Free parking support

London’s Westminster City Council claims MCN readers support plans to scrap free bike parking.

The plans, first reported in the December 19, 2006 issue of MCN, will see all free bike parking bays in the centre of the capital converted to charged parking bays.

The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) has said it fears the move could begin a chain reaction of similar measures across the country as other councils look to London as a model.

Alastair Gilchrist, Director of Parking for Westminster City Council, said last week the money would pay for much needed improvements to bike parking facilities, including extra spaces to cope with increased demand and measures to prevent cars using bike bays. He said: “We’ll be funding the provision of extra bays, extra security and formal arrangements to stop car drivers abusing these bays.”

Gilchrist claimed existing legislation didn’t allow parking attendants to ticket car in bike bays and that a “traffic management order” was required costing £80,000.

He also added improvements would be made before charging began.

Gilchrist rejected charging only for extra spaces and keeping existing bays free and said charging car drivers more would not be “fair and equitable”.

He added: “We don’t want to discourage car drivers from entering the city.”

Gilchrist admitted Westminster council made less money from car parking due to the congestion charge but said that “certainly for the next couple of years “ bike charges would only pay for improved bike parking.

And the Director of Parking claimed motorcyclists had said they would not be discouraged by new charges.

He said: “We’ve done quite a large survey and polled quite a lot of your readers and we believe that the majority want this.”

Gilchrist added: “We took from our research that people wanted extra bays and we’re willing to pay for them.”

He said there was “no evidence” other councils would copy the measures as London’s problems were unique but admitted: “I can’t be sure.”

The level of the charge has not been set but Gilchrist suggested £1.

MCN offered to find motorcyclists who don’t support the measures.

If you are one, let Westminster Council know at www.westminster.gov.uk