Be carefull how you park your bikes

[Vlad]

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Since parking in GTA became free there's an ever increasing number of people that are new to motorcycles and don't know or care how to park them properly. Most learned fast enough that parking with the front wheel to the curb is a bad idea, but many are parking too close for anyone's comfort. The result is the dreaded "domino effect" (use your imagination).

I park in the financial district on business days and experience as well as observe a lot of illogical and careless behavior. I had to move other people's bikes several times in order to get mine out (fortunately people in question were too lazy/stupid/careless to lock their steering).

For those who will listen to reason and learn:

- Park so there's enough room between your bike and others. Imagine bikes next to yours being knocked down and ask yourself whether your bike will remain standing and undamaged after such an event.

- Don't park too far from other bikes either. Chances are that people unaware of the park-tiquette or plain stupid/rude will squeeze in between and potentially ruin your day.

- Put the bike on the center stand if possible. It will stand higher and therefore be more visible. It will also make harder for other bikes to block your exit (imagine parked too close and leaned on the side stand - how are you going to pick yours up?).

- Park at a relatively sharp angle to the curb (I aim at 60 degrees or less). It makes it harder for "straight parkers" to get too close. It should also reduce the probability of the bike being knocked over by a car.

- In case you haven't learned yet, always park with your rear to the curb. Unless you have a reverse gear, that is .

- Those with small/short bikes (they are all too small and too low for a Chewy Suburban driver to see) may consider some markers/flags similar to those used by disabled scooters. Just an idea and only while parked, of course. Or, maybe something like this

Ride (and park) safe!

 

[Smutty]

Good post. For those who don't know, the parking by-law is that your bike must be at ≤60 degree angle to the curb. I see a LOT of bikes parked at 90 degrees which is a bad idea.

Nice post, Vlad!

 

[Sushii]

Good post. For those who don't know, the parking by-law is that your bike must be at ≤60 degree angle to the curb. I see a LOT of bikes parked at 90 degrees which is a bad idea.

Nice post, Vlad!

I thought it was 45 degrees.

 

[FiReSTaRT]

I thought it was 45 degrees.

In Toronto, it's 60. Also remember, no free parking in Mississauga or Niagara Falls. They didn't have a Case of their own

 

[espro]

no free parking in Mississauga or Niagara Falls.

Easy to forget if you spend most of your time riding in Toronto!

 

[croco]

- Put the bike on the center stand if possible. It will stand higher and therefore be more visible. It will also make harder for other bikes to block your exit (imagine parked too close and leaned on the side stand - how are you going to pick yours up?).

I agree with the rest of your post, but never park the bike on the centre stand. It may look more stable than the kickstand, but even a slight nudge can topple the bike over.

 

[Vlad]

Easy to forget if you spend most of your time riding in Toronto!

True. Maybe we should get at least Mississauga amalgamated too. It will be called GTAM (Greater Toronto and Mississauga). Have "twin Fords" compete with "hurricane Hazel" for mayor

 

[Vlad]

I agree with the rest of your post, but never park the bike on the centre stand. It may look more stable than the kickstand, but even a slight nudge can topple the bike over.

It's arguably less stable on the center stand, but it takes much more than a slight nudge to topple mine over. A car would tip it over more easily, but it's easier for the driver to gauge the distance to the bike too. It's also somewhat taller (more visible) and harder to block by another bike leaning into it.

Looking back I think parking at a sharp angle to the curb is most important. It also discourages pedestrian traffic between bikes, another practice that can damage or even tip the bike over.

 

[croco]

It's arguably less stable on the center stand, but it takes much more than a slight nudge to topple mine over. A car would tip it over more easily, but it's easier for the driver to gauge the distance to the bike too. It's also somewhat taller (more visible) and harder to block by another bike leaning into it.

It's not arguably less stable on the center stand, it IS less stable. I could calculate the forces required, but for that I'd need to break out my Physics textbook that I haven't opened in 10 years. Internet arguments are really not worth reviewing a few chapters of stuff I'd rather not remember.

You can park your bike any way you want, I know what works. If a car is going to bump your bike, it's going down even if you bolted it to the ground. But on the centre stand even a careless pedestrian can topple it over.

 

[vrus]

In Toronto, it's 60. Also remember, no free parking in Mississauga or Niagara Falls. They didn't have a Case of their own

wow didn't know that, how much is the fine?

 

[Alvito]

In Toronto, it's 60. Also remember, no free parking in Mississauga or Niagara Falls. They didn't have a Case of their own

Brb, let me get my protractor!

 

[VifferFun]

I wouldn't put the bike on the centre stand. If some idiot decides they want to have their picture taken on your bike, they could easily knock it off the centre stand by just shifting their weight forward (which is what they naturally do to get an "action shot").

 

[Vlad]

I wouldn't put the bike on the centre stand. If some idiot decides they want to have their picture taken on your bike, they could easily knock it off the centre stand by just shifting their weight forward (which is what they naturally do to get an "action shot").

Not likely enough to warrant any serious consideration. Even if we consider such a "what if" event plausible (no one tried to sit on my bike in 30+ years), I often have trouble taking my bike off the center stand on purpose, so "easily" is a gross exaggeration. In other words, combined probability is infinitesimal and not worth loosing any sleep (or words) over.

Again, I have clearly explained the reasons for using the center stand, I think they are valid and my 30+ years of experience confirm it. I don't particularly care how anyone parks their bike/car as long as it doesn't interfere with my right to do the same without undue obstruction.

 

[FiReSTaRT]

wow didn't know that, how much is the fine?

Probably in the low range, whatever it is.. Probably 50? I live in the burbs so I don't really remember. My last ticket was about a year ago for disobeying the sign that wasn't really there.

 

[VifferFun]

Not likely enough to warrant any serious consideration. Even if we consider such a "what if" event plausible (no one tried to sit on my bike in 30+ years), I often have trouble taking my bike off the center stand on purpose, so "easily" is a gross exaggeration. In other words, combined probability is infinitesimal and not worth loosing any sleep (or words) over.

Again, I have clearly explained the reasons for using the center stand, I think they are valid and my 30+ years of experience confirm it. I don't particularly care how anyone parks their bike/car as long as it doesn't interfere with my right to do the same without undue obstruction.

My old VFR came off the centre stand quite easily, just a slight nudge forward if I was sitting on it. I'm sure that the level of effort varies by bike.

How do you know that people don't touch or try to sit on your bike when you're not around to witness it? I see people touching bikes that clearly don't belong to them quite frequently.

 

[Vlad]

How do you know that people don't touch or try to sit on your bike when you're not around to witness it? I see people touching bikes that clearly don't belong to them quite frequently.

Touching I can't prevent nor particularly care about (it's usually easily detected after the fact though, so I'm pretty sure it rarely if ever happens with my bike). Any significant moving or sitting on the bike will trigger the alarm and often leave telltale marks such as scuffs, fingerprints, flipped switches, moved mirrors, switched gear, etc. I park my bike where I can see it and/or hear it 95% of the time, so I'm pretty damn sure no one sat on it without my permission (if they manage to do so without triggering the alarm or leaving any marks, more power to them). My bike is also much harder to swing one's leg over than an average cruiser or a sport bike, especially when it's on the center stand (another reason to park it that way).

 

[Ugur Dinch]

Could someone tell the reasoning behind the 60degrees law please ? I like to park my bike 90 degrees and a bit off the curb to towards the road, so my bike is visible to the mirrors of the parked cars that are next to.

It's a nightmare for me if someone to back into my bike.

 

[Vlad]

Could someone tell the reasoning behind the 60degrees law please?

I'd like to have that information too. I hope someone more knowledgeable about how this law was created will answer.

I like to park my bike 90 degrees and a bit off the curb to towards the road, so my bike is visible to the mirrors of the parked cars that are next to.

My personal and I like to think logical reasons for parking at a sharp angle are:

- It makes it physically harder for a car backing up parallel to the curb to knock the bike over.
- It makes it somewhat harder for bikes parked next to mine to create a "domino effect".
- It makes it physically and psychologically harder for pedestrians to pass by my bike, especially when parked next to other bikes.
- It reduces my bike's footprint on the road, reducing the possibility of it being clipped by a car passing by (I've seen it happen, although I have to say it's relatively rare compared to backing up incidents).

I don't think sticking your bike into the road is going to prevent backing up into it. Most drivers look only in their rear view mirrors when they back up (I know I do, especially if I'm going straight back). Even if they check the sides they may only see the tip of your front wheel, if they look that low which they usually don't. The same front wheel will more easily be in the path of a vehicle passing by in dense downtown traffic.

Again, those are just guidelines and suggestions and apply mostly to parking with/between other bikes in downtown street parking environment, so feel free to ignore them. A direct imperative and not open for discussion is that you never park your bike so it can hit other parked vehicles when tipped over to either side.

 

[Venom01]

In general, 3 bikes to a spot.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

 

[skip]

Center stand stability varies greatly between bikes. One of my old bikes a slight breeze would knock it off, my wee-strom it rock solid to the point of torquing axle nuts barely wiggles it. You should know your bike, and how stable it is on the side stand and center stand.

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