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Where do you park when out?

R

rmc

New member
Joined
Dec 12, 2017
Location
South SF
Moto(s)
Z900RS Cafe
So I parked in a parking lot for the first time today, and there was no obvious place for a motorcycle to park. I parked in a full parking spot, which I understand is totally okay, but it still felt weird.

Where do you park when you are out, if there are no motorcycle-specific spots? Are there places you usually find that aren't full spots, or do you just park in one? I tried searching the internet about this but it is mostly discussions on street parking.
 
There are usually some perfectly motorcycle-sized spaces striped out near building entrances, next to the handicapped spaces.
 
I park up on the sidewalk as close as possible to the entrance of wherever I’m going..

Pedestrians can just go around it...ef ‘em...:barf

Edited for a certain someone:

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If all the motorcycle specific parking places have been taken I'll take a regular parking spot. Nothing wrong or illegal about it.
 
There are rarely any motorcycle-specific spots anywhere that I'll be parking, so I take a regular spot. I'll often back the bike in so that it's easier to get out when I'm ready to leave. I don't park deep in the spot, because I don't want somebody diving into what they thought was an empty spot only to see my bike once they're halfway into the spot. I don't see any difference at all between me driving my car there by myself and taking a whole spot and me riding my motorcycle there by myself and taking a whole spot.

One thing I will do is take a spot that would be tight for a car if I get the chance. When people park poorly and are too far to one side of their space, or even over the line, I'll take the spot that is a tighter fit.
 
That little triangle at the end of the row.
 
ScottRNelson said:
There are rarely any motorcycle-specific spots anywhere that I'll be parking, so I take a regular spot. I'll often back the bike in so that it's easier to get out when I'm ready to leave. I don't park deep in the spot, because I don't want somebody diving into what they thought was an empty spot only to see my bike once they're halfway into the spot. I don't see any difference at all between me driving my car there by myself and taking a whole spot and me riding my motorcycle there by myself and taking a whole spot.

One thing I will do is take a spot that would be tight for a car if I get the chance. When people park poorly and are too far to one side of their space, or even over the line, I'll take the spot that is a tighter fit.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I do, I was just too lazy to post it.

I've pulled my car into spots only to find a motorcycle pulled in and towards the front. Seems too easy to get your bike hit that way.
 
Yeah, the lesson is IF you use a regular parking spot, park your bike towards the end so that people can see that space is occupied.
 
Thanks to those who replied seriously. Another note: do you generally leave room for another bike to park, or do you park right in the middle? Also, ofc handicap lines are a no-go, but are people/cops actually cool with you parking in white/yellow lined areas?

To the rest: I'll keep an eye out for you on my Starbucks run (double cream ventini macchiato with caramel for me, 2x daily) and ride right up to your table for a chat :twofinger
 
rmc said:
Another note: do you generally leave room for another bike to park, or do you park right in the middle?
Click to expand...
When I'm running errands around Pleasanton and Dublin, I don't usually expect more bikes, so I don't bother leaving space for another one, although a rider could usually squeeze in behind me in the parking space. Where more motorcycles are likely, I'll park more to one side, but still at the end of the space where I can still get out regardless of what else is parked in there.

Back when I used to have a job, there was a good sized motorcycle parking area, but some bikes parked in regular spots, because there was shade there. They generally tried to fit four bikes in one of those spots, although it would have been tricky getting the back ones out before the front ones.
 
rmc said:
Thanks to those who replied seriously. Another note: do you generally leave room for another bike to park, or do you park right in the middle? Also, ofc handicap lines are a no-go, but are people/cops actually cool with you parking in white/yellow lined areas?

To the rest: I'll keep an eye out for you on my Starbucks run (double cream ventini macchiato with caramel for me, 2x daily) and ride right up to your table for a chat :twofinger
Click to expand...
Not a good idea.
216049
 
rmc said:
So I parked in a parking lot for the first time today, and there was no obvious place for a motorcycle to park. I parked in a full parking spot, which I understand is totally okay, but it still felt weird.

Where do you park when you are out, if there are no motorcycle-specific spots? Are there places you usually find that aren't full spots, or do you just park in one? I tried searching the internet about this but it is mostly discussions on street parking.
Click to expand...

wat
 
Skarthi, that is clearly a handicap spot lined area which I specifically called out as "no-go".

Kurosaki, idk, California drivers seem pretty cool with bikes, but there are tons of posts on the internet about people getting pissy about motorcycles parking.
 
If I have to pay to be in a lot and they don't have moto parking, I'll take a full spot. If it's a free lot I'll try to find the triangle at the end or some such spot.
 
Just don't squeeze between two occupied moto spots. Had that happen to me a couple months back in Monterey and the guy locked his steering so I couldn't move him. Luckily I was able to push him forward a bit and squeeze out, just barely.
 
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