Westminster Council is to start charging for motorcycle parking in central London. The new parking scheme will cost between £1 and £1.50 a day and is being brought in to tackle the dire shortage of parking available. Around 16,000 bikers head into central London everyday - this is up almost 40% in 10 years. As more of London's commuters look to motorbikes and scooters to avoid the congestion charge, motorcycle bays have become overcrowded, leading to damage to bikes as people try to force their machines into smaller and smaller gaps.
Alastair Gilchrist from Westminster City Council explains, 'We've got to the point where we've gone beyond capacity'.
The council claim that the only way they can afford to put in extra parking bays is to start charging for them - in doings so they say they can offer better facilities as well as better security. Mr Gilchrist accepts that it's not going to be popular but insists that bikers are getting a good deal, especially if they pay annually which will make the daily rate less than 60p.
Gerad Livett from MAG, has made their position very clear 'All motorcycle parking should be free, and where possible should be secure'. Bikers in London are questioning where all the money is going - WCC figures suggest that the scheme will be profit making in two years.
It appears that this scheme has already had the full approval of the council and will go ahead later this year.
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