Congestion charge for Bikes in Manchester

[powelly]

I don't know if any of you have heard this yet but its just been on the news that Bikes will be charged a reduced rate congestion charge when it comes in to force in Manchester.

Just goes to show its nothing to do with congestion and just another way of earning money!

[Stiffler]

Yeah, I'd heard it was rumoured to be the case... I'm gutted it's true though.

How can they argue that bikes add to congestion? I ride 15 miles into Manchester (I work at the university) every day and at no point am I causing congestion... In fact I spend 75% of the time riding past it!

I can easily get the train on occasions when the bike is off the road but it's more exspensive and rammed. The morning train that arrives in good time for all the 9-5'ers often has to sail through the last two stations on the route as it's rammed to capacity. What the hell is going to happen upon introduction of the congestion charge I don't know.

Ah well, one things for sure, it's not going to be good for Manchester Growth.

Tim
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Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[Marcg868]

What really fucks me off is the fact Manchester has 2 zones! Whereas in London its just the one zone.

Luckily i dont work in the City centre anymore, but will still have to pay to enter zone one as i live in Bury and work in Middleton.

Money grabbing bastards, it wont do Manchester any good at all.
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[powelly]

[mrbluesbox]

this really sucks - its gonna cost me a fortune cos i work right in the centre.
dont suppose they said how much cheaper it would be for a bike?
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I seem to have misplaced my pants...................

[mrbluesbox]

on another note let try and do something about it.
just found this online petition so everyone get signed up and let see if they will actually listen to what people want:

https://www.petitiononline.com/mancong/petition.html
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I seem to have misplaced my pants...................

[rvfdan]

Arrrgh! The last i heard on the congestion charge coming to Manchester was just speculation. Is this shit actually happening? And bikes too??? Jesus. "Congestion" in Manchester isn't even that bad, not like London at any rate. What a scam.

[powelly]

Yeah and Manchester isnt just the city center, its one charge to get into the m60 another charge to get into the city center, then another charge to get out of the city center and yet another charge to get out of the m60.

The only good point is you will only get charge if your traveling in rush hour, something like 7 while 9 in the morning and 4 while 6 in the evening so you can avoid the charges if you travel off peak. but then again, wont that just move the congestion to 5 mins after the charge stops!

[nynfortoo]

I wish they'd develop some real bonuses to encourage people not to use their own motorised transport, instead of just penalising you for doing so. I'm sure many people hate driving into cities just to get to work, but the way public transport is run, there aren't many feasible and worthwhile alternatives.

[Resurrection]

its not even being implemented until 2012 so relax as im sure a hundred different things/laws will have changed and been passed in the 5 years ahead

Res
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ZX9r

[Itchy]

yup even worse ones for your wallet , Tory MP dared the Labour council to hold a referendum , they said no we know better , ie they will lose,

but ! 2010 I intend to be on the south coast anyway and 2013 emigrated.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Itchy]

[Itchy]

[king756]

[froggeh]

[Stiffler]

[James]

Its nothing to do with congestion and more about the vermin/filth politicians and ruling classes trying to price the poorer off the road so they can drive around without hold up (presumably because they're so important). The congestion charge should be means tested to make it meaningful, its not like a tenner has the same impact on a minimum wage earner as a city banker/wanker who earns six figure bonuses.

Civil war and revolution afoot in this country, maybe not in our lifetime but its in the post along with a bus load of romanians
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Like shit off a stick

[Marcg868]

Its a fucking disgrace this, they claim that the money will be spent on extending the metrolink, what bloody use is that to People Who live in Wigan, Leigh, Bolton etc? £6.70 a day to be rammed on the Train from Bolton to Manchester, or £4 and 15 mins on the bike.

Extend the Metrolink to the Above towns and sort out the public transport. Money grabbing cunts Manchester council.
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[Itchy]

[Itchy]

[Stiffler]

[froggeh]

[Kurt]

The congestion charge is utter bollocks.

I live in Stockport and work in Manchester, me and my missus drive in together, it takes us around 25 minutes max right into the city centre, a distance of around 6 miles. The only bad bit of congestion is on the A6. Why? Cos the useless f**kers put in a bus lane, it was fine before but now it's busy as 2 lanes have become one. And how many buses use their frigging bus lane? Sod all, you practicaly never see a bus in the morning.

So, we will have to fork out for the privilage of driving to work? What about car pooling? We share a car, we should pay less.

And now I'll be biking to work while she's off on maternity leave (our first - hurrah! I still have to pay the f**king charge?

It's so frigging unfair, especially on the people that really can't afford it.

You know what we should do? Just for a day, boycott cars and bikes and ALL try to get to work on public transport. Every f**ker would be late for work and that would prove, once and for all, that the public transport system simply cannot cope. End of.
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- Current Bike: Honda Varadero 125 -

[rvfdan]

This really is the most horrendous crap going. It takes the mick that they're trying to price car drivers off the road as it is, but bikes? They should be promoting the use of them if they think congestion is an issue (which it bloody well isn't). Where's all the money going to go then? Are we going to benefit in any way from it? No, we're not, not in the slightest.

Have the 2 zones / charging times actually been confirmed yet?

[iooi]