A few years ago, I went out of my way to park my bike at the parking facility at Amstel.
I got back on the last train, around 1 am (long after the last trams and metros had left), secure in the knowledge that my bike would still be there… Which it was, but the parking had closed at 22.00!
So I ended up taking a taxi home, then returning by metro the next day to retrieve my bike.

(ps: Lovely to see glimpses of your Fr8! I’ve ordered one myself recently, can’t wait to get it!)

To give you some perspective, Amsterdam (in NL terms) was were London is today in the late 60's. With heaps and bounds (but political/public will and vision) we built what we have today (and still are). London is finally waking up and it will take lots more to actually get the ball rolling the right way. I know everybody wants it 'now', but the patience will be worth it. It does help to contribute to the ongoing debate, something we can take advantage of in these 'modern times' ;).

I updated the post yesterday with these details: [which include services such as toilets, bicycle repair service, lockers and nappy area for babies]

:-)

Its also worth point out that there is a repair shop in most of these facilities, so you can leave your bike there and they have it fixed by the time your back! It's great. You have the place staffed and you create employment. I'm a very big fan of these places, I even take some of Spanish friends -the cycling enthusiast- there when they come visiting ;)

Yes, I would and we already do in part. Next to the famous 3-stories bicycle garage at Central Station there's also guarded indoor parking, which costs 1.10 Euro for 24 hours and is always packed. It's an option that people gladly pay for. Thing is, costs for this kind of infrastructure is extremely marginal if you see how much the city saves on dealing with car congestion and environmental problems. And I'm not even including the financial health benefits.

It's really a no-brainer :).

There are a few explanations, one of them being the one you mentioned and another would be that a lot of people use beater bikes with big chain locks and feel secure enough about leaving them there, knowing that the public space (biz district) is monitored as well and/or that the parking is so out in the open with so many coming through, it's less of a risk.

California Dreaming has led to many beautiful things, I can't imagine it not getting pushed into the right direction, at one point or the other ;).

Can you explain why people wouldn't park their bicycle in the secure parking inside? I loved that and would always use it if I had a choice. Just curious if people think it takes too much time, or what the reasoning would be not to use it.