Motorcyclists to be charged £1.50 a day to use parking bays

Hundreds of new motorcycle bays are to be installed in Westminster but riders will, for the first time, be charged for parking.

From the summer, motorcyclists will have to pay £1.50 a day to park at the roadside - less than four per cent of the amount payable by car drivers - but there will be no extra charge for switching bays once payment is made. The income will fund improvements.

Riders will have to use Westminster's pay-by-phone system, although a range of other permit options are proposed.

All the council's motorcycle bays will also become no-go zones for other vehicles-which currently are allowed to use them outside their hours of operation.

Other planned improvements include the installation of more security devices to combat motorcycle theft, with nearly 50 U-shaped "Sheffield stands" on trial.

The council is also planning to boost the number of motorcycle spaces in its car parks.

Danny Chalkley, Westminster's cabinet member for transport and economic development, said: "We have listened to the views of motorcyclists and responded by creating extra spaces for them to park. Along with new security stands, we believe this will make parking in Westminster easier and more convenient for the hundreds of motorcyclists who drive in every day."