Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi all

I'm a brand new member here and look forward to some interesting discussions!

One thing that I've become involved with is London (UK)'s battle against parking fees - namely in the borough of Westminster.

It's been just over a year now since the council introduced a charge for us to park in motorcycle bays, and it's certainly been a controversial year. The committee against this charge is trying to raise 50,000 GBP in legal fees to front a legal challenge against the council.

What do people thing about this charge - should bikers be made to pay for parking, like cars? The council has made some ridiculous statements, including one member saying motorcycles were more polluting than hummers.

It'd be interesting to see what people think of this - and are there any protesters using this site?

Matt

In the US - or at least in the NY/NJ Metro area - I can't even park in most parking garages.

They put those knock-you-off your bike gate hazards that 'automagically' open and close when you come in and leave - that say 'Danger - not for use on motorcycles'.

Sometimes I use the garages anyway (or I used to when I worked in the Bronx) - but still had to pay full price.

Little or no accommodation as far as I can tell.

On the good part - I haven't needed to use a garage in a long time since I work up in Yonkers instead of the Bronx - and my bike is low-demand (when people can recognize it) and I don't think people are too interested in stealing it.

Fight the good fight, though. They should recognize that you use less fuel and take less space on the road when you ride to work - and reward responsible behavior.

RhadamYgg

I wouldn't mind paying a parking fee, if it was appropiate to the vehicle. About 3 or 4 bikes fit in the space of one car, so make the fee fit the space given...

Thanks for your feedback guys.

To be honest I don't mind at all paying for parking, it's the conditions and way we're being treated that gets me.

The whole way through they treat us like we don't exist, yet we're part of the people who put them there in the first place.

And I forgot to mention - they introduced it as a revenue neutral scheme - money made would be put back into more, and secure, motorcycle parking.

I'm not sure on the figure, but they've made millions and millions of pounds, and spent only a few hundred thousand. Not very neutral eh!

Matt

motorcycledirectory wrote:I'm not sure on the figure, but they've made millions and millions of pounds, and spent only a few hundred thousand. Not very neutral eh! Matt

There must be a whole lot of bikers paying for parking, or the fees must be through the roof for the revenue to be so high. If the revenue is only 2M then that's about 550 bikes paying £10 a day, just what are the rates???

motorcycledirectory wrote:I'm not sure on the figure, but they've made millions and millions of pounds, and spent only a few hundred thousand. Not very neutral eh! Matt

There must be a whole lot of bikers paying for parking, or the fees must be through the roof for the revenue to be so high. If the revenue is only 2M then that's about 550 bikes paying £10 a day, just what are the rates???

Toronto allows motorcycles to park for free in downtown metered parking. The law also stipulates that the motorcycle may not be parked at more than a 60 degree angle to the curb. Free parking does not apply to parking lots.

Most likely they don't want motorcycles in there. But if a motorcycle plans to use an entire space as a car, then they should pay the same. If they mad a single car space for two or three bikes, then the fee should be cut in half or thirds. Bottom line, we shouldn't be allowed a free pass because we use less space. We are entitled to a full space.