The motorcycle industry has called on employers to provide better and more secure facilities for staff that ride either motorcycles or mopeds to work.

With high levels of congestion in urban centres in the UK, the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) argue that the new trend towards lower powered bikes and bicycles could help to solve some of these problems. 

They have called for the provision of dedicated and secure parking facilities for bike riders who are often sidelined in place of car drivers.   Craig Carey-Clinch from the organisation said:

 "A commuter bike saves time, is low cost, better for the environment and easy to park."

“There are clear indications that people have had enough of sitting in traffic jams, getting nowhere very fast.  Petrol and diesel prices are unlikely to drop significantly, journeys are long and stressful and cars are difficult and often expensive to park in town centres or at rail stations”

With the recent introduction of Workplace parking taxes in some areas it appears that Motorcycles will be exempt.  What Car? Magazine describe the likely cost to employers:

“Called the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL), the tax is set to come into effect in 2010. Under the proposals, businesses with 10 or more car parking spaces will be charged £185 per bay per year”

This saving argue the MCIA should lead employers to think seriously about a rise in the number of motorcycle and moped parking spaces.

Motorbikes and mopeds are already exempt from the London (and proposed Manchester) congestion charges, which despite rumours to the contrary is likely to remain for the foreseeable future.  Ex London Mayor Ken Livingstone ruled it out categorically:

“Both motorcycles and scooters do not cause congestion. The Mayor wishes to make it crystal clear that he has absolutely no intention whatsoever of making scooters and motorcycles pay the congestion charge”

The MCIA points out that as well as saving money for both employers and commuters, if the parking facilities were made more bike friendly including being under cover, having security measures such as built-in ground anchors and dedicated changing rooms, it would also benefit the cities traffic status as a whole by encouraging people out of cars.

Recent times have seen a dramatic rise in the number of small-bikes and mopeds sold, which highlights a growing interest in fuel-efficient and city-friendly transport.

“Last month, moped sales increased by over 47 per cent, following a nearly 50 per cent increase in April (compared with the same months last year). To the end of May, moped sales are over 20 per cent up, and scooter sales are also on the increase with a 5.7 per cent jump over last year. The UK’s best selling bike in May was a 125cc Yamaha, typically used by novice and commuter riders.”

Motorcycling.com has in the past raised objections to the current system of public parking for powered two wheel vehicles.  They claim that the guidelines for acceptable parking vary from one council to the next and a lack of roadside explanations.  They warn that motorcyclists have started to “bend the rules” in order to park

“Some bikers are also turning to stealth tactics to avoid being ticketed by covering up or removing their tax disc and vehicle registration plate (parking wardens are unable to issue a ticket without a Vehicle Registration Number (VRN)”.