Taking up a whole parking space

[tinng321]

I've been riding to work this week and people here at work are complaining about how I take up a whole parking space in the front because they are too freaking lazy to walk from the back.
I just tell them straight to their faces.
"I pay taxes, registration fee and plate, so I can park wherever I want."
How do you guys deal with crap like this?

Also, how do you park your bike so that others will see it between the cars and not think that it's an empty space?

[bikeguy57]

How do they think you're supposed to park?

[Alex]

Are there any other bikes there to share spots with? Any chance of having them create a small m/c spot or 2?

[revstriker]

Originally Posted by bikeguy57

How do they think you're supposed to park?

+1. Are they suggesting you should share a space with a car?

The parking garage of the building I work in has taken two joining end spaces and created a motorcycle parking area. It is chained off so cars can't "accidentally" park there (they're good spots too). Can easily fit 5-6 motorcycles.

[Snake]

At the place I worked at me and some other bike riders convinced the company to take 3 regular parking spots and make 6 motorcycle parking spots out of them. We used the arguement that they would be supporting our efforts to conserve fuel and have more parking space available by not taking up a whole parking spot.

[00NissanNinja]

Originally Posted by bikeguy57

How do they think you're supposed to park?

I pack farther to the end of the spot so people don't fly in thinking the space is empty. Maybe you can get them to make some spots you'll still be getting the front space (at least where I live they mostly put the mc spots up front)

[headshrink]

I lay out a line of road flares to block off the spot. It is a little inconvenient, as I have to light new ones on my lunch break. ;p

[Talonne]

Ridiculous... Bikes are vehicles just like the rest of them. Unless they're going to start letting you park on the sidewalk or something, you have to park in a space just like everyone else! Parking spots are first come, first served. Tell them to go to work earlier if they want your front spot. :P

[KJohnson21]

When it comes to parking lots, I will always use a regular parking space to park my bike unless there's a designated motorcycle parking space, or maybe a well defined side area striped off. And I will always try to park it so that it has the highest visibility that's reasonably possible. The fire marshal made me stop using flares though.

[tjkamper]

Tell HR to have maintanence create motorcycle spots or get people to stop harrassing you.

[tinng321]

I work with all women.
I'm the only guy in this dept.
Trust me, this is not the only thing they b*tch about.
I've tried parking on the sidewalk and security paged me and told me I had to move the bike.
I'm pretty cool with the compliance officer. I'll see if he will turn one of the spot into a motorcycle spot.
There's another harley at work.
I'm should she wouldn't mind sharing 1 spot.

[Locksmiff]

I would tell them to pull their heads outa their a s s and put up with it because if you drove a car you would still take up a whole parking space anyway. The space doesn't magically change based on what is parked in it.

[revstriker]

But bikes are small....

I wonder if they think some small cars should not take up a whole space, or if they think large SUVs should be able to take up more than one space.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by KJohnson21

When it comes to parking lots, I will always use a regular parking space to park my bike unless there's a designated motorcycle parking space, or maybe a well defined side area striped off.

I agree, when it comes to parking lots at places that I go to occasionally (malls, stores, etc.). But I think the situation is slightly different when we're talking about going to the same place to work each day.

Originally Posted by tinng321

I work with all women.
I'm the only guy in this dept.

Then what are you bitching about, where's the resume inbox for the lonely single guys?

Originally Posted by tinng321

I've tried parking on the sidewalk and security paged me and told me I had to move the bike.
I'm pretty cool with the compliance officer. I'll see if he will turn one of the spot into a motorcycle spot.
There's another harley at work.
I'm should she wouldn't mind sharing 1 spot.

Seems like you have tried quite a bit to help out, your heart's in the right place. Sure, an argument can be made that we have as much right to a full spot as a car, but practically, our bikes are quite small and wouldn't need a full spot if there is an equivalently safe & convenient spot for the bike to park.

[kevlarorc]

Ask them how many other people they drive to work with. Probably 90% or more will say it's just them. Then just walk away.

[Grn99Kawi]

I always take up a whole spot unless I'm riding witha buddy and we share the spot in a crowded lot.. if it isnt crowded we'll each take a spot...

maybe they can put 2 Priuses (Priaii?) in one spot too..

thank goodness at my work we each have our own spots....

[backinthesaddleagain]

My company is in an office condo. I take one of our three guest spaces each day. Rarely have guests let alone three so boss is cool with it. and he's into motorsports.
Posted via Mobile Device

[tinng321]

Originally Posted by revstriker

But bikes are small....

I wonder if they think some small cars should not take up a whole space, or if they think large SUVs should be able to take up more than one space.

Funny that you mentioned this.
There is this one guy at work who drives a smart car.
They always complain about him taking up a whole space.
Now, it's me...
lolz.
I honestly don't care anymore...

[00NissanNinja]

Originally Posted by tinng321

Funny that you mentioned this.
There is this one guy at work who drives a smart car.
They always complain about him taking up a whole space.
Now, it's me...
lolz.
I honestly don't care anymore...

Wow... They whined about a smart car too? Don't know what to say about your co-workers at all. Just ignore them since they seem to whine about anything that's not as big as a chevy silverado

[kyl18b]

Am I wrong for parking in the striped-off spaces near the handicapped areas?

[noche_caliente]

Originally Posted by kyl18b

Am I wrong for parking in the striped-off spaces near the handicapped areas?

Yes. Those areas are so that the vehicles in those spaces have room to fully open their doors and maneuver around the vehicle as necessary. As someone who uses h/c spaces due to my knees, that's one of my pet peeves.

[kyl18b]

Originally Posted by noche_caliente

Yes. Those areas are so that the vehicles in those spaces have room to fully open their doors and maneuver around the vehicle as necessary. As someone who uses h/c spaces due to my knees, that's one of my pet peeves.

Duly noted... I kinda wondered about that, and began to think that maybe it's not the best choice. Thanks for the advice.

What about the striped areas at the ends of parking rows? They're usually oddly shaped triangles. I'm protected from both angles usually by the two cars parked on the end. Any thoughts on those spots?

[gideonpoe]

Originally Posted by kyl18b

Am I wrong for parking in the striped-off spaces near the handicapped areas?

I've actually wanted to park in them every time I see them. I just don't want a ticket, ever had any problems with it?

[kyl18b]

Originally Posted by gideonpoe

I've actually wanted to park in them every time I see them. I just don't want a ticket, ever had any problems with it?

not YET lol

[headshrink]

"smart" cars.... have they fallen out of vogue already? I just realized I haven't heard that name, or seen one in a while.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by kyl18b

Am I wrong for parking in the striped-off spaces near the handicapped areas?

Relevant, and comical, thread on a local board.

[kyl18b]

Damn, I never realized I was being a douche, but it all makes sense now. Consider me a reformed man. It won't happen again.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Sailariel]

I don't like parking lots--especially those in shopping centres. I initially try to find a designated MC space--we have those at the VA Hospital. If there are no MC spaces, I look for a bicycle rack. I then park next to the rack. If none of the above are available, I go to the back of a building where employees park, and find an isolated spot. There is little movement in that area, so the bike is less likely to get knocked over by a cager. My friend's Duc has been knocked over twice (expensive) He now does as I do.

[bdavison]

Here, I park in the striped spaces at the end of a lane, and right up in front of the place Im headed too....preferably next to a bunch of concrete and steel posts. I dont use parking spaces because these idiots here will flat run right over your bike.

I try to stay away from the handicapped striped places though.

As for the wenches in your office....hand them a midol and tell them to get over it.

Or better yet.....sneak up there one weekend with a can of white spray paint, paint motorcycle lines in ALL the spaces, and then put up signs all over that say "motorcycle parking only".

[tinng321]

Originally Posted by Sailariel

I go to the back of a building where employees park, and find an isolated spot.

But there's a higher chance of some one picking it up and driving it away in a van without anyone seeing.

[Hadyn]

In order of preference:
1. Designated Motorcycle spot
2. Area lined off in white (yellow is fire lane and blue is handicapped, both will get you a ticket)
3. Sidewalk, out of the way of foot traffic, fire lanes, emergency exits, etc.
4. Sharing with a bike that's already parked in a car spot
5. Taking up a whole spot

Although distance from the destination is ultimately the deciding factor.
Posted via Mobile Device

[kyl18b]

Originally Posted by Hadyn

2. Area lined off in white (yellow is fire lane and blue is handicapped, both will get you a ticket)

Even if it's a big white striped area between handicapped spots?

[Hadyn]

No, I stay away from handicapped spots entirely.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Flashmonkey]

This is pretty cut and dry. Motorcycles, as vehicles, are supposed to park in designated parking spots. Doing anything other than that (ie: parking on a sidewalk, by bike racks, in handicap parking spots) constitutes parking illegally. That's all there is to it.

I've had this complaint before, actually. My standard answer is "suck my ______".

[GeneJunkie]

Originally Posted by headshrink

"smart" cars.... have they fallen out of vogue already? I just realized I haven't heard that name, or seen one in a while.

They are everywhere in Cali... I laugh every time I see one, especially one on the freeway.

[wvninja]

I park in motorcycle spots but the only place that has them around here is at the bureau where i work. otherwise i park in a parking spot clear at the back of the spot (so someone doesnt whip their car into the spot only to find my bike at the front of that spot) or if its a shorty stop (gas station to grab a drink or something) I park in a no parking zone close to the building. I've had cops give me looks but not one has said anything to me. One started to say something to me but I looked at him and said "I'm just grabbing a drink, I'm about to leave" he just nodded and continued to his car.

[Blackwidow]

Originally Posted by Alex

Relevant, and comical, thread on a local board.

Interesting thread.

[Guinss]

Originally Posted by tinng321

I've been riding to work this week and people here at work are complaining about how I take up a whole parking space in the front because they are too freaking lazy to walk from the back.
I just tell them straight to their faces.
"I pay taxes, registration fee and plate, so I can park wherever I want."
How do you guys deal with crap like this?

It's just so stupid to say something like that, that i'd image there is no point starting to explain anything to them. Racism against bike?
Of course you can park wherever you want. What a bunch of douchebags.

Originally Posted by tinng321

Also, how do you park your bike so that others will see it between the cars and not think that it's an empty space?

I try to find a parking spot between two "low" cars, so cagers spot the bike as soon as possible.

[revstriker]

Originally Posted by kyl18b

Even if it's a big white striped area between handicapped spots?

Yes. That is reserved to give a handicapped person room to get in and out of their vehicle and is part of the handicapped parking zone.

Don't park there.

[revstriker]

Originally Posted by Alex

Relevant, and comical, thread on a local board.

Indeed!

As I was reading through the thread, I kept wondering what the final poster pointed out: What if the car was parked their first, and she was returning? With the bike there, she would have no way to enter the van.

As for the handcuffs, I can only speculate he may have got pissed at his brand new bike being knocked over and the police may have thought he'd be violent.

Serves him right though.