Parking charges introduced for motorcycles

Riders will have to pay parking charges for their motorbikes in some West Sussex car parks under new rules.

Adur District Council (ADC) is introducing the change from Friday, requiring motorbikes, which could previously park in off-street car parks for free, to pay for parking.

Motorcyclists have criticised the plan on social media, describing it as a "diabolical decision" and some calling for a protest against the changes.

A council spokesperson said: "Motorcyclists use our car parks so it's only fair that they should contribute towards their upkeep and maintenance like other motorists do."

Riders can buy a pay and display ticket which can be "easily seen and read from the front or side of the motorcycle", according to council documents, or buy one using a phone app.

Boiciuc Ioan Mihail, also known as Johnny Bravo, from Worthing, has three motorcycles.

He said one issue was the different rules in different areas of Sussex and the country more widely.

Of the changes in Adur, he said: "Everyone is waiting to see exactly what will happen and how it will be applied."

He said signs needed to be clear, and changes to parking communicated clearly, as he had received fines elsewhere when parking in spaces which were previously free to park in.

"A lot of people come in from many places," he added.

"Signs need to be everywhere and say what is designated [for motorcycles], what is free and what is not free."

According to the council's website, there are no designated motorcycle bays in Adur at present.

Before the change, bikers could park for free, but not in permit bays, disabled bays, electric vehicle bays, car club bays or bays reserved for a specific class of vehicle.

The council said: "Last year, we spent more than £140,000 monitoring, maintaining and improving our off-street car parks across Adur for users but motorcyclists did not help fund that work at all."

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