Can I park on 'Pavement Lights' (the blocks of clear glass embedded into the pavement)?

 

It depends on where you are in the country and the history of the exact site of the pavement lights! Greater London has different rules to everywhere else in the country. In London under the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1974 it is prohibited for any motor vehicle to park on the footway (unless it is specifically exempted and signs indicate that you may park partially or wholly on the footway). Outside of London local authorities may only regulate pavement parking through the implementation of specific Traffic Regulation Orders and the police are only able to regulate pavement parking when a vehicle is deemed to be causing an obstruction. Even though Pavement Lights are normally 'owned' by the building adjacent, the parking adjudicators have deemed them to be part of the footway. See the Pavement / Footway Parking page for full details.

 

 

If I cover up my vehicle registration number (VRN) and remove my tax disc will this stop me getting a ticket?

 

No. Apart from the fact that it is illegal to park a vehicle without a VRN and valid tax disc (your vehicle could be 'towed' and crushed), some councils have advised their parking attendants (PAs) to remove any obstruction covering the VRN (They have decided that this can be done provided that they do not damage your motorcycle <Some on the advice of the Police>). With some PAs now being 'armed' with cameras they can prove that they did not damage your vehicle in the act of 'affixing the ticket'.

 

 

If I remove my VRN and tax disc will this stop me getting a ticket?

 

No. Apart from the fact that it is illegal to park a vehicle without a VRN and valid tax disc (your vehicle could be 'towed' and crushed), it is possible to obtain the details from the chassis number.

 

 

If I buy a special stand to keep both wheels off the ground will this make a parking ticket invalid?

 

No. In July 2007 the Court of Appeal ruled against a biker who claimed he was immune to parking tickets because neither of his wheels touched the ground. Giving his ruling, Lord Justice Moore-Bick said: “...his motorcycle can quite properly be said to be parked on the pavement, even if neither wheel is directly in contact with it.” The declaration given was that by parking the motorcycle on its stand on the pavement with its body and one or both wheels on or over the pavement, Mr Wolman was in contravention of the parking laws.

 

 

Aren't parking attendants / traffic wardens supposed to give 'a few minutes grace' before issuing a ticket?

 

No. You are only allowed to stop to load or unload goods or set down a passenger (other than on zig-zag lines and on red routes where a single red line usually bans stopping and parking during controlled hours and two red lines bans stopping and parking at any time). If loading or unloading then you must be able to prove as such.

 

 

Can I park on yellow lines at night or during Bank Holidays?

 

This depends upon whether the waiting restrictions (yellow lines) in question apply 24 hours a day (signs in the area will give you the 'controlled hours' when parking restrictions apply) and whether the signs specifically state 'Except Bank Holidays'. See our parking tips page for more details.

 

 

Will my ticket be invaild if I ride off before the parking attendant has handed me the ticket or affixed it to my bike?

 

As of 31 March 2008 new legislation allows councils to post a ticket if the motorist drives away after the parking attendants (now called Civil Enforcement Officers) has started to issue it. It also allows them to use cameras to enforce parking contraventions.

 

 

Can I park in cycle / bicycle parking areas?

 

No. Cycle parking is for cycles only. Motorcycles cannot use these areas (even though they have great security bars to chain you motorcycle to!) unless it specifically states so on signage posted at the location.

 

 

Can I park a trike or quadbike in a solo motorcycle bay?

 

No. Solo motorcycle bays are for 'solo' motorcycles only (no side-cars either!). However the motorcycles with the twin real wheels can park in these bays.

 

 

What area should be allocated per motorcycle / scooter when designing a location for motorcycle parking / Solo Motorcycle Bay?

 

Although there are no official dimensions laid down in law, the generally used figure is 2.1m length / 1.4m width per motorcycle / scooter. This gives enough space to the side of the bike to mount / dismount. Please do be aware however that large 'cruisers' can be up to 2.5m in length. There is more detailed guidence given in Guidence for Motorcycles by the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHIE) and Secure Parking for Motorcycles by the Motorcycle Action Group.

 

 

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