Transport Crucible

A procession of over 150 bikers rode through central London on Thursday lunchtime and rallied outside Conservative HQ. The angered riders were protesting against an unprecedented move by Westminster City Council to trial new charges for parking this congestion busting mode in previously free Solo M/C bays on public highways. See more photos and U-Tube vid It is feared that if Westminster get away with their ‘trial’ of new charges to park a mode that both the Labour Government and the Conservatives recognise as part of the solution to congestion problems, it will pave the way for cash-strapped local authorities to impose a new form of tax that is unprecedented in Britain or Europe. Riders arrived on motorcycles, scooters and mopeds and to dramatic effect. The aim of this event was to highlight differences, between opposition to stealth taxes that is favoured by vocal Conservatives like Eric Pickles MP – who has called for his party to eject any elected member involved with developing them – and what one of the richest Conservative Councils is currently doing in practice. A formal response by the Conservatives was read out to the assembled throng and elicited cheers as it acknowledged the positive role of motorbikes in congested cities. Boos soon followed however as the message was predictably and perhaps understandably non-committal in taking a stand against Councillor Chalkley and WCC. For details, follow link to Conservatives statement TC can now report however that in contrast to the current official Conservative Party view, privately, Tory HQ staff found the biker’s visit “very entertaining” – and have decided that the issue will be subject to serious scrutiny in due course. This latest protest ride was organised by the fast growing No-to Bike-Parking-Fees group. The demonstrators also stopped the traffic outside Westminster City hall which is just a stone’s throw from Parliament and were cheered by waves of support from council workers at their windows and crowds on the street. TC also notes that although this issue is currently not currently reported in mainstream media, a serious fight is escalating on the streets of central London between the richest Council in Britain (probably) and motorcycle and scooter riders who have been subjected to new parking charge that they say is simply a new stealth tax. In essence the story so far is this. Away from the glare of the mainstream media spotlight, Westminster City Council introduced an experimental motorbike parking charge scheme involving pay-by-mobile phone charges for riders to park anywhere on the public highways that they control. For details of the scheme go to Westminster Parking. Go here for previous TC blog on this saga