In an effort to stop motorbikes and scooters parking on the pavement along the lower High Street in Swanage, Dorset, there’s a proposal to create a new on-street motorbike parking bay.
At the Swanage Town Council traffic management advisory committee on Wednesday 11th June 2025 the issue was discussed and a possible solution put to a Dorset Council highways officer in an effort to find a resolution.
This is the taxi rank along lower High Street but on a warm summer evening it was occupied by a Blue Badge user and a camper van. The proposal is to change this space to motorcycle parking
Motorcyclists receiving fixed penalty notices
For years, motorbikes and scooters have parked on the pavement near Gee Whites but increasingly the illegal parking has been challenged by Dorset Council parking enforcement officers and bikers have been receiving fixed penalty notices.
During the winter, the deployment of the concrete flooding prevention barrier reduces the space on the pavement, and the parking of motorbikes further reduces accessibility for wheelchairs or prams.
In response to complaints from both pavement users about access, and bikers about limited dedicated parking in the town, it was proposed to re-purpose the existing Hackney Carriage Taxi bay located on the lower High Street, near the junction of lower Seymer Road, into a designated motorcycle parking bay.
For years, scooters and motorcycles have parked on this bit of the pavement and their drivers have enjoyed a drink at Gee Whites within sight of their bikes
However the bikes can block the pavement, especially when the flood barrier is deployed during the winter months
“Let’s stop the war”
There are two dedicated motorcycle bays in Swanage – one on Shore Road and the other on Station Road.
There used to be a third bay but it is along the stretch of Shore Road near to The Mowlem which has now been pedestrianised.
Chair of the traffic management advisory committee Cliff Sutton said:
“Let’s stop the war between the motorcyclists and the enforcement officers and look to create a new motorcycling parking bay.
“It’s in the right place, right next to where the bikers want to park, and it will be legal.”
The taxi rank
The police bay, although it’s occupied by a Blue Badge user in this photo
Taxi rank rarely used
It was discussed whether the space was ever used by taxi drivers but it was confirmed that it is rarely used.
It was believed that it had originally been created to support the nighttime economy near to the bars and clubs in the lower High Street, but now that people use mobile phones to ring for a cab, taxi drivers don’t sit waiting on a rank in that location.
Any taxi drivers picking up from the bars and clubs usually stop briefly directly outside the venues to pick up passengers.
Dedicated motorcycle bays in Swanage have recently been reduced from three to two
This motorcycle bay in Shore Road near The Mowlem was taken out of use when this part of the road was pedestrianised
“Give motorcyclists the space to park”
Councillor Mike Bonfield said:
“I’d also propose to change the adjacent police bay into motorcycle parking, as that is also rarely used. It would be better to give motorcyclists the space to park.
“I should add that once the flood alleviation scheme is implemented in lower High Street, it may mean no one is allowed to park along that stretch but we may as well accommodate motorcyclists for now.”
The motorcycle bay along the north end of Shore Road, although a Blue Badge driver has parked in it
A motorcycle in the motorcycle bay on Station Road
Dorset Council’s responsibility
The proposal is in the very early stages as it’s down to Dorset Council as the highways authority to implement the changes but it requires support from Swanage Town Council for it to go ahead.
The matter will now go to Swanage Town Council’s community services meeting for discussion and if the councillors fully back it, Dorset Council will then consult the public on the issue.
If it’s all agreed and the money allocated, then Dorset Council will issue a Traffic Regulation Order in order to enact the change.
