parking up on the sidewalk, etc..

[R1200R]

Originally Posted by Woohoo

What's sad is that I didn't laugh because I've already encountered that problem before.

wow, sorry, didn't mean it to be personal.. sorry for the loss. I wouldn't have said anything if I knew of course.

[MirrorrorriM]

In college I did this at lecture halls for class. It beat riding the campus bus when I was running late. All was fine until idiots on their sport bikes would tear across the grass revving the crap out of their bikes for no reason. Because of the attention that it brought, they started cracking down and ticketing bikers.

Living in DC now, it's tempting but I have yet to work up the nerve to do this and expect my bike to not be ticketed/towed by the time I get back. I suppose in a location out of sight it would be fine but most of the areas I go to are within eyesight of Parking Authority.

[stantony1]

I treat my bike as a registered motor vehicle.

I park in designated spots meant for vehicles.

[sanford]

Originally Posted by stantony1

I treat my bike as a registered motor vehicle.

I park in designated spots meant for vehicles.

I think we all do but there obviously are exceptions from reading the above posts, ie private sidewalks in front of motorcycle friendly store's.. kind of like some pet store's allow dogs in the store..

[stantony1]

Originally Posted by sanford

I think we all do but there obviously are exceptions from reading the above posts, ie private sidewalks in front of motorcycle friendly store's.. kind of like some pet store's allow dogs in the store..

I hear ya, I see motorcycles parked on private walks all the time in front of stores, etc. I have no problem with that. But I guess that if I treat my vehicle as a full fledged registered vehicle, I am hoping that others will as well.

I am supposed to get my own lane, my own parking spot. I don't expect special treatment but I expect to be treated as a registered vehicle so I expect folks to respect my lane and my parking spot.

If a car parked on the sidewalk, they are getting a ticket. It's just my warped sense of fairness that says if you car guys can't then neither will I even though there is permission from the store or whatever for motorcycles.

But I will take advantage of motorcycle designated spots and signage that that says motorcycles only.

In Boston, metered spots for motorcycles is 2 dollars for the whole day, no limit.

[Woohoo]

Originally Posted by R1200R

wow, sorry, didn't mean it to be personal.. sorry for the loss. I wouldn't have said anything if I knew of course.

No, no, there's no "loss" like that. No need to be sorry. It's just that I didn't laugh because it's a real problem that pisses me off. I've been involved in a parking lot fender bender with an insurance-less wonder. That worked out in the end but it was a PITA. My aunt was involved in another minor accident with someone without insurance (or a DL!), and on and on.

[R1200R]

Originally Posted by Woohoo

No, no, there's no "loss" like that. No need to be sorry. It's just that I didn't laugh because it's a real problem that pisses me off. I've been involved in a parking lot fender bender with an insurance-less wonder. That worked out in the end but it was a PITA. My aunt was involved in another minor accident with someone without insurance (or a DL!), and on and on.

ok, good.... it's amazing to think we live in a country that has a 1% rate in one state and a 29% rate in another... I don't know what to make of that.

As for treated like a registered motor vehicle, I admire the idea, but the reality is I think parking on occasion on the curb in certain areas friendly to that will have no effect on public perception. A member above living in DC talks about getting the nerve to do this but is worried about coming back and finding it towed.... And he talks about parking meters.. this is a VERY different dynamic than a private strip mall center in the suburbs.. you see, I would never park mine on the curb and walk away where I can't see it... I'm strictly talking about certain locations (i.e. restaurants, coffee shop_ where YOU CAN see it at all times..

I should have been more clear in my original post.

[LWRider]

Part of the charm of motorcycles to the non-riding public is how little room they take up, in the parking lot and on the highway. They relieve congestion (one reason filtering or lane splitting is allowed in CA and some other countries). I think that is why generally bikes parked off the parking lot unobtrusively is tolerated. Still, gotta man up and take your licks if the Man tickets you for parking where you clearly shouldn't.

Cheers,

Mike

[R1200R]

Originally Posted by LWRider

(one reason filtering or lane splitting is allowed in CA and some other countries)
Cheers,

Mike

they're seriously talking about bringing that to Oregon.... God I hope so.

[Offcenter]

Just my two cents...
Here in Jersey, I think parking on the sidewalk would get
your bike towed in most towns.
I usually park in a regular parking space.

George in Jersey

[sanford]

time to park this thread...we get it
No one is going to park if any chance of being towed, private property is just that...were splitting hare's here

[R1200R]

Originally Posted by sanford

...were splitting hare's here

exactly.........

[Offcenter]

...were splitting hare's here

Splitting rabbits?? This I gotta see!

[R1200R]

Originally Posted by Offcenter

Splitting rabbits?? This I gotta see!

http://www.motorcycleforum.com/showp...3&postcount=36

[sanford]

Originally Posted by R1200R

http://www.motorcycleforum.com/showp...3&postcount=36

lol

[Offcenter]

Well I'll be darned!!!

[chet8625]

Funny but I stopped and talked to a parking enforcement person today in Boston on this subject.

All of the lots in my area say that motorcycles aren't allowed. My guy has been letting me park in his lot (I have a pass for my car) but I expect sooner or later his boss will stop that.

The parking person said some spots near corners are OK and some less obviously intrusive spots are OK. But a bike on a public sidewalk at a minimum would be ticketed and maybe even towed.

[R1200R]

Originally Posted by chet8625

The parking person said some spots near corners are OK and some less obviously intrusive spots are OK. But a bike on a public sidewalk at a minimum would be ticketed and maybe even towed.

well, and exactly... there's a world of difference between parking on a sidewalk in downtown SF, Boston DC, etc... where the public sidewalk is filled with Peds and there are all sorts of activity, vs a quiet suburban strip center with a patio style sidewalk area and the foot traffic is nil... but anyway..

[Woohoo]

Originally Posted by R1200R

well, and exactly... there's a world of difference between parking on a sidewalk in downtown SF, Boston DC, etc... where the public sidewalk is filled with Peds and there are all sorts of activity, vs a quiet suburban strip center with a patio style sidewalk area and the foot traffic is nil... but anyway..

It was a quiet suburban strip center where a friend of mine was told to get his bike off the sidewalk and into a parking spot or he'd be thrown out.

[kat569]

It depends on where I am and what the time of day is. The closest Walmart (we have three within ten minutes) is biker-friendly; but I only park there late at night, for safety reasons. In other words, I don't want to come out of the store late at night and have to kick someone's tail because he/she tried to rob me, KWIM? LOL But a guy on third shift at Walmart rides his Royal Enfield to work so I park right next to him by the pop machines; and the security guy is pro-biker and will check on our bikes frequently. During the day, I park in a space, though I've actually gotten chewed out by soccer moms for doing that. How DARE I take up a space that is meant for a CAR...sheesh.

Other stores, I play it by ear. Our new Target has this HUGE area in front (will have to get a pic) where there are benches, a bicycle rack, etc. - and plenty of room for a motorcycle or ten. So I park there. I will park near the door of another store if I see a bike already in that area or know it to be biker-friendly; otherwise, I take a space and prepare to go toe-to-toe with any irate soccer moms.

My college actually has five or six spaces designated for bikes; but very few people actually use them. More often than not, I see bikes parked in the striped no-parking area next to handicap spaces; which is something you will never EVER catch me doing. Hot-button topic. Don't invade the handicap areas, AT ALL. Our local mall has expectant mother (and mothers with young children) parking, which is rarely used; but no motorcycle parking. I'm going to write them a letter and politely request that the next time they re-stripe their lot, they consider providing their shoppers who ride with a designated parking area.

[R1200R]

Originally Posted by Woohoo

It was a quiet suburban strip center where a friend of mine was told to get his bike off the sidewalk and into a parking spot or he'd be thrown out.

a truly unlucky guy....