Hassle alert - proposed new Westminster bike parking charges
Discussion
Just had an email about changes to the Westminster parking rules.
In the name of incentivising lower polluting cars they have deleted the 10-minute maximum charge for EVs in bays - go figure as it's a massive disincentive to using an EV in London.
However the reason for this post is, that tucked away in the small print there is a really nasty one re motorcycle parking. It's currently £1 PER DAY in all motorcycle bays - the proposal indicates that it will henceforth be anything from £2 to £6 PER HOUR, varying by zone.
Either they aren't aware of their own rules, or they are referring to parking bikes in car-sized spaces (which virtually no-one ever does). Not a good look, but then the lunatics have recently taken over the asylum in respect of the Westminster borough. Just sayin'.
In the name of incentivising lower polluting cars they have deleted the 10-minute maximum charge for EVs in bays - go figure as it's a massive disincentive to using an EV in London.
However the reason for this post is, that tucked away in the small print there is a really nasty one re motorcycle parking. It's currently £1 PER DAY in all motorcycle bays - the proposal indicates that it will henceforth be anything from £2 to £6 PER HOUR, varying by zone.
Either they aren't aware of their own rules, or they are referring to parking bikes in car-sized spaces (which virtually no-one ever does). Not a good look, but then the lunatics have recently taken over the asylum in respect of the Westminster borough. Just sayin'.
I have emailed the British Motorcyclists Federation about this. There was a massive bust-up with Westminster in 2008 / 2010 about charging for motorcycle bay parking - details are on Wikipedia. - the support group was led by one Warren Djanogly. Someone will hopefully pick up the baton with Westminster but doncha just love the way they have introduced the new charges just before the Easter break to minimise the fuss and media exposure.
Edited by runnerbean 14 on Thursday 28th March 13:33
The BMF have kindly let me know that the new Westminster charges do indeed only apply to motorcycles parked in car bays. Who on earth does that when there are motorcycle bays throughout the borough, that are not time-limited up to 24 hours and cost only £1?
If I worked at Westminster Council, I would be embarrassed to have promulgated such a misleading document - but they won't be . .
If I worked at Westminster Council, I would be embarrassed to have promulgated such a misleading document - but they won't be . .
Ken_Code said:
If you’re not there for work, so arrive in the middle of the day then sometimes there are no bike bays available but you still need to park somewhere.
Good point, there definitely aren't enough motorcycle bays in Westminster. Although that's a side issue it's very relevant and, to be fair, it predates the current less than competent administration. You would have thought they would encourage travel by motorcycle, being less congesting and less polluting, but hey ho - I reckon they dislike people being independent of TFL's bus, train and tube networks. On those they can track your whereabouts . . . .Personally I try to move scooters around in the bays, as often they are badly (selfishly) parked. But failing that, sometimes one can find little corners of private land e.g. between the pavement and a building where one can't legally be given a Local Authority ticket.
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