Biker's anger over fine for parking at 'wrong angle'
A BIKER has been left fuming being issued with a parking ticket.
Andrew Taylor was fined £50 for leaving his 1400cc GSX Suzuki motorbike at the wrong angle along the white line on Market Street, Torquay, even though motorbikes are allowed to park for free so long as they do not take up an entire car parking space.
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Mr Taylor, 51, a biker of 30 years and a clay pit worker from Paignton, said: "So much for being a bike-friendly town.
"Market Street is quite steep which is why I had to park the bike at a 45-degree angle or it would have fallen over.
"I was told motorbikes can park for free if they don't take a whole space.
"My back wheel was touching the kerb. I went to the shop to sort out a problem with my mobile phone and when I came back I had a parking ticket."
Mr Taylor rang the number on the ticket and was told to take a picture of the motorbike and its position on the road before contesting the fine.
He said: "There aren't any signs anywhere warning bikers of what they can or can't do."
Officials in the council's parking department confirmed motorcyclists were able to park within street pay-and-display bays free of charge provided the motorcycle was parked at right angles to the kerb on the white lines which demarcate each of the bays.
A spokesman said: "Parking this way allows for other vehicles to still park within the designated bays and make payment at the machine.
"Maximum stay and No Return periods at each location must be adhered to also, as failure to observe this will result in the issue of a penalty charge notice.
"If a motorcyclist wishes to place a motorcycle within a marked bay taking up the entire bay, he can purchase a ticket from the pay-and-display machine to do so.
"If the ticket cannot be clearly displayed then the ticket can be kept on their person.
"If a penalty charge notice is subsequently issued to the motorcycle, the pay-and-display ticket can be provided as evidence of correct payment having been made."
The spokesman added: "Parking for motorcycles is free in council-run car parks, provided it is within the designated area or parked safely outside of a bay, and not within a marked bay."
A Torbay Council spokesman said: "We have an appeals process for motorists and motorcyclists who feel there are mitigating circumstances which have led up to a penalty charge notice being issued.
"We would therefore urge the motorcyclist in this instance to follow these procedures, which are stated on the rear of the penalty charge notice.
"We will investigate the matter by considering the comments from the motorcyclist and reviewing all the data captured by the civil enforcement officer at the time the penalty charge notice was issued, and respond in due course."
5 Comments
by geoff, Torquay
Thursday, September 09 2010, 8:57AM
“I've parked there loads of times and never got a ticket. The road is quite steep and my bike does not have a centre stand like you I had to make sure the rear wheel was against the kerb and the bike leans uphill. Also I've found that the depth of most parking bays means that the front wheel would tend to stick out into the road and be at risk from getting clipped by passing traffic.
The road traffic act 1988 says you can not leave your vehicle running, so how come TOR2 rubbish collectors are allowed to get out of their cabs to pack rubbish and blocking the road?”
by mark, torbay
Thursday, September 09 2010, 12:01AM
“Don't cry”
by Sam, Brixham
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 3:51PM
“We had the exact same situation parked in Dendy Road in Paignton last year.
Fortunately, after having a chat with a friend who was a supervisor for the NCP in London and receiving some interesting reading material from him, I wrote an appeal letter to the Council who almost immediately cancelled the ticket. They did however advise that we brought a ticket in the future - which seems completely absurd to me as the NCP handbook clearly states that bikes are allowed to park in pre-pay car bays free of charge as long as there in enough space for the cars to park!
Do agree that Bikers should at least be informed of where they can and cannot park in the Bay as there is no information displayed anywhere I have seen!”
by stephen, torquay
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 2:11PM
“this is´nt clear at all, the bike in the photo is´n´t taking up a whole parking space and has to be "tilted" uphill to stop it falling over. Also there is a car parked either side of the bike so what was the ticket for? Lets have clarification from the Council please.”
by Devon Biker, Newton Abbot
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 1:10PM
“Just typical of a council in the UK! Want less congestion, but cannot provide adequate numbers of deddicated bike paces. Even when they do, the spaces are stupidly marked and sized. Teignbridge spent £000's on the car park near the police station, but took away the bike spaces, never to be reinstated. I asked the council 2 years ago to add spaces in the car park, but despite assurances, the spaces have not yet appeared. I have the same issue with ASDA in Newtoin Abbot, and I was told to park on the pavement where pedestrians could fall over it and claim, not from ASDA, but me! I told them very subtly that I wuill continue to take a car space until such time that they provide the space Until then...2 wheels better than 4!! Keep sunnyside up!”