Parking lot etiquette

[davelisowski]

if there are motorcycle spots, then i park there.

if not, park it like a car (but leave it so people can see there is indeed something in the spot)

like, don't hide it way up in the spot so that johnny-talks-a-lot comes flying into the spot only to find half-way through the turn that a vehicle is in the spot!

[vito]

Originally Posted by Chaps

I hate to take a whole spot that could be used by a car.....
Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle.com Free App

You're bike is registered, right?
Has a tag?
Has insurance?
Is considered a motor vehicle?
Same laws apply as to a car?

Use the parking space or an area clearly designated as "Motorcycle Only" or something to that effect.

[GadgetBandit]

"My opinion, is park it like a car. It is a legitimate licensed and taxed vehicle.
I don't see it as wasting a parking place, that's what they are there for.
Sidewalks and non-parking places, are not the place to park a bike.
And, I don't mind walking. Having a bike is not a "license" to park up close."

Saw this posted on the Parking/sidewalk link. I agree and I stay away from handicap parking. I generally look for a stop next to an island, so I only have to worry about a cage on one side.

GadgetBandit

[1996shadow]

Originally Posted by justinmahn

The parking lot is usually run by the business that maintains it. I've been told by cops that they don't do anything unless the business complains, so ask the people inside what's acceptable. That having been said, I do park in the lined areas by the handicap spots, giving plenty of room for wheelchair vehicles. Never had a ticket yet. I don't park on the sidewalks, because I worry about all the pedestrians (kids, mostly) messing with my bike.

Parking in the lined off area of a handicapped space is a sure fire way to get a high dollar ticket here, and most places, specially around the holiday season. As it was said earlier, and in another thread, it is not a parking space. It is for unloading wheelchairs. There are full size parking spaces and motorcycles fit in them just fine. It actually should give you almost enough room where someone in a car MIGHT NOT hit it with a door.

Keep in mind that most people are not really up on the laws like police officers are. They almost always feel that police officers can't enforce laws on private property. In VA, there are exceptions. Reckless driving, and parking offences, like handicapped parking are enforced on private property. Stop signs can also be enforced if the lot is used as a thorough fare. I have seen business owners use Handicapped signs to reserve their parking space, then get a ticket for parking there.

[1rusty1]

I just use a regular spot. I Keep the bike in the middle so there’s plenty of room on both sides and I don’t pull in too far so people don’t assume the space is empty. I’ve never had an issue.

[HardRock]

I use a regular spot also but I try to leave enough room for another bike to fit as well if I can. I will also share a spot with another bike if they have left room to do so without crowding them.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Motorcycle.com Free App

[kaikara]

I use a regular spot most everywhere, just parking near the rear of the spot so cars can see me. At the grocery store or Wal-mart however, I parked in the striped areas at the end of the lanes. These are not anywhere the handicapped parking spots. They just have the striped areas there because of the angles of the parking spaces not allowing it to be a full spot on the end.

[gdb069]

For many years I treated parking my MC like it was a bicycle ie park it anywhere it was not impeding traffic or pedestrians. Partly this was for convenience biut also to frede up parking spots. I hate seeing bikes using parking spots when circling in my car. In the last 10 years, as popularity has grown, I have received tickets for parking in non-authorized areas .

Motorcycles here shared parking spots and then a few years back the police decided to enforce a bylaw that stated something like one vehicle to a parking spot so ticketed both or three bikes sharing a spot. The riders got pretty upset so the coalition decided to take part in a protest: About 300 riders met downtown early Saturday and took all the parking spots on one main shopping area. Got news coverage and that was the end of ticketing.

G/

[NYCRider]

That's a good story.


Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle.com Free App

[vzshadow]

Park in motorcycle spots if they are available, otherwise park as if you were a car. If the wife and I are both riding, we share a car spot.