Topic: Parking on sidewalks....maybe..

[techy5025]

With the downpours....on short notice sometimes..  we get in Fla., I
sometimes find it convenient to park on the sidewalk...under an overhead.
It's great when there are no slot parking places also. Some places don't
seem to mind and others ..... do. 

What have your experiences been?

Jim

[ProTeal55]

I always park my bikes on the sidewalk, especially in the city.
Why would I park my little CB on the street and come out to watch it get knocked over by some dumbass ? It is parked in the garage most of the time, but If I have to stop home or something while out and about I usually just park it in my walkway in front of the house (my neighbor has a driveway so it works out nicely). If I cruise to a buddies house I usually do the same, or do whatever I can to keep it out of cars/peoples/punk kids line of sight.

If we are riding in the city we usually just park on the sidewalk of whatever place we are going to (restaurant/bar/etc). I have had good luck thus far...

[BobbyR]

I would like to and i would rather,  but I have a 50/50 chance of having to talk some cop out of writing me up.

[Chris Schneiter]

I started parking under the overhang at the grocery store a few years ago when I was in the store and all of a sudden, it started raining cats and dogs. I never had anybody complain, and there's still no sign up, but last summer, I started parking in the lot (on a diagonal, taking up a whole spot) just because it felt a little wierd to park on the sidwalk...I dunno, I guess it depends on what mood I'm in ...

[ofreen]

I started parking under the overhang at the grocery store a few years ago ...

I do that too when I can.  I started doing that years ago when I came out of a store and found some dipsh!t had wheeled into a parking space and hit my '64 Duo Glide, pushing it off the side stand.  It was on its side, in a pool of gas.  The miscreant was nowhere around, of course.  All is not rosy on the sidewalk though, because there are other dipsh!ts that are not careful with their shopping baskets.  I don't park there if there isn't plenty of room.

[nickjtc]

A big challenge is dealing with some 'jobsworth' traffic person who insists on enforcing the letter of the law. If you park discreetly, not interfering with pedestrians, there shouldn't be a problem. Check your local by-laws first. Some North American municipalities seem less flexible than others.

[medic09]

Big, open bits of sidewalk-sure.  I park like that in front of the hospital when the few bike spots are taken.  But I think that hospital security cut me some slack.  Our local big supermarket has lots of sidewalk along the building, but away from the door; so I park there to.

If sidewalk space is a little tighter, and requires more manuevering to get in and out, I don't do it with my Honda.  My Yamaha SR500 is small enough, I will park it places that I won't put the bigger bike; especially in the evening.

[nickjtc]

Here in the 'loops the authorities take a dim view of anything other than parallel parking on the street. One fellow with one of those Smart cars got a ticket for backing in to the sidewalk to save some space on the road!

Perhaps us riders should get together one day and all park downtown, one machine to each car parking spot, and then see the furore that would result.

[BobbyR]

I started parking under the overhang at the grocery store a few years ago ...

I do that too when I can.  I started doing that years ago when I came out of a store and found some dipsh!t had wheeled into a parking space and hit my '64 Duo Glide, pushing it off the side stand.  It was on its side, in a pool of gas.  The miscreant was nowhere around, of course.  All is not rosy on the sidewalk though, because there are other dipsh!ts that are not careful with their shopping baskets.  I don't park there if there isn't plenty of room.

Well I think I gigured this out somewhat. I had a job in a parking lot. So I would park my bike and then put a shopping on it's side in front of the space. Worked for me.

[andy750]

Be careful parking in Hospitals or other buildings with covered garages and tight spaces....the bike area is usually just sectioned off by a yellow line and this didnt stop someone reversing into my CB750K2 and leaving it in a pool of gas....I now park behind concrete bollards in another hospitals more-bike friendly parking area. Basically if you park in a space where there is a chance of a car hitting you, it will probably happen sooner or later....at least in Boston this is true, having seen it a few times. Parking on the sidewalks here is not recommended as you will usually get a $40 ticket. All depends on the area but downtown you`ll get a ticket for sure....I got one just for parking my bike in a residents-only area (in a space a car couldnt have fitted anyway).....b#@%stds

cheers
Andy

[Jeb]

Parked on the side walk today at the DVM & next to an Atlanta Police bike.  I was in there a long time.  When I came out the Police bike was gone but no ticket.  I didn't have the right tag on anyway.  Before Christmas I parked a different bike on a sidewalk at the mall & again next to an Atlanta Police bike - no ticket.  Maybe you all should park next to Police bikes - just a thought anyway.

[needswork]

I don't park on sidewalks often but ALWAYS do at the neighbourhood grocery store. It's covered and I park away from the doors/pedestrian traffic and shopping carts. Never got a complaint (even when I was leaking oil  ).
If I were to park beside the door or in a busy place I probably would have been told. Besides, I like to think I'm sending a message to those people in the cars and SUV's... go smaller and park closer to the door 

Anyway, I think in most places if your bike isn't creating a problem to (pedestrian) traffic, you shouldn't be getting a ticket unless you got the "Parking Nazi" on his first week on the job.

[Dusthawk]

I always put Rita on the sidewalk, she loves the attention. She basks in it. She knows she is unique and I love seeing all the people checkin her out trying to figure out what she is, its a hoot!!!