Media Coverage (Archive topic)

[vespa]

Comments accepted on this article guys:

http://westminster.londoninformer.co.uk/2010/03/legal-challenge-over-motorbike.html

[templar]

I just spotted this:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/Ride/RiDE-Insider/Parking-ticket/

Don't think it is very old.

[vespa]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23814174-mayor-boris-johnson-promises-2000-extra-parking-spaces-for-car-clubs.do

[Bandit]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23814174-mayor-boris-johnson-promises-2000-extra-parking-spaces-for-car-clubs.do

I'm on that one! Josef beat me to it! Well done!

Bizarre. BoJo can find another 2000 car parking spaces, but Danny the Ratboy can't accomodate a few motorcycles...

And it's only costing half a million, too. How many potholes would that have fixed?? 

[letmyspeechfree]

Have just posted the following at London Informer:

If there is any independent evidence to substantiate Mr Leith's assertion that charging motorcyclists £1 a day to park in Westminster has made the slightest difference to the "challenging job of balancing the needs of everyone who comes into the city" please would he publish it online.

Otherwise, at best, it is an inefficient, loss-making irrelevance and at worst embezzlement. 

[Renegade]

Going back to Chalkley's ridiculous reply....HTF does charging for parking in one borough reduce the number of bikes on the road? If he wanted to reduce the number of bikes parking in Westminster (can't see why this is a problem) then the most effective wasy would be reduce the number of spaces they can park in, not charge for them (Incidentally, they claim to have increased size and number of bays which goes against demand management). Do that and you wouldn't need to pay staff to enforce the bays either. Charging for them is just another way of socially excluding the less well off and revenue raising at the same time. This is all about revenue and partnerships with private firms and nothing else. I wish one of these "journalists" would challenge some of the stupidity that dribbles out of this guy's cakehole!

[ldn1702]

Going back to Chalkley's ridiculous reply....HTF does charging for parking in one borough reduce the number of bikes on the road? If he wanted to reduce the number of bikes parking in Westminster (can't see why this is a problem) then the most effective wasy would be reduce the number of spaces they can park in, not charge for them (Incidentally, they claim to have increased size and number of bays which goes against demand management). Do that and you wouldn't need to pay staff to enforce the bays either. Charging for them is just another way of socially excluding the less well off and revenue raising at the same time. This is all about revenue and partnerships with private firms and nothing else. I wish one of these "journalists" would challenge some of the stupidity that dribbles out of this guy's cakehole!

I can see your point, but we want FREE parking and MORE spaces because bikes are the SOLUTION to reduce congestion and pollution, hence their use should be encouraged in London.

[vespa]

Great photos from the DEMO! http://www.cannonphotography.co.uk/ntbpt

[latecharlie]

http://www.westendextra.com/letters/2010/mar/it’s-bike-tax-policy-grinding-standstill

Comments welcome... ;-)

[latecharlie]

actually, looking at it now, they;ve cut the hell out of it!!! wtf?!

[Martin]

Good letter, latecharlie - even the bits they left in!

At least you got your letter published; mine hasn't been.   Admittedly, it was not my best effort (done in too much of a hurry), and not as punchy.  I'll have to look out for the printed paper and see what made it to print.

[latecharlie]

well, here is the original anyway....

Sir,

Cllr Chalkley has, with some indignation it would seem, refuted the charge that his tax on scooters and motorcycles is not about the money, but about “ensuring the city does not grind to a standstill.”
 
Cllr Chalkley’s attempt to ‘set the record straight’ comes as a direct result of him sounding like a broken one every time it comes to defending this illogical tax. The only variation comes when he tries to think of an excuse to use.
 
Congestion? Firstly, to claim that restricting the use of scooters and motorbikes to ease congestion in the capital is a statement of such ludicrous contradiction and short-sightedness that it beggars belief. Aside from the massive protests against his Council’s scheme, when was the last time a scooter or a motorcycle caused a traffic jam? As anyone with an ounce of sense will tell you, they are the vehicles you see cutting through the traffic with ease, not clogging up the roads.
 
Space? He claims that kerbside space is at a premium – yet he had no trouble finding space for his car club, and if it is space he is so concerned about when he lies awake thinking of new parking schemes at night, why has he not started charging for G-Wiz parking spaces, a vehicle which occupies the space of many motorcycles? To clarify, I am not encouraging this particular line of action.
 
Security devices and extra space? To the motorcycle community he has promised improvements to parking facilities which simply have not materialized – despite Alastair Gilchrist’s previous assurances that no charging would begin until these improvements were already in place. To make these changes, or as it turns out NOT to make them, would require the raising of money, therefore the charge would still be about money either way.
 
To the MCIA he has categorically stated that the charge is not in place to restrict the use of motorcycles, yet his clear message that the result of this charge should be a reduction or restriction in the number of bikes goes against this. To whit, where does he think the bikers will turn to? Public Transport is long and arduous by comparison, cars are charged obscene sums by councils across the city, bicycles simply are not an option for many who live further out of town, and unfortunately there is no airstrip currently available in the West End.

Perhaps they will all move to driving a G-Wiz to their free parking space, until he decides that this too poses a space issue, as a G-Wiz occupies the space of 8 bikes. If Cllr Chalkley is reading this, might I suggest that - as he seems to be having trouble with the space and shape concepts taught to small children - he should go to the BBC’s bitesize education website and make use of the key stage 1-4 maths assistance sections that cover space and shapes.
 
However, given the quality of the financial reports that his department are issuing, the basic arithmetic sections may also be of great use to them. They have projected a loss of over £400,000 on the scheme having made over £2million in the first 6 months last year, and an amazing projected increase in enforcement costs from £498,000 to a £1,710,000, a whopper of a sum, and a startling 343% increase.
 
Perhaps it is time Cllr Chalkley looked at the position he has dragged this reputable council to, now at the receiving end of an EU Investigation, OFT and DCLG Investigation, and Police Investigation, and the target of thousands of angry commuters who happen to use two wheels rather than four. Perhaps it is time he decided to recognize that he is defending the indefensible, and once he has finished his £23,000 Civic Dinner on Tuesday, he should sit down and put the torch to this ridiculous tax, and consider whether he should return after the elections.
 
Yours,
 
Charlie Lort-Phillips
NO TO BIKE PARKING TAX SPOKESMAN

[vespa]

Inquiry call after Westminster Council admits bungle  - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8564016.stm

[vespa]

a G-Wiz occupies the space of 8 motorcycles?... lol they really edited that bit to shit, of course you stated "many" yet they made it 8, which makes that little part of your letter a tad of an exaggeration!

However! Aside.. great that this issue is still ongoing and still in the Westminster press. Nice one Charlie, as always!

[chairman]

Inquiry call after Westminster Council admits bungle  - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8564016.stm

As Chairman  , I would like to add my own thoughts on the above BBC report.

Bwhahahahahahahahhah - Bwhahahahahahahah 

More Peter Large ineptitude. What's the excuse for not firing him this time, Mr More???

 

Made my weekend

 

[latecharlie]

could I add to that, though Warren, as I think it is a fairly important point...

Mwahah, aha, ahahahaha.

There, I said it.

[Martin]

Oh dear, oh dear - what a terrible Council I seem to have!! 

However that BBC News report seemed to sum up a lot of it well.
It really is building up quite "interestingly", just in good time for local (& national) elections!! 

[bigdave]

a G-Wiz occupies the space of 8 motorcycles?... lol they really edited that bit to shit, of course you stated "many" yet they made it 8, which makes that little part of your letter a tad of an exaggeration!

A G-wiz does occupy a space that could house 8 bikes as car parking spaces are designed to fit anything up to a 4x4. So when parked although most of the space is unused, it is occupying a space that could be used for 8 bikes as although the extra space isn't being used, no one else is entitled to use it.

[TT]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/councils-to-position-skip-full-of-shit-outside-your-house-200901091500/

[themanwithaplan]

A G-wiz does occupy a space that could house 8 bikes as car parking spaces are designed to fit anything up to a 4x4. So when parked although most of the space is unused, it is occupying a space that could be used for 8 bikes as although the extra space isn't being used, no one else is entitled to use it.

That's a good point. And the same goes for those electric car charging point bays.

Good letter Charlie!