‘It just doesn’t feel like an intelligent solution’: Man turned away from lido after ban on fold-up bikes

A long term member of a swimming pool was shocked to be told he was not allowed to bring his fold-up bike into the premises last week due to a new ban.

Rob Flint, 58, of Barry Road, Peckham, was turned away from Brockwell Lido last Thursday after attaching his bike to the lido’s railing, as he usually does.

He said: “A kind member of staff told me that there had been an incident with a partially-sighted person tripping on a folded bike recently.

“Of course I don’t want someone to hurt themselves – I normally fix mine to the railing at the front so it can’t be tripped over – but a blanket exclusion for fold up bikes makes no sense.”

Mr Flint said unattended push-chairs or large bags could present themselves as equally dangerous tripping hazards and had not been banned.

He said: “It just doesn’t feel like an intelligent solution.”

Mr Flint has been encouraged to go visit the Lido in Dulwich Road- which is run by leisure company Fusion Lifestyle – regularly by his doctor, but said the ban has put him in a difficult position.

He said: “The lido car park is always overflowing with cars – my alternative is to take a 50 minute bus instead of my 20 minute cycle.”

But, Mr Flint said his complaint is not solely personal.

He said: “We live in a city that is trying to encourage cleaner modes of transport. 

“I just don’t think a leisure centre should be finding reasons to turn away cyclists.”

Mr Flint said he has not received a response from the Lido regarding the ban since he sent an email last Thursday.

He said: “It feels like it’s becoming a space where the user experience doesn’t matter. But the Lido should belong to London.”

Fusion Lifestyle has been approached for comment.

Pictured top: Rob Flint holds his Brompton bike and swimming bag to show the comparison in size (Picture: Rob Flint)