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Best motorcycle friendly parking in the bay

Darkjedip

Darkjedip

Working on walking again
Joined
Apr 18, 2004
Location
Clayton
Moto(s)
None
The recent thread about motorcycle parking being taken by cars got me thinking about places I go that have great motorcycle parking. So I think we should give credit to buildings that are considerate of riders and have great motorcycle specific parking. What are my criteria for great parking?

1) Should be close to the building (short walk and safer for bikes)
2) Well marked as motorcycle parking and easy to find
3) Impossible for cars to steal!

My nomination for the best moto-parking in the bay? The Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center in Martinez!

Not only is the parking right out front, it is well marked, and surrounded by a yellow striped curb, making it impossible for cars to steal!

Bravo to a leader in motorcycle parking! :party
 

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Working at a moto-dealership has its advantages. I get to park up on the curb or in any of the numerous motorcycle spots, and when it's raining I get to bring my bike inside!! Can't beat that. :teeth
 
They let me and other riders park up on the sidewalk at work. We're not a pedestrian destination and it frees up spots for customers so no complaints.

Also, Pleasant Hill Bart Station was nice. Free moto parking and you know they enforce it because shit, you gotta get your 2 bucks out of people in cars.

Back east my college paved over several lot "medians" and put ramps in so people could park bikes up in the middle. Two or three at a time. There was never enough space for a car. Always thought that was neat. Keeps the bike up and visible and out of the way of wayward bumpers. I imagine concrete and a sign is cheaper in the long run than maintaining landscaping between curbs.
 
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Shopping center on Shellmound St and Powell in Emeryville has free moto spots in front of the parking garage, next to employee parking. Since it's a pay-per-hour type of garage (unlike the one at Valley Fair), I bet they would tow a car if it parked there.
 
BART stations tend to be good and, interestingly, the DMV also. Both have bollards to keep cars out. AND, they don't define spaces, recognizing that bikes have a different natural systems of parking that they couldn't understand.
 
Darkjedip said:
The
My nomination for the best moto-parking in the bay? The Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center in Martinez!

Not only is the parking right out front, it is well marked, and surrounded by a yellow striped curb, making it impossible for cars to steal!

Bravo to a leader in motorcycle parking! :party
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HMMM ^^^^ doesn't really look like official motorcycle parking does it?! :laughing Where is the sign for motorcycles only, or paint on the ground? Hmm?
 
AbsolutEnduser said:
HMMM ^^^^ doesn't really look like official motorcycle parking does it?! :laughing Where is the sign for motorcycles only, or paint on the ground? Hmm?
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It's a bad photo angle; slightly to the left and you'd see the signs. Also, the handicapped signs have motorcycle only signs on the backs
 
SF has lots of on street metered parking, pretty convenient to Moto around the city.
 
I keep an eye out for security cameras & park under them if possible. Won't keep something from happening to yr bike, but at least if it does, you'll have some evidence of who did it.
At the last place I worked, everybody access to view the security cams, via web browser, so I could keep an eye on it from my desk, too.
 
I hate to sound like somebody who was born yesterday while being thrown off the turnip truck, but has anyone ever published, online or otherwise, a map that shows dedicated parking for motorcycles in the Bay Area? I have driven thru Emeryville a million times and never noticed the spot mentioned above. In fact, I think that the Ikea lot doesn't allow motorcycles, right????

Anyway, my fave parking spot is Alta Bates hospital. You can go visit a friend for upwards of $18 in a car, or park for free on the first level on your bike. Unless it's hailing, that's my option for visiting that hospital. Having spent a month there after my accident, I always felt a bit bad for everyone who came to visit, knowing that damn garage was so pricey....Also, at the Herrick "campus", you can pull in across the street where the valet parkers normally put the cars.
 
Bay Arean said:
I hate to sound like somebody who was born yesterday while being thrown off the turnip truck, but has anyone ever published, online or otherwise, a map that shows dedicated parking for motorcycles in the Bay Area?
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For the bay area, huh?


80 miles tall and 50 miles wide?


sure that'd be a nice map. maybe.


Usually such maps are published only for San Francisco, because that really is the only city that cares about motorcyclists and gives them any parking privilege.
 
I'm not really sure where the best parking is but I can tell you where some of the worste are. The City of Alameda is really not moto friendly at all but the parking as a whole is better than many other places.
 
When I have to visit UC Berkeley for work I love taking the moto because of the abundance of free all-day parking around.

Parking a car there is a royal PITA.
 
davidji said:
San Jose has free motorcycle parking spots downtown.
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Yup - there's lots of motorcycle parking at the County Hall of Justice - 21 marked spots at the entrance to the parking structure. Cars have to pay to park but bikes are free. Works great when you get jury duty - you don't have to worry about getting your parking validated...
 
the parking garages at kaiser are free for motos
 
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