Hackney Council should urgently reconsider their plans for motorcycle and scooter parking charges, or risk devastating impacts to the lives and livelihoods of riders and those who rely on them.
We are extremely concerned about the effects that these changes will have on riders who live and work in Hackney. We believe that the proposals will be detrimental to the economy and life of Hackney. These changes are disproportionate, unjustified and not evidence based.
Our concerns include:
1. Damage to the economy of Hackney and the livelihoods of those who work in Hackney
The proposed parking charges will make it impossible for many riders to work or visit businesses in Hackney. This includes commuters, delivery riders and couriers, but also volunteer riders who provide vital support to the NHS, such as Blood Bikers or the Bike Shed Community Response.
Around half of all motorcycle journeys are for commuting, however the proposals will make it impossible for most who commute into Hackney by motorcycle or scooter to continue to do so. For riders who are able to continue to commute the £6 an hour costs could add up to £13,800 over a year.
It’s a mistake to assume that in all cases walking, cycling or public transport offer a viable alternative. Many riders tell us that as a result of these charges they would be forced to give up working in Hackney, or move to live in another borough. This will impact not only these individuals but the economy of Hackney.
2. The proposals are disproportionate and unfair to riders
The evidence presented by the Council doesn’t support the changes. Charging motorcycles and scooters the same amount as cars fails to meet the Council’s duties of fairness and proportionality. It fails to account for the amount of space motorcycles take up, the fact that motorcycles do not cause congestion, or the lower levels of pollution they produce.
With the increasing popularity of new micro-mobility modes it makes no sense to treat motorcycles and scooters as equivalent to cars, when in reality they are more similar to other 2-wheeled modes. An electric motorcycle for example has similar impacts to an e-scooter or cargo bike, but their riders are penalised under these proposals just for having a licence and number plate.
3. Lack of appropriate consultation or evidence
Many riders who would be affected by these new charges have not been aware of the consultations about them. We are extremely concerned that the changes will go ahead without reasonable engagement with those who it will affect the most. In addition, the Council’s evidence base used to support these charges is flawed, and shows a fundamental misunderstanding of motorcycles’ overall behaviour and impact. For example it relies on the false belief that motorcycles and scooters are worse for air quality than cars, based on unreliable research which compares 30 year old motorcycles and scooters without catalytic converters with 20 year old cars with catalytic converters.
Hackney Council should reconsider their plans in light of the facts about motorcycle and scooter use
Motorcycling is a transport mode relied on by a diverse range of people, including nurses, doctors, couriers, delivery riders, business owners and volunteers. Those who use motorcycles and scooters, due to the nature or length of their journey, often cannot reasonably use other means of transport. For many, a motorcycle or scooter is the only affordable option for their travel needs.
On a per km basis motorcycles and scooters produce significantly lower emissions than cars of CO2 and key pollutants such as NOx, PM10 and PM2.5. Motorcycles and scooters also do not contribute to congestion, and therefore their use has the effect overall of reducing emissions from other vehicles. The fact that 8 motorcycles can park in a single car bay frees up kerbside space for other uses, further easing congestion, or allowing it to be converted to space for walking, cycling or leisure.
Not all trips can be replaced by walking, cycling or public transport. For those that can't, motorcycles and scooters are the best alternative to cars. Instead of seeking to unfairly punish riders. Hackney should follow the example of other Councils in recognising the value of incentivising motorcycles and scooters over car use, as a means to meet their air quality and climate change
A copy of the petition can be viewed at:
Lead petitioner: Ben Pearson
Decision:
RESOLVED: That the petition be referred to Cabinet without any recommendations