Motorcyclists are to be charged £1.50 a day to park in central London as part of a package to create hundreds of new, designated parking spaces across the borough of Westminster.
At present, all existing motorcycle bays are simply an exemption to single yellow lines, and any vehicle can park in them outside of controlled hours.
Westminster is planning to convert all of these bays into designated parking spaces, available only to motorcycles at all times.
Other planned improvements include installing more motorcycle security devices in the city to deter thieves.
The council is also investing in hundreds of motorcycle bays at its car parks. In order to fund the improvements, from Monday, motorcyclists will be charged £1.50 a day – or £150 for an annual permit – to park in any bay across the city, with no further charge if a motorcyclist moves to another bay.
The charges will use pay-by-phone technology and are set to be introduced, zone by zone, starting in the West End and working outwards. The council pledged to plough any surplus revenue raised back into other transport projects.
Cllr Danny Chalkley, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: ‘We have listened to the views of motorcyclists in Westminster, and responded by creating thousands of extra space for them to park in the city. Together with the new security stands, we believe this will make motorcycle parking in Westminster easier and more convenient for the hundreds of motorcyclists who drive into the district every day.’
Jeff Stone, spokesman for the British Motorcyclists Federation, said it was a practical solution which was likely to be backed by most of its members.
‘Given the fact that we’re not going to get free parking, this is the next best thing. It’s not a punitive charge, but a tailored approach to motorcyclists,’ he said.
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