While new Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy is urgently reviewing a proposed policy of introducing new car parking charges for towns and villages throughout Northern Ireland, the Ulster Section of the BMW (Motorcycle) Club has been looking at motorcycle parking in Belfast City Centre.

Through their industrious hard work, the BMW Club Ulster Section reports that, “Campbell Owens the son of one the club’s esteemed club members, Bill Owens, has managed to get some very interesting information on the legalities of parking your treasured motorcycle in our capital city without incurring the wrath of a traffic warden or pedestrians.”

He shows that writing to your local politician, in this case, Chris Lyttle from the Alliance Party works. A letter was issued from Conor Murphy, Minister for Department for Regional Development (DRD), (pre Northern Ireland Assembly elections) with some informative points regarding where motorcyclists can park, how much it will cost, and some plans for the future.

The DRD’s Roads Service advised that*:

Motorcycles can be parked in its kiosk operated car parks at a reduced rate of 50 pence for up to 4 hours parking and £1 over 4 hours.

Motorcycles can also be parked free of charge in any Roads Service operated pay and display car parks, as long as they are parked wholly inside a marked bay.
In terms of on-street provision, Roads Service advised that they have, “Not yet provided any dedicated motorcycle parking facilities. However, it has recently produced internal guidance which is intended to facilitate on-street parking provision for motorcycles. Initially, given the growing demand and competition for kerbside parking in towns and cities, the provision will be made on a two year trial basis.”

“These trials will see the conversion of existing standard paid/ticketed parking bays into bays intended solely for motorcycles / scooters.”

“In order to encourage both the use of this type of parking facility and motorcycling as a form of travel, these bays will be provided free of charge. Roads Service is currently making arrangements to survey potential users to inform them of the decision making process, in terms of the numbers and positioning of such bays. It is intended to start this stage of the exercise early in the next financial year.”

Right To Ride’s, Trevor Baird says, “We are now into this financial year and with a new Minister at the helm of the DRD which oversees Roads Service, we hope that the provision of the free of charge bays does not lose momentum.”

In London motorcyclists are protesting through the “No To The Bike Parking Tax” Campaign www.notobikeparkingtax.com. against the introduction of bike parking charges, while here in Northern Ireland we welcome the Roads Service promised trial for free on street-parking provision for motorcycles.

Trevor Baird of Right To Ride adds that riders currently park in “dead spaces” or on “pavements” where pedestrian safety is not affected, or other road users obstructed. This type of parking should not be seen as detrimental and should be investigated further as a means of utilising space. Roads Service could look at the benefits that motorcycling offer in improving transport options and thus increase confidence for riders so that their journey’s end is parking near their point of arrival.

Original Source.

Further Information

A copy of the full letter from the Conor Murphy.

* A list of car parks can be obtained from the roadsni.gov.uk site, http://applications.roadsni.gov.uk/carparking/TownCarparks.aspx. to use the car park search by town.

Three days until Europe's biggest and best bike rally has its 25th party! The Marquees are here, the beer is here, the 20 plus bands are here, over 70 trade stands are here, the best Ride In Custom show in here, the wheelie bikes are here, the dyno tester is here, and the best biking roads in Britain are here...

So where the hell are you going to be this weekend?

Because if you're not here, you're going to miss the chance to say the most credible line in recent British Biking history "I was at the 25th Farmyard mate, it was mental!"

Plenty of tickets are available on the gate at £35 All attitudes must be left at the gate, unless it's a nice one! Enjoy, and I will see you Friday.

If Carlsberg did bike rallies they would want to do this one.

www.farmyardparty.com

At the Frontier at Batley - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

On site Parking, Loads stalls, Top Live Rockabilly band, Food & Drink, Burlesque Dancers, live Tattooing, Live Custom Airbrush Display by one of countrys leading Artists, plus tons more...

Ride & Drive in open Bike & Hotrod show, entries to be there between 8-10am so can get bikes set up inside & Hotrods placed before Show Opens. All trophies awarded 3pm. 

Entry only £5
Under 12's & OAP'S free.

Those arriving on two wheels @ Ace Cafe will be entitled to a free tea or coffee at the cafe, up to 10.30am.

The annual Ride to Work Day on Monday 20th June is National, and is part of the International Ride to Work Day.

A great opportunity for motorcycle and scooter riders to demonstrate the enjoyment and benefits of life on two wheels to work colleagues and friends.

www.ridetoworkday.co.uk

www.ace-cafe-london.com

The British Motorcyclists Federation has today congratulated Azhar Hussain the founder of the zero carbon, clean emissions TTXGP motorcycle race, on being honoured in The Queen’s Birthday 2011 Honours List with an MBE for services to motor sport. 

Speaking on the announcement, Azhar said: "This was a shock at first but I am honoured at the recognition. In truth the award belongs to the teams, suppliers, tracks, governments, and many others such as the BMF, who have stood with TTXGP and believe we can all make a difference. Competition not only provides great challenge and entertainment but also improves the breed; we hope that TTXGP will come to be seen as a milestone in bringing new transportation technology to the world of motor sports and beyond.”

Businessman and entrepreneur, Azhar, 38, the founder and CEO of TTXGP, the eGrandPrix, the world’s first formally sanctioned zero carbon, clean emission motorcycle race, is also the CEO of Mavizen, the producer of the Mavizen TTX01 and TTX02 electric race bikes and of the skills development project LEO.

Speaking for the BMF, Chris Hodder, Government Relations Executive, said: “Azhar deserves this recognition. He has worked tirelessly to get the TTXGP project off the ground and as the BMF’s aim is, and always has been, to promote, protect and safeguard the future interests of motorcyclists, events such as the TTXGP provide an exciting test-bed for clean-technologies that will enter the mainstream market in the future."

Launched on the Isle of Man TT in 2009 as the TTXGP, the eGrandPrix has quickly become an international race series providing a high profile platform for the development of electric vehicles. It is from this perspective that the BMF, normally concerning itself solely with the road riding aspects of motorcycling, has given its support to the TTXGP eGrandPrix from the beginning.

Now with races in seven countries and over 30 teams worldwide taking to the track in 2011, TTXGP is the leading global electric race series and at the forefront of motorsport technology.

Fully aware of the environmental impact of traditionally fuelled vehicles, the BMF sees cleaner propulsion methods as essential in promoting wider use of the motorcycle and scooter and in February ’09, Chris Hodder, the BMF’s Government Relations Executive, was the first to try the Mavizen TTX01 on the road, a 130 mph motorcycle built to demonstrate the potential of electric power for sports bikes.

For more information see www.egrandprix.com and www.mavizen.com