From the MCN:
Car park giant NCP has introduced an unlawful motorcycle parking charge by telling riders they must pay to use council-owned spaces which should be free.
The firm has taken over the running of council car parks where motorcycle bays are free to use under law and put up signs saying: ‘Motorcycles must pay normal tariff.’
The only additional information for motorcyclists, in brackets and smaller print, tells us to ‘see’ a subsection of local bylaw identified by a number.
Riders who look it up at the library will find it says they can park free of charge provided they use the designated motorcycle area, but there is no clue of this on the tariff sign itself.
In practice motorcyclists seeking clarification will be more likely to phone the ‘customer services’ telephone number given on the sign.
But when MCN tried that we were consistently told we must pay to park, even in areas designated for motorcycles, otherwise we would be fined.
During four separate calls regarding council car parks in Reading, Berkshire, we were incorrectly told we must pay to use designated motorcycle areas.
When we asked what was meant by the instruction in brackets to see a bylaw, advisers said they didn’t know.
In fact the bylaw states: ‘All fees and charges shall be waived in respect of motorcycles, provided that such vehicles are parked in a parking space which has been allocated for motorcycles.’
A Reading Borough Council spokesman confirmed: “NCP took over council car parks in 2006.
"Nothing has changed with regard to the rules for motorcyclists. They are: Motorcyclists can park for free in the car parks in areas designated for motorcycle parking.
"If they wish however to use one of the bigger bays designated for cars, they have to pay the same way as a car would have to.
"This was the case before NCP took over the running of the car parks, and this remains the case now.”
An NCP spokesman said: "We are currently reviewing the Traffic Regulation Orders that are applicable to our car parks.
"We are also reviewing the training we provide to our customer services staff to ensure that the right information is made available to our customers."
Motorcycle Action Group spokesman Nich Brown said: “I think it’s a fair question to ask NCP, will they put the situation right and how will they identify motorcyclists who have paid after being misled?
“I would like NCP to find a way to demonstrate they have not been pocketing money that riders have put into the machine for charges they should have been told they are exempt from.”
To find out why the problem is likely to be widespread, and to read a transcript of one of our calls to NCP customer services, get MCN, on sale today.
Smacks of a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.
They dont know that the rules do not apply to designated bike spaces & the staff have not been trained correctly ... but then again its only bikers ...
Seems thats the phrase used a lot at the moment .. its ONLY bikers
They know the rules inside out believe me! They are simply trying to increase revenue as this in turn increases their profits.
I had an argument with a local car park "manager" about something similar not too long ago.
Parking in Leeds city centre is not good for motorcycles, not if you want to see them at the end of the day that is.
However, The Light is safe and secure and I quite happily park there. Then one day I parked my bike there accepting the cost for the security but when I returned I found a piece of paper taped to the bike saying "Please pay in designated motorcycle parking bays". In order to enter the car park you have to take a token which you then need to pay for before the exit barrier will let you leave, so I was wondered if I needed to get my token swiped or similar to I could park for free.
I didn't even realise there were motorcycle bays, so I went up to the booth and asked the man about free parking for bikes. (As it happens, because I was looking for them I noticed the bays on the way to the booth).
"No," said the man, "you pay the same as a car, but you must park in the motorcycle bays."
To which I told him quite simply, that if I had to pay the same as a car, then I was going to take a space as if I were a car. To which he said I can't. To which I said "Stop me!"
The stupid thing about this is the car park knows the number of spaces and only issues the appropriate number of tokens. So if I take a token to enter the car park (which I have to) and park in a motorcycle bay, then there would be a spare parking space anyway.
When I explained this to the man and advised him that he could therefore actually increase revenue by allowing bikes to park for free (as long as they park in designated bays), he simply looked at me with a slightly confused stare.
Fresh evidence of plans to scrap free motorcycle parking nationally emerged as the European Commission launched an investigation into the first council to take the step.
The Commission is investigating Westminster City Council – which introduced a charge for motorcycle parking bays in August - over alleged breaches of EU competition rules.
It’s claimed the council broke rules by awarding a single firm a ‘UK-wide framework contract’ to handle motorcycle parking charges for any local authority with no opportunity for other companies to bid for the business.
Councils are told they can bypass the usual requirement of inviting bids simply by joining a Westminster-led partnership of seven London authorities called Partnerships in Parking (PiP).
Campaign group No to the Bike Parking Tax says in a complaint to the EC the contract breaches a directive because it’s ‘of excessive duration and prevents competition’.
Warren Djanogly, chairman of the group, said: "They’ve violated EU procurement laws and tried to establish an open contract that allows any other council to join Westminster and clobber motorcycles all over the place without having to tender in the normal way."
Along with Westminster, PiP’s members are, Camden, City of London, Islington, Lambeth, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Transport for London, responsible for the capital’s main transport infrastructure.
Westminster City Council declined to comment
I guess this is a bigger problem for those living in London, where there are far more bikes.
Provided it's not causing an obstruction, I park pretty much where I like, never paid yet.
I've quite happily parked on footpaths etc as well. As long as you're sensible with where you park you should be fine I think.
Saying this, I did get asked to move the bike the other week after I parked it outside Asda.
I was a regular at the intrepid fox in warder St W1. I used to park opposite in meard St W1. There are glass bricks that illuminate the basement of the building I parked up against & clearly belongs to the building. Not the council. However wardens still placed tickets on bikes when they have no authority to do so. Shouting "You can appeal" Bad wardens are so wide spread & nothing is being done about this either. The crass attitude forced upon us all only creates anger & frustration beyond boiling point & at times I find myself on the verge of doing something that will get me arrested. I had to move out of london. Thing is these people want us & our children to go fight for them & die in some foreign shit hole. I say NO F*%$+ WAY.
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