Recent Events
Trials in London
As with many patented products, it is not easy to test them openly, particularly products like this one. The designs have to be completed and tested in private. This is exactly what happened with the Bykramp. However, once the product had a patent pending, it was possible to start making enquiries from both manufacturers and potential users. The support was quite astounding. From making the first enquiries of Network Rail in London within a month others were offering support and expressing interest, including Transport for London, Dept for Transport, Cycling England and Train Operating Companies.
Network Rail from Head of Station Design to Head of Station Development O & CS have been supportive, particularly Peter Allen, the Station Design Manager. Peter asked if First Capital Connect if they would be happy to run tests on the ramp. First Capital Connect were fully supportive, liked the product and agreed to use Finsbury Park, London as the test station. The Association of Train Operators is to call an all parties meeting for running the tests. In the meantime we are obtaining costs on manufacturing and live model prototypes. So watch the news for the next stage in the story of Bykramp ….
News Items
| First Capital Connect Supports Bykramp | ||
First Capital Connect are to allow its trial at Finsbury Park station, London. The Association of Train Operating Companies are to manage the process. | ||
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| TfL Centre for Cycling Excellence assessing Bykramp | ||
TfL Centre for Cycling Excellence assesses product as being worthy of further development. | ||
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| First Capital Connect Supports Bykramp | ||
First Capital Connect’s Larry Heyman (Integration and Partnership Manager) met at Harpenden. He was impressed with the ramp and thought Finsbury Park may be the ideal trials station for Bykramp. It was agreed that ATOC (The Association of Train Operating Companies) would manage this process. | ||
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| London Rail Supports Design | ||
“I believe the design is sound and may offer a solution to the issue of cycle access at rail stations. I also feel that there is potential in the design of the product to create something more "iconic" than your standard cycle runners.”. Pontus Lindberg – London Rail | ||
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| Mark Sheahan meets Bykramp | ||
A meeting with Mark Sheahan, the Resident British Library Intellectual Property Expert was held on the 26th July with Jeremy Caulton of Workshop. Mark was very supportive of the ramp and liked the idea. As an inventor of the international product Squeezeopen his positive advice was well received. | ||
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| Dept for Transport Comments on Bykramp | ||
“Traditional cycle ramps can be both difficult and quite expensive to install and clearly as part of our support for rail and cycle integration we would be keen to see a simple inexpensive solution….it would seem your cycle ramp is that sort of ramp…and if justified (ito trials) highlight it as part of the promotion of best practice to the Train Operating Companies.” Bob Richards, DfT Cycling Team | ||
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| TfL Support Bykramp | ||
After meeting with TfL and presenting the Bykramp prototype and rationale to Transport or London, Rose Ades, Head of Cycling Centre of Excellence, was happy to support the development of Bykramp, stating that she thought the ramp “a simple and practical way to integrate cycling into a busy environment, which CCE would like to see developed further". | ||
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| Network Rail Supports Bykramp | ||
Station Design Manager at Network Rail Peter Allen is happy to endorse the Bykramp to Train Operation Companies (ToCs). First Capital Connect prepared to trial ramp suggesting Harpenden station as the ideal test station. | ||
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| Bykramp Launched | ||
After nearly twelve months of design and experiment, the final designs for the Bykramp were lodged through Scott and York Intellectual Property for the patent and design registration. The Bykramp UK patent registered Application No 0709869.2 was granted on the 23 May 2007, and the Community Design Application No 000729850 on the 3 July 2007 to Jeremy Caulton of Workshop. | ||
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