On Yer Bike...
Mar. 8th, 2007 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ffuturesSomehow I've managed to avoid hearing anything about the City of Westminster's bold new motorbike initiative until now.
Motorbikes don't have to pay the inner London congestion charge, and historically most areas of London have had free parking spaces for them. Because of this there has been a big increase in the number of bike users inside the congestion charging zone, and lots of people have complained that there aren't enough bike parking spaces. Until recently the zone was almost entirely in the City of Westminster, but it just expanded into Kensington and Chelsea. So Westminster have decided that they're going to fix the problem - by charging £1.50 a day or £150 a year to park, starting some time in July. This will allegedly pay for more bays, and for some bays with enhanced /security, but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting.
Meanwhile most of the rest of the UK doesn't charge for motorbike parking at all; in the few places where charges do apply, they're only applied to secure parking bays, to pay for the extra facilities. Westminster are just going to charge everyone who uses their parking spaces, regardless of location or security.
This may sound like I'm whining, and will still get a pretty good deal compared to other motorists, but a LOT of people have tried to reduce congestion by going over to bikes; Westminster have so far responded by handing out tickets on VERY dubious grounds, closing spaces without warning and immediately ticketing all bikes (and I've seen this happen - fortunately I wasn't involved), using motorcycle bays that can accommodate ten bikes to hold builder's skips, where it would make much more sense to close a car parking space that takes a single car, and otherwise penalising bikers because they don't make enough money from them. This is the next step, and will undoubtedly be followed by price rises and other attempts to reap the maximum benefit from bikers.
Later: On reading Westminster's site, it appears that Westminster claim that they will expand and add more bays, security etc. first before introducing charging, and that while the starting date is still July, that's just when they plan to start on the expansion of bays. Given how crap they are at implementing this sort of scheme, that may mean it takes months or years to get things up and running. Especially if the London Assembly decides to take legal action or something... Fingers crossed anyway, it may not be as bad as I fear.
Motorbikes don't have to pay the inner London congestion charge, and historically most areas of London have had free parking spaces for them. Because of this there has been a big increase in the number of bike users inside the congestion charging zone, and lots of people have complained that there aren't enough bike parking spaces. Until recently the zone was almost entirely in the City of Westminster, but it just expanded into Kensington and Chelsea. So Westminster have decided that they're going to fix the problem - by charging £1.50 a day or £150 a year to park, starting some time in July. This will allegedly pay for more bays, and for some bays with enhanced /security, but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting.
Meanwhile most of the rest of the UK doesn't charge for motorbike parking at all; in the few places where charges do apply, they're only applied to secure parking bays, to pay for the extra facilities. Westminster are just going to charge everyone who uses their parking spaces, regardless of location or security.
This may sound like I'm whining, and will still get a pretty good deal compared to other motorists, but a LOT of people have tried to reduce congestion by going over to bikes; Westminster have so far responded by handing out tickets on VERY dubious grounds, closing spaces without warning and immediately ticketing all bikes (and I've seen this happen - fortunately I wasn't involved), using motorcycle bays that can accommodate ten bikes to hold builder's skips, where it would make much more sense to close a car parking space that takes a single car, and otherwise penalising bikers because they don't make enough money from them. This is the next step, and will undoubtedly be followed by price rises and other attempts to reap the maximum benefit from bikers.
Later: On reading Westminster's site, it appears that Westminster claim that they will expand and add more bays, security etc. first before introducing charging, and that while the starting date is still July, that's just when they plan to start on the expansion of bays. Given how crap they are at implementing this sort of scheme, that may mean it takes months or years to get things up and running. Especially if the London Assembly decides to take legal action or something... Fingers crossed anyway, it may not be as bad as I fear.
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no subject
Date: 2007-03-08 10:31 pm (UTC)And K&C kidnapps cars and holds them for ransom.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-09 07:59 am (UTC)Only I'd like to see the Council try and ticket a live beast -- I mean, how *would* you affix the penalty notice ? Without getting bitten or trampled ?
Not that (Perish the thought) I am suggesting that anyone deos an Albert Haddock and tries it.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-09 08:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-09 09:35 am (UTC)Of the many things I really detest the 'you need more because it's successful? OK, well lets start by charging for that inadequate service then shall we' approach is right near the top.
I know one of the big problems brought up with the first attempt was 'where do you safely stick a ticket on a bike?' Still, as I say, I suppose if they've already got a 'happening date' that's been circumnavigated this time round.
Occasionally I wonder if something will happen to make me believe in the way we're governed, well believe positive stuff anyway...
no subject
Date: 2007-03-09 12:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-09 12:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-09 12:28 pm (UTC)"The timeline for implementation of proposals has not been set; however charging will not be brought in until the other parts of the initiative have been completed."
So, given Westminster's crap performance in providing bike spaces in the first place, that may well mean a delay of years.