Parking in central London

[riketoma]

Hi all

I'm about to move from Paris to London next summer.
In Paris, I have a parking lot for my GS 1150 where I work.
But in London, I won't. My future office is on Fleet Street.

I read all the threads about filtering through the London traffic with a big GS, that obviously does not worry me, having driven in and around Paris for 3 years, some of you may know what a nightmare it can be.

But here is my question: how about PARKING a big GS in central London ? I spent 4 years in London some time ago, but did not have a bike at the time. Still I remember the motorbikes parking lots were full fairly early.

What do you reckon: should I sell my beloved GS and buy a smaller bike in England (a way of avoiding the paperwork to get a British plate and the necessity to get a mph odo... ) easier to park?

Or is it possible to park such a big lump in those tiny parkings spaces? (in Paris, you can nearly park everywhere as long as you don't prevent people from walking on the pavement. In London, I suspect you'd get a ticket in matters of minutes). I would start working around 7h30/8h00.

Thanks for your advice. Cheers

 

[GSmonkey]

My office is directly opposite a bike park. By 07:30 to 08:00 there's not a lot of space left. People leave their bikes there overnight as well, so they're never empty.

The skill is to 'shuffle' the scooters together on their mainstands to create a space. The only problem is you will see damage to your bike over time, as people will scrape their scooters down the side of your bike.

Most offices these days have motorcycle spaces available. I never park on the street as my office has spaces.

I now run a scooter as well as a big bike. Use the scooter for the crappy days and where I have to park elsewhere.

 

[Loiq]

there's limited parking on the street near Surrey street and down by the river near Somerset house. You can pay £3 for a nice bay in NCP rates vary but it's good. also the press centre has parking underneath but it's not nice and smells of Tea which has been drunk.... Actually there's tons of parking ....

even by the law courts there's bike bays

you'll be fine

 

[riketoma]

NPC ?

What's NPC? A parking lot company ? Can you park your bike there without the squeezing and scratching and pushing aside stuff, even if you have to pay 2 quids a day ?

 

[Loiq]

NCP (National Car Parks) it's for cars but they now have motorcycle spaces. You don't have to park there but I find it handy cos they're covered and if it's raining it's a good place to get togged up... for ride out etc. and it's £3 for a whole day there's plenty of space and normally little chaps who hang around washing cars who deter the rats from scratching yer bike....

I use one on grovsenor hill all the time it's really good and I can't be fagged with alll the dragging etc. of other peoples bikes... especially when I've kicked one over by accident and the owners comes back at that moment.

 

[Deleted Member I]

Keep the french plate bike!!

My colleagues from Europe has kept their car with EU plates and never paid a single parking ticket

You are suppose change it over, but one guy from Belgium has been here 3/4 years and is still insured in Belgium (cheaper rates) but driven here.

 

[dotcaf]

Take a look at www.motorcycleparking.com
Shows where all of the free car parks are in London as well as where all of the bike parking bays are.
If I were you, I'd get a scooter for work. Much easier as:
a) Better seating position so as not to damage your work suit#
b) Easier through the traffic
c) Only cost £1000 or so
d) Easier to find a parking space for
e) WHEN it gets scratched up by other people squeezing into a parking space next to you, you don't have to care.

Keep the GS for the weekends, though!

 

[STUBBS]

a friend of mine keeps his bike on french plates and insurance, goes back home a few times a year to keep within the law, advantages small plate and avoids parking & speeding tickets and if he gets stopped just speaks french or italian

 

[JonF]

Buy a tatty old Honda CB500. Cost about £750. It'll never break down as long as you put fresh oil in it every 6000 miles. Put crash bars on. When you see a parking space, if there's a gap about half the width of a GS back tye just charge the bike straight at it and you'll get in fine. Don't worry about the scratches. Scooters are mostly made of plastic and they will, erm, move to one side under a robust assault.

Keep the GS for fun.

I did this for years, until I got a new job with a car park and a bik secure bike shed. Now I commute on the GS.

 

[FBF]

Buy a tatty old Honda CB500. Cost about £750. It'll never break down as long as you put fresh oil in it every 6000 miles. Put crash bars on. When you see a parking space, if there's a gap about half the width of a GS back tye just charge the bike straight at it and you'll get in fine. Don't worry about the scratches. Scooters are mostly made of plastic and they will, erm, move to one side under a robust assault.

Keep the GS for fun.

I did this for years, until I got a new job with a car park and a bik secure bike shed. Now I commute on the GS.

so its people like you that are scratching every ones bikes is it?

 

[riderbob]

You may find this useful? All you do is put in the postcode and it will show you where to park. Great tool and I use it when travelling to client meetings. Better than the tube and free.

http://www.motorcycleparking.com/

 

[JonF]

so its people like you that are scratching every ones bikes is it?

I've never actually scratched anyone's bike. On the other hand, mine has been knocked over, scratched, kicked, etc. If you ride into London and have to park on the street, it's a fact - like it or not (and I don't) that the bike will get knocked about. Hence the advice to buy a snotter, and not worry about it.

It's the Parisian car thing. Would you drive a shiny new Merc around central Paris?

 

[marcus]

I've said this before.....

keep a spare U-look too.

once I got back to my bike which was left in a bike bay to find some scooter monkey had moved my bike out of the bay to put his in, so I got a parking ticket.

C*nt won't do that one again as it was worth the sacrifice of an old u-lock, which was left round his back wheel before I buggered off.

 

[Bigtwin]

I worked in Chancery Lane (just off Fleet St) for a couple of years up to Sep last year.

There are several bike parks tucked away from Chancery Lane at the back of the Royal Courts of Justice. Best one is top of Bell Yard.

From Fleet St, turn left into Chancery Lane (it's one way anyway). Then take the next left after the Law Society, before the Kights Templar pub on the corner. About 50m along on the left there is a big park, top of Bell Yard.

The next one is up Chancery Lane a bit on the right to Breams Buildings - the road is barriered off to traffic, but you can park there with a bike in the designated area - just drive around the barrier.

Next one is up a bit further still - turn right at the signposts for London Silver Vaults - there are two big parks down there. Technically, it's the wrong way up a one-way st for about 10m, but no one pays any attention to that, as they just slapped up the signs one night, and to get round the block the "proper" way is about 1/4 mile and 10 mins extra.

All of these are between 2 and 5 mins walk to Fleet St.

 

[Invicta Moto]

My office is directly opposite a bike park. By 07:30 to 08:00 there's not a lot of space left. People leave their bikes there overnight as well, so they're never empty.

The skill is to 'shuffle' the scooters together on their mainstands to create a space. The only problem is you will see damage to your bike over time, as people will scrape their scooters down the side of your bike.

Most offices these days have motorcycle spaces available. I never park on the street as my office has spaces.

I now run a scooter as well as a big bike. Use the scooter for the crappy days and where I have to park elsewhere.

There are some Paris style parking garage spaces opening for the discerning customer.

My brother works for a large bank (with Scotland in the name) and they are moving offices to a new building with no parking at all, not even for bikes, he's found a few car-parks with (supposedly) secure parking at a price obviously but he hs only looked at the east side of the City near the Tower, but I'm sure the west side of the City of London will have similar.

Don't know if this is any help - www.motorcycleparking.com
- I've emailed about bike parks near where I work that aren't on the site and it comes back undelivered.