Motorcycle parking

Future plans

As part of its commitment to making motorcycle parking easier and more secure, the City of Westminster is making a number of changes to improve the parking services provided to motorcyclists.

Increasing on-street provision

The City of Westminster is increasing the amount of on-street motorcycle provision by 20% in October 2007.

An occupancy survey identifying high demand areas has been completed, and the council is implementing the increase in provision primarily in these areas.

The increase is being achieved through the extension of some existing 'Solo Motorcycle Only' bays, as well as the conversion of approximately 100 meter bays.

Find out more about new and extended motorcycle bays.

Conversion of motorcycle bays

At present, all existing motorcycle bays are simply an exemption to the single yellow lines. As they are not a 'parking place', any vehicle may park in them outside of controlled hours.

In order to protect the kerbside for motorcycle use only, the City of Westminster will be converting all motorcycle bays into parking places by early 2008.

This means that no vehicles other than motorcycles will be able to park in these bays at any time. It will also make identifying motorcycle bays easier as they will require a post and a sign.

Security Devices

The City of Westminster will also be improving facilities for riders by putting in security devices wherever possible. These devices will help to try and combat potential crime.

We are running a trial of nearly 50 security devices in eight locations around the West End. This trial will inform how we roll-out further security for motorcycles across the borough.

Find out more about the security device trial.

Increase in off-street provision

The City of Westminster is also looking at increasing the motorcycle provision in its car parks by 20%.

As motorcyclists can only park in Westminster City Council car parks with a season ticket at present, the council will be investigating the possibility of introducing casual parking.

Charging for motorcycle parking 

However, all these improvements do come at a cost, and the City of Westminster is seeking to introduce charging for motorcycle parking from Summer 2008. Charging for motorcyclists will be introduced zone by zone, starting in the West End and working outwards.

Motorcyclists will be charged £1.50 a day to park in any motorcycle bay across the city. There will no further charge if a motorcyclist moves to another motorcycle bay. A range of other permit options will also be available.

In zones A,B,C,D and H, motorcycle bays will be reserved for solo motorcycle use 24 hours a day. The only exceptions to this will be zones E, F and G (West End, St James, Marylebone, Bryanston and Dorset Square) where motorcycle bays will be reserved for solo motorcycle use only between 7am and 7pm Monday to Saturday. This is due to high demand for kerbside for all motorists in these areas.

The council will use Pay by Phone technology as a mechanism for delivering motorcycle parking charges.

Tell us what you think 

Do you currently park in an existing motorcycle bay which could be extended? Do you have a suggestion for where a new bay could be placed?  If so, please use our online feedback form providing as much detail as possible, e.g. street name, building number and the reasons for your suggestion. 

Read the official report on recommended changes to motorcycle parking.