A bike graveyard that could be part of Putney’s traffic solution remains untouched five days after Wandsworth Council’s deadline to clear it.
The oversized racks on Disraeli Road serve roughly five actual commuters while occupying road space that could ease congestion. The Transport Committee meets next month to discuss Putney traffic, but the council cannot execute even basic removal of 12 abandoned bike parts it tagged on 14 January with a 21 January deadline.
Four inspections since the deadline passed found the same rusted chassis, single wheels and stripped frames. One bike has pizza crust inserted into its spokes, slowly going mouldy. Two others are completely rusted out. Six additional abandoned bikes were never tagged at all.
The racks serve minimal legitimate demand but create maximum problems. Without them, Disraeli Road could accommodate safer cycling routes and improved traffic flow for the road that’s often 20 cars deep trying to turn onto Putney High Street.
The junction opportunity
Council transport officers suggested using Disraeli with Werter Road to ease congestion when Putney.news walked Putney Bridge Junction with them in December. But reconfiguration requires removing infrastructure that barely functions.
The 64-space racks hold 14-15 functional bikes. A side business operator stores four whilst selling them online. That leaves approximately five actual commuters.
The rest: 12 tagged abandoned items (six wheels without bikes, six chassis without wheels), six more abandoned bikes never tagged, and 30-plus completely empty spaces. Roughly 80% of the racks serve no legitimate transport purpose.
Meanwhile, Cllr John Locker disclosed the racks create safety hazards for cyclists using the contraflow route. When cars queue at the junction, cyclists cannot navigate safely because the racks block exit space. Officers promised to fix it but haven’t scheduled the work.
The pattern
The tags appeared only after Putney.news investigation found rust patterns suggesting months of neglect. Local councillors pressured the council. Tags appeared three days later with a seven-day deadline.
Then nothing. The 21 January deadline passed with zero action. The tagged items remain whilst the junction opportunity slips away.
The deadline failure matters because the traffic solution is sitting there, blocked by abandoned bike parts.
The February Transport Committee meeting could drive junction improvements. Council officers already identified this junction as part of the congestion solution. The space exists. The need exists.
But execution doesn’t. Five days past deadline, roughly five commuters navigate around rusted chassis whilst cars queue 20 deep and cyclists face safety hazards. The council tagged problems but cannot remove them.
The pizza crust keeps decomposing, the rust keeps spreading, and Putney’s traffic keeps crawling.
As a cyclist I would never this bizarre parking facility. There is usually a space at the library adjacent. Sheffield locks, similar to the ones by the library are a better solution.