock it is vital to invest in cycle insurance, and it is worth shopping around.

A spokesperson for the ETA said: “Just as with any other type of insurance, it is vital that people shop around – many cyclists are paying over the odds for the extras that others include for free.”