Advocacy & Safety - Motorcycles parked in a bike rack

I don't like seeing people park their motorcycles at a bike rack, rather than in the parking lot where all the cars park. The motorcycles take up the space that several regular bicycles could use. The motorcycles don't belong there. But on the other hand, a motorcycle does get much better gas mileage than a car, and I'd rather see people riding a motorcycle than driving a car.

At my last job I was fortunate to have a bike locker (big plastic pod with locking door). One day someone parked their motorcycle directly in front of the door, preventing me from opening it. What the **** is wrong with people?

At my last job I was fortunate to have a bike locker (big plastic pod with locking door). One day someone parked their motorcycle directly in front of the door, preventing me from opening it. What the **** is wrong with people?

That's when you open the door and "accidentally" tip over their bike. ;)

That's when you open the door and "accidentally" tip over their bike. ;)
Actually, the person parking there probably didn't know what the locker was. I had never seen one before (and I've never seen one in person). You can move a motorcycle, although only in a limited manner, since the bars are probably locked in the max turned position. They won't take kindly to it, but if you leave a note, the motorcyclist would probably 1) understand and 2) not park there again.

Tipping it over is a potentially very expensive proposition for a minor inconvenience.

I don't like seeing people park their motorcycles at a bike rack, rather than in the parking lot where all the cars park. The motorcycles take up the space that several regular bicycles could use. The motorcycles don't belong there. But on the other hand, a motorcycle does get much better gas mileage than a car, and I'd rather see people riding a motorcycle than driving a car.

Yup this bums me out too. It's not as if I can just go park my bike in the parking lot, after all.

Actually, the person parking there probably didn't know what the locker was. I had never seen one before (and I've never seen one in person). You can move a motorcycle, although only in a limited manner, since the bars are probably locked in the max turned position. They won't take kindly to it, but if you leave a note, the motorcyclist would probably 1) understand and 2) not park there again.

Tipping it over is a potentially very expensive proposition for a minor inconvenience.


Never move someone's motorcycle. Ever. Even if they are parked badly. Leave a note if you want, but don't mess with the bike.

The reason why motorcyclists sometimes park at bike racks is because they need to chain up to something just like bicycles do. I don't agree with taking up bike spaces, but I understand why they do it.

That's when you open the door and "accidentally" tip over their bike. ;)

If you did this to me, I would find you and accidentally put a huge dent in your car.

If you did this to me, I would find you and accidentally put a huge dent in your car.

sigh.

Must maintain the tough guy biker image I guess.

I did put a winky face. As a victim of a parking lot hit-and-run, I would never purposely damage someone's vehicle. I would move the bike though and maybe leave a note to park in the parking lot next time.

Sometimes I chain my car to the bike rack too. You never know when someone might try to steal it.

I've never seen a bike locker. I might not know what one was. I only know of their existence because I've read about them here.

I often see motorcycles parked in the wide, striped areas surrounding handicap spaces. I believe those handicap spaces are sectioned off for a reason, to allow for wheelchair access to a van.

I ride a street-legal dirt bike and it's light enough I like to chain it up. I just park in a regular space though, adjacent to a light pole or maybe a shopping cart rack. Sure, thieves may have angle grinders, but it helps prevent opportunity for two people just to lift it up into the back of a pickup or van.

I do worry about someone zooming into the space only to see my motorcycle too late. So, I usually park in the back and walk. It puzzles me though when I park all alone and come out to find someone decided right next to me was a good space. Even with the truck. At least they got a short walk in.

I don't like seeing people park their motorcycles at a bike rack, rather than in the parking lot where all the cars park. The motorcycles take up the space that several regular bicycles could use. The motorcycles don't belong there. But on the other hand, a motorcycle does get much better gas mileage than a car, and I'd rather see people riding a motorcycle than driving a car.

I have been scratching my head about this? How in the world can someone with a motorcycle, lock it up to bike tack? There isn't enough room for the motorcyclist, to fit their wheel through bike rack.

I don't like seeing people park their motorcycles at a bike rack, rather than in the parking lot where all the cars park. The motorcycles take up the space that several regular bicycles could use. The motorcycles don't belong there. But on the other hand, a motorcycle does get much better gas mileage than a car, and I'd rather see people riding a motorcycle than driving a car.


I see that all the time in Chicago, usually it is a scooter of some sorts, and they even will ride them on the sidewalk to get to a bike rack.

Chicago recently started putting bicycle parking in the streets and will take up 2-3 car parking spots for bicycles when they weather is conducive to a lot of riders.

sigh.

Must maintain the tough guy biker image I guess.

I did put a winky face. As a victim of a parking lot hit-and-run, I would never purposely damage someone's vehicle. I would move the bike though and maybe leave a note to park in the parking lot next time.

Sometimes I chain my car to the bike rack too. You never know when someone might try to steal it.

It has nothing to do with a 'tough guy' image and everything to do with the violation and vandalism of another person's property.

If i parked my car in a way the slightly inconvenienced you in your vehicle, would you deliberately crash into my car? or try to move it?
maybe if you were a total inconsiderate prick you might, in which case you'd deserve the aforementioned dent in your car anyway.

in all likeliness regarding the OP's issue, it's probably down to locking and/or protection. I know I've had people crash into motorcycles parked legally in full width spots and even in smaller split motorcycle spots, thus I would normally park closer to a building entrance on the sidewalk, or near a bike rack.

I've had my motorcycle knocked over when parked in a car parking spot. I used to ride up on the sidewalk and park it by the door to avoid it being hit by idiots.

That's when you open the door and "accidentally" tip over their bike. ;)

That's great. Hopefully the rider won't see you and accidentally teach you a lesson.

There is only one place where I park my motorcycle in bicycle parking and that's at the mall where I've never seen a bicycle park. I'd rather leave a regular parking space for a car than take up a whole one myself.

Never move someone's motorcycle. Ever. Even if they are parked badly. Leave a note if you want, but don't mess with the bike.

The reason why motorcyclists sometimes park at bike racks is because they need to chain up to something just like bicycles do. I don't agree with taking up bike spaces, but I understand why they do it.

I've been a motorcyclist all my life, and if some fuggin dumbass parked their motorcycle in a way that blocks my bike it's getting moved.

Don't like it? Don't park like a dumbass, it's really not hard. In all my years of riding, I've somehow managed to never park like this.

I have been scratching my head about this? How in the world can someone with a motorcycle, lock it up to bike tack? There isn't enough room for the motorcyclist, to fit their wheel through bike rack.


Motorcyclists typically back the bike up to a pole or other object, and run a chain through the rear wheel, around the pole, and then lock it up with a small U-lock. It's better if you can get the chain through the frame, but that's not an option with a lot of bikes, and the bike's not going anywhere if the thief can't get the back wheel. The poles on a bike rack can be used to run the chain through, you don't need to get a wheel actually into the rack.

FWIW, I've never actually been able to get my bicycle's wheel into one of those racks, either. I just put it alongside the rack and U-lock it to whatever I can.

Never move someone's motorcycle. Ever. Even if they are parked badly. Leave a note if you want, but don't mess with the bike.
if a car is in my reserved spot, I can get it towed. If it's blocking my bike locker, can I get it towed? Not sure what I would do in that situation, I've watched the vids on youtube about how hard it is to right a fallen motorcycle and don't think I would want to touch one.

It has nothing to do with a 'tough guy' image and everything to do with the violation and vandalism of another person's property.

If i parked my car in a way the slightly inconvenienced you in your vehicle, would you deliberately crash into my car? or try to move it?
maybe if you were a total inconsiderate prick you might, in which case you'd deserve the aforementioned dent in your car anyway.

in all likeliness regarding the OP's issue, it's probably down to locking and/or protection. I know I've had people crash into motorcycles parked legally in full width spots and even in smaller split motorcycle spots, thus I would normally park closer to a building entrance on the sidewalk, or near a bike rack.

A car is much more difficult to move, but I'd have the company page the license plate to have it moved if it was blocking a door that I needed to get into.

I've never tried moving a motorcycle, but I assume I could just squeeze the clutch and roll the bike away from the door. A note explains why the bike was moved, and if the rider has a problem with it, tough.

I would rather have the streets filled with motorcycles than with cars. I don't give it a thought when I encounter motorcycles parked in a bike rack. I'm pleased they left the Hummer at home.

At an employee-owned big-box hardware store in my town, the only secure, covered (we get a bit of rain) place to park a motorcycle is at the one bike rack and there is often at least one motorcycle there. The employees who check folks out of the lumber yard keep an eye on the rack, so even if the rack was filled (it never has been), I would comfortably lock up to the nearby fence. If the rack starts filling up, I'll just ask the store management to add another. This shouldn't be a zero-sum game.

...snip... I know I've had people crash into motorcycles parked legally in full width spots and even in smaller split motorcycle spots, ...snip...

Well, I'm learning some new things today! I'd never heard of a bike locker till I read this thread, and I'd never heard of or seen a split parking spot intended for motorcycles. Both new to me, and at first blush, both seem like good ideas.

Not sure what I'd do in that situation. Depending on the size of the motorcycle, I might try to move it and try to leave a note. I used to ride a motorcycle a lot and always managed to find a place to park where my bike was not in anyone's way and was very unlikely to get hit by a car. I never even considered locking it to a bicycle rack.
Currently living in Taiwan and people park cars, trucks, scooters wherever they feel like. I move scooters on a daily basis, and have put a few dents in car doors when they decided to park right behind a row of scooters while they go shopping or go eat.

I don't know where this "don't ever touch a motorcycle" thing comes from. I don't own one now but I owned a motorcycle for several years, and I'd have no problem with someone moving it if I inadvertently left it in the way of something.

Now you are being a bike snob.

The motorcycles don't belong there.
Wonder if your concern about what belongs where applies to bicycles locked to any object on the street/sidewalk that is not a bike rack?

A car is much more difficult to move, but I'd have the company page the license plate to have it moved if it was blocking a door that I needed to get into.

I've never tried moving a motorcycle, but I assume I could just squeeze the clutch and roll the bike away from the door. A note explains why the bike was moved, and if the rider has a problem with it, tough.
This seems eminently reasonable. If I came out and my motorcycle was moved, I'd be annoyed, but if they left a note saying why, I would feel more sheepish and would want to apologize. I could easily see someone accidentally parking in front of one of those lockers without realizing what they are.

This seems eminently reasonable. If I came out and my motorcycle was moved, I'd be annoyed, but if they left a note saying why, I would feel more sheepish and would want to apologize. I could easily see someone accidentally parking in front of one of those lockers without realizing what they are.

Fairly hard to not notice a door on these things... of course one has to have the basic common sense of an amoeba to understand that a door may be opened from time to time.

For those of you who have never seen a bike locker... this is how some may look... http://www.folsom.ca.us/images/bike%20lockers.JPG

This is how they are used...

http://www.creativesystems.com/popup/lockers/bike_locker1-large.jpg

I don't know where this "don't ever touch a motorcycle" thing comes from. I don't own one now but I owned a motorcycle for several years, and I'd have no problem with someone moving it if I inadvertently left it in the way of something.

And what if they drop it? Which, by the way, they probably will.

I've never tried moving a motorcycle, but I assume I could just squeeze the clutch and roll the bike away from the door. A note explains why the bike was moved, and if the rider has a problem with it, tough.

In many if not most cases, that would be a wrong assumption. First, on most bikes when it is locked, the steering is locked, so you won't be able to turn the front wheel.

Second, many motorcyclists put a lock on the disc brakes to prevent the bike from being stolen. If you try to move it, you not only won't be able to--but you might even injure the brakes causing hundreds of dollars or more in damages. This happened to me years ago when my friend's father thought he was being a good samaritan by trying to move my bike out of the rain. His nice but misguided gesture destroyed one of my brake calipers.

Well, I'm learning some new things today! I'd never heard of a bike locker till I read this thread, and I'd never heard of or seen a split parking spot intended for motorcycles. Both new to me, and at first blush, both seem like good ideas.


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split motorcycle spot

I hold no grudge or hatred toward motorcycles. Locking a $15,000 motorcycle is fine by me, and I would even lock my own motorcycle to a bike rack if I had one.

New VA clinic on Oahu built an even newer separated large multi-level parking garage. Of course they did not even think of putting in a bike rack. It took me several months of lobbying to get a bike installed. I strongly suggested putting the bike rack near the front door of the clinic rather than the parking garage to avoid the moped/motorcycle problems. No go, they put the rack in the garage. I was able to use it for a couple months. I now just lock up to one of the benches in front of the clinic or outside portion of railing for the handicap ramp. Oh well, I tried to do it right even if the motorcyclist prevent me from parking where I am suppose to. Most times, the motorcycle guys could find a regular parking space but are too lazy too. Chaining the motorcycle must be a NYC thing, because I have never seen it anywhere else - gotta love NYC for their attitude.

Chaining the motorcycle must be a NYC thing, because I have never seen it anywhere else - gotta love NYC for their attitude.

Chaining the motorcycle is a city thing. It happens in most major cities.

In many if not most cases, that would be a wrong assumption. First, on most bikes when it is locked, the steering is locked, so you won't be able to turn the front wheel.

Second, many motorcyclists put a lock on the disc brakes to prevent the bike from being stolen. If you try to move it, you not only won't be able to--but you might even injure the brakes causing hundreds of dollars or more in damages. This happened to me years ago when my friend's father thought he was being a good samaritan by trying to move my bike out of the rain. His nice but misguided gesture destroyed one of my brake calipers.

That's pretty much why I don't touch other people's toys and tools without permission and instructions. I hate handling things when i don't know how they work. Heck, I even read the owner's manual when I get a rental car. (Okay, I skim most of it, but it still takes me fifteen minutes or so.)

Denver has very few traditional bike racks. You'll see them at all of the local arenas and stadiums but everywhere else you'll see single inverted "U's" embedded in the pavement. It is perfectly legal for any under 50cc scooter to park and lock at these. In fact, it's a selling point for scooters. Problem is, most police can't tell or don't care if larger scooters park at these. I park and lock my 250 Vespa to them all the time and have never been ticketed. i'd never park my Tiger 800 there.

States have different ways of defining something as a motorcycle instead of a scooter. In Colorado, anything over 50cc is classified as a motorcycle.

First, on most bikes when it is locked, the steering is locked, so you won't be able to turn the front wheel.

So what is your view on tow trucks dragging cars out of parking spots? You know, parking brake set and transmission in park so the wheels can't rotate? Happens all of the time. In the OP's case the motorcycle is parked where it shouldn't be. It's sort of like if somebody parks in my assigned parking spot at my apartment I can have their car towed away. The onus is on the person committing the wrongdoing, and ignorance is not a valid excuse in the eyes of the law.

Well it makes sense, don't people pull up in trucks and steal the bikes that way? (Or should i say Mikes)

I don't know where this "don't ever touch a motorcycle" thing comes from. I don't own one now but I owned a motorcycle for several years, and I'd have no problem with someone moving it if I inadvertently left it in the way of something.

That's you. Don't touch my bike. Sticker on an old Harley "If you value your life as much as I value this bike, don't fk with it."

That's you. Don't touch my bike. Sticker on an old Harley "If you value your life as much as I value this bike, don't fk with it."

Just realized that I didn't comment on the part about moving someone's bike. I have to agree, don't touch anyone's bike without permission. Moving it or sitting on it is even worse. While I wouldn't phrase like the owner of the old Harley, I'd ask you to consider how you'd feel if you came out to where your car was parked and found me sitting in it.

That's you. Don't touch my bike. Sticker on an old Harley "If you value your life as much as I value this bike, don't fk with it."How would you feel about someone illegally parking and blocking you in? I am sure you would be just a congenial as your sticker.

I don't know where this "don't ever touch a motorcycle" thing comes from.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVKsd8z6scw

So what is your view on tow trucks dragging cars out of parking spots? You know, parking brake set and transmission in park so the wheels can't rotate? Happens all of the time. In the OP's case the motorcycle is parked where it shouldn't be. It's sort of like if somebody parks in my assigned parking spot at my apartment I can have their car towed away. The onus is on the person committing the wrongdoing, and ignorance is not a valid excuse in the eyes of the law.

If there is a policy or law about it--call a professional and have it moved. Someone who knows what they are doing can move a car or motorcycle without damaging it. The average person who knows nothing about them cannot.

How would you feel about someone illegally parking and blocking you in? I am sure you would be just a congenial as your sticker.

So if someone blocked you in you'd, what? Just ram their car until it's out of the way? No, you'd call the building management and have them move it. You should do the same if a motorcycle is blocking you in.

So if someone blocked you in you'd, what? Just ram their car until it's out of the way? No, you'd call the building management and have them move it. You should do the same if a motorcycle is blocking you in.Get it towed for both a car and motorcycle. No reason the tow company cannot cut the lock for your illegally parked motorcycle. Interesting that NYPD will cut locks and confiscate bicycles while ignoring illegally parked motorcycles taking up the legal bicycle parking.

If there is a policy or law about it--call a professional and have it moved. Someone who knows what they are doing can move a car or motorcycle without damaging it. The average person who knows nothing about them cannot.

Here is an idea. Just park legally and you will not have to get all up in arms about someone touching your precious.

So if someone blocked you in you'd, what? Just ram their car until it's out of the way? No, you'd call the building management and have them move it. You should do the same if a motorcycle is blocking you in.
Actually, a person in OR did try the ramming approach when someone parked across his driveway. He is doing a bit of jail time now.

So if someone blocked you in you'd, what? Just ram their car until it's out of the way? No, you'd call the building management and have them move it. You should do the same if a motorcycle is blocking you in.

If someone blocks me in, I'm not sitting there waiting for management to figure out how to move it, it's just getting moved.

And yea, actually I did push a car out of the way one time, with the help of a few mates.

Look, I'm not one to go ****ing with people's stuff, but you give up that right if you park like a complete ass.

Here is an idea. Just park legally and you will not have to get all up in arms about someone touching your precious.

Here's an idea, when you live in an actual city and own a motorcycle, then you can give me advice about how to lock it up.

If someone blocks me in, I'm not sitting there waiting for management to figure out how to move it, it's just getting moved.

And yea, actually I did push a car out of the way one time, with the help of a few mates.

Look, I'm not one to go ****ing with people's stuff, but you give up that right if you park like a complete ass.

That situation was about a car. How are you going to just move a car? You own a tow truck? It's extremely unlikely that a motorcycle would block you in. I've never once seen that happen.

Get it towed for both a car and motorcycle. No reason the tow company cannot cut the lock for your illegally parked motorcycle. Interesting that NYPD will cut locks and confiscate bicycles while ignoring illegally parked motorcycles taking up the legal bicycle parking.

That's what I just said, genius.