NoToBikeParkingTax Demo - Mar 31

I may well have.
I must admit, I kind of jumped into the thread without reading the beginning
of it, and it seems I maybe up the wrong tree.
I do feel though, even as you quite rightly say, parking is not obligatory,
to start charging for something that was a free "service" for want of a
better word, really surmounts to another tax on the person that uses that
service.
I'll go get me coat ;o)

--
Greybeard

FLHR -03 UK (95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy 2!)

Garmin Zumo 550, To get me home!

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

Yeahbut, it's not a tax, they've decided for whatever reason to make a
charge for a service that doesn't mean it's a tax.

I reckon you are.

 

Fair doo's.
I'll take another pill and settle down. ;o)

--
Greybeard

FLHR -03 UK (95 cu-in Stg 2. Big Boy 2!)

Garmin Zumo 550, To get me home!

ukrm@foxtails[dot]co[dot]uk

 

There's quite a bit of detail and pictures here.
http://londonbikers.com/forums/Topic433324-58-3.aspx

Their first attempt (before the charge came in) was to use "Modified
Sheffield Stands" in about 10 bays. You need a 6ft chain to reach these.
Not surprisingly nobody used them. The second attempt is hidden away in
the residential areas of Queens Park with ground anchors in another 10
bays. These are a bit better but still not being used.

And yes a key justification for the charge was the costs of security
devices. So on that one, we get the promise, charge and fines and the
promise isn't delivered. The second justification was increased space
and space in car parks. They claim an extra 2000 spaces but they have a
funny way of counting and measuring them. So the end result is £230K of
investment of which £200K is setting up the charging scheme and general
bureaucracy to do with the changes to bays. By early Feb, the charge and
fines came to £2m. So that's roughly a 10 times return on investment in
6 months.

It's all about the money. So no it's not a tax. But it might as well be.

Their latest press release reads like somebody bursting into tears and
saying "please stop hurting me"[1]. On one side they have the
accountants trying to make up the shortfall on the money they lost in
Iceland. On the other side they have a bunch of angry bikers. In the
middle they have a career on the line in a deepening recession.

[1]
http://www.notobikeparkingfees.com/downloads/2009/12_march_2009_11am_mess
age_from_danny_chalkley.pdf

 

On Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:06:06 +0000, Julian Bond

snip>

I'm pretty sure the residents of Westminster would sooner the bikers
had to pay for parking to make up a financial shortfall instead of
council tax bills being raised.

You've got alternatives to parking there so either use them or pay to
park.

 

TBH you're the one that sounds as though he's bursting into tears.
Danny Chalkley's letter is measured and manages to put you in the
wrong. I would have thought equally measured and publicised letters
from you, making valid points about the Council's lamentable attempts
to provide secure parking, would have far more effect than mounting
demonstrations that will inconvenience the public, and simply bleating
about losing free parking.

 

Quite. The Sandwell Motorcyclists group worked with the council there
and a strategy report was done in 2000. See what the web site says.
They have been positively encouraging people to use bikes for commuting.

http://www.laws.sandwell.gov.uk/ccm...se/powered-two-wheelers/powered-two-wheelers-
parking/

I realise of course, that no UKRMer would ever want to venture there by
any means (excluding Lone Wolf).

Westminster is a bit of a special 'supply and demand' case IMO. I think
that the "lots of other councils will follow" argument possibly only
holds true for inner Bojoville.

--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

tangentially, when i lived in westminster the council tax (it was called poll
tax in those days) was one of the lowest in the country, 40 quid a year iirc.

 

Things have changed a bit. Wandsworth is now one of the lowest in the
country (600 quid a year for my flat, most councils seem to want double
that).

Tory run, yet has excellent public services. Who knew?!

 

Blimey... Dog/Andy, not replying to your post in particular here. I've
not been on usenet for quite a few years and it's weirdly reassuring
that all the oldies are still here, still talking bollocks Bear
arguing with everyone as usual, s'like going back in time

I used to do botafof rides with the big guy on the varedero trying to
keep up (and doing it) on a CB500, good times.

Anyway, www.notobikeparkingfees.com forum has been shut down as you
know, course, the Westminster council solicitors were completely happy
with how the noto committee dealt with the issues but Chalkley wasn't
and kept up the pressure. Board had to go, the committee have families
and no money, just like a lot of us and couldn't keep up with the
legal threats.

That was enough for me and made me even more determined, **** WCC and
their gag.

It's not all about money though, it's about getting PCN's when you get
bumped out of a bay (remember some people will have to pay without
having a spot actually available), user friendlyness and so on... and
if you think it won't come to you:

http://www.mslmagazine.co.uk/news.htm

" Called the Pay by Phone system, the use of the mobile technology now
means that the plan is now easy to expand across London initially once
the scheme has been proven by Westminster.

According to Westminster Councillor Danny Chalkley, after that the
scheme will go to Birmingham, Liverpool, Peterborough and across the
rest of the country."

Anyway, it's a fleeting pass but I do remember you all fondly, even
bastard bear (awkward ****) and I may try to join you for a botafof if
you'll have me.

Ride safe all

 

No-one... Nothing to see...

 

Roger. That always got your goat

Yes, sometimes not all for the better though. Not casting aspersions,
just making a general comment.

No we didn't, maybe it was all the swearing and death threats I
remember you were having a lot of back problems at the time, I hope
it's not so bad.

Yes, spot on

Yes, spot on again, please tell me it was good news?

I can't, too much Pedigree and too late at night. Honestly though,
it's been good to talk to you and see you guys again (in type), I
think they guy on the Varedero was Big Al (I've got an 'Al' thing
going tonight) well he was big anyway. A deer shot out on us one day
and made the ride interesting, I'd never seen a deers cock up that
close before.

Thanks I might have to come by again, the memories aren't all that
bad.

 

One week to go till the big demo. Tuesday 31 Mar.

Ace Cafe 3pm leave 4.15pm and ride to
Trafalgar Square 5pm leave 6.15pm and ride to
Victoria St Westminster offices 7pm till we get bored

If you can't get to one of venues and ride outs, then come along to the
next one.

Bring all your friends. Even if they don't ride bikes.

http://www.notobikeparkingfees.com/events/

 

If you get bored, you could always park up and have a wander about.

 

Well, my opinion is divided, as I might have need for bike parking in
London in the future, but this statement ...

"the most dangerous piece of anti-motorcycle/scooter legislation ever
seen in the world...charging
for parking"

.... is totally OTT.

Paul.

 

If i'm putting my vote in, the most dangerous piece of anti-motorcycle/
scooter legislation ever seen in the world would be the adoption of
Wire Rope Safety Fencing as a viable/safe method of separating
carriageways.

Any others ?

Paul.

 

I don't much like the look of those flat square plates that they're
putting on the end of armco barriers these days.

 

There's the end of a brick wall which isn't protected by armco on the
Farnborough road between Farnborough and Aldershot, that nastily right
on the edge of the O/S lane, at about waist height.

One guy (biker, natch) has already died on it, but the council won't
move to protect it, or remove it as this would be an admission after
the fact that the damn thing is dangerously located.

Paul.