Westminster parking... 4 months on.

Don't about where you work, but the bays are all half empty around Victoria. Used to be hard to find a place. I know it's not the time of year for some people but I reckon the charge has had an effect.

[Sid Squid]

Yes, it has.

Sadly I imagine the effect it's had is not positive, for example; those who bought a scoot 'cos it had a financial advantage have got back in the motor.

That said I don't think you can really estimate commuter bike use in winter.

[SoulKiss]

Well just got a form letter from the Shadow Transport Minister.....

Originally Posted by Shadow Transport Ministers Form Letter

Dear Sir/ Madam
Thank you for your e-mail about parking charges for motorcycle bays.
We are keen to promote motorcycling as a more environmentally sustainable transport choice than the car. Motorcycles are not liable to pay the £8 per day congestion charge in London and Boris Johnson has championed the availability of bus lanes for motor cycles.
One of the main reasons that no charge has previously been made for motorcycle parking was that no technical solution was available to address the fact that motorcycles do not have windscreens in which to display tickets. Now that this problem has been solved, it is only fair that motorcyclists should make some contribution to the cost of providing adequate parking capacity. Central Government is putting local councils under increasing financial pressure. The alternative may have been that no motorcycle spaces were available as councils sought to maximize their income from car spaces. In that situation motorcycles would have to park in car spaces and pay the full fee for a car.
Many of the motorcycles that park at Westminster are owned by people from outside the borough and, therefore, they have not contributed to the cost of providing this parking through the local council tax.
So long as the charges made for motorcycle parking are reasonable and the system is adequately and fairly policed then we do not have any objection to the democratically elected councillors in Westminster taking this line. If you are a resident of Westminster then you can make representations to your local Councillor or if not then please write to the Leader of the Council. We strongly believe that local councils should be able to make decisions of this sort and in turn they are answerable to their electorate.
Please be assured that there has been no central direction of this policy change in Westminster.
Yours faithfully
Robert Goodwill MP for Scarborough & Whitby
Shadow Transport Minister
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
Tel 020 7219 8268
Fax 020 7219 8108

I replied questioning the Technical Solution, asking what happens if I dont happen to own or have a Mobile Phone or Credit/Debit card......

[mr.anderson]

Indeed, but the people who do park in westminster work there. The companies they work for contribute far larger sums than the individual residents to council fees and services.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by mr.anderson

Indeed, but the people who do park in westminster work there. The companies they work for contribute far larger sums than the individual residents to council fees and services.

And generally, when I am parking there - although not working there, I am spending money in the shops there......

[mr.anderson]

Alright lads and lasses, who's going to be at Ace for 9.30 tomorrow morning?

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by mr.anderson

Alright lads and lasses, who's going to be at Ace for 9.30 tomorrow morning?

Well I dont want to be at the Ace tomorrow, but if I dont go to this, the largest and last oritest ride, well I cant then bitch about it in the future.

And as I like bitching about stuff I'll see you there.

Then the 2 black Kwaks can go represent SV650.org at the protest.......

hmmmmmm maybe some peoplr turning up with SV's would be better......

HINT

[rictus01]

Can't really help with the SV thing, but will try to attend none the less.

Cheers Mark.

[jambo]

God damn you David, this is a horrid time to be upon a Sunday.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by jambo

God damn you David, this is a horrid time to be upon a Sunday.

Tell me about it...........