Station threatens to impound bikes

Many who left their bikes chained to railings at the front of the station returned to find notices threatening to impound them and charge for their return.

The laminated notices warned: "Details have been taken of your bike. It will be removed and impounded if found in this location again.

"A charge of £10 will be made for retrieval."

A spokesman for South Central said the bikes were unsightly and presented a safety hazard.

He said: "The numbers have become so great the Railway Inspectorate's security division has decided to take action.

"There is a parking area at the rear of the former platform nine for cyclists to use."

Rod Smith, of Sydney Street Cycles in Brighton, said the scheme was crazy.

He said: "I thought the policy was to make this a green city and get more people using bikes and public transport.

"It seems to me the rail company and the council should get together and sort out more ways to help cyclists and not hinder them.

"You would think a big company like South Central would want to look after its customers and do everything it can to encourage them to come back."

John Clinton, of Brighton and Hove cycling campaign group Bricycles, said cycling commuters needed more convenient parking arrangements.

He said: "If people are chaining their bikes there, it suggests that is where they want to leave them.

"The rail company should be looking at providing bicycle stands at the front of the station.

"You see these stands all over the continent so why can't we have the same?"

The area provided for bicycle parking was often congested with bikes and motorcycles.

He said: "We would also like to see more secure cycle storage lockers. Some people have very expensive machines and they should be able to leave them securely."

A further problem, was cyclists could no longer take their bikes on the train with them.

Cyclists can only use off-peak trains and new-style stock may only have room for two bikes in the lobby area.