Parking?

[Barrett]

I have a question... is parking your motorcycle on the sidewalk illegal? I'm at jurry duty right now and parked right out side on the sidewalk in downtown LA.

Also, parking garages? the few times I've parked in them I cheated and went out a way I wouldn't have to pay does anyone know if motorcycles are charged full price for garage parking? say in the garages by santa monica mall ?

Also if anyone has any good parking tips etc. please share!

thx.

[Marmalade Dad]

Parking on a sidewalk is technically illegal. If you can't park a car there, you can't park a motorcycle.

Generally, I don't get in trouble when I park at the ends of parking aisles with the white hash marks.

[BATMAN]

If you havent got a ticket already...

Parking on the sidewalk would be pretty illegal. Ive seen people get tickets for this in West LA. Park at the meter or lot pay the few bucks. Trust me, it will be cheaper for you than a 45 dolla ticket.

As far as the parking lots and sneaking thru. Good luck that. Every parking lot ive been at, charged full price. I have yet to see a motorcycle rate.

I have seen bikes park between cars that are on the meter. But not sure if thats legal either.

[Marmalade Dad]

Ooops, I missed that part about the garages. Try getting to know the attendants there, if you frequent a specific garage. This accomplishes two things: free (or discounted) parking, and someone will be looking out for the well-being of your bike.

[Night Train]

it is tricky with the parking on the sidewalk thing. I am not a police officer but this is my understanding. if you park on a sidewalk in a public area, that is a no-no and you can be ticketed.

However, if it is on private property like at a mall, etc, it is up to management company/owners to deal with it. I believe that it is up to the owners as to whether to have the bike ticketed or removed. In most cases, if the bike is parked out of the way, nothing will happen.

With parking garages, they usually charge the same price for motorcycles as they would a car. As such, if you pay to go in a parking garage, you may take a whole spot (although they usually have motorcycle designated spots that are close to the ingress and egress).

If you do leave a garage without paying, you do face whatever punishment there is for not paying.

Other tips about parking, I find that a lot of times, if you talk to the attendant, they may let you park for free as long as you do not take a space.

If you are going to park in a regular spot, make sure that your bike is visible when parked between cars. This way, you have less of a chance that an over eager driver will rush into the spot thinking it is empty. Thus, hitting your bike. I recommend leaving your bike near the edge of the spot (closest to the driveway), but not enough that it will be hit by a passerbyer (like the idiot in my complex).

Good luck!

[Barrett]

I was told by a traffic lawyer parking bettween cars (sharring meters) is legal.

As for the sidewalk thing, it was parked there all day outside LA court house and didn't get a ticket, but yea I think I'll park some where else when I go back tomarrow..

As for the garage thing, thats pretty screwed up that we're expected to pay full price. At the santa monica garages right where you enter, just past where you take a ticket they have motorcycle parking, just to the side of it they have metal posts to keep cars from being able to get out with out going all the way around and out though the parking attendent. So I've always just left going bettween the metal posts... seems a little too convient that they're right there.... Anyway this way the attendent can't even see you. I guess I'll keep doing it legal or not just because I feel like it'd be hard for them to catch me and I could plead ignorance heh.

[r6rid3r]

i agree with the garage parking attendants... if u ask they may let u in for free... and just tell them u won't take up a regular spot...

meters... it is legal to share... AS LONG AS THERE'S MONEY IN THE METER... in old town pasadena where i work... i got ticketed twice cuz the freakin car didn't put money in the meter and we BOTH got a fuggin parking ticket... stupid cagers!! (cagers are prolly sayin... "argh! freakin free loaders... tryin to mooch off my damn meter!!! :fawkdance) haha...

sidewalks are usually illegal if it obstructs pedestrians' pathway... i think the reason behind it is that it's a fire hazard (if u park on the sidewalk next to an entrance/exit)

[iehotrodder88]

I park on the sidewalk if there is a spot where I can stuff my bike that it is out of the way. i like my bike to be off the street and in a place i can see it. I try to keep it out of the way of people and doorways.

i havent had to park in a parking garage yet

If i have to park in a regular parking lot, I get real picky where i park. I like to park in a stall with another bike but if I cant find one , ill take a stall and spend a few minutes positioning my bike so cagers can see it, and cager parked next to me wont bump into it.

so meter sharing is legal...cool. What if someone gets mad and bumps your bike trying to get out of the space:dunno

I know its illegal but i like to park on the sidewalk whenever I can:fawkdance

[R-ggressive]

your honor i was just trying to keep a space available for a car. i didnt want to be selfish and waste a parking space and have the side of the street congested with one more vehicle when it didnt need to be :P

[Streak]

What about riding on the sidewalks? :dunno

The looks I get are HILARIOUS:lmfao

[RC-5Juan]

As far as the parking lots and sneaking thru. Good luck that. Every parking lot ive been at, charged full price. I have yet to see a motorcycle rate.


Motorcycles are free at LAX.

[Night Train]

. So I've always just left going bettween the metal posts... seems a little too convient that they're right there.... Anyway this way the attendent can't even see you. I guess I'll keep doing it legal or not just because I feel like it'd be hard for them to catch me and I could plead ignorance heh.

You rebel!!! :D

[Marmalade Dad]

Motorcycles are free at LAX.
Sweet! Imma go pick up a couple. :D

[r6rid3r]

Sweet! Imma go pick up a couple. :D

:lmfao :lmfao :lmfao i'm w/ ya... need another truck? :banana

[BadVibe]

it is tricky with the parking on the sidewalk thing. I am not a police officer but this is my understanding. if you park on a sidewalk in a public area, that is a no-no and you can be ticketed.

However, if it is on private property like at a mall, etc, it is up to management company/owners to deal with it. I believe that it is up to the owners as to whether to have the bike ticketed or removed. In most cases, if the bike is parked out of the way, nothing will happen.
That sounds about right to me.

[Barrett]

so meter sharing is legal...cool. What if someone gets mad and bumps your bike trying to get out of the space:dunno

I know its illegal but i like to park on the sidewalk whenever I can:fawkdance

If they hit it (I had it happen to me, that's how I found out it was legal) Then it's just like a traffic accident and they're at fault. Just hope you see them or some one sees them, when I park bettween cars sometimes and am worried I take a picture of the surrounding car's licence plates, just in case it might help...

Have you ever gotten a ticket for parking on the sidewalk?

The two times I've done it I always make sure it's not going to interfer with anything.


Following you guy's advice about asking the parking attendents, I pulled up to the lot right next to the court house in downtown LA (a $$ private lot) and asked one of the attendents how much for a motorcycle if I park some where where I won't take up a spot. He just points me to a place and says free (at least at the time that's what I thought he said, he had a THICK accent) So I parked over there next to another bike...

But at the end of the day I'm putting my helmet on and getting ready to leave and another attendent comes and demads I pay... I tell him that the guy that was here this morrning said I could park here free and I wouldn't have done it if I had to pay, they asked for $8.50 (maxium said $16) Then another one came and said he was there this morrning and he didn't say that and they didn't believe me! I got in a big arugment with them and eventualy just rode away anyway. It's a good thing I don't have to go back because I got a lot of threats. Anyway, I'm not really worried about them trying to press any kind of charges I don't think it would be worth their trouble, and I doubt they got my plate number... Still pisses me off though.

[BadVibe]

The few times I've parked in lots with attendants that have let me park for free, I've given them a tip of a few bucks...to solidify a bond. I mean...they're working men, I'm sure they appreciate a few bucks on the side if only to keep a close eye on my bike while I'm gone.

[Dubels]

Some parking lots dont even give tickets to motorcycles because they dont trip of the sensors so when you press the button the ticket doesnt come out. Or am I missing something this happened to me at Glendale @<hidden> that place a block away from the Glendale Galleria

[scriggities]

No, you are right. When I park in garage here in Chi I have to get an attendant to help me everytime because my bike isn't heavy/magnetic enough to trip the sensor and give me a ticket.

[bad-mofo]

Regardless of the legalities and depending how new/clean is your bike and how much you care I wouldn't risk to piss off pedestrians, especially in downtown LA. It can be as minor as somebody spits (spills soda) on your bike and as major as finding it on the side. Not to metion theft as you display it all day long to everyone who walks/drives by. It's crime of opportunity you know. I'd paranoid even to leave a bike at some unfamiliar gated parking lot.

[Constantine]

I actually know of a few parking structures that don't charge anything.

I guess it depends who operates it.

As for parking on the sidewalk....illegal. Almost got it towed (at the Cerritos Mall).

[old wanderer]

Motorcycles are free at LAX.

I've paid twice driving my cage to park at LAX in the past 10 days. How do you know that bikes are FREE?????:dunno

I don't see that on any of the entrance signs, else wise I would have driven my bike, (proably got a ticket for exceeding the 15 MPH limits on some of the roads though. Sucks trying to ride 15 MPH on an Aprilia).

[Constantine]

I've paid twice driving my cage to park at LAX in the past 10 days. How do you know that bikes are FREE?????:dunno

I don't see that on any of the entrance signs, else wise I would have driven my bike, (proably got a ticket for exceeding the 15 MPH limits on some of the roads though. Sucks trying to ride 15 MPH on an Aprilia).

I used to park there for FREE as well. I used to work for an airline and frequently had to go to the airport to do errands. As soon as you enter the parking structure there is usually a parking attendant. He just waived me right in. Even when you leave NO HASSLE at the gate where you pay.