Camden Council to charge for motorcycle parking bays in 2010

[Ogri]

Out of the blue I've received a letter from Cllr Greg Foxsmith, Executive Member for the Environment, Lib Dems, Islington.

It reads:

Re. Motorcycle Parking

Thank you for sharing your concerns about the possible introduction of motorcycle parking charging.

I can assure you that this isn't something we have any current plans to introduce in Islington. We are however mindful of the increasing number of motorcyclists, so I understand that officers are having some discussions with colleagues in Camden about the possibility of sharing the cost of a study to look at the impact this has had. If the study happens - and this hasn't been confirmed yet - it wouldn't be until much later in the year. It may well be that such a study would show the need for more motorcycle parking provision - which I believe to be too scarce.

I can say that as the holder of the Transport and Environment portfolio that for as long as I hold that post in a Lib Dem run council there will be no motorcycle charging here.

Sincerely

Cllr. Greg Foxsmith.

[ldn1702]

What a nice and sensible councillor - full marks!

[SP400RR]

Thought I'd research the man behind the name before I passed comment and found out he's a biker too! So BIG thumbs up for that!

"Councillor Greg Foxsmith

Greg is the new Executive Member for Environment since May 2008. Greg is a solicitor with a legal aid practice specialising in criminal defence. His legal work and rehabilitating ex-offenders got him involved in community work, including some with Islington Council.

Nationally, Greg campaigns on law and order issues, against ID cards and the government's ongoing programme of legal aid cuts which are disenfranchising people from their legal rights. He is a member of the Howard League for Penal Reform, and Amnesty International.

Locally Greg has campaigned for improvements in local parks, for improved road safety, and for improvements to the local ambulance service.A keen motorcyclist and cyclist, Greg is a member of Islington Cycle Action Group, and is a supporter of local sports clubs including Elthorne Boxing Club for whom he has raised money.

He is married to Sonya and has two children, Adam (4) and Daniel (1). Greg has a profile on Facebook - so please add him to your friends list.

Email: greg.foxsmith@islington.gov.uk"

Text from: http://islington-libdems.org.uk/pages/Councillor-Profiles.html

[ldn1702]

Get Greg to support the campaign!

[DastardlyDick]

I'm a bit worried about him being a member of "Islington Cycle Action Group" cyclists ain't exactly friends of ours given that they want us kicked out of TfLs Bus Lanes!

[jimc]

That's only some of them - many PTW riders also ride bicycles in London - and they are as dismissive of the lycra-louts and/or wobbly/wombles as we are.

Keep your hate for the tax-gatherers - as if we are eventually taxed for all time, the cyclist's turn will come next, and they'll wished they'd made friends beforehand.

[ldn1702]

That's only some of them - many PTW riders also ride bicycles in London - and they are as dismissive of the lycra-louts and/or wobbly/wombles as we are.

Keep your hate for the tax-gatherers - as if we are eventually taxed for all time, the cyclist's turn will come next, and they'll wished they'd made friends beforehand.

Yep, that's my case, I ride both a scooter and a bicycle... and of course I'm in favour of both being allowed to use bus lanes!

[bigdave]

I've cycled into London and I can tell you that having a motorbike in the lane is no where near as intimidating as a bus as they just love to get right up behind you. On some occasions I've held off overtaking the cyclists to give them a little breathing room from the bus.

but thats a little of the intended topic. If Camden do bring in a charge though then while they may show better sence than to leave them selves open to breach of tender regulations (although don't count on it as PiP may offer to help them) they will still fall a foul of discriminiation on the grounds that you would need a phone + some payment plastic & it would be revenue raising!

[MrC]

Just for the record I know where Camden is and would just love a protest ride through Camden at some time, if I have to.

[strongp]

I'm amazed at the level of civil disobedience I've seen in Westminster and while I wouldn't commit a criminal act myself I applaud those who are prepared to take that risk. We have no other immediate or effective voice as most of us can’t vote out the council, and when taxation comes without representation civil disobedience isn’t a crime, it’s a duty.

So when Camden council tries to make money out of bike parking what better way of getting them to change their plans than by making it too expensive to maintain their signage in the face of mass defacing. Paint early, paint often.

[Ogri]

I've received a reply to a FOI I sent to Camden a while back. I asked:

Please tell me the proposed means of payment that motorcyclists will use to pay for motorcycle parking in Camden when charged for parking for motorcycles is introduced.

They replied:


At the present time no high level investigation has been undertaken by Camden Council with regard to the introduction of pay and display parking charges for motorcycle bays or the means of payment available if this was introduced.

These issues are due to be considered next year and any proposals to change from the existing system would involve prior public consultation.

[ldn1702]

These issues are due to be considered next year and any proposals to change from the existing system would involve prior public consultation. [/i]

Well if they even submit just one line to propose to charge bikers to park, the lives of the Camden Councillors will turn to hell overnight!

[Earl Purple]

I had the same thing in Hoxton Street on Sat, there was a MiniCab ( I refuse to call them Taxi's) parked in this Motorcycle bay
...

anyway, he went on....bikes can park anywhere, they dont pay anything....( another crazy statement ) .

If this is Hackney Council, and Hoxton may well be, then they are relaxed about motorcycles there and you can park in residents or pay-and-display bays free at any time. Not "anywhere" though - you can't park in disabled bays or on yellow lines (or red routes) during hours of enforcement, nor on the pavement.

[KroSha]

Maybe a demo around the Kings Cross one-way system? Or Friday Morning Brekkie Club? That area's busy enough already and it's one of the few high-traffic parts of Camden...

[FuBaR]

we will leave camden alone until they mention a trial scheme date   oh and welcome KroSha  

[ldn1702]

Maybe a demo around the Kings Cross one-way system? Or Friday Morning Brekkie Club? That area's busy enough already and it's one of the few high-traffic parts of Camden...

Welcome KroSha!

[spannermonkey]

Passing over the who, what, where, when, and legal box ticking, of any council trying to impose

ANY TYPE OF BIKE PARKING TAX.

We have the strongest weapon against them.

The word ...............................NO.............................

It really is that simple as the ever growing WMBC is showing.

And now having turned to this weapon we should never hold back from using it, we've spent months and months jumping through legal and official hoops, (as responsible adults) and finding that to date WCC is sticking two fingers up at, US.

AT US, THE TAX PAYER, AT US, THE ELECTORATE, AT US, THEIR MASTERS, (they are public servants, no, sniggering at the back).

Well, if any other councils wants to take us on then they can expect the full effect,

FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY,

WE HAVE A SIMPLE MEASSAGE.

DON'T FUCK WITH THE BIKERS, 

NOT DUE TO OUR RUFF, TUFF, IMAGE, 

NOT DUE TO OUR HARDYNESS, 

NOT DUE TO ARE BAD BOYS/AND GIRLS REPUTATION.

FEAR US,

BECAUSE,

WE ARE SMARTER THAN YOU,

WE ARE MORE MOTIVATED THAN YOU,

THERE ARE MORE OF US THAN THERE IS OF YOU,

BUT MAINLY BECAUSE IF YOU WERE EVER STUPID ENOUGH TO IMPOSE A BIKE PARKING TAX.

WE WILL NOT BE GIVING UP OUR JOBS,

WE WILL NOT BE MOVING OUR BUSINESSES,

WE WILL NOT BE MOVING HOUSE.

WE WILL DIG UP EVERY SINGLE LITTLE DIRTY SECRET THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD BURIED,

WE WILL FIND OUT ABOUT EVERY BACK HANDER YOU TOOK,

WE WILL,

HAVE EVERY COUNCIL EMPLOYEE, LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER, ONCE THE TRUTH COMES OUT, THEY WILL BE OUR EYES AND EARS, SINCE IT THEIR MONEY THAT YOU WOULD BE WASTING TRYING TO IMPOSE ANY TYPE OF BIKE PARKING TAX.

WE WILL ENSURE THAT,

EVER SINGLE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT OPPOSES US WILL BE FORCED FROM OFFICE BY THE WIEGHT OF THE DEMANDS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO SOMETHING TO STOP THE NO NTBPT PROTESTS.

WHICH YOU WILL HAVE NO WAY OF STOPPING, DUE TO THE WHOLELY LEGAL MANNER IN WHICH WE CONDUCT OURSELVES. 

WHICHEVER WAY YOU CUT IT, IF THE ELECTORATE DO NOT CONSENT TO BE TAXED THEN THE LOOSER WILL BE THE COUNCIL,

UNLESS THE COUNCIL THINK THATS ITS A FUDEL REALM, OR MAYBE A COLD WAR USSR SATALITE STATE BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN AND WILLING TO USE THE FULL FORCE OF THE STATE MACHINE TO CRUSH DECENT, AND ROUND UP THE TROUBLE MAKERS, SENDING THEM OFF TO THE GOULAG.

I didn’t think so,
 
 
So my sorry little councils get this message,

Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi TOLD the British to leave India,

and they said”what do you expect us to do, just get up and leave?”

He replied saying, “yes that’s exactly what I expect you to do”.
And guess what happened?

On the 15th August 1947 the British left India.

The whole force of the British Empire defeated (owned)

By a skinny guy, wrapped in a sheet,
armed with nothing more than the word..........................NO.............  (Now who’s your daddy)?

[ldn1702]

Well said Spannermonkey. You know what? I agree with you, the Wednesday morning sessions are very powerful and when Warren said today that they're likely to become daily soon, I was really happy to hear that.

The secret is to cause mayhem, misery, chaos, disruption etc by following the law to the letter, so that no politician, police man or woman can say or do anything against us. And while we are doing this, we are causing massive annoyance. That's the way forward. Attack us, we will attack you back, and we will do so in a way that you will be fucked up

[torytax]

Labour have regained control of Camden council from tories/leb-dems.

I think this should be very good news for anyone who parks their bike or scooter up there, as I cannot see how a Labour controlled Council can even think about charging PTW's in Camden after what has been said about WCC.

[ldn1702]

Labour have regained control of Camden council from tories/leb-dems.

I think this should be very good news for anyone who parks their bike or scooter up there, as I cannot see how a Labour controlled Council can even think about charging PTW's in Camden after what has been said about WCC.

Brilliant!