Park It
MAG asks the Government to issue clear guidance for a proportionate approach to motorcycle parking charges.
Parking policy has increasingly shifted from meeting demand to managing demand. This is achieved by restricting supply and charging to influence consumer choices. The usual justification for managing demand is the promotion of the prescribed sustainable transport list of acceptable choices. Motorcycles, despite their unquestionable contribution to making the transport system truly sustainable, are swept into the punitive approach designed to restrain use of cars.
Motorcycle parking has traditionally been provided free of charge. Claims that difficulties with pay and display systems for motorcycles have been overcome with new tech and mobile phone apps entirely miss the underlying logic for providing free motorcycle parking.
The current push for purely emissions-based parking charges is questionable. Parked vehicles are not the ones producing the emissions.
A reasonable and balanced approach should cover far more factors than simply a vehicle’s environmental impact. A transport system needs to balance environmental, economic, and societal aspects of sustainability. Any parking policy must follow this basic premise rather than focusing purely on environmental impact.
A motorcycle is a light weight, economical and space-saving vehicle with the potential to help relieve congestion and thus emissions. Parking policy must reflect that and ensure, if anything, an over-supply of fit-for-purpose, secure, and free parking facilities for motorcyclists in order to increase uptake of the mode, especially in busy urban environments.
The increase in last-mile delivery on mopeds and scooters also highlights a significant area of concern that could easily be addressed by the Government. MAG calls for the Government and local authorities to allow motorcycles 15 minutes waiting time parked parallel to the kerb so as not to obstruct traffic, on all non-motorway roads, unless specifically prohibited by notice, regardless of other restrictions, e.g. double yellow lines. Such an allowance would benefit motorcycle users such as couriers, whose work supports the business world, as well as encouraging motorcycle usage generally, thereby reducing congestion and pollution.
Government intervention is required to redress the balance and provide leadership to ensure a proportionate and fair approach to motorcycle parking is delivered. This requires the government to Move on Motorcycling.
Park It- Campaign Progress
Motorcycle parking in Leeds to remain free of charge.
From Leeds and Bradford MAG Facebook:
Leeds City Council recently held statutory consultations to introduce parking fees to some of its car parks. One scheme was for car parks at Golden Acre Park, Middleton Park, Roundhay Park, Otley Chevin and Temple Newsam. The other was in district centres such as Horsforth, Garforth, Crossgates and Wetherby.
The consultations made no mention of motorcycles. When we contacted the consultation team for the first scheme they told us that motorcycles would be charged. We told them that this represented a major change that went against Leeds’ transport policies and that it would not be acceptable. Further responses suggested they had forgotten about motorcycles entirely.
Following a campaign by Leeds & Bradford MAG and the intervention of the Environment, Communities and Housing scrutiny board the final report agreed that charges for motorcycles would be unfair and that they would not be introduced.
The consultation received 12 objections on this particular point and we would like to thank everyone who got in touch. It shows that getting involved and making a fuss to the right people can make a difference.
Hackney Borough Council is facing a crowdfunded legal challenge to their motorcycle parking charges. Success could have national implications.
In a demonstration of strength of opinion and determination amongst motorcyclists in London, a legal challenge has been filed against Hackney Council. Hackney Council plans parking charges for residents’ motorcycles at the same level as cars. Motorcyclists commuting to work in Hackney will face charges up to £10 per day for parking.
The case will be heard on 23rd January. This places a deadline on the crowdfunding campaign. Donations have slowed. As of the end of October 24 the fund is at just short of 60% of the £20k target. If you can spare some cash SLM would be grateful of your support, and please do let all your riding mates know about the campaign. A successful outcome could have significant implications not just in Hackney, but in every council area where the urge to generate revenue from your bank account is unlikely to recede.
In Hounslow, MAG and SLM have now been invited to a formal meeting to discuss their motorcycle parking charge proposals. This meeting is scheduled for 21st November.
Victory: Bath Council backs down on emission-based motorcycle parking charges.
Bath Council backs down. Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council has withdrawn plans to introduce emission-based charges for motorcycle parking. B&NES Council said on 28th of October that amended emission-based parking charges will be introduced in January 2025. However, following a strong campaign, the Council has decided to back down on the motorcycle charges. A brief statement said: “Introducing emission-based charges for motorbikes has been withdrawn due to feedback received through the public consultation and technical challenges in providing them a lower parking charge.
Read more here
Watch the YouTube video here
What of private sector parking?
With the very real prospect of free motorcycle parking becoming increasingly rare it is time to consider the provision for motorcycle parking that is provided beyond Council run facilities. With little potential for commercial operators to compete with free facilities it is not surprising that privately owned car parks have little to offer for the motorcyclist. These are of course notable exceptions such as the fantastic facilities at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherds Bush.
Colin, MAG Director of Campaigns and Political Engagement has been reaching out to the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC), the two parking industry bodies in the UK. Helpfully the CEO of the IPC is himself a biker and he has invited Colin to speak at the IPC Conference in November. This will be a very useful opportunity to gauge the industry’s thinking and openness to providing competition to revenue hungry local authorities. While the private sector is unlikely to provide free motorcycle parking, they do have potential to prevent grossly disproportionate charges by councils. Private operators have no appetite for linking cost to anything other than floorspace, and must be viewing policy makers’ plans to reduce car use as a reason to consider diversifying their own revenue streams.
MAG continues to get motorcycling issues on the political agenda. All riders can get involved in helping to make that happen. Visit the ACT NOW page to see what you can do today to help us make the future of motorcycling better.
If you have never been a MAG member, have let your membership lapse, or are thinking you need to save some money by not renewing this year, we would love you to join, re-join or stay with us. If, like us, you are passionate about motorcycling, want to see motorcycling continue in the future, and want to preserve all that you love about it, we hope it will be an easy choice to make. MAG’s strength is in numbers. The riding community can demonstrate strength when it unites. If you want to say you played your part to defend motorcycling, please… join MAG today