Oxford: Council forced to replace 'hideous' bike hangar

Bike hangars which were installed by Thames Valley Police in North Oxford in Cranham Street, Great Clarendon Street and Nelson Street were described by householders as “hideous” and “discriminatory”.

The hangars aim to allow cyclists to lock away their bikes securely and intend to reduce bike theft.

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The bike hangar has since been replaced (Image: Ed Halford)

However, since Oxfordshire County Council received complaints from householders in Jericho, it has been forced to replace one of the hangars on Cranham Street with a slightly smaller hangar containing four bicycles instead of six.

Penelope Tordoff, who lives on Cranham Street and who had a hangar directly outside her front door, said: “The fact they’ve had to remove it so soon just shows how unsuitable this position is.

“The fact they didn’t realise it was too wide to fit on the street as shown in the original plans is extraordinary.”

The bike hangar on Crantham Street before it was removed (Image: Ed Halford)

Ms Tordoff added: “Why not relocate the hangar to a position where the original hangar could be situated without inconvenience to residents?”

She previously told the Oxford Mail that the hangar “impeded access” to her house and would prevent her mother with mobility issues visiting.

A county council spokesman said the standard hangar was moved as it “might impact on vehicle flow when it is fully on the carriageway”.

He said the two other hangars had been relocated so they were fully on the carriageway in response to feedback about their width on the footway.

Liberal Democrat county council cabinet member for highways Andrew Gant said the council had “acted quickly to make this change in response to feedback”.

He said: “The hangars have been installed as part of a trial for up to three years and this is the first time that this type of secure bicycle parking has been trialled in Oxfordshire.

“The lines of communication are very much open for residents, councillors and users to let us know how things work out in practice.”

Mr Gant said there were “no plans to relocate any more of the hangars”.

Peter Carter described the hangars as discriminatory (Image: Ed Halford)

Wheelchair user Peter Carter, 70, previously told the Oxford Mail that the hangars were “problematic” as they weren’t wide enough for his wheelchair to get through.

He said: “If the pavement is blocked by a wheely bin, then I cannot get through.

“This is blatant discrimination against a disabled person.”

Alison Hill of the Cyclox group has welcomed the arrival of bike hangars in Oxford and said it will transform cycle parking in the city.

Her full column on the hangars can be found on the Oxford Mail website.