Photomap

[Image taken 8.4.09] B&Q, Old Kent Road, London. [NOTE: No streetview at this location.] Context: #178866 (and links). This image shows how far the bike racks at B & Q are from the entrance to the store. Compare these with the situation in Cambridge: #178871. And - York provision installed in May 2022 - # They are 'beyond' the entrance. To cycle to them you would need to go through the car park - not a nice proposition. Plus there is no sign alerting people to their existence or pointing to them so I wonder how many people will see them. Further, if you are buying large or heavy items and you need a trolley, because the racks are so far from the entrance and the trolley park - you can't use those shown in the image, the ones to use are on the far side of the entrance - you have to leave your shopping and/or bags unattended at your bike while you return the trolley. I can't load up my bike while locked as I have to carry the locks in my pannier so I had to leave all items and my pannier on the ground next to my (locked) bike. By chance, I was here at a very quiet time so I had a clear view of my bike, pannier and purchases most of the time, however I did still worry I might have seen the last of them. When busy, this area will be crowded and there will be no line of sight. It is an impractical and, I feel, dangerous (because cyclists will need to walk such a distance and several times among moving vehicles in what is very limited space when the store is busy), place to locate the racks.