Motorcyclists in Paris to face parking charges

For years, Paris drivers complained that while they have been hit with rising parking charges, half a million motorbike and moped owners have had a certain libert to park wherever they want for free.

From September, motorcyclists in the French capital will face charges of up to €37.50 for six hours to leave their bikes and mopeds on the city's streets. Anyone without a ticket will be required to pay the full six-hour rate.

The measure is being introduced to reduce pollution and to put an end to the chaos caused by two-wheeled vehicles being parked arbitrarily at the roadside and even on pavements. It has sparked anger among Paris motorcyclists who describe it as just another tax.

From 1 September all privately owned motorised two-wheel vehicles, apart from those that are electric-powered, will be subject to charges of up to €3 an hour.

There are 42,000 parking spaces for motorbikes and mopeds in the city and the authorities have promised to create more than 1,000 spots. It is forbidden to park on the pavements or in spaces reserved for bicycles.

Riders will have to pay for a permit or buy tickets to park from 9 am to 8 pm every day except Sundays and bank holidays. For residents or those who use a motorcycle or moped for professional reasons, there will be preferential rates of €4.50 a week or €22.50 a year. The longer the stay, the longer the stay, the higher the hourly rate: a six-hour ticket will cost €37.50.

The new charges will come into effect in September, and riders can register their vehicles from Monday if they wish to benefit from the reduced charge.

David Belliard, a deputy mayor representing the Europe Ecology and Greens Party EELV, said he understood riders frustration but the measure was fair given that car drivers faced charges for parking in Paris.

From 1 September, Belliard told FranceInfo that they are going to go from a situation where they have not paid for the parking of motorbikes, two-wheelers, scooters and motorbikes.

The parking charge is lower than that of motorists. It's a measure of fairness with regard to motorists. There is a lot of anarchic parking, which is a situation in which we need to regulate public space.

We need to reduce noise and pollution. All of this is part of a logic of better regulation of the city. Everything that is low emission will be free, but we are entering another period where we need paid parking. If you park without tickets, you will not be given a fine but ordered to pay for a retrospective ticket at the highest rate of €37.50.

On Sunday, dozens of motorcyclists gathered in Paris to protest against the new charges.

Jean-Marc Belotti, the coordinator of the French Federation of Motorbikers in the Paris region, described the measure as a further tax and said it was antisocial. He accused the authorities of hypocrisy. It is a real financial blow, Belotti said. He said motorised two-wheelers were an ecological plus, even if they were less green than bicycles.

They are cleaner and less imposing than a car and public space is optimised. Fuel consumption is low and for the same distance you're riding for much less time, he said.

The petition was filed with the city hall by more than 37,000 people.