Parking for motorbikes being reduced in Town

One of the ways to encourage more commuters to use motorcycles and scooters would be to provide a decent amount of parking near to the town centre. However, I noticed that, far from providing more bike parking, our government is actually reducing it in a prime location.

At one time there used to be a large area to park bikes in the Market Square. That was removed to allow for the market developments and relocated on the not-so-sheltered Albert Pier. Since its relocation the size of the area was reduced to allow for the tourist train to park, with little pockets of parking on the entrance to the pier accessible for small bikes and scooters.

I notice now that the area has been further reduced to allow for large concrete blocks to be stored. On that same stretch of road there is now only room for five to six bikes, where dozens used to park. Is there nowhere else to store concrete blocks?

Now that the warmer weather is upon us would you not think that our government would provide more parking rather than reducing it? The area next to the bus terminus has a small section to park bikes, could that not be increased in size?

I would be interested to hear from a traffic department press spokesperson the reason as to why bike parking is being reduced in a prime location and why it can’t be increased in other areas.

RENE HERVE

Spindrift

Clos des Mielles,

Mare de Carteret,

Castel.

Editor’s footnote: Karl Guille, director of Traffic & Highway Services, replies:

The States-approved Road Transport Strategy recognises the benefits of the use of motorcycles and scooters in terms of easing pressure on congestion and parking. It identifies that motorcyclists take up less space and use less fuel and the strategy seeks to increase use of motorcycles over cars, although not as high a priority as other initiatives to encourage walking, cycling and shared transport such as bus use.

In light of the above, it is understandable that your correspondent has questioned why approximately half of the motorcycle parking was removed at Albert Pier to accommodate the Petit Train. This was agreed in the knowledge that surveys at the time had identified significant spare capacity of motorcycle spaces on the Albert Pier and also in recognition of the fact that the Petit Train service was being aimed primarily at cruise liner passengers who disembark there and that there was realistically nowhere else suitable to put it. Staff had also identified that the motorcycle parking spaces at South Esplanade opposite Havelet Bay were also underutilised.

With regard to the recent storage of the concrete security barriers in the motorcycle parking area on the Albert Pier, Traffic & Highway Services recognises that this is far from ideal and has been discussing potential alternative locations with Guernsey Harbours and the Guernsey Police.

Dialogue remains open to find an alternative solution but it needs to be convenient for future regular deployment for events such as Seafront Sundays.

In terms of work to expand motorcycle parking provision, this has already occurred at various places in Town; such as in the Bordage, at La Vallette and Le Truchot. Ongoing investigations include potential expansion of motorcycle parking at Crown Pier and near the Sunken Gardens.