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Motorcycling News: General
London Motorcycle Parking Website a Capital Idea...
A website for London motorcyclists looks set to become one of the highest hit bikers sites in UK, having already received over 79000 hits since going on-line at the end of February. The site www.motorcycleparking.com provides bikers with all they need to know about the rules and regulations for parking in each of the 33 London boroughs, the location of all the free solo motorcycle parking bays, as well as acting as a one-stop-shop for all of a bikers' needs. After opening to acclaim from pro-biker groups and representatives from Transport for London, the site has become a focal point for questions and comments on the current lack of motorcycle parking provision in many areas of London, as well as acting as an information and advice centre for motorcycle parking. For further information contact the site's author, Will Beeley, by email info@motorcycleparking.com
Bikers immunity under threat
For years bikers have enjoyed relative anonymity in London which has enabled them to avoid being targeted by some of the 'easy-cash' seeking borough councils. However as the number of people taking to motorised two wheel transport has increased, so has the number of proposed ideas for gaining revenue from this untapped source. Some might say that the new targeting of bikers comes as a direct result of the council's need for income to replace that lost in parking fines given to car drivers who no longer venture into The City because of the Congestion Charge, and who thus, are unlikely to be parking illegally within the zone.
With Westminister Council seemingly taking the lead on targeting bikers: they have already trialed meters on a selection of the solo motorcycle bays (these were generally boycotted by bikers in favour of the free bays elsewhere - Westminster Council refusing to allow the results of this 'experiment' to be open to public scrutiny, probably for fear of embarrassment over the cost of installation of the meters and ground anchors versus the miserly income generated from the few who did park in these bays), and latterly, have ordered the ticketing of all motorcycle / scooters parked on drayman's doors and 'Pavement Lights' (small square blocks of clear glass embedded into ground to let light into basement rooms), the days of flexibility for the two wheel fanatics seem to be at an end.
Various councils have already adopted a carte blanche policy of charging bikers for parking in their Resident, Pay and Display and Shared-use bays, ignoring the cases put forward by pro-biker groups for leniency. Problems such as that of Pay and Display tickets on bikes being removed by other vehicle owners or blown off by the wind, and most often culminating in a parking fine, have been disregarded. Facts like: motorcycles are more economical and environmentally friendly than a car, cause less congestion and furthermore help to reduce the burden on the already overstretched public transport system have been sidelined. To add insult to injury, bikers' lives are made even more difficult by a clear lack of information on the rules for motorcycle parking which change from borough to borough, and furthermore, which are not advertised on-street.
In response to the latter problem, help is now at hand in the form of a new website www.motorcycleparking.com. The site gives a complete overview of the rules for motorcycle parking in each of the 33 borough councils, as well as identifying the location of the free solo motorcycle bays throughout Greater London. With over 79000 hits since going live at the end of February, the site looks set to become one of the most visited sites by bikers in the UK.
The site is also fast becoming the focal point for comments on the current lack of motorcycle parking provision in many areas of London, as well as acting as an information and advice centre for motorcycle parking. Many bikers point out that whilst they are being targeted for revenue, they feel they are being given second class status in many transport policies. Some bikers are also turning to stealth tactics to avoid being ticketed by covering up or removing their tax disc and vehicle registration plate (parking wardens are unable to issue a ticket without a Vehicle Registration Number (VRN)! Parking wardens are also unable to interfere with your vehicle other than to fix a ticket). Questions remain as to the legality of this 'rule-bending' as legislation points to vehicles requiring to display a valid tax disc and VRN. It also remains to be seen what would be the outcome of an appeal by a biker whose vehicle had been tampered with by a parking warden i.e. if the warden took it upon him/herself to remove the item covering the VRN.
One thing for sure is that whilst the number of bikers commuting into London continues to increase, the more council purse-holders will look at the opportunities for income generation from this source. One only hopes that if bikers are either charged for entering the Congestion Charging Zone (they currently do not have to pay the charge) or are charged for parking in the currently free Solo Motorcycle Parking bays, then this is matched with better facilities for bikers, such as many more bays in general, more bays equipped with secure parking (ground anchors to secure a motorcycle to so it cannot be stolen by being lifted into the back of a vehicle) and the opening of bus lanes to motorcyclists.
For further information on this article or on the website www.motorcycleparking.com contact the site and article author, Will Beeley, at info@motorcycleparking.com
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