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Why is the City of Westminster making changes to motorcycle parking?
We are committed to making motorcycle parking easier and more secure for all motorcyclists.
What changes are you making?
We are increasing on-street motorcycle parking provision, providing motorcycle parking in our secure car parks, and installing security devices in residential areas as part of a 3 month trial. However, as all these changes come at a cost, we will also be introducing charging for motorcycle parking.
When will the changes be occurring?
Charging for motorcycle parking will be rolled out across the borough from 4th August 2008. Each week in August, different zones will be converted. A Pay by Phone sign in the motorcycle bay will indicate that charging now applies.
How will I be able to pay?
You need to register your motorcycle with a Pay by Phone account. The location number you need for motorcycle parking is 6789. Information about Pay by Phone
What will the charges be for motorcycle parking?
The charge will be a flat rate of £1.50 a day. To provide flexibility, various permit options will also be available. Find out more about the various permits here
Will I receive a physical permit when I pay?
No. You will receive an electronic permit. Any permit you purchase will appear in your Pay by Phone account under the heading 'Permits' at the top of the page. Westminster's Civil Enforcement Officers will be able to know whether you have a permit by entering your licence plate into their handheld device. They will then be notified if a motorcycle permit is associated with the licence plate.
Where can I park with a motorcycle permit?
You can park in any 'solo motorcycle only' bay in Westminster.
Will I be notified when my permit is due to expire?
Yes, for weekly permits we will notify you by email the day before your permit expires. For monthly, quarterly and annual permits, we will notify you one week before the permit is due to expire. You will not receive notification that a daily permit is about to expire. You may opt in for a text reminder for any permit at a cost of 10p.
Will I have to pay again if I move bays during the day?
No, motorcyclists will be able to move between motorcycle bays during the day for no extra cost.
Will Westminster residents be given a discount?
Westminster currently provides discounted parking in resident bays for residents who wish to park their vehicle in their own zone of residence. Solo motorcycle bays are provided to all motorcyclists, whether they are residents or visitors. Motorcycle permits are valid in all zones and are therefore very different from resident permits. Customers who only park their motorcycle in their zone of residence may prefer to opt for the discounted resident parking permit, whereas those residents wishing to park throughout the borough may choose to buy a standard motorcycle permit instead.
Do I have to pay if I have an electric motorcycle?
No. If you have an electric motorcycle, and your tax disc shows that it is classified as an electric motorcycle, you do not have to pay. You will need to obtain a free annual motorcycle permit. Find out more about electric motorcycles.
Am I allowed to use the bays if I have a trike (i.e. 3-wheeler motorcycle)?
If your trike is taxed as a bicycle then you are eligible to use the bays and you will need to pay for your parking - any mechanically or electrically powered vehicle which is in a tax class of "bicycle" is defined under the regulations as being a motorcycle and therefore permitted to use the bays and must pay for parking.
What if I cannot find a motorcycle parking space?
There are now 600 motorcycle bays providing 6100 motorcycle parking spaces in Westminster. If for any reason you are unable to find one, you may park in standard Pay by Phone or Pay & Display bays, but your will need to pay the standard charges for the zone you are parking in. It is not permitted to park in 'Resident Parking only bays'. You may receive a Penalty Charge notice if you fail to make the appropriate payment or if you park in a bay that you are not permitted to park in.
Check our standard prices for each zone here
How do I add a motorcycle to an existing Pay by Phone account?
Follow the steps below:
What is an experimental traffic order?
An experimental order is much like a permanent traffic regulation order in that it is a legal document which imposes traffic and parking restrictions such as road closures, one-way streets, weight restrictions, width restrictions, banned turns, bus/cycle lanes, controlled parking and on-street parking places.
Once the order is in force, objections may be made to the order being made permanent and these must be made within six months of the day that the experimental order comes into force.
What is the 10p reminder text for?
The reminder text is an optional service users can request that will send an automatically generated text message to remind the user that their current permit is about to expire.
What times during the day do I need to pay for parking?
At each bay a time plate will also be displayed this contains the times of day parking regulations are enforced, known as the hours of control. During the hours of control you will need to pay to park in the bay, outside of these times parking is free of charge.
Can other vehicles park in motorcycle bays?
The time plate will also specifiy the times during which the bays are reserved for motorcycles only. If the time plate reads “Solo motorcycles only at any time” it means the no other vehicles can use the parking place. In some cases the time plate make have set hours and during this period only motorcycles can park in the bay however outside of those hours other vehicles are permitted to park there.
Can electric motorcycles park in the electric vehicle charging bays?
Electric motorcycles can park in these bays up to the maximum stay if they have joined the "juice point" scheme. Click here for more information on this scheme
2008 Westminster City Council. Contact the Council
