if there is a bike already in a spot that I can fit in the same spot I will park there. Unless it is a trike there is no reason 2 or 3 bikes can't fit in one spot. We have motorcycle parking up front where I work and at shift change that is quite handy when the parking lot is full. I don't think I would park on the sidewalk though. Someone is likely to vandalize the bike.

 

if there is a bike already in a spot that I can fit in the same spot I will park there. Unless it is a trike there is no reason 2 or 3 bikes can't fit in one spot. We have motorcycle parking up front where I work and at shift change that is quite handy when the parking lot is full. I don't think I would park on the sidewalk though. Someone is likely to vandalize the bike.

And you'll have a present from me if you ever do that to me. If I didn't ride up with you, you better not be parking with me. I've been boxed in by dumbasses like you and they pay for it.

Same deal with taking up my lane. I don't care if my bike is 2 feet wide. My lane is just that, MY lane. Unless I know you, stay out. Don't pull up next to me at a red light and then think your using that as a passing point.

I know I sound like an @sshole here but I've had my share of jackwagons F up getting on or off their bike in a stall with me and I've come back to new scratches and even a dent once. If I have to share the road with bicyclist and treat them like cars, you can treat me like one too and find your own stall.

 

I always try to park up on the sidewalk when I go somewhere. I do it so my bike doesn't take up an entire car spot, that's a waste IMO.
Now I don't park right in the front door either, I'm definitely not in anyones way.

 

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.
Dan

 

I don't consider a bike a license to park up close and I have no problem walking. I'm just being considerate by giving the car a space instead of me taking it up.
And to clarify, I won't park on a sidewalk in the sense of one in a neighborhood, but a 'sidewalk' like in front of the mall or any big box store.

 

Its a side WALK, not a side PARK, is how I see it...

I pay my taxes and license my vehicle, i park in the small triangular shaped areas at the end of parking strips, or double up with another motorcycle, or take my own spot. Like I said, i pay my taxes too, i have every right to a parking space...

 

Its a side WALK, not a side PARK, is how I see it...

That logic doesn't really work...I mean you park on a DRIVEway and you drive on a PARKway.

 

And as with everything on here, we can all agree to disagree.

 

At work a couple of us share a "compact car" spot that is so tight you'd need to come out the sunroof. We get the cruisers in there and could easily fit another one if we had to.

Out and about I've been on the sidewalk, next to the grocery cart rack. My preference is to park in front of the place next door that in "for lease". There are enough retirees on motorcycles and scooters that it is normal at some places for a few bikes to be up on the sidewalk. Only thing I've gotten from security is a big smile or "nice bike".

My vandalism actually happened at home in the parking garage (gated community, card access) and just me in a parking spot that hadn't been used in over 3 years. Go figure.

The wife and I share our one assigned parking spot ... her mini can in front and my Aero behind the parking bumper. If you are careful, plenty of room.

 

Never park on a sidewalk. Side walks are for PEDESTRIAN traffic, not your motorcycle. Parking spots are for motorizd vehicles. Have a bit of respect and try to foster a better public outlook for motorcycles and riders.

You are not that important.

 

Park where other bikes are. 2 are stronger than 1. 3 are stronger than 2.

 

I'm a newer rider, so most of the time I just park in a space.

I've started to park in the extra zones on the end of the parking rows, when I know I will be quick. The only time I sidewalk park is when I have prior permission, or there are other bikes already there.

 

I originally thought parking on side walks and stuff was the "cool" thing to do. Then that turned into a more self-justified "I'm giving a car a parking space." But really, the parking spaces are for parking vehicles. Don't feel bad for parking in them. The only time I'll park on a side walk is if the side walk is in front of someone's house, or if parking spaces are full at a store and it's easily accessible and not in the way of anyone.

 

Park where other bikes are. 2 are stronger than 1. 3 are stronger than 2.
Ditto - car driver might not see one bike, two or more is hard to miss.

1 bike, 1 parking space.
Sorry, I paid for the whole bike, I get the whole parking space.

 

When I park on a sidewalk or in a non traditional parking spot, I do it to minimize the chances of my bike getting damaged. Its as simple as that.

 

That is how I feel when I pull up on the walkways way away from the doors and people.

I don't consider a bike a license to park up close and I have no problem walking. I'm just being considerate by giving the car a space instead of me taking it up.
And to clarify, I won't park on a sidewalk in the sense of one in a neighborhood, but a 'sidewalk' like in front of the mall or any big box store.

Same here....I agree and feel the same.

 

Motorcycles are motor vehicles. They are subject to the same rules and regulations as any other motor vehicle. Those include parking and driving.

Motorcycles are required to be parked legally.

Parking lots are not, as a rule, subject to parking law restrictions and enforcement by law enforcement officers. The only exceptions are those which are deemed public property or have dedicated streets for the purposes of enforcement and Disabled Parking restrictions.

Would you park your car up on the sidewalk?

 

Parking a car on the sidewalk would block the traffic to pedestrians and would obviously draw attention of the Gestapo. A bike is a lot smaller and very often the authorities will let it slide if you use some common sense.

 

Although I have done it.. really ain't a good practice and could end up costing you some unnecessary money. I have found there is room enough to fit my bike, with highway pegs fully extended in enough "alternative" parking spaces that cops will far less likely ticket me for.

 

While I am a new rider, I will never park on a sidewalk. I have never understood the mentality of those that do. There are curbs for a reason and as Aced It said, would you park your car up there?
Years ago when I was a manager of a big box retail store, I would not allow motorcycles to park on the sidewalk as it was for pedestrian traffic only.

 

At home the meter-maid will cite you for parking on the sidewalk. My neighbor got one - cost him $150!!
She even stopped me when I was hooking up a trailer. I had to move it into the street.
I think cash strapped communities are looking for extra income right now.

 

When I lived in Vegas (215 and Windmill) I bought a boat, go it home, then realized that my driveway had too much incline to back the boat and trailer in. I parked it in the street and started getting tickets on an almost daily basis (while I looked for a better place to store it). One day I was outside when a Metro Cop showed up and told me he was going to tow it if I didn't move it. Gotta love Vegas!

 

Those who feel it is okay to park their bikes in non-authorized parking spots remind of road cyclist who shout "share the road, we have a right to be here" then proceed to blow through the red light. Two wheels does not grant special privileges.

Want to minimize the chance of damage and give a cage first dibs at the popular spaces, park way in the back away from everything. Since I personally have never seen a biker do this I leads me to believe it has nothing to do with damage control or consideration but rather just getting a closer parking spot.

I park in the most convenient parking space available, cage or bike.

 

Wow! I didn't expect such strong opinions on this subject! I personally park in a regular parking place. At work I park on a sidewalk. Although I got permission from my boss first. In public places I don't feel right parking on a sidewalk. I never understood why other riders do it either.

Your bike can be vandalized no matter where you park it. I prefer not to park super close to any given business, simply because there might be some older folks or someone else who might have trouble getting around. I'm not a saint.....Far from it.....But my Momma did teach me manners.

 

You have to use some judgement on where the sidewalk is, how wide it is and how likely you think it is that you will be hassled. For example, if you park on a sidewalk on a college campus, you are 99% likely to be ticketed. If you park on a city sidewalk where there are meter maids enforcing the parking, chances are high you will be ticketed. There is a strip mall I shop at sometimes where there are columns supporting the roof over the walkway at the edge of the sidewalk; I park in between the columns where people would not normally walk anyway, and I have never had a problem. At WalMart, I park on the wide walkway in front of the store where they sometimes display lawn tractors and the like...never had a problem. Use some common sense and I don't think you will have a problem.

 

If I go downtown and have to use a parking meter I will try to find another bike and park in the spot with them. I will put my quarter in to put some more time on it. You can put many bikes in a parallel spot by back the rear tire to the curb with front wheel out to the street.

One place I like to park at a store regardless of what I am driving is the down hill side of the basket return, nobody uses those anyways and a loose basket in the parking lot will hit the uphill side of it so it is rather protected from stray baskets rolling in the lot.

 

I have never blocked another bike in or even touch their bike while sharing a parking spot. I get mine in staggered behind where they are clear out. Our bike parking at work is regular car spot at the curb divided into 2 bike spots back the bike to the curb or nose it in if you have the legs to push it backwards uphill.

 

I also love the guys that say they park on the sidewalk to avoid damage and vandalism.

Let's think about that for a second. Where's the more foot traffic? Going by your bike in a stall/spot or people on the sidewalk? You know you're going to get looks.... hell in today's world someone might even have the balls to say something to you. Some will wait til you've gone inside and then hey.... it's right there....as they walk right by it....

You introduced the temptation.....

I'm with the guy that said he paid for the whole bike, he's got the whole spot.

You may not block someone in intentionally but as others said.... follow the leader, see 1 bike, see 2 bikes, I've watched idiots snake their way "gingerly" into the spot between bikes (Yours cuz you had the cahones to take some of my space away and mine because hell...you did it....so can they).

I don't give a ratz azz, you invade my dance space, ima be up in yours.

Like I said, if I'm on a ride with you that's one thing. If I don't know you that's another. Unless of course you have no problem with replacing whatever it is on my bike that you are about to blemish.

Nobody puts baby in a corner.

 

You may not block someone in intentionally but as others said.... follow the leader, see 1 bike, see 2 bikes, I've watched idiots snake their way "gingerly" into the spot between bikes (Yours cuz you had the cahones to take some of my space away and mine because hell...you did it....so can they).

I've even seen this in posted motorcycle parking spots when there was plenty of space for them to park without being anywhere near another bike.

On another note, when parking in a regular parking spot, I don't pull all the way to the front of the spot. I keep my bike more towards the rear so that some idiot won't just swing into the spot not realizing that my bike is there and smash into it. (Like if there's a truck parked next to it or something.) Then again, I am not one of those people who has to park as close to the door as possible. I tend to park further away where there's less traffic and parked cars.

 

Just recently I went to a Swap Meet and parked my bike where I always do, across the street at the concrete mixing company (they allow this) and was surprised to see at least a dozen bikes parked on the sidewalk outside the entrance of the building.
I asked one of the ticket takers if this was OK, and they replied "I don't see anything wrong with it.".

I asked my son who works at a very large national retailer and he said Motorcycles park near where the bicycles are racked. He said "two wheels are two wheels".

I'm not a dick and I don't care what other bikers say on the issue. In my 35 years of riding I have only been hassled once for parking on a "sidewalk" and I promptly moved.
If some other bike pulls next to me in a space, or on a sidewalk, as long as they leave me enough room to move and don't damage my bike, I'd smile if I saw them.
Again, I'm not a dick about riding or parking.

 

... I asked one of the ticket takers if this was OK, and they replied "I don't see anything wrong with it.". ...

... I asked my son who works at a very large national retailer and he said Motorcycles park near where the bicycles are racked. He said "two wheels are two wheels". ...

Well, it's really up to chance here. The ticket taker is not the property owner, so I wouldn't rely on his/her take on it. And two wheels are two wheels? Yes, except when there's a certain size engine and license plate which place the two-wheeler in the same category as a licensed motor vehicle expected to obey all the same traffic laws as those with more wheels. ... Me? I wouldn't chance it. But if you've had luck with it, more power to ya! :wink:

Now, Canyon - Dude, we share the same views, I only wish I could be as blunt as you bro! :mrgreen:

 

I pay more registration fee's on my bike are mre than my 00' LeSabre so I'm going exercise the privelage to use a parking place all to myself and nobody else. Canyon said it best. It's all about common sense and it's not to hard to acquire if one thinks about it. :shock:

 

People have an invisible circle of comfort - "personal space" as it's known. Same goes for my motorcycle, and it's about as wide as a standard size parking space. :wink: