New cycle parking stands

Thanks to Barking & Dagenham council for the new (additional) Sheffield Stands in Ripple Road near the junction with Harrow Road. Useful for people using the local shops.

At Upney station, where space is restricted, they have installed a different kind of stand that fixes to the railings. I think it is called the "cyclehoop". I'm not sure that using these is any more secure than locking up to the railings, but they are an elegant design and proper stands encourage cycling by making cyclists feel welcome.

Poor service at Upney station

I went to Upney station at about 11.30 on a weekday (as I was passing) to get a couple of customer charter refunds put on my Oyster Card. There was one member of staff doing nothing in particular, so I thought if I stood by the ticket window he would come and serve me. There were no other customers. There was, though, another staff member in the ticket office, who, instead of serving me pointed out that the ticket office was closed, even coming out to show me the sign saying that it was closed, telling me that I could buy a ticket from the machine (though I had told him why I was there) and repeating several times that I could be served the next morning (no good to me).

This is very poor customer service - it would have been easier and quicker to serve me than to take all that time telling me that he couldn't.

I'm quite happy getting things from the internet or machines, but if that's not possible, and staff are available, why couldn't they help me?

Public spirited

The railings in the area around Upney Station have recently been replaced and very smart the new ones look, too.

However, at the steps to/from Lambourne Road, the council didn't take the opportunity to clear the large amount of litter in the green space next to the steps. The workers pushed the litter away to a line a couple of feet from the steps and there it stayed.

This morning, I saw one public spirited man with an orange bag (recycling) picking up some of the litter - presumably the recyclable bits. Good on him! If only there were more like that - or even better fewer oiks chucking their empty cans, bottles, etc on the floor wherever they feel like it.