By BRIDGET COOK
CALLS for a bike cage at Merinda Park Railway Station have been put in motion to put the brakes on the problem of commuters’ bikes being stolen.
The City of Casey has agreed to write to the Minister for Transport Terry Mulder requesting a secure bike cage be installed at the station in Cranbourne North.
The council also resolved to liaise with the Victoria Police to request surveillance of the station to discourage anti-social behaviour.
Cranbourne North resident Henry Luiz raised the issue with the council after he had his $800 bike stolen from the station in March.
“I know of two others that I have spoken to at Merinda Park station that have also had their bike stolen,” he said.
“My bicycle was secured with a lock and chain, however I believe common bolt cutters were used to cut the chain.
“Besides the frustration, disgust and being financially out of pocket, it is difficult to comprehend people will do this.
“It may not lead to the recovery of my bicycle, but the installation of a bike cage would encourage myself and others to ride to the station.”
Mr Luiz said more people were using the station and more were riding their bikes.
“In the past year the unsecure area that is currently provided is always full and bicycle owners need to double up when locking their bikes to the concreted poles,” he said.
“Merinda Park station has now been improved with additional parking and, like hundreds of others, I use the train every day to travel to the city.
“Since the start of the year there has been a large increase in the number of people using the train.”
Mr Luiz said he believed the problem was bad as other stations have PSOs.
“There has also been an increase in young kids loitering in the station area,” he said.
“This may be due to other stations that have PSOs patrolling, which has resulted in this type of activity moving to smaller stations.
“It would be great if PSOs could extend their patrol onto the trains between stations, this would change their routine and a show of force is always a deterrent to this kind of behaviour.”
Minister for Transport Terry Mulder did not respond to the News’ enquiries by the time we went to print.
