Bikers may face seaside crackdown

[Bagpuss]

Originally Posted by simonDyna

The local traders are already complaining that trade is way down on previous years thanks to the new parking rules.

I took a ride to Matlock Bath on Sunday and it seemed as busy as usual. The Parking Attendants were on the Pavilion Car Park, everything seemed very good natured. I took the opportunity to ask the obvious question - if I buy a parking ticket what happens if somebody just nicks the ticket off the bike. The attendants told me to wrap the peel-off part of the ticket around the brake lever and keep the actual ticket itself in my pocket. I heard them give the same advice to other bikers as well.

Charges are £1 per hour with a maximum stay of two hours. A couple of the local's said that the time limit was not being enforced but I guess you have to take a chance on that one. Not sure what the rules are for parking on the side of the road but it was jam packed solid with bikes on Sunday afternoon. Some very nice HDs to look at.

[Daggers]

Reading threads like this makes me happy to live in Erdington.

It may be a shitehole with no redeeming features but at least I can park up on a pavement without a mortgage-sized fine.

Now if anyone can give me any clues what I can do (aside from keeping an eye on my bike to make sure it doesn't get nicked) after I've parked up I'd be delighted to hear them.

[simonDyna]

Originally Posted by Bagpuss

I took a ride to Matlock Bath on Sunday and it seemed as busy as usual. The Parking Attendants were on the Pavilion Car Park, everything seemed very good natured. I took the opportunity to ask the obvious question - if I buy a parking ticket what happens if somebody just nicks the ticket off the bike. The attendants told me to wrap the peel-off part of the ticket around the brake lever and keep the actual ticket itself in my pocket. I heard them give the same advice to other bikers as well.

Charges are £1 per hour with a maximum stay of two hours. A couple of the local's said that the time limit was not being enforced but I guess you have to take a chance on that one. Not sure what the rules are for parking on the side of the road but it was jam packed solid with bikes on Sunday afternoon. Some very nice HDs to look at.

Thats good news. It looks like common sense is prevailing.

The parking attendants we spoke to, were actually pretty good. They went onto explain that they dont have a problem but their boss makes regular spot checks throughout the weekend and if he is around then, they have to enforce the restrictions. As you say, you take a chance.

Let me know when you are heading out again and I will try and come over....for an hour!

[Brigg]

On reflection I think the council is right in Aberwystwyth, although possible not handling the situation.

It IS a holiday resort no matter how much of a dump it may appear I think due respect should be given to the tourists who choose to spend that holidays there and the local who have to live there.

Parking on the seafront is not neccessarily what holiday makers want to see.

After all the majority of bikers frequent the town for a few hours at weekends.

And a bag of chips, can of coke and tank of petrol does not massively add to the local economy.

We all know and feel aggreved that this is just another chip at our so called rights, but if alternative parking can be found and a realistic charge for safe parking made what is the problem...?

We again all know the Brunstrom effect, but if you live in North Wales as I do you will see weekend in and weekend out the huge number of bikers who enjoy the roads and not all of them safely. The roads encourage fast riding with a high number of accidents and fatalities each summer.

I dont agree that every biker should be stopped I have heard 500 a weekend on average resulting in about 50 or so fines, usual things small plates and loud exhaust, but if it slows down riders and saves just one life Im all for it.

I live in beautifull village and some Saturdays and Sundays you can hardly move for bikes, we dont have the facilities to cope with them, with only two smallish carparks, which results in riders parking on the yellows and getting tickets... (when we have the police actually here) and again not always parking sensibly.

Unfortuantely break the law, get fined....

Maybe Im getting an old fart, but at the same time, just a little appreciation for those other than motorcyclists may not go amiss instead of launching into the same old 'persecution complex'.

Im sure MAG and the Council will come to a some kind of satisfactory conclusion....

I assume now that I will recieve posts from the Attack Dogs...

[AndyJ]

Hiya folks, do any of you know about this demo against the speeding laws in North Wales? Meet at the Ponderosa, also anther venue, then ride to Betws Y Coed. Mate of mine was on about it, I'd go if I knew more. Must look aound the net.... Thanks, Andy

[Daggers]

Originally Posted by AndyJ

Hiya folks, do any of you know about this demo against the speeding laws in North Wales? Meet at the Ponderosa, also anther venue, then ride to Betws Y Coed. Mate of mine was on about it, I'd go if I knew more. Must look aound the net.... Thanks, Andy

MCN is to reclaim North Wales from the region’s anti-motorcycle police force by staging a mass ride to Snowdonia National Park.
With your help we plan to defy the force’s treatment of motorcyclists – described as an “enforce and displace” policy by police elsewhere – by descending on the scenic region in our thousands.
North Wales Police discourages innocent motorcyclists from entering the region by indiscriminately stopping as many riders as possible. Led by Deputy Chief Constable Clive Wolfendale, who has proposed banning motorcycles from National Parks, the force admits officers stop around 400 riders every summer weekend including 350 who have committed no offence.
MCN’s aim is to remind the force whose roads they are by exercising our right to enjoy them within the law.
Reclaim North Wales - how you can get involved

• MCN will meet readers at two points at midday on September 13. Go to whichever is easiest for you to get to:
• The first is the Dragon's Rest Cafe, at the Caerwys Junction of the A55 in the north of the region. The second is the Ponderosa Café on the A542 Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen, LL20 8DR.
• We’ll then meet you again at 4pm in the car park of Swallow Falls Hotel, Holyhead Road, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, LL24 0DW. The site, in Snowdonia National Park, has a restaurant and tavern and is near stunning waterfalls.
• The route you take from one meeting point to the other is up to you. Our plan isn’t to lead you there but simply to encourage you to enjoy the region’s roads within the law by turning up.

Our Reclaim North Wales campaign has the backing of the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), both of which has agreed to join us. We even have the backing of serving and former police officers.
North Wales Police denies it wants to drive riders away but a motorcycle officer in the road policing unit of another force said: “From the outside it certainly looks that way. Four hundred is an enormous number of riders to stop in a weekend. We stop about 1,000 a year."
A North Wales Police spokesman refused to answer when asked if the force’s strategy could discourage riders from entering the region.

[Steppenwulf]

The two meeting points are the Ponderossa, Horseshoe Pass and also Dragons Den Cafe on the A55 at the Caerwys turn off. There is no specific ride organised between these two points and the destination, the Swallow Fall's Hotel on the A5 (about 4 mile N of Betws Y Coed).

Link to info here

[Harleychic]

Originally Posted by AndyJ

Hiya folks, do any of you know about this demo against the speeding laws in North Wales? Meet at the Ponderosa, also anther venue, then ride to Betws Y Coed. Mate of mine was on about it, I'd go if I knew more. Must look aound the net.... Thanks, Andy

Were meetin up hun..its on the north wales bit!! xx

[Cougar]

From my reply, it may appear that I am anti-establishment. Well I am. Its as simple as that. We are all gradually having our freedom eroded. The thing is, the vast majority, give it away to those they actually vote for. Thats why I live as much as I can off the grid and keep to myself. I do contribute to society however in a professional way. I help people who are victims of absentee landlords and do a bit at the CAB. Its truly awful how people think they are still going to be put in jail for missing payments on credit cards. If we continue to give our freedom away they will continue to take it and tell you lies to keep you in fear. The result. Sheeple.

I too have seen some awful sights. Particularly on the A5104 when I lived in Llandegla. Seen some bad riding all too often. Thing is, dont give them the chance to have a go at you. Be polite but keep in the back of your mind, they dont really want you on the roads whatever you ride. Rant over.