Westminster Council in London has introduced bike parking charges for two wheeled vehicles. “So what?” I hear you say, “I ride on a sunday morning in the New Forest, why should I care?”
Here’s why...
In case you live in a different world to the rest of us, or are particularly blinkered, it is obvious the activity we all love is under threat from many directions. Local councils, national governments, the EU and others are continually bringing in new laws and regulations to restrict our freedom to enjoy bikes and riding.
Think about it, emissions laws that have outlawed many models, noise restrictions both on and off track, ever more complicated and expensive testing procedures, speed cameras and ever reducing limits, the list goes on.
We have had the threat of bikes being tagged to limit performance, compulsory kit, even suggestions in high places that motorcycles be banned completely to try and meet road traffic injury targets.
Many of these measures are justified on the grounds of Health and Safety and the environment, controversial and difficult areas to argue against... In a democracy, we have a choice of what to do when new legislation is threatened, put up with it or use any legal means to register a protest.
Governments and councils often use devious methods to pass legislation they know may be unpopular, such us making sure it’s voted through at times when the opposition is short on numbers or overshadowed by another event.
Unfortunately, motorcycling is a minority activity whichever way you look at it and therefore protesters need to be particularly crafty. We are fortunate to have motorcycling organisations such as the BMF and MAG who are well connected and know their way round democratic processes. However, even their powers are limited and only effective if a large proportion of motorcyclists actively support them.
So, back to the original question, “what do parking charges in Westminster have to do with me?” OK you’re a local council trying to balance the books, you’ve lost your taxpayers’ money in Iceland and ahead is the threat of an economic crisis that will further reduce your income.
What you do is look for a nice soft target and easy money. Aha...bikes, there are loads of them now the bus lanes are open and no one can afford petrol or the congestion charge. Let’s charge them for parking, they won’t mind. So the council bring in the legislation and the neighbouring council sits up and thinks, “hey, easy money, we’ll do that”. And so it spreads, until councils outside London become aware of this stealth tax and join in the fun.
Many motorcyclists in London have decided this is not a good idea and set up a protest group, No to the Bike Parking Tax. We went up for a demo at the end of february to see what practical action involves. Everyone met up at Golden Square, just off Regent Street for a short briefing on the route, aims and rules of the ride. The idea was to get the message across without antagonising too many members of the public, that could turn out to be counter productive.
A convoy of around two hundred bikes set off and rode south down Regent Street. We then all did a u-turn and rode up towards Oxford Circus.
The ride was organised so that we took up the whole of the lane, blocking any traffic travelling in the same direction. Several stops enabled us to blutac flyers to traders’ windows explaining both to them and the public what we were trying to achieve. It is important to have the public on your side as the charge affects traders as well as bikers.
A trip down Oxford Street at walking pace, with horns blaring and engines revving, was certainly a novel experience. The thousands of shoppers and tourists loved it, chatting to the bikers and filming it on their phones. Bus drivers and motorists had seen it all before, one or two cabbies weren’t too impressed. All in all, a good natured exercise, not causing too much disruption but certainly getting the message across.
From the West End, we rode to the Ace Café for lunch and then on to Ally Pally.
The group is planning a huge demo on March 31st running from Trafalgar Square to Westminster City Hall. Here they are formally appealing against the charges.
The website has full details of the campaign and its progress. Have a good read, there’s some fascinating stuff on there and they are supported by several high profile organisations.
Doing nothing is not an option...
I want to go faster, I want to go faster..
