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A number of cycling campaigns, both north and south of the border, have previously run supermarket bicycle parking surveys, which have helped focus at least some supermarkets on improving their offering. It hasn’t happened recently, but should it be revived?
Why is this important?
Having good and safe bicycle parking can be a key factor in if cycle to different locations.
To determine the current state of bicycle parking at supermarkets.
To instil a sense of competition between supermarkets.
To instil a sense of competition between local authorities if done on a national or all-island basis.
To promote the idea of shopping by bicycle to people who cycle but may not shop by bicycle much or at all.
To promote the idea that bicycles are practical for wider everyday uses, not just commuting.
Constructive criticism is welcome
So, here are a few questions you might want to think about and respond to in the comments:
Is there a need for this?
Is bicycle parking more of a big town or city issue? Is it as much of an issue in smaller towns and villages?
What’s the best way to automate this process?
Just use a very simple survey or something a bit more complicated with developer involvement?
If a developer is involved, are there sources of funding to pay them?
Is there also funding to promote the survey to gain responses?
What-sized supermarkets should be included?
How do you capture the issue of supermarkets with no private land around them, such as in city centres?
Like many newspapers and media outlets running different surveys and opinion polls etc, IrishCycle.com is in a position to at least help to organise this. But there’s no point in proceeding on this if it’s just something I think would be a good idea — please comment below and answer as many of the above questions as you can, or just even to say you’d think it would be useful.
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