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Motorcyclists to be charged £1.50 a day to use parking bays
David Williams, Motoring Editor16.05.08
Hundreds of new motorcycle bays are to be installed in Westminster but riders will, for the first time, be charged for parking.
From the summer, motorcyclists will have to pay £1.50 a day to park at the roadside - less than four per cent of the amount payable by car drivers - but there will be no extra charge for switching bays once payment is made. The income will fund improvements.
Riders will have to use Westminster's pay-by-phone system, although a range of other permit options are proposed.
All the council's motorcycle bays will also become no-go zones for other vehicles-which currently are allowed to use them outside their hours of operation.
Other planned improvements include the installation of more security devices to combat motorcycle theft, with nearly 50 U-shaped "Sheffield stands" on trial.
The council is also planning to boost the number of motorcycle spaces in its car parks.
Danny Chalkley, Westminster's cabinet member for transport and economic development, said: "We have listened to the views of motorcyclists and responded by creating extra spaces for them to park. Along with new security stands, we believe this will make parking in Westminster easier and more convenient for the hundreds of motorcyclists who drive in every day."
Reader views (5)
1- motorcyclists never asked for being charged - The BMF is strongly opposed to the scheme
2- There is still a chronic lack of motorcycle bay in Westminster
3- Why not make bicycles pay while you're at it Mr councillor. They take as much space and councils are spending money to install security devices for them.
Blatant hypocrisy and stealth taxing is what this is about. Is is neither fair, nor right, nor welcome
- Ron, London
This is not a Tory idea. It's been in the pipeline for a long time. It's disappointing that they are going ahead with this for all parking bays. I can understand a charge for improved services but not on existing bays. It's just another stealth tax. They couldn't include bikes in the congestion charge so they're getting some money through parking.
As for Cassandra, is she serious? It's cars parking in motorcycle bays that is the problem here (didn't you read the article!) not the other way around.
- David, London
Why do motorcyclists think they should have free parking as a right?
- Philip, London, England
"We have listened to the views of motorcyclists and responded by creating extra spaces for them to park."
So in other words they are trying to tell us we asked to pay for this? Is he serious? Really?
Does this mean I can park my scooter in any motorcycle bay in Westminster and not come back to find £300 damage to the paintwork from someone trying to squeeze in then?
Any why not charge only for the new spaces or ones with the security devices?
Typical shifty Tory council, the new cons just want to tax us to death...
- Jason, London
About time too. Maybe they will start parking properly and car drivers can fit into their spaces as well.
- Cassandra, UK
