West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Published: 17 July 2009
Bike ‘tax’ protests
• I WAS extremely interested to see your article (Uneasy riders: Further protests over motorbike ‘taxes’, July 10) and the protest campaign. After my pushbike was stolen about 25 years ago I was influenced to buy a small motorcycle, now downgraded to a “motor scooter”, to carry out many duties and requirements around the capital.
This enabled me to carry out many more tasks per day than could be achieved by using public transport, thus saving me more money, reducing congestion on the transport system and creating more business.
Now I cannot do this.
I do not carry around with me a mobile phone, although it would appear that everyone does so, but, of course, those who do not are not observed, and there are probably many of us.
Now I am unable to park at any motorcycle parking bay.
If I could use these for several short visits each day, it would cost me several pounds.
Now I must crowd onto public transport and can do less business than I could otherwise achieve.
For regular commuters to travel to work on their machines produces less congestion, less pollution, less carbon emissions than if they had to come in by other means.
I hope people will campaign to support their protest. DERICK GARNIER
NW8
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