Motorbike parking bays

Dear Sir or Madam,

1) Now that Westminster are charging for motorbike parking, please
can you explain why the parking bays provided are not marked out in
separate bays (in the same way that car bays are marked out)?

2) Is it true that WCC have not marked out bays in order to
maximise the fees they receive for parking?

Currently the bays get over crowded and result in bikes being
squashed together causing scratches and other damage to motorbikes
parked in your bays

3) Given that:
- the squeezing in, which causes damage, is effectively supported
by WCC (no individual bays marked out)
- the fact WCC charge for motorbikes to park in these bays
- the total lack of guidance as to the number of bikes a bay is
suitable for
Will WCC now be reimbursing motorcyclists whose vehicles are
damaged in WCC bays?

Please ensure all 3 questions are answered in your response

Yours faithfully,

Graham

Dear MotorCycleParking,

Thank you for your replies

Please could you clarify some items for me:

1 - In Westminster run car parks, motorcycle parking is free and
the bays are marked out as individual bays.
On the streets of Westminster, motorcycle parking is charged for
and the bays are NOT marked out as individual bays.
You say "The rationality for Westminster City Council (WCC) not
specifically outlining individual parking spaces with in the bay is
that they are attempting to maximise the use of the area to address
the demands for motorcycle parking"
So, are you saying that there is no demand for motorcycle parking
in Westminster car parks (since the bays are marked out as
individual bays)?

2 – Are you also saying that profits from maximised motorcycle
parking, are more important than the security of the fee payers
motorcycle?

3 – How does the council justify “maximising parking” at the
expense of motorcycle damage while still charging motorcycles to
park when the council stated that funds raised from motorcycle
parking would be used for security?

4 – Why does WCC feel that for motorcyclists “it is ultimately the
motorists’ reasonability to ensure the park safely and correctly”
and yet car drivers cannot be relied upon in this way and so need
separate parking bays?

5 – Given that “it is ultimately the motorists’ reasonability to
ensure the park safely and correctly” why do WCC only think this
will work with motorcyclists, who WCC describe as “bullies” and
“thugs”?

Yours sincerely,

Graham

Dear MotorCycleParking,

further to my previous response:

6 - Your reply states "I can advise that the dimensions of the
actual motorcycle bays comply with the Road Traffic Act 2002". Can
you direct me to a copy of this act as the Office of Public Sector
information (OPSI) web site fails to list and Road Traffic Acts for
the year 2002 (the link to the 2002 acts is
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002a)

Yours sincerely,

Graham

Dear Customer Relations,

Thank you for clarifying the act you referred to

Please note, I am still waiting for you to clarify the following
points as I sent to you on 26th August

1 - In Westminster run car parks, motorcycle parking is free and
the bays are marked out as individual bays. On the streets of
Westminster, motorcycle parking is charged for and the bays are NOT
marked out as individual bays. You say "The rationality for
Westminster City Council (WCC) not specifically outlining
individual parking spaces with in the bay is that they are
attempting to maximise the use of the area to address the demands
for motorcycle parking" So, are you saying that there is no demand
for motorcycle parking in Westminster car parks (since the bays are
marked out as individual bays)?

2 – Are you also saying that profits from maximised motorcycle
parking, are more important than the security of the fee payers
motorcycle?

3 – How does the council justify “maximising parking” at the
expense of motorcycle damage while still charging motorcycles to
park when the council stated that funds raised from motorcycle
parking would be used for security?

4 – Why does WCC feel that for motorcyclists “it is ultimately the
motorists’ reasonability to ensure the park safely and correctly”
and yet car drivers cannot be relied upon in this way and so need
separate parking bays?

5 – Given that “it is ultimately the motorists’ reasonability to
ensure the park safely and correctly” why do WCC only think this
will work with motorcyclists, who WCC describe as “bullies” and
“thugs”?

Yours sincerely,

Graham

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Westminster City
Council's handling of my FOI request 'Motorbike parking bays'.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mo...

On 26/27 August 2009 I requested clarification of the following, to
which I have had NO response:

"1 - In Westminster run car parks, motorcycle parking is free and
the bays are marked out as individual bays. On the streets of
Westminster, motorcycle parking is charged for and the bays are NOT
marked out as individual bays. You say "The rationality for
Westminster City Council (WCC) not specifically outlining
individual parking spaces with in the bay is that they are
attempting to maximise the use of the area to address the demands
for motorcycle parking" So, are you saying that there is no demand
for motorcycle parking in Westminster car parks (since the bays are
marked out as individual bays)?

2 – Are you also saying that profits from maximised motorcycle
parking, are more important than the security of the fee payers
motorcycle?

3 – How does the council justify “maximising parking” at the
expense of motorcycle damage while still charging motorcycles to
park when the council stated that funds raised from motorcycle
parking would be used for security?

4 – Why does WCC feel that for motorcyclists “it is ultimately the
motorists’ reasonability to ensure the park safely and correctly”
and yet car drivers cannot be relied upon in this way and so need
separate parking bays?

5 – Given that “it is ultimately the motorists’ reasonability to
ensure the park safely and correctly” why do WCC only think this
will work with motorcyclists, who WCC describe as “bullies” and
“thugs”?"

Yours faithfully,

Graham