Bikers up in arms over pay parking

Bikers have been revving up for a fight following the closure of the estate’s free parking for motorbikes and scooters.

Canary Wharf Group has closed 115 motorbike parking bays on Ontario Way, because the sub-station in this location is being extended by EDF to increase the power supply capacity for the Isle of Dogs.

Now motorcyclists will have to pay £2 per day or £40 a month to park in Canary Wharf’s underground carparks, where a further 144 bays have been added.

This brings the total number of motorbike parking bays to 677.

The Wharf has been inundated with emails from motorcyclists, particularly those working at Barclays Capital, where a debate has been raging on the company’s intranet.

One employee wrote: “Further to my post from yesterday, I’ve received a large number of messages from colleagues who, like me, have been caught out by the recent closure of most of the free motorcycle parking areas around Canary Wharf.

“Every other major European city allows virtually unlimited motorcycle parking in busy areas and I think it’s disgraceful that our lives should be made so difficult around here.”

Trevor Yorke, a postroom worker at State Street, said: “We are now being forced to pay to park in the main car parks which defeats the object of riding into work.

“I have worked in Canary Wharf for nearly 10 years and slowly they have made it more difficult for motorcyclists to park around the area, pushing us further and further away.”

However, Canary Wharf Group said that it had never guaranteed free parking to motorcyclists and had been forced to close the motorcycle parking bays due to construction work.

A spokeswoman from Canary Wharf Group said: “The motorcycle parking provision in this area was only ever a temporary facility.

“Canary Wharf Group attempted to offer a temporary alternative by opening an area off the lower Westferry Circus roundabout.

“Unfortunately, this location is now required for construction purposes and the development of the Riverside site.

“We have always charged for our motorcycle parking facilities as they are underground and are patrolled by security on a 24/7 basis. Please note that Westminster council are also introducing motorcycle parking fees as of this summer.”

(this article was taken from icthewharf.icnetwork.co.uk)