What the lovely City of Paris does for motorcyclists… unlike the City of Westminster!

While visiting Paris for a few days, not only were we (pleasantly) surprised by the number of motorcycles running in the streets of the French capital, but also by the extremely good quality of the parking facilities provided there, unlike the ones provided in Westminster. The use of motorcycles is highly encouraged in Paris, as they are seen as the solution to reduce road congestion and air pollution. Needless to say how supportive the French authorities are to motorcyclists, again unlike Westminster, who seem to be doing everything they can to discourage the use of bikes and promote cars instead, as a believed less congesting and polluting mode of transport!

Below is a security device offered to motorcyclists for £1 (€1.16) a day in Westminster:

And below is a security device and parking facilities offered to motorcyclists in Paris, FREE OF CHARGE:

Note that, in Paris, each bike has its own space, so it can’t be damaged by other bikes trying to squeeze in crowded bays. Each parking space is well laid out, in between two security devices, to ensure that only one bike can fit in one space. The security devices are well designed, so that the wheel or the body of the bike can be attached to them, using either a chain or a U lock. This is to be compared with the piece of crap provided by Westminster parking services, i.e. a little chain that can easily be broken or taken off the ground, and for which motorcyclists are asked to pay £1 (€1.16) a day… absolutely outrageous, pure robbery! And this is also to be compared with over crowded bays in Westminster where, for £1 (€1.16) a day, you can potentially get your bike damaged by other bikers trying to squeeze in their machines, as shown below. Absolutely scandalous!

Now, the Paris parking services, who are so supportive to motorcyclists, unlike Councillor Danny Chalkley of Westminster City Council, whose aim is believed to be nothing but grab as much money as he possibly can from innocent motorcyclists, that he has dared to treat as rogues, and who are keen to do their bit to reduce road congestion and air pollution, allow motorcycles to park on the pavement, of course FREE OF CHARGE! Try to do this in Westminster and you will get a PCN, even if you are parked off the pavement or footway, and your bike does not obstruct pedestrians in any way!

Oh well, some politicians in the UK will never understand the benefits that bikes bring to the environment, until perhaps they fail at elections.

Please join and support the campaign to get the bike parking tax in Westminster scrapped before it spreads all over the UK and the European Union. Visit http://www.notobikeparkingtax.com/

Soutenez et participez a la campagne dont la mission est de forcer la mairie de Westminster a supprimer la taxe de stationnement des deux-roues avant que le concept ne se propage a travers le Royaume-Uni et l’Union Europeenne. Consultez http://www.notobikeparkingtax.com/

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