Submit your news to Visordown
Help us publish the world's best motorcycle news
We're always looking to increase our news coverage and you can be a part of it.
If you're in the motorcycle industry, then please add news@visordown.com to your mailing list. Our news team select the most interesting stories for our audience and your product or service could be seen by thousands.
If you've got a tip-off or you capture a news event on a camera or mobile phone, then please send it to news@visordown.com.
If you want to send a picture message from your mobile phone then ideally use the email function and send it to the above address.
When taking picture of any event you should not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Don't forget to include your name and some background information as to what the image is about and why you took the picture. We treat all submissions in strictest confidence and will not reveal your identity unless we get your prior approval.
Terms and conditions
If you submit an image, you do so in accordance with Visordown's Terms and Conditions. In contributing to Visordown you agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and otherwise use the material in any way that we want, and in any media worldwide. It's important to note, however, that you still own the copyright to everything you contribute to Visordown and that if your image and/or video is accepted, we will endeavour to publish your name alongside it on the website. At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Discuss this story
A document unearthed today outlines the positive Conservative Party policy on motorcycling, moped and scooter use. So we ask, why the parking charge imposed by Cllr Danny Chalkley in the Conservative run Westminster Council? The document is titled "A fair deal for motorcyclists" [Download PDF]. here are a few quotes from it: "The Conservative Party believes that motorcycling should be at the heart of transport policy. Motorcycles especially those with smaller engines, are generally less polluting than cars and make a minuscule contribution towards traffic congestion. They are part of our ‘Blue-Green’ agenda – our blend of Conservative common sense and environmental responsibility. It is a choice that should be available as one of the alternatives to private car use". "Motorcycles, obviously, do not take up as much parking space as other vehicles – usually a single car space can accommodate five to seven motorcycles. In order to encourage this efficient utilisation of land, we will support local authorities who provide more free on-street and off-street parking for motorcycles and mopeds". This document is a clear indication that the Conservative run Westminster Council (Especially Cllr Danny Chalkley the Councillor who introduced the charge) are contradicting their own party policies and stealth taxing, and should be immediately ejected from the party. Feel free to discuss this in the notobikeparkingfees.com forum. We hope to see you at the demonstration against this stealth parking tax imposed on motorcyclists without justification outside Conservative HQ to have ALL these important questions answered, SUN, 1ST FEBRUARY, ACE CAFE, 10AM. More details... Also please make sure you sign the 10 Downing St petition which after 3 days has shot up to over 1300 signatories which obviously shows great support against this blatant taxation. SIGN IT NOW. We need to get this stealth parking tax abolished now before outher councils see us a piggy banks, to object OFFICIALLY and that means that Westminster are obliged to reply to you, so let's make there work hard. But to make your life easier a form which allows you to tell them what you think and object is availble on the campaign website, fill it in and your objection will go to ALL 60 Westminster Councillors (Including the soul spear head of the parking charge, Danny Chalkley) and other important people who make thie decisions as to whether no not to make this tax permanant (which will be on 18th Feb 2009) this needs to be spread to EVERYONE! So inform them, it is really easy to to and it is super effective. A message for Danny Chalkley: WE WILL NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THIS TAX IS ABOLISHED.
Posted: 15/01/2009 at 21:03
It will affect you soon, if Westminster Council can get away with using us a banks and stopping us riding freely other councils will follow, how would you like it if one day where you live the council said ok, we are going to now charge you £150 to park outside your house, with nothing in return, only a £120 parking ticket for every day you don't pay. Support your fellow bikers, we will support you if this came your way.
Posted: 15/01/2009 at 21:59
They'd have a problem doing that to me I've got a drive. Plus, just because it's happening in London, doesn't mean it will happen to the rest of us. Congestion Charge being defeated in Manchester being a classic example.
Posted: 15/01/2009 at 22:01
It will affect you soon, if Westminster Council can get away with using us a banks and stopping us riding freely other councils will follow, how would you like it if one day where you live the council said ok, we are going to now charge you £150 to park outside your house, with nothing in return, only a £120 parking ticket for every day you don't pay. Support your fellow bikers, we will support you if this came your way.
Well i dont ride bikes on the road only on track and i have a long driveway so i dont need to park on the road and i live in the middle of nowhere so whos going to give a fuck?
Posted: 15/01/2009 at 22:03
We should give a phuck really. Twat's always trying to cream more money out of us
Posted: 15/01/2009 at 22:05
I've got a Blue badge so it won't affect me. I do have sympathy for those that are affected.
Posted: 15/01/2009 at 22:08
I've got a Blue Peter badge so it won't affect me.
They count for fuck all these days mate
Posted: 15/01/2009 at 22:09
They're coming to MK next, Les
Good, that'll fuck the neighbours.
I can charge them to park on my 200ft drive
Posted: 15/01/2009 at 22:56
"AHHH i see...but you are allowed to not give a phuck its a free country!!!" It because some folk don't give a phuck that this country is getting less and less free. They chip away at small freedoms and one day you wake up without any. That's why we have about 1 CCTV camera to every 8 people, DNA databases, face and number plate recognition and more and more ways to monitor our every move. Listen to the words here there's a message 
Posted: 16/01/2009 at 02:00
"AHHH i see...but you are allowed to not give a phuck its a free country!!!" It because some folk don't give a phuck that this country is getting less and less free. They chip away at small freedoms and one day you wake up without any. That's why we have about 1 CCTV camera to every 8 people, DNA databases, face and number plate recognition and more and more ways to monitor our every move. Listen to the words here there's a message
Agreed, and luckily we do still have people who believe in protesting and not just rolling over like most.
Posted: 16/01/2009 at 09:40
I object to the Westminster council scheme because parking was previously free, now it isn't. I also object because the justification used to bring it in is improved security and I've not seen any evidence of that when i have parked. I also object because it means I have to register with the council in advance. I also object because it means I effectively must have a mobile with me when I park. I also object because even if I just want to park for 5 minutes I have to pay the full day's charge. I also object because it's effectively just another tax (in keeping with all charges levied on parking). I also object because I can. But on the whole, I think that £1.50 to park all day in Westminster is pretty fair really, and I don't really think it's out of order, given the fact that everyone else has to pay to park. I don't really see why bikes should be free.
Posted: 16/01/2009 at 10:30
Yeah, £1.50 today. How much tomorrow? They can get it through easier if the charge is minimal, 'cos lots of people will say "Well, it's ONLY £1.50", especially if it has the sweetner of improved security with chain anchor points. Thin end of the wedge. Think about it. Why wouldn't they charge more if they can get away with it? I can remember a day when you could park a car pretty much anywhere for free. Some meters are charging cars £4+ per hour these days. GLOOMY PREDICTION: I can forsee a day when every vehicle has a GPS system and every camera is APNR enabled and all linked into a driving and parking offences system, tax and insurance database, road charging and 'anti-terrorist tracking' "for our enhanced security" etc. Park in the wrong place? Overstay by a few seconds? Kerching! -£100! Drift over the speed limit anywhere/anytime? Kerching! -£100 + 3 points!! Wheel the SORN-ed bike you have been rebuilding on to the road to see it in daylight? Kerching! You're nicked, matey! Obviously, your insurance will be re-priced or even withdrawn based on your riding style etc. (this has already been floated) It won't be long as it presents endless opportunity for making even more money out of us with minimal effort and low overheads (think how much they'd save if traffic wardens could be replaced with technology, especially if the motorist if paying for the hardware on his vehicle). The technology is already here and affordable. However, it will probably sold to us as an in-built Tracker security system, a way of saving money on insurance and a convenient way of paying for congestion charge/parking/road tolls, then enhanced for the less palatable purposes
Posted: 16/01/2009 at 11:39
Your point is valid. Even if you rather over-egged your justification. I am similarly opposed to the introduction of any new tax. But you could argue this isn't new at all, just an extension of existing parking taxes.
Posted: 16/01/2009 at 13:44
The upshot is, if we all sit back and do nothing we will all be paying for unsecure bike parking, wherever we are in the country. If you can't be bothered to get off your arses, at least spend a minute of your very valuable time signing the petition. You never know, it may even work.
Posted: 17/01/2009 at 06:24
+1 Bikes are already charged here in Hunstanton but if it prevents others having to pay I am all for it
Posted: 17/01/2009 at 07:04
+1 Bikes are already charged here in Hunstanton
Christ, are they?
To be honest, the Westminster bike charges don't affect me, but if it's left uncontested then it will soon be all over London, then all over the country. I personally don't want to pay to park in Guildford, Woking, Staines, etc, when I go shopping. It's one of the few liberties us bikers have, and I want to keep it that way. At the end of the day it takes less than a minute to sign the petition, doesn't affect your rights, and you stand to lose nothing. Unless you're strongly in favour of paying for bike parking, you have no real excuse not to sign it.
Posted: 17/01/2009 at 07:21
Oh bollox. It seems if you cut'n'paste text it really cocks this board up. Anyway, it's very little effort to object by email to 60 councellors at once and make their life a misery by clicking here: Mail them!
Posted: 17/01/2009 at 21:32
Jondo, if you took the time to process other people's posts with your planet sized brain, you would know where the 'jibber jabber' was coming from. Let's try again shall we? "It seems if you cut'n'paste text it really cocks this board up." If you need any help with that sentence, let us know, OK? But I don't suppose give a phuck...
Posted: 18/01/2009 at 10:20
See more comments...
|
|
