The Rules of Parking

T

the_limey

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In Toronto we can park our motorcycles for free (for now). We stick together us bikers. Safety in numbers. Less chance of grandma in her minivan backing over your bike.

That said. Some basic common sense is needed. I've had multiple conversations lately with people who all have the same complaint: someone parked their motorcycle so close that they were unable to stand theirs up properly to ride away. Or they bashed their side cases into another fellas ride.

If you're new to parking near other bikes. Use common sense to avoid damage to your bike and other peoples. The guy on your left is going to stand his bike up to the right bringing it closer to yours. If this isn't obvious to you, consider if you really should be riding a motorcycle.
 
Which is exactly I don't park next to other bikes.
They ride a bike and they are ignorant about something fundamental.
 
I don't park in the same space of anyone I don't know and I normally won't park in the same space of someone I DO know if we are not parking at the same time.
 
I don't mind. All I have to do is push the bike out a bit. My minor inconvenience when leaving is a small price to pay for at least 2 other people being able to park all day (assuming it's a line of bikes)
 
I try to think about this but to be honest I have a hard time gauging how much space other people need. Personally, as long as their bike isn't physically touching mine, I can get it out.
 
the limey it shows you joined in 2009 but this is your first post? lol procrastinator!
 
i parked my kawi between 2 cars at the beaches instead ofsidewalk where most bikers park thinking if one bike falls all the bikes will fall with it, guess what some s... car driver touched my biked and left scratches on my bike,decided to park where bikers park from now on , if someone touch or drop my bike he/she should be a biker not a s...head car driver.
 
the_limey said:
In Toronto we can park our motorcycles for free (for now). We stick together us bikers. Safety in numbers. Less chance of grandma in her minivan backing over your bike.

That said. Some basic common sense is needed. I've had multiple conversations lately with people who all have the same complaint: someone parked their motorcycle so close that they were unable to stand theirs up properly to ride away. Or they bashed their side cases into another fellas ride.

If you're new to parking near other bikes. Use common sense to avoid damage to your bike and other peoples. The guy on your left is going to stand his bike up to the right bringing it closer to yours. If this isn't obvious to you, consider if you really should be riding a motorcycle.
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Actually some clarification is needed in your post. Parking is free for motorcycles in GREEN PARKING ZONES (city parking). This does not imply private lots, just so everyone is clear. Also parking on side walks, curbs, along buildings is still considered a violation. If your careful and parked out of pedestrian walk ways most of the time you'll be ok but you may still get the odd fellow who tickets you.
 
Redrock said:
Actually some clarification is needed in your post. Parking is free for motorcycles in GREEN PARKING ZONES (city parking). This does not imply private lots, just so everyone is clear. Also parking on side walks, curbs, along buildings is still considered a violation. If your careful and parked out of pedestrian walk ways most of the time you'll be ok but you may still get the odd fellow who tickets you.
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Adding more clarification: parking isn't free in any lot (even the city-metred ones). It's only on-street parking that's free.

For the ones with gates, a lot of motorcyclists don't pay 'cause it's easy to go out a pedestrian walkway or slip through the gate.

cliffs:
- street parking's free
- city metred lots with no gates aren't free
- city lots with gates aren't free, but you can get away without paying
 
knowledge said:
Adding more clarification: parking isn't free in any lot (even the city-metred ones). It's only on-street parking that's free.

For the ones with gates, a lot of motorcyclists don't pay 'cause it's easy to go out a pedestrian walkway or slip through the gate.

cliffs:
- street parking's free
- city metred lots with no gates aren't free
- city lots with gates aren't free, but you can get away without paying
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Yes thank you, I should have said Green P street parking.
 
The most hurting situation for anyone is finding his bike tipped and its parts broken after being parked always try and parka your bike in right direction and at right place and wont come into the way of any other vehicle and don't try and overtake parking space marked for some one else try and follow parking rules for any space as they are decided after much scrutiny.
 
I agree with this. i have no problem if i have to push my bike up a few feet to get on it. if it means another spot for another biker to park that is good. the important thing to watch for in my opinion is to gauge how much room the guy to the right needs to get onto his ride from the left side of his ride (or in this case, to push it forward). i have been dinged $50 for parking on the sidewalk (next to 4 scooters) and i know the importance of maximizing room on the street.
knowledge said:
I don't mind. All I have to do is push the bike out a bit. My minor inconvenience when leaving is a small price to pay for at least 2 other people being able to park all day (assuming it's a line of bikes)
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Another thing that I've noticed by some bikes is that the rider parks so close to the car in front/behind him that it's extremely difficult for the driver to leave. I try and leave at least 2-3ft front and back so that the cars around me have a space to get out...guy in my neighborhood parked about 1ft behind a white suburban (which had about 1ft in front of him as well)...not sure how that turned out but I hope the bike didn't get knocked over when the guy left.
 
knowledge said:
I don't mind. All I have to do is push the bike out a bit. My minor inconvenience when leaving is a small price to pay for at least 2 other people being able to park all day (assuming it's a line of bikes)
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Anyone riding a light bike (like your 250) isn't maybe going to consider that in some situations, it is a VERY big deal to try to move a top heavy bike that weights 600 to 800 lbs while holding at an angle tilted in toward you (very quickly off centre balance, on some heavy bikes like Honda ST's etc you can be holding 150 to 175+ lbs dead weight, by one bar and one spot aft alongside the side, AND then try to roll it as you steer it with one hand too) so that the side cases clear signals etc on nearby bikes who parked too close. Factor in a bit of grade and you it leaves enough of an impression you decide you're gonna post about it as soon as you get home.
Don't know but could be a beef that the OP found significant enough, it prompted a 1st and only post after waiting 3 years as a member.

IMO, it's a great awareness first-post. Good way to get the word out to those who have light bikes and think it's no big deal.

Someone else mentioned leaving 3 whole feet front and back between cars, haha. 3 feet is next to nothing to someone looking out the back with head restraints, and all the other many visually blinding blind spots trying to see out to the rear. Factor in tiny drivers that have to peer over the steering wheel to see out, spoilers etc and even 5 feet gets used up in less than 2 seconds of creeping.
 
I had an idiot at work decide to park his bike so close to me the other day that I couldn't stand my bike up without my windshield hitting his mirror. We were the only bikes in the bike lot, and there is easily 1000 sqft to use.

Older Yamaha Seca with the mirrors that don't fold in, so I just twisted the mirror mount (it spun on the bolt so no damage) so I had the room and left, even though I could have tipped my bike and moved, I figured I'd show a bit of my frustration.

Not sure who it was but I'm assuming they are a new rider since it's an older good starter bike, beat up MX helmet, old goggles and work gloves left on the tank. Hope they take the hint!

Now, in the city I'd expect someone to squeeze in and since room is limited, it would be more accepted, but not when you have a crap load of room to use up.
 
Xtina said:
Because they are allowed to park on sidewalks, bikes are not.
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Incorrect. Plated scooters are not supposed to park on sidewalks. They usually don't get ticketed, but they are not supposed to park on sidewalks in Toronto.
 
nesobriquet said:
Anyone riding a light bike (like your 250) isn't maybe going to consider that in some situations, it is a VERY big deal to try to move a top heavy bike that weights 600 to 800 lbs while holding at an angle tilted in toward you
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That's a very good point. Now I'm reconsidering whether I would still park close. I could narrow it down to not parking close beside the heavier bikes, but that goes out the window if they're not parking there all day. I smell a poll coming lol
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