Guys and girls,
The 2011 biking season is pretty much upon us and it appears the weekly Borough Market meet is getting busier, which means parking is again going to be a problem.
Hardly a year goes by without us getting rather pointed emails from either the market itself or owners of adjacent businesses about where bikes are parked and the noise we all make using them.
So this thread is here to remind those of us who may have forgotten the rules (if tonight’s meet is any gauge that’s a lot) and for those new to us / the meet it’ll be an introduction.
- The principle problem is the noise our un-baffled bikes make scaring/annoying/disturbing those dining in the restaurant above the meet (the grey building whose legs we sit and leave helmets around, and those in the Black and Blue restaurant on the corner (with the bull on the top).
That means parking on the pavement under the restaurant is a no-no of epic proportions. The noise of any bike, road legal or otherwise, is magnified a lot under there and it is without doubt going to get us banned from being there or at the least a traffic warden down to ticket those bikes parking there (on the pavement).
Parking against the glass windows of the restaurant also is a no-no. That alley road, though very broad as it meets the street, is market property and that means we’re not allowed to park on it. But aside from any legalities none of us would be happy sitting eating our meal to have a pair of headlights coming at us only to stop inches from our plates. Or the rider’s backside and exhaust equally close by, rattling the silverware.
Examples of both are here:
http://londonbikers.com/galleries/image/1501/52295/borough-market-meet-250609
http://londonbikers.com/galleries/image/1501/52303/borough-market-meet-250609
Don’t do any whiz pops, burn outs or excess revving of bikes, common sense you’d think but not so, many members have displayed a staggering ignorance for those around them by hitting rev limiters etc as they leave. And of course there’s the old “give it a quick handful up the road so they’ll all hear me leaving” thing which may not annoy those dining but does annoy those living up the one-way street out of the market.
- Market Property parking. Parking market areas on the right as you come in to meet, under the market roof, is also a no-no. The market has chased us off this area many times as loading goes on through the night and these areas are in, apparently, constant use. Whatever, it’s private property and we’ve been told to stay off.
Areas here are all on the right covered by stalls. Do not park there, no matter how tempting.
So where can we park?
Well the principle area is on the road ‘in front of’ the Roast’s legs. It still annoys them, oh yes you betcha it does, but since it’s a public highway that means we have parking rights. This image shows all the bikes in the foreground parking where they should.
http://londonbikers.com/galleries/image/1516/54314/bmm-120809
You can park on the left of the previously mentioned approach to the meet, but that is double-yellow and you take your chances. Otherwise it might mean parking around the other side of the market or on the road as it heads right past the Black and Blue under the railway.
So everyone please PARK CLOSE TOGETHER. The above image, though in the right place shows a lack of thought as each bike is taking about 3 bike’s (ok, well mebbe 2 7r’s worth) of room.
If in doubt don’t park there. simple as.
People who are seen parking where they shouldn’t will get a name and shame. Anyone who leads to a complaint for parking and / or noise will be given a written warning (or a ban if they get lippy about it).
Seriously gang, we will get banned from being there. Did anyone notice how many police were circulating tonight? It is a very real risk so please help each other out with parking and keeping the meet open.
Ta muchly.
