InstantForum.NET v4.1.3UK Bike Forumhttp://forums.ukbike.com/forums@ukbike.comSat, 11 Feb 2012 00:18:56 GMT20http://forums.ukbike.com/Topic3512-16-1.aspxAh yes, the Downing Street Petitions. I bet no-one at No. 10 ever thought they would be such a stick to beat the Govt with. I'm sure when the idea first came up, they thought that it would be full of people campaigning to ban fox hunting, save the whales, cherish diversity and embrace the rainbow dictatorship, but instead it's the same old grumpy b*ggers who use it as a means of letting off steam. But the outcome of every one is the same - a few weeks later, you get a very polite reply saying that your view have been noted, but the Govt has right on its side, and it's going to do what it first thought of anyway. Or 'Eff off, pleb', in brief.Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:54:27 GMTBlack Doghttp://forums.ukbike.com/Topic3512-16-1.aspxI wouldn't mind so much, except that the Westminster charges were supposed to be in order to provide secure parking facilities - a nominal fee towards that wouldn't cause me too much issue. However, what they've ended up doing is reneging on the security, reducing the total number of bike parking spaces and upping the proposed charges. Fantastic, how could anyone possibly object to that?</P><P>That said, I can't make the ride out. I'll be directing a dress rehearsal that day and I don't suppose the organisers will want to reschedule purely on my behalf. I've signed the petition on the Downing Street website, though: worth a try, but I don't have real high hopes of it succeeding.</P><P>A cynic might suggest that it's not really about encouraging/discouraging two wheeled usage: it's basically about wringing every penny from every available captive audience...Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:44:41 GMTendemoniada_88http://forums.ukbike.com/Topic3512-16-1.aspxShame I'm not closer - I'd be up for that. Not that it would make a scrap of difference to me, as I rarely visit London, but the principle stinks. As you rightly say, here we have a form of transport that is virtually congestion-free, and whlie they should be encouraging people onto 2 wheels, they are making it harder than ever. Plonkers.Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:29:33 GMTBlack Doghttp://forums.ukbike.com/Topic3512-16-1.aspxSo if you have not heard, Westminster council in London is considering putting parking charges on bikes to park within it's borough. There is to be a protest ride to Westminster on 31st March to end up by the town hall where the meeting to decide to go ahead or not will take place around 7.pm. I think if this gets the go-ahead then it will signal to all local authorities that it's ok to make us pay for riding the least congestable form of transport to work ect. I hope to go down to the Ace cafe for 3pm ish for a trundle (with a lot of others hopefully) down into London at 4pm.</P><P>Hope some of you other people can make it, if not to the Ace then just get up to London Westminster and cause havoc to show suport. </P><P>Have a look on the Ace Cafe site, I think there is more about it there.Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:39:20 GMTrebelman