Cycle stands or Bike Bunkers?

I am extremely uncomfortable about the proposed introduction of so-called 'bike hangers' on Islington streets.  I am aware that we are already 'trialling' these structures in some areas of the Borough, but it is not clear on what basis they are being 'trialled' or what criteria are being assessed, other than the users of the structures being happy with them.

Whilst I appreciate that many people who ride bicycles live in apartments or up flights of stairs where it is not possible to store a bicycle internally, I do not accept that Bike Hangers are the only option for cycle storage on the streets.

For many years local councils have been providing cycle stands on public highways for public use, as well as motorcycle stands for motorcycle use.  These stands are provided for free on a 'first come first served basis', as they should be, for two-wheeled space-saving vehicles, and they are provided on the highway. There has been a recent significant increase in the number of public cycle stands being provided on the highway.

Well-used Cycle Stands in Hackney

What I don't accept is that areas of the public highway should be enclosed for the exclusive use of individual members of the (cycling) public.  So-called cycle hangers are an unreasonable requisitioning of the public realm for individual use, are visually about as attractive as a prefabricated pigsty, I would have thought require planning permission as permanent structures, and also offer additional opportunities for crime by concealment and possible dumping.

A bike bunker taking up public highway space 

I strongly support cycling as a safe, environmentally friendly, and healthy means of transport, but I don't think there is any need for these pug-ugly structures, or justification for what I believe is illegally removing areas of public highway from public use, when a perfectly sensible solution exists which doesn't create either of these problems.