Parking Free for All ???

[crazymike]

Hey gang !

Maybe i missed the riders class that says you can park your ride any damn place ya feel like it.

5 times in 2 days i've had to walk around a bike thats parked up on the sidewalk in front of a store's front doors.2 of said times the bikes were so close that everyone entering the store was forced to navigate around some guys ride.
like i said i must have slept through that section of the MSF course cuz i park my bike in a parking spot...given i'll park further away from the general traffic if possible but what the hell is with these guys making them selves look like A-holes by forcing others to circumnavigate their bikes on public sidewalks, mall entrances or in order to use the doors of a drug store ?
Any comments or explanations are welcomed !

Cheers !

[Schneiderman]

It's pretty rude to park your bike in the way of traffic, whether it be vehicular or pedestrian. I don't think there's anything wrong at all with parking on sidewalks as long as it's a part of the sidewalk that nobody uses.

That said, I only ever park my bike on one particular sidewalk, at a supermarket that I used to work at, and in a spot where the manager also parks his bike. It's the only place I'm sure where I won't get a ticket. Other than that I park in a regular spot out of fear.

I can also tell a long story about my college and what idiots they are and how they really screwed me over with parking, but I don't feel like getting into it.

[TFee3]

When I ride to Wal Mart, I always park right up against the side of the building in the corner where nobody should be bothered by my parking there. I agree, it's pretty rude to block a sidwalk. If there's no good place to park close, I use the parking lot. It won't kill me to walk a few yards. What really burns my rear is seeing a young stud parking his car beside the store while his wife goes in, and at the same time, watching an elderly couple park 50 yards away and walking to the store.

[grappler]

I just park in a regular spot. I'm young and fit, I can walk an extra 20ft.

TFee3, at the cost of derailing the thread I get what your saying. Am I the last young man in Southern California that will hold open a door or give up my seat for the elderly? I mean seriously, I have been on bus rides before where men will just sit there reading their magazines while a pregnant woman is standing.

[Goliath616]

I must confess, I parked on the sidewalk yesterday at the local grocery store, BUT where I parked it was out of the way (and it was the first time ever). I hate it when the idiots in cars try to park on top of my bike because they are not looking and can't see it over the SUV parked beside me.

[kitty kat]

TFee3, at the cost of derailing the thread I get what your saying. Am I the last young man in Southern California that will hold open a door or give up my seat for the elderly? I mean seriously, I have been on bus rides before where men will just sit there reading their magazines while a pregnant woman is standing.

at my local shop I park behind the trolley bay, the bike is in no one's way and the staff always smile & say hello when I park up. (Maybe it it the ears & the tail on my helmet that makes people smile)

As with the above, my kids were the only ones who ever seemed to give up their seats on buses for the elderly or infirm and I always have done that since I was little.

[loudest143]

You can't fix stupid. The difference between smart and stupid is that smart has its' limits.

Parking on sidewalks, parking in handicapped spaces, not helping out your fellow human, giving the good seats to women and children, all of these things are truly a sign that our society is losing ground rapidly.

It has nothing to do with sex, color, religion or tax bracket. Americans are getting dumber and lazier and meaner.

I think I'll move to Canada. Maybe someone will say hello to me and smile as I pass them on the sidewalk, and I can listen to my Glass Tiger albums without getting laughed at.

I vote for the death penalty for parking violations.

Bring back natural selection.

loudest143
*magna cum loudest

[Dodsfall]

I just park in the regular spots. I make sure to park near the back of the stall so everyone driving by knows there is a vehicle there.

[Custom85VT]

I always try to park in those little triangle painted bits at the front of a row, usually there is a light pole there to help protect the bike. This also makes the bike more visible to traffic and less accessible to thieves.

http://www.accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/20070623_empty_lot_parking_lot.jpg

[jag13]

I never park on sidewalks. That said I have seen this in my area, they are very possibly bikes owned by the stores owner/employee and used for deliveries if parked in front of a drug store or market (very common in my area) and parking them on the sidewalk (concrete) insures they won't tip over in the heat! Also keeps them in view of store for security reasons, while freeing up the parking spaces for the actual customers. Just my experience/$.02

[YamahaFan]

I park where's permitted, curb or parking lot. If I'm not sure I ask security/other people around, and if none available I guess I'd better make it quick. I don't recall I ever parked on a sidewalk though.
The other day I asked security (at my work place) about parking in the little triangles at the front of the parking row, they said there was no rules, so it *should* be alright, but then I thought again, if I park there, someone else might go at it too, and more will follow, so I gave up that idea :)

[lmychajluk]

Funny you should post this thread. I was on my way home yesterday when I drove up a street I don't usually drive up. It's on a bit of an uphill, and I saw a bike up on the sidewalk in front of this one house. The house had a set of steps coming up from the sidewalk to the front door along one side of the property, then some type of retaining wall across the rest of the property to give it a level lawn. Now, it was probably the guy's house, but not only did he park on the sidewalk, but rather than parking in front of the retaining wall, he parked the bike right across the foot of the stairs. WTF?

[Dodsfall]

I park on the sidewalk in front of my house to wash my bike, since it's in the shade and I can reach it with one hose. I usually do this early on a weekend morning while most people are still asleep.

[Nick russell]

I'm a fat old fart and need all the exercise I can get. I usually park in the outer edge of the parking lot and walk in.

[ZugZwang]

I have parked on the sidewalk, the triangle sections at the end of a row, along the side of the building and just about any place that will keep my bike as safe as possible but I have never parked in a location that would impede vehicle traffic or pedistrian traffic. I also usually carry a stand pad for those times when I can't locate firm ground for my kick stand. I guess I don't understand why anybody would park thier bike in front of the door in a place that would irritate somebody enough that they may just give my favorite past time just enough of a nudge...Well you know what I mean. At least there are a few places near my home that I frequent that have specific areas for motorcycles to park near the entrance with concrete parking places! Thank you Maplewood Mall and Fleet Farm....

[super32]

www<dot>accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/20070623_empty_lot_parking_lot.jpg

ooOOooo, that's a nice parking lot. A nice place for me to practice! I'm a beginner rider.

Anyway, back on track.
Yeah, I'd park on the sidewalk ONLY if the sidewalk is not raised, at all! even if it is raised at some parts and ramped at others, I still try to stay away.

I also park far, and make the extra effort to walk. However, I do live in the California, so it might not get as hot/cold/wet as other places... I guess in situations of the extreme would cause a rider to park closer to get out of the elements faster.

All that matters is to park where it's "smart" => not in anyone's way, low traffic (foot and wheel), unlikely to get ticketed, etc. If nobody else is parked on the sidewalk, it's somewhat safe to assume you might not get ticketed.

PS
dang!!! I can't even reply to a post with a HTTP in it?! Oh, I really need to visit this forum more to get post count up.

[uffs]

I live in NJ, about 10 miles from NYC... When in Jersey, I always park in a parking space (just as if I was in a car)..

I haven't yet ridden into the city (just got my MC endorsement last month).. I always avoid driving my car into the city because of parking. I hate having to circle blocks for an hour looking for a spot just to park like 20 blocks away from where I'm going.. The only other option is to pay a ridiculous amount of $$$ to park in a garage..

I was kinda hoping that riding my motorcycle into the city would help with this.. Does anyone here park in NYC, and if so, where? Do you pull up on the sidewalk there? Do you park between cars on the side of the road?

[lmychajluk]

I'd be interested in what people do in NYC as well.

I'm in about the same boat as you, uffs. I live in the Meadowlands, took MSF and bought a bike back in June, and am just starting to feel comfortable enough to venture into Manhattan. I grew up in NYC, but don't hang out there as often as I used to mostly because it's a PITA to park. Now, since more and more areas are becoming "No Parking at all" (even at night), and parking tickets are about $150 now in Manhattan, I'm curious if I can just back in between two cars where I can. I'm not sure I'd pull up on the sidewalk, but I can't think of many other options, especially since many of the garages don't allow motorcycles.

[Schneiderman]

I ride to NYC all the time. I usually have the luxury of parking inside my company's shop in Brooklyn. However, standard procedure for parking on the street is to park not parallel, but perpendicular, like this:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/54485366_1f26859708.jpg?v=0

This picture is from San Fransisco and it's actually motorcycle-designated parking (which I've never seen in NYC) but I'm just illustrating how motorcycles park- perpendicular to the street.

In some places it is acceptable to park on the sidewalk, in many places it is not. You'll have to use your judgment. You might not want to do it unless you see another motorcycle already doing it. In any case, NEVER even come CLOSE to blocking sidewalk traffic! If the cops don't get you, the pedestrians might take it into their own hands.

If you park between two cars just make sure both of them have room to pull out, like normal.

[chaindad]

I'm a fat old fart and need all the exercise I can get. I usually park in the outer edge of the parking lot and walk in.

Rite on brother....I'm not fat but whether I'm in the cage or on Faith....I park as far away as I can...I can walk & there are others who need the close spots alot more than me. People who park on sidewalks are slackers who give us all a bad name! Attaboys to you Nick & BIG attaboys to Grappler!!!!

God bless & ride safe!
Daddio

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d53/chaindad/FAITH/93f48555-2.jpg

[lmychajluk]

I have the feeling that parking like in the pic in NYC is a pipe dream, but it sure would be nice if they made 1 spot on every block available to park 3-4 bikes.

If I'm parked between cars, what if there's a meter? I.E., you park perpendicular to the street directly in front of the meter, in front of the car that payed the meter (assuming there's room)? Is that asking for a ticket? What if the meter runs out?

I actually parked like that in Hoboken the other night - behind a car in a meter'd spot, but adjacent to a driveway. I didn't get bothered, but I didn't like doing it (especially knowing Hoboken cops and the town's financial situations). Usually, I try to find a spot between cars on the non-metered streets, or I'll take a whole spot w/ a meter, but Hoboken's meters aren't that expensive yet ($.25/15min, and only until 9pm). I think parts of NYC are up around $.25/10min until midnight, and sometimes the meters are 1-hr max, so you have to keep coming back and putting more money in.

Another thing, I've started using a cable lock to lock my gear to the bike when I leave it. I'm OK with that in the areas of NJ that I go, but I'm not sure I'd want to do that in NYC. But, I'm not sure I want to walk into a restaurant in full gear carrying a tank bag and helmet, either...

[louturks]

Chances are the people parking right up to the door that people have to navigate around one day will come out of the store and their bike will be laying on the ground

[Custom85VT]

I'm just illustrating how motorcycles park- perpendicular to the street.

Looks like a VERY expensive round of dominoes waiting to fall to me. :eek::eek::eek: Better hope that kickstand on that first one holds out!!!

[rexmitchell]

I will park on the sidewalk only if I can't find a spot in the lot where I can still see my bike. At work I park in a spot with a couple other bikes unless the cars take all the spots first. In that cas I park near the bike racks next to the building in the shade. On top of that I park right in front of the Vice presidents window so she can keep an eye on it for me:)

[crazymike]

Thanks for all the great comments to my original thread gang !

As a quick addon...I was forced to walk around a brand new Rocker C to enter a local drug store the other day and thought " I'm going to try to pick out the owner and ask him/her politely why they had parked roughly 6 feet from the door "...

so while shopping i scanned the fellow customers...and lo and behold a 30 something guy with a ponytail,a "Harley" head wrap and a black sleeveless shirt that actually read "Badass" in huge white letters,was sitting legs outstretched and going out of his way to be obnoxious & loud as an expression of just how cool and badass he was while waiting for a prescription to be filled.
Laughing i approached him and said "nice Rocker out there" just going with my gut feel that Mr.Badass was indeed the owner ..sure enough he answered in the affirmative and when i inquired as to why it was so important to block the proverbial little old ladies from the drug store doors....he replied with an up and down sneer and an abrupt " F**k Off "

My response ,laughing, then tucking my helmet under my arm and asking him in a calm and very polite voice if he really wanted the opportunity to prove how tough he was by continuing our conversation outside...he quietly declined my offer saying basically he " didnt have time right now" because he " had to pick up his girlfriend " ...lol
So,apparently for this wanna-be idiot,parking on the sidewalk and blocking pedestrians was just another way to prove to the world what a tough guy and a rebel he was.

Generally us Canadians tend to be polite, helpful and respectful of other folks...but there are always some who need to be called out once in a while and reminded that not everyone here will put up with such B.S....apparently this fellow was one of them.

Cheers all !

[Hogrider]

I just park in a regular spot. I'm young and fit, I can walk an extra 20ft.

Yeah, and it's 20 feet further you will have to run when they're stealing it too. Many places in SoCal have bike racks and they are often used by motorcycles without incident. When I lived there I, and others I would ride with, used them all the time as rarely were they being used for bicycles. Even the mall security folks allowed this practice.

Parking on a sidewalk doesn't bother me as long as it is done in a manner that does not restrict the normal in an out flow of customer traffic.

[Hogrider]

Thanks for all the great comments to my original thread gang !

As a quick addon...I was forced to walk around a brand new Rocker C to enter a local drug store the other day and thought " I'm going to try to pick out the owner and ask him/her politely why they had parked roughly 6 feet from the door "...

so while shopping i scanned the fellow customers...and lo and behold a 30 something guy with a ponytail,a "Harley" head wrap and a black sleeveless shirt that actually read "Badass" in huge white letters,was sitting legs outstretched and going out of his way to be obnoxious & loud as an expression of just how cool and badass he was while waiting for a prescription to be filled.
Laughing i approached him and said "nice Rocker out there" just going with my gut feel that Mr.Badass was indeed the owner ..sure enough he answered in the affirmative and when i inquired as to why it was so important to block the proverbial little old ladies from the drug store doors....he replied with an up and down sneer and an abrupt " F**k Off "

My response ,laughing, then tucking my helmet under my arm and asking him in a calm and very polite voice if he really wanted the opportunity to prove how tough he was by continuing our conversation outside...he quietly declined my offer saying basically he " didnt have time right now" because he " had to pick up his girlfriend " ...lol
So,apparently for this wanna-be idiot,parking on the sidewalk and blocking pedestrians was just another way to prove to the world what a tough guy and a rebel he was.

Generally us Canadians tend to be polite, helpful and respectful of other folks...but there are always some who need to be called out once in a while and reminded that not everyone here will put up with such B.S....apparently this fellow was one of them.

Cheers all !

Man you missed it. You should have asked if he would mind picking his bike up as you had noticed it fell over on the side walk.

[super32]

Thanks for all the great comments to my original thread gang !

As a quick addon...I was forced to walk around a brand new Rocker C to enter a local drug store the other day and thought " I'm going to try to pick out the owner and ask him/her politely why they had parked roughly 6 feet from the door "...

so while shopping i scanned the fellow customers...and lo and behold a 30 something guy with a ponytail,a "Harley" head wrap and a black sleeveless shirt that actually read "Badass" in huge white letters,was sitting legs outstretched and going out of his way to be obnoxious & loud as an expression of just how cool and badass he was while waiting for a prescription to be filled.
Laughing i approached him and said "nice Rocker out there" just going with my gut feel that Mr.Badass was indeed the owner ..sure enough he answered in the affirmative and when i inquired as to why it was so important to block the proverbial little old ladies from the drug store doors....he replied with an up and down sneer and an abrupt " F**k Off "

My response ,laughing, then tucking my helmet under my arm and asking him in a calm and very polite voice if he really wanted the opportunity to prove how tough he was by continuing our conversation outside...he quietly declined my offer saying basically he " didnt have time right now" because he " had to pick up his girlfriend " ...lol
So,apparently for this wanna-be idiot,parking on the sidewalk and blocking pedestrians was just another way to prove to the world what a tough guy and a rebel he was.

Generally us Canadians tend to be polite, helpful and respectful of other folks...but there are always some who need to be called out once in a while and reminded that not everyone here will put up with such B.S....apparently this fellow was one of them.

Cheers all !
Man you missed it. You should have asked if he would mind picking his bike up as you had noticed it fell over on the side walk.

Man, it's too bad there's such rude and ill-mannered people out there. Makes me wonder what's really their problem.

Good for you for standing up to those people and really setting him in his own place.

The fallen bike would have been good too! :)

[Dodsfall]

Good for you for standing up to those people and really setting him in his own place.



These people rarely get the point. Either they are just looking for some attention (which he got) or feel entitled to just do whatever they want because they are somehow more important than everyone else in the world. They feel that anyone who complains is in the wrong no matter what.

I think the comment: "The cops were just out there, I think I overheard them calling a truck to tow that bike" would work pretty well to get him to move it.

[Hogrider]

These people rarely get the point. Either they are just looking for some attention (which he got) or feel entitled to just do whatever they want because they are somehow more important than everyone else in the world. They feel that anyone who complains is in the wrong no matter what.

I think the comment: "The cops were just out there, I think I overheard them calling a truck to tow that bike" would work pretty well to get him to move it.


Exactly what I was thinking Dods. Rather than giving him the attention he appeared to be looking for, tell him his bike is in danger (read as fallen or the cops are out there) and watch him scramble. I love it..... That would be worth the price of admission...