Sorry to start a second part but felt the need to. I had noticed alot of you asking about parking right up against bldgs like Walmart. I would asume also on the sidewalk by the bicycle rack.

I have seen M/C's park in all kinds of places close to bldgs that are not designated parking places. This is what I have learned by fighting my tickets and losing.

First tickets were in Huntington Beach Ca. Parked in the white cross hatch by a unpainted curb; tickets on me and my sons bikes. These are refered to as GORE POINTS and always mean NO_PARKING wheather marked or not.

Second tickets were in Norwalk Ca, Parked by some big planters by the movie theater. Tickets on three bikes. Planters were at least 25 feet away from sidewalk. Also a no-no because this is called INPEADING PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC (you half to be at least 50 feet away). I really thought I had heard it all on that one.

Now back to Walmart. This involves the Walmart in Long Beach Town Center. long beach, Ca. Why you cannot park close to the building by the bike rack.(I would guess this involves any Building for that matter)You know like parking on the pedestrian pathway. As you know young kids are atttracked to our machines (big shiny toys to them)and seem to want to run up and touch them when they see them. Well you just parked your bike from a decent trip to the store and park by the building. Well kid runs up moments later and decides to touch your still hot pipes. Instant burn and screaming and draws the walmart employees attention they get the supervisor involved ,call police for a report. Well you finally walk up in the middle of all this. Long story very short is after investigating you are at faulf for where you parked. Family is now sueing you for burns to their kid. This actually happened at the above mentioned Walmart. Last I heard is the case is still pending.

I am the first to admit that I have on several occasions looked for that super close parking spot and have payed dearly for it. Yes after my $150.00 Tacos and $200.00 Movie I have called it quits and now park in an actual stall.

Oh I forgot to tell you all about sharing metered parking spots. Alot of us like to put two or three bikes in one metered spot. Seems like alot of places have a law that states ONLY ONE VEHICLE PER SPOT. I have actually seen bikers in Huntington Beach get tickets for this to. (four crotch rockets in same spot)

I hope I have enlighted some of you so you will be able to save money for chrome instead of pumping it into the state to pay for welfare by getting unwanted tickets. Thats it keep working hard and paying your taxes because millions of people on welfare are depending on you.

Regrettably I'll listen to ya. Makes sense, but I always thought saving space as a good point about bikes. I'll use info here to address person who asks why I am taking a whole spot at crowded X Mas shopping areas. I need the walk anyways. MC

MS1700 wrote:
Regrettably I'll listen to ya... taking a whole spot at crowded X Mas shopping areas..


Yea... you are making me rethink my parking at the end of the row as well, but I doubt anyone will gripe about me taking a spot while Christmas shopping. My motorcycle will be in storage by then!

heaven forbid parents taking responsibility for their own kids. Wow, imagine that. So if you had the end parking space where your bike is still enticing to kids, but parked very legally by everyone's standards and the kids do the same thing... How dare your exhaust pipes be hot. You should cool them off before you leave your bike. How stupid.

Yeah, I've always worried about kids (or adults for that matter) being attracted to the bike and getting burned on the pipes. I've parked my bike up on the sidewalk by the "smoke break" spot at Wally World a few times but usually park it in a non-parking spot adjacent to a light pole right at the front of the store. I'll park in a designated spot if it's near the store. No way am I parking the bike in the middle of the madhouse.

slyguy wrote:
heaven forbid parents taking responsibility for their own kids. Wow, imagine that. So if you had the end parking space where your bike is still enticing to kids, but parked very legally by everyone's standards and the kids do the same thing... How dare your exhaust pipes be hot. You should cool them off before you leave your bike. How stupid.

Heh... No doubt. Our society is broken, and has been for a long time.

Where I work, we have 5 folks who ride. Parking is at a premium, so we decided to park 2, sometimes 3, to a spot. But the idea came up that we should ask for MC parking since we have so many riders, plus there are other riders from the college campus where our business is located. Got a flat 'no' from the property owner. Now we take up 5 spaces. I know it's a little mean, but...

Down in Nashville (IN) we park as many as we can freely get into a space. It has never been a problem, and that is probably because it is free parking and parking is at a premium most of the year. Whatever you do, don't park in the stripped areas because you will be ticketed.

Wal mart is private property, I don't think a cop can write you up for a parking violation there.

unless it,s for parking in a fire lane or handicap spot