Motorcycles in Wellington car parks protesting the new parking fees. Photo: Supplied/Lucy Morris
Motorcyclists in Wellington are staging a sit in in Central Wellington on Tuesday morning to protest against newly imposed parking fees.
The Wellington City Council have recently put in fees of $1 per hour for Motorbikes to park in car parks, with a daily cap of $6.
Protest organiser Lucy Morris is revved up about the charges.
"It will effect other motorist because having this mode of transport is attractive and efficient, it reduces congestion on the roads, it improves traffic flow, and having to pay for this is going to drive more people into less efficient modes of transport like single-use car rides," she said.
The council implemented motorcycle parking fees despite many submissions opposing the changes.
Morris told Morning Report they were maliciously complying with the council's sentiment, taking up car parks along the Terrace and Lambton Quay.
When asked why motorcyclists should be exempt from parking charges, she said it was supposed to be a cost effective way to travel, and they already faced high fees.
"We have extremely high registration fees in terms of ACC levies, so registering a motorcycle is about $480 a year.
"[These charges] include scooters and mopeds which are largely used by people of lesser financial means, such as students, a lot of delivery drivers use them and they use this transport as a cost effective way of getting around."
She said the money to pay the parking fees would take away from other areas.
"In this cost of living crisis, having to find an extra, you know, $30-$35 a week is going to come out of somewhere."
No other city in the country charged motorcyclists, she added.
The protests may continue on June 10.
In response, Wellington City Councillor Geordie Rogers said although charges had been implemented, they only applied in the inner city and during week days.
He said weekend parking was still free of charge.
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