Video report: Scaring the "Tax" out of WestmOnster. 31st October 2009

[aftereffects]

nice. if i wasnt so far away i'd have come down.

[briansacks]

Nice soundtrack! Keep up the good work!

[DaneVincentVid]

10p!!!! come on!

[oofafoo]

Thin - end - wedge!!!

[uktokers]

10p is how much the text messages cost. The parking fee is £1 (it was £1.50 until it was reduced after we protested). It may sound cheap to you but some people can't afford it. If this motorcycle parking tax isn't abolished, then we all know that the price will go up eventually.

[kosmad]

exactly, now, its only £1, but thats how they start it, an intruction rate so to speak, before they hit us with the real rate that they want, thats why they lowered it from £1.50, they thought £1.50 would be low enough for us to let it pass, but it wasnt

[DaneVincentVid]

I agree with the charges, you should all cycle instead. Better for the environment! Charge you all you fuel gushing vehicles, more money on transport/ cycle paths/ and a sustainable world. No more wars for resources too!

[oofafoo]

I applaud you for riding your bicycle, I also ride mine as often as I can. This is more then just a protest about 10p and if you can't see that I'm really not going to waste my time explaining it to you!

[DaneVincentVid]

@oofafoo Well I was just pointing that out but I understand the whole argument. I personally believe people should decide to travel green by their own but they wont under any current government and media control so in the sort term taxes on pollution can only be a step in the right direction.

[oofafoo]

In an ideal world that would be great, but, we don't live in an ideal world and to think that we can all travel green all of the time is very niave indeed. this tax is punishing the very people that are less likely to be able to afford it.

[DaneVincentVid]

@oofafoo Well I see you as a defeatist. I believe it is and must be possible. This is our children's future we are talking about, I I don't take it lightly. It's not niave, niave is ignoring the global scale this warming will bring if we don't radically change are way of life, for a post modern existence.

[oofafoo]

I see myself as a realist and someone that also wants to change attitudes and the world but not someone that wants to ram it down the throats of people that may eventually be supporters of the cause. Yes, it is urgent but, if you want to get people on side your way is not the way. Slowly slowly catch a monkey.

[DaneVincentVid]

@oofafoo That kind of passive attitude will never change things. You need to say what you think and be clear of what you appose. Other wise you are just letting climate change run away and destroy our planet. I'm not going to be the one who says when he's older "yes I wasn't very fond of pollution, and I did mention it to people". Climate change is a matter of life or death, don't treat it as if it is a little debate about who's doing the washing tonight.

[ojosef]

We are protesting pure principle.

Motorcycles, scooters and bicycles should all be encouraged in London, they all have their merits over the 4 wheeled box.

[ojosef]

Westminster City Council are imposing a tax (levy and that is their own words) in order to first they claim provide secure parking facilities and more bays, since motorcycles and scooters are also prone to theft just as bicycles are, they can be lifted in to a back of a van. Westminster imposed a tax, that tax was paid, they raised 4 million pounds from it (it was £1.50 per day or £150 per year)

[ojosef]

But guess what.. they took the money and what happened? nothing.. no secure parking facilities or increases in parking spaces instead nothing happened, the money was taken and that was it. Of course that made people angry and rightly so, what are we being penalised for...

[ojosef]

...we use a congesting busting, space efficient mode of transport, we are not saying that it is 100% "green" but it is certainly greener than a car.. it costs me £5 (about 5 litres) to fill my scooter for a week to go to a from work (and have usage at the weekend too) how much would it cost for a car?

[ojosef]

Anyway the point is, the principle.

[ojosef]

There only reason for this tax is the raise revenue which is illegal against the Road Traffic Act (Something of which bicycles to not apply).. but for how long, bicycle registration happened in Amsterdam and it can soon happen in London, and then you guys will start getting taxed to park your bicycles in "dedicated sardine bays" you wait.. it will happen unless you fight it now.

[ojosef]

So please understand where we are coming from, this is not a protest for "we are green or for climate change" but a protest against greedy councils and unjustified levies, and common sense.

[ojosef]

London should be the capital for 2 wheels, be them pedal or powered, we must protest this.

[forestcre]

hungry horse got a brief exposure :)

j

[kosmad]

I saw myself twice! 4:57 and for a split second at 8:49 in the red t-shirt

[91biker]

lol thats me at 4.00, agv helmet silver visor and my mate on the back with a bue helmet and clear visor