...Not in Westminster, it isn't. A pilot scheme running in the London Borough of Westminster has bikers being charged £1.50 a day for parking, regardless of the period. The council claim that this is to help pay for the additional 2000 bike parking spaces they have put in place over the last year or so, while bikers suggest that it's just another way of extorting money from motor vehicle users. Here at MBT, we're completely impartial and objective, of course. Which means that we've looked at the facts, listened to both sides of the story and formed an opinion based on that information. I'm not going to say what that opinion is, because it should be up to you to decide for yourself.

Here are the facts we've managed to glean, though.

Westminster say that the scheme is to offset the cost of providing all these additional parking spaces for bikes around the borough. There are now 600 odd bays providing some 6,500 spaces. Apparently this has cost, in total, the best part of a quarter of a million pounds.

Westminster say that they expect the scheme to generate a similar amount in net profit each year. Interestingly, their gross revenue is well over double that, suggesting that, if nothing else, their administration is horrendously expensive and inefficient.

Westminster are also claiming that they are trialling security systems - both "Sheffield stands" which are basically large railings designed to have bikes chained to them and ground anchors in a variety of locations, but that takeup has been very low. There's no mention of things like improved CCTV coverage.

The lack of clear signage is, according to Westminster at least not an issue. Because this is an Experimental Traffic Order so the normal signage rules don't apply. And the only way that I found out I was parking in a payment bay was by reading an A4 piece of paper cable-tied to a lampost. Which wasn't very impressive. Just be aware that it's going on because the fines hurt.

Those opposed to the scheme say that, first of all, the money raised in the first three months is in excess of £2 million which does rather suggest that somebody somewhere has got their maths wrong...or is being less than totally honest.

Opponents also suggest that bikes are decongesters - they contribute to traffic flowing more freely, they are greener, take up far less space and as such should be encouraged. Charging to park does not encourage bike use.

Opponents also point to the problem with bike couriers - a courier will need to pay £1.50 for a couple of minutes, which is unfair.

Critics also point out that motorcycle parking charges run for longer than car charges - up until 1900 while car parking becomes free after 1830 - which is both descriminatory and unreasonable. Especially as it isn't signed anywhere.

You can only pay to park using a credit card and a mobile. You also need to pre-register your bike, though I suspect that you can do it when you call in to pay the first time. Exactly what you are supposed to do if you don't live in or around Westminster and have never encountered this parking system before is not covered. Or, indeed, if you don't actually have a credit card (not that uncommon as people try to avoid getting into debt by staying away from credit generally) or a mobile (less common but not unheard of)...

There is no mention anywhere on the signs about the hours of operation, or at least there wasn't where I was parked. Just a web address. Which isn't too handy when you're on your bike without a convenient laptop with which to go online.

Anyhow, those are pretty much the facts. Personally I'm not in favour of this, but MotorbikesToday remains, as ever, politically unbiased.

There's an opportunity for you to have your say, though. Go to http://www.notobikeparkingfees.com where you can send your opinion directly to the council themselves. But get a move on, because the consultation period ends on Wednesday 18th February.

Remember folks - this is a democracy. They work for you and they are obliged to respond to your questions. You may feel this is perfectly reasonable - that's you're prerogative - or you may think it's an outrage. But if you don't get off your bum and say something then the democratic system won't work. Because it will be assumed that you agree...

Oh, and should you wish to make your feelings felt properly, there is a protest outside Westminster City Hall on Tuesday evening, 17th at 1745.

Maybe see you there...

SB

Editor's Note: We apologise for the poor quality images in this article.