[Albion] For those of you that arrived at The AMEX on a bicycle, yesterday...

[brighton_tom]

Isn't there also a plan to add some new bike racks near The Terrace/Station? Pretty sure someone posted on here regarding that after contacting supporter services.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

There appeared to be some bike racks in the bus/coach car park on saturday that i'd never noticed before, and were pretty empty when arriving at 2pm. Also right near the security/stewards station, so you'd imagine putting your bike there would be safe.

To be fair the club have mentioned this. But if you're coming from Brighton side, you've got to go right round the stadium, carry it up the steps, all the time going against the flow of people. It's not really a good enough solution

 

[BNthree]

There appeared to be some bike racks in the bus/coach car park on saturday that i'd never noticed before, and were pretty empty when arriving at 2pm. Also right near the security/stewards station, so you'd imagine putting your bike there would be safe.

This was mentioned in another cycling thread. They are usually near the ramp to the bridge over station but have been moved temporarily. Trouble is not many people that cycle are aware they're up there and not many cycling will come in that way.

 

[BNthree]

This is the second bike he has had stolen, the first from the railings near the bus stop at Falmer station. We will now no longer cycle to the games

Sorry to hear this. You'd assume this would be secure given there's usually police around the station/bus stop during matches.

 

[BNthree]

Isn't there also a plan to add some new bike racks near The Terrace/Station? Pretty sure someone posted on here regarding that after contacting supporter services.

yep, they are planning on doing those 2 their bike racks to increase capacity.

 

[LamieRobertson]

yep, they are planning on doing those 2 their bike racks to increase capacity.

Aldo doing 2 tier ones

 

[nickbrighton]

Sorry to hear this. You'd assume this would be secure given there's usually police around the station/bus stop during matches.

we asked the police as we thought they were there all match, but they aren't, just before and after-at least that was when the first was stolen, about 2 years ago. Its why we moved to the University bike racks!

 

[Weststander]

Very sorry to hear that. My son had his nearly new bike (a gift from me) stolen in the North Laine last year. I’ve always the feeling that these vermin plague society, they have no intention of working for things, I’d be happy with almost any punishment.

When I started cycling to games this was a concern for me, my hybrid was expensive. I went to town with two gold rated Liteloks and an almost as secure cable. I also park up near the new Fanzone because there must be working cctv aplenty and random club staff/coppers about. Someone would need a huge angle grinder and many minutes to have any chance, with next to no room to work in.

I noticed you can now buy hidden trackers, they get good reviews.

 

[Geoffbn2]

As per @ nickbrighton earlier post,
I had a second bike stolen whilst attending a game, The first one was a little over 2 years ago ( Liverpool match) and from the railings by the bus stop in front of Falmer station, we parked there due to police cars always being parked at the entrance to the bus stops during games and assumed it was quite safe. The second time this past Saturday was from the bike racks at Sussex uni sports centre, we were advised this was safer after the first theft.
On both occasions multiple locks were in use with mine and Nicks bikes parked next to each other with locks and cables going through each wheel and connecting to the frames at various points, On Saturday i had an expensive (Oxford brand) D lock, 1&1/2" cable, 2 1/2" combination cable locks and a 1/4" cable attached to both bikes but these were nothing for whatever the thief used, probably a small handheld angle grinder.
Yes i was insured and will get back some of the cost of the bike, last time i got a pay-out of £325 on a 8 year old £1200 Trek bike, so nowhere near enough to actually replace like for like.
The problem with parking your bike within the ground is then getting in and out safely, Unless you want to arrive very early or leave late your effectively fighting for space to move with thousands of pedestrians, the bike racks at the top car park would mean going through the university or using the shared cycle pedestrian path along side the eastbound carriageway, In my opinion the club although wanting to promote sustainable travel have done nothing (other than provide racks) to encourage cyclist, There should be a cycle lane up from the bridge car park, the path is wide enough! there should be CCTV with clear signage stating the area is covered and monitored. I do not want to risk myself or the countless zombies who walk around with no idea of what's going on around them as they are glued to their phone or just don't have the spatial awareness of their surroundings.

 

[portlock seagull]

Never ever buy a new bike unless you’re never going to leave it within line of sight nearby and locked up. Learned that years ago after multiple thefts.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

As per @ nickbrighton earlier post,
I had a second bike stolen whilst attending a game, The first one was a little over 2 years ago ( Liverpool match) and from the railings by the bus stop in front of Falmer station, we parked there due to police cars always being parked at the entrance to the bus stops during games and assumed it was quite safe. The second time this past Saturday was from the bike racks at Sussex uni sports centre, we were advised this was safer after the first theft.
On both occasions multiple locks were in use with mine and Nicks bikes parked next to each other with locks and cables going through each wheel and connecting to the frames at various points, On Saturday i had an expensive (Oxford brand) D lock, 1&1/2" cable, 2 1/2" combination cable locks and a 1/4" cable attached to both bikes but these were nothing for whatever the thief used, probably a small handheld angle grinder.
Yes i was insured and will get back some of the cost of the bike, last time i got a pay-out of £325 on a 8 year old £1200 Trek bike, so nowhere near enough to actually replace like for like.
The problem with parking your bike within the ground is then getting in and out safely, Unless you want to arrive very early or leave late your effectively fighting for space to move with thousands of pedestrians, the bike racks at the top car park would mean going through the university or using the shared cycle pedestrian path along side the eastbound carriageway, In my opinion the club although wanting to promote sustainable travel have done nothing (other than provide racks) to encourage cyclist, There should be a cycle lane up from the bridge car park, the path is wide enough! there should be CCTV with clear signage stating the area is covered and monitored. I do not want to risk myself or the countless zombies who walk around with no idea of what's going on around them as they are glued to their phone or just don't have the spatial awareness of their surroundings.

I always arrive an hour before kick off to make sure I get a space in the crowded racks, which is the safest place to my mind.

I don’t leave early, and it’s always quite tough getting through the crowds until I am beyond the station, and I don’t get on my bike until I am back at the bridge.

Have you told the club about your experiences, and given them your excellent suggestions? A bike lane would be a game changer, and it would be good to know what their plans for CCTV and security at the new bike racks are likely to be.

Cycling to the match saves so much time and stress. Nothing like enough has been done by the club to encourage more people to do it. Hopefully this is going to change, but nothing has been communicated by the club. A pity.

 

[Weststander]

As per @ nickbrighton earlier post,
I had a second bike stolen whilst attending a game, The first one was a little over 2 years ago ( Liverpool match) and from the railings by the bus stop in front of Falmer station, we parked there due to police cars always being parked at the entrance to the bus stops during games and assumed it was quite safe. The second time this past Saturday was from the bike racks at Sussex uni sports centre, we were advised this was safer after the first theft.
On both occasions multiple locks were in use with mine and Nicks bikes parked next to each other with locks and cables going through each wheel and connecting to the frames at various points, On Saturday i had an expensive (Oxford brand) D lock, 1&1/2" cable, 2 1/2" combination cable locks and a 1/4" cable attached to both bikes but these were nothing for whatever the thief used, probably a small handheld angle grinder.
Yes i was insured and will get back some of the cost of the bike, last time i got a pay-out of £325 on a 8 year old £1200 Trek bike, so nowhere near enough to actually replace like for like.
The problem with parking your bike within the ground is then getting in and out safely, Unless you want to arrive very early or leave late your effectively fighting for space to move with thousands of pedestrians, the bike racks at the top car park would mean going through the university or using the shared cycle pedestrian path along side the eastbound carriageway, In my opinion the club although wanting to promote sustainable travel have done nothing (other than provide racks) to encourage cyclist, There should be a cycle lane up from the bridge car park, the path is wide enough! there should be CCTV with clear signage stating the area is covered and monitored. I do not want to risk myself or the countless zombies who walk around with no idea of what's going on around them as they are glued to their phone or just don't have the spatial awareness of their surroundings.

I agree, low fenced off. It’d only need to be a bike wide, as everyone’s going in the same direction. The fence because otherwise it’d be completely swamped by meandering pedestrians.

 

[Geoffbn2]

I always arrive an hour before kick off to make sure I get a space in the crowded racks, which is the safest place to my mind.

I don’t leave early, and it’s always quite tough getting through the crowds until I am beyond the station, and I don’t get on my bike until I am back at the bridge.

Have you told the club about your experiences, and given them your excellent suggestions? A bike lane would be a game changer, and it would be good to know what their plans for CCTV and security at the new bike racks are likely to be.

Cycling to the match saves so much time and stress. Nothing like enough has been done by the club to encourage more people to do it. Hopefully this is going to change, but nothing has been communicated by the club. A pity.

I will maybe consider sending an e-mail to PB with some thoughts and suggestions on encouraging cycling but i think for myself the days of cycling to the ground are over.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Sadly CCTV isn’t a deterrent to these vermin these days as they can be done in 30 seconds with a handheld angle grinder

 

[Geoffbn2]

Never ever buy a new bike unless you’re never going to leave it within line of sight nearby and locked up. Learned that years ago after multiple thefts.

The other sad fact of life is you attach what you hope is enough locks and sturdy ones at that, so that they move past you to go find easier prey.

 

[HydroJLW]

Mr nickbrighton had his bike stolen from the bike racks by the Uni Sports centre, and beryl bikes station during the game on Saturday. They cut through THREE steel cables to do it, and got away with his electric bike, two crash hats , weather jacket and three locks, they for some reason also took my bell,tool kit, and rear light although left my bike which was locked to his, and so was not secured after they cut through the locks. (not sure what that says about my bike!)
We thought that the bike racks were covered by CCTV from the sports centre but on enquiring with campus security the cameras only cover the car park and approaches, so if you leave your bike there be awareits not covered by CCTV

This is the second bike he has had stolen, the first from the railings near the bus stop at Falmer station. We will now no longer cycle to the games

Very sorry to hear this! - I returned to my bike after Saturday's match to find that my saddle cover and phone/tool case had been stolen. I left my bike locked up at the racks at Sussex Uni, and thankfully the bike itself was still there, but it is still so frustrating to experience theft and really soured what was otherwise a very enjoyable afternoon.

I noticed that there were cut-up locks on the floor in the same location where I left my bike, so I felt very angry on behalf of the person who had clearly had their bike stolen.

I have emailed the uni to ask if they can put some CCTV in and I had already emailed the club to encourage them to add more safe and useable cycle parking before this happened (the current rear-wheel racks are so bad!)

I would encourage everyone to do the same, as if there's enough demand then I should think they will act. With the huge sums of money the players earn and the increase in season ticket prices, it doesn't seem like much to ask for a safe place to lock up your bike and be able to enjoy the matches without worrying whether it will still be there when you return to it after the final whistle.

The facilities offered for cyclists by the Albion are so poor that I started leaving my bike over at the uni, but I am not going to do this again.

I have attached photos of the locks that had been cut at the uni:

 

[portlock seagull]

The other sad fact of life is you attach what you hope is enough locks and sturdy ones at that, so that they move past you to go find easier prey.

Indeed. I got to the point the strength and number of locks I was carry a) weighed a ton b) took me ages to do I missed trains! I gave up in end and took car instead or got a lift. Crime eh? Literally adds to climate change!

 

[Weststander]

If we still had adequate numbers of police, there might be capacity for a couple of plain clothes coppers to keep an eye out at the uni for these scummers at our next home game. These w@nkers will not be criminal masterminds.

 

[B-right-on]

To be fair the club have mentioned this. But if you're coming from Brighton side, you've got to go right round the stadium, carry it up the steps, all the time going against the flow of people. It's not really a good enough solution

As you come past the train station to the stadium, bear right and go up the ramp that the oppo team coaches come down. Not many pedestrians and no steps up to the car and coach park. I always walk that way to the motorbike parking there, avoids the crowds and idjits.

 

[nickbrighton]

New cycle racks being installed today