Motorbike parking in Hackney to be charged same as cars?

[ec1 eex]

I was just forwarded a message from a fellow biker, asking me to sign a petition against the introduction of punitve motorbike parking charges in Hackney. Couldn't find a mention of it here.

In autumn 2022 Hackney Council plan to bring in new parking charges for motorcycles and scooters, including;

all motorcycles and scooters, petrol and electric, to be charged the same prices as cars
residents permits up to £850 a year
business permits up to £1800 a year
solo motorcycle bays charged at up to £6 an hour
banning commuting with 4 hour maximum stay limits in most bays

Link to change.org petition

[FatboyKim]

Signed. But another excellent reason for parking nowhere without my trusty M&S carrier bag and two little bulldog clips for my number plate

[Tribal Chestnut]

Surely they’ll just remove the bag? And if you remove the plate a VIN is easy enough to record.

And if you manage to successfully hide all that I’m sure the s would happily have your bike lifted.

[okenemem]

Tribal Chestnut said:

Surely they’ll just remove the bag? And if you remove the plate a VIN is easy enough to record.

And if you manage to successfully hide all that I’m sure the s would happily have your bike lifted.

im sure they cant touch your bike

[ec1 eex]

okenemem said:

im sure they cant touch your bike

Why not? They can and do tow cars for parking infringements.

[GM182]

What an absurd idea from Hackney council. Have signed the petition.

I remember joining demos against Wesminster's bike charging when it was brought it as it was the thin end of the wedge. However, £1 per day doesn't seem that bad and there are resonably usable bays. I park in RBKC everyday and if they were to do the same as Hackney it would seriously affect the viability of me working in London as the train for my journey are slower and not reliable.

[FatboyKim]

ec1 eex said:

Why not? They can and do tow CARS for parking infringements.

Yeah, cars. I thought we were discussing bike parking?

Anyway, the covering your number plate thing to avoid a ticket is a bit of an urban legend. I've always done it if parking somewhere I'm not supposed to and never had any problem. I've never heard of or come across any bikers who have had any trouble with doing the same, of which I know a few.

[black-k1]

FatboyKim said:

ec1 eex said:

Why not? They can and do tow CARS for parking infringements.

Yeah, cars. I thought we were discussing bike parking?

Anyway, the covering your number plate thing to avoid a ticket is a bit of an urban legend. I've always done it if parking somewhere I'm not supposed to and never had any problem. I've never heard of or come across any bikers who have had any trouble with doing the same, of which I know a few.

I've not looked into this but as most parking is on the road and there is a legal requirement for vehicles on the road to both be registered and be appropiately taxed, inured etc. I'd think there is a (small) risk that parking enforcement call the police and you risk being done for perverting the course of justice by hiding the registration plate.

I certainly know of people who have been done for having flip up number plates but were not caught actually using them.

[ec1 eex]

black-k1 said:

I certainly know of people who have been done for having flip up number plates but were not caught actually using them.

Is that because when the plates were flipped up, they couldn't be traced?

[black-k1]

ec1 eex said:

black-k1 said:

I certainly know of people who have been done for having flip up number plates but were not caught actually using them.

Is that because when the plates were flipped up, they couldn't be traced?

I don't know but I believe it was the suggestion that they could obscure the number that was the issue, where a bag over the number plate makes obscuring it a reality, not a suggestion.

[RazerSauber]

So glad I don't live in London, and have a garage. Everything is so ludicrously expensive. I hope it gets overturned, otherwise it's more money that people can't afford for the privilege of having a vehicle.