"This space RESERVED for low-emission and fuel-efficient vehicles only"

[Soujyu]

Disclaimer 1: I don't ride a 250/300 any more; I ride a bike that tends to eat premium fuel.

Disclaimer 2: Yes, I did go into the store in question and bought some sewing supplies.

So, I ended up parking in this spot in front of this store. It was right next to a handicapped spot, which parking in if you are not actually disabled or taking care of a disabled person is usually considered a bad idea. I would like to present two exhibits.

Exhibit A:


Exhibit B (a closeup of the sign in question)


So, I have two questions, one of which will be in a poll.
1. (the poll question) Should I have parked in this spot, or was I acting like an by parking there?

2. Let's say that I park a Hummer H1 in the space in question. Does the shopping center or the store have the right to tow your vehicle away?

[contact148]

id park there but then again i also would park in the expectant mothers spots too (as theres no bylaw that says you cant hence no ticket) and when my wife and i had kids there was no special spot and we made out just fine

[bdavison]

Nope, and Nope.

That's not a state-mandated sign, just some arsehat's really dumb idea.
Kinda like those ones that say "Reserved for Pregnant women".....

[Soujyu]

Originally Posted by contact148

id park there but then again i also would park in the expectant mothers spots too (as theres no bylaw that says you cant hence no ticket) and when my wife and i had kids there was no special spot and we made out just fine

Granted, I would not park in a spot reserved for expectant mothers.

[Joshorilla]

Your bike is fuel efficient and low emission, I don't understand why this is an issue, why wouldn't you park there?

[Reswob]

I've parked my full size sedan in the "Fuel Efficient" parking at school. I think 25mpg is pretty darn efficient for a such a big vehicle

[leia]

I take bigger issue with the fact that you're going to Jo Ann Fabric. Yes fuel efficient, a-ok, and more bikes can share, more efficient.

[THE BIG SITT]

Originally Posted by leia

I take bigger issue with the fact that you're going to Jo Ann Fabric. Yes fuel efficient, a-ok, and more bikes can share, more efficient.

tumblr_m30t8lTxll1qkk2it.gif

[Snake]

I would say your vehicle qualifies to park in that spot.

[NathanUc]

Ooooh man have I got a story regrading these type of spaces....

At the University I work for, they have FEV (fuel efficient vehicle) spots. I used to park my bike there every night when I came into work. Sure enough, every morning I'd get a notice saying not to park there. They couldn't REALLY give me a ticket, but if they really wanted to, they could have towed me because they enforced the rules in that parking lot.

I complained almost daily with the manager who said this:
"We are using the listing provided by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEE). Their current list of qualified vehicles is attached, and is also at greenercars.org (go to the news&documents page, and look for LEED MY 2001-2012 Low Emission Vehicles)."

Of course, no motorcycles were listed. I showed them the stats of the motorcycle and to the best of my ability, put it in the same format as the charts they used. They still refused to acknowledge my motorcycle. This really annoyed me because MANY of the cars on that list were not as 'green' as my motorcycle was at the time. I'm not just talking MPG because there's more to it then that, but my emissions were also well above par.

I wasn't trying to be a jerk and I wouldn't park something like my 636 there, but if they are going to give individuals who drive eco vehicles special privileges, I felt myself and the many smell/medium motorcycle drivers there deserved them as well. After weeks of trying to state my case (for me and other moto riders), they decided to add motorcycle spots.... on the sidewalk.

Since then, I've moved on to a better job across the street, but it's nice to know that my complaints helped other riders who worked at that building. Even if it was just a couple of small spots on the sidewalk.


EDIT: You ride a Tuono. I am immensely jealous and changed my mind. Those spots are only for cars and people who don't own one of the all time best motorcycles ever.

[JohnnyBravo]

I won't say I park all over the place... But ummm it's possible. Yes I'd park there!

[Aggrotech]

motorcycles are vehicles.
low emissions + fuel efficient. Anyone that gives you **** for parking there deserves a beating.

[Somchai]

Jo-Ann must be from the 'greens' - low emissions and fuel efficient is a kind of public brain washing and nothing else.

[ChaoSS]

First, for anyone who says they park in certain spaces because they can't get a ticket, 2 things:

1. You're a dick.

2. They still have the right to tow you, each state has different laws that they have to follow, but they can get you.


Second, motorcycles are fuel efficient, but by and large they are not low emissions vehicles.

[csmith12]

So I go to the mall and park. So we have;
Handicap spots
The totally ridiculous sideways spots that take up enough room for 4 cars
Family spots
Pregnant Women spots
FE vehicle spots
Pedal bike spots
Moto only spots

Enough yet? Sigh.... How bout, first come, first served. I walked by no less than 6 empty spots ahead of me to get to the door.

Them: I want equal treatment but special parking.
Me: No! we are equal, park like everyone else.
Them: But...
Me: Pick a standard and stick with it, don't be a hypocrite.

[Malicious Logic]

Not sure why it's a question whether or not you can park there. Not many places around here have those spaces (I live in Oklahoma. Not many fuel efficient vehicles), but if they did, I would use it even on my 600. Still fuel effecient compared to probably 90% of the cars on the road.

[ChaoSS]

Originally Posted by csmith12

So I go to the mall and park. So we have;
Handicap spots
The totally ridiculous sideways spots that take up enough room for 4 cars
Family spots
Pregnant Women spots
FE vehicle spots
Pedal bike spots
Moto only spots

Enough yet? Sigh.... How bout, first come, first served. I walked by no less than 6 empty spots ahead of me to get to the door.

Them: I want equal treatment but special parking.
Me: No! we are equal, park like everyone else.
Them: But...
Me: Pick a standard and stick with it, don't be a hypocrite.

I have no problems with handicapped spots, and I like the idea of pregnant women spots, although that's one of those things that some would tend to abuse. My wife has had three kids and has never truly needed to park right up next to the store, but sometimes a pregnancy can do things to a woman's joints that can make walking excruciating.

Family spots? Lazy kids need to be out walking. Corralling kids can be a hassle, but you have to do it in the store as well. If you are going to have family spots maybe they should be out in the middle of the parking lot next to the cart corrals so that you can grab a cart for the ones who are too little to walk without having to leave the kids in the car while you look for a cart. Next to the store? No.

And FE spots is just stupid. I like the places that have motorcycle parking, it frees up a full size spot for a full size vehicle, but I don't expect special parking just because I am not burning as much gas as someone else. Maybe if I have to walk my fat ass a little further I will burn a few calories and my bike will get even more FE.

[csmith12]

I don't really have a problem with the idea of any of the spots. They have their place I guess. It call becomes too much at some point though and a complete waist of space when the spots become so niche that they go unused.

So if it can't be executed fairly, then don't do it at all. But since they CAN, they DO and all in the name of support some cause instead of supporting their customers. Seems quite silly to me.

[Peanut_EOD]

I'll park my F350 Dually in those spots for a few reasons. Who decides what fuell efficient is? I think my truck is very efficient for what it is. The only legally reserved parking spots are handicapped parking. I will park my happy ass in any available spot that isn't handi-park. Everywhere I go I'm employee of the month, a pregnant bitch fuel efficient, the president, or whatever else they can come up with to say look at me.

[Soujyu]

Originally Posted by Peanut_EOD

I'll park my F350 Dually in those spots for a few reasons. Who decides what fuell efficient is? I think my truck is very efficient for what it is. The only legally reserved parking spots are handicapped parking. I will park my happy ass in any available spot that isn't handi-park. Everywhere I go I'm employee of the month, a pregnant bitch fuel efficient, the president, or whatever else they can come up with to say look at me.

And a F350 Dually going down the tollway at 90mph is enough to stop me from passing it at 100mph. (Ask me how I know this.)

I've seen two places where they've specifically told motorcycles where not to park. One of the places is a movie theater (no parking on the sidewalk that leads to the theater entrance). Another one is a bar/pub where they had fold-up signs saying that motorcycles are forbidden to park in the striped portions of the parking lot. (Some of them are handicap access points, so that would be expected).

Originally Posted by leia

I take bigger issue with the fact that you're going to Jo Ann Fabric. Yes fuel efficient, a-ok, and more bikes can share, more efficient.

I already look like an oddball there already.

[Peanut_EOD]

Originally Posted by Soujyu

And a F350 Dually going down the tollway at 90mph is enough to stop me from passing it at 100mph. (Ask me how I know this.)

OK, how do you know this?

[Soujyu]

Originally Posted by Peanut_EOD

OK, how do you know this?

Well, the new 85mph toll road that opened up around Central Texas opened up, and it's really close to my home, so I got on it and just opened up the throttle.

Around the last 10 miles of the new road, I was going 90mph and I was right behind a Dually, with all sorts of racks and boxes in the back. I accelerated to about 95-100mph and tried to pass him, but every time I got into his blind spot, the amount of turbulence that truck was generating was enough to cause my bike to lose stability. (I tried twice with no luck.)

[Malicious Logic]

Originally Posted by Peanut_EOD

I'll park my F350 Dually in those spots for a few reasons. Who decides what fuell efficient is? I think my truck is very efficient for what it is. The only legally reserved parking spots are handicapped parking. I will park my happy ass in any available spot that isn't handi-park. Everywhere I go I'm employee of the month, a pregnant bitch fuel efficient, the president, or whatever else they can come up with to say look at me.

I'm sorry but I had to throw a flag on this one. Fuel efficiency is pretty simple imo. Here's a gallon of gas. How far can your vehicle go on that gallon? 11-12 miles? gtfo of the fuel efficiency spot. Regardless of what your vehicle is, it's not using the fuel very efficiently. A fuel efficient vehicle should be anything that is in the upper MPG spectrum of vehicles on the road. Anything under 30 really isn't that efficient.

That being said, don't mistake this for me supporting those spots. Don't really care about those spots but I usually laugh/take a pic to show all my friends the dumb*** when I see a corvette parked there.

[thisisbenji]

Originally Posted by NathanUc

Ooooh man have I got a story regrading these type of spaces....

At the University I work for, they have FEV (fuel efficient vehicle) spots. I used to park my bike there every night when I came into work. Sure enough, every morning I'd get a notice saying not to park there. They couldn't REALLY give me a ticket, but if they really wanted to, they could have towed me because they enforced the rules in that parking lot.

I complained almost daily with the manager who said this:
"We are using the listing provided by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEE). Their current list of qualified vehicles is attached, and is also at greenercars.org (go to the news&documents page, and look for LEED MY 2001-2012 Low Emission Vehicles)."

Of course, no motorcycles were listed. I showed them the stats of the motorcycle and to the best of my ability, put it in the same format as the charts they used. They still refused to acknowledge my motorcycle. This really annoyed me because MANY of the cars on that list were not as 'green' as my motorcycle was at the time. I'm not just talking MPG because there's more to it then that, but my emissions were also well above par.

I wasn't trying to be a jerk and I wouldn't park something like my 636 there, but if they are going to give individuals who drive eco vehicles special privileges, I felt myself and the many smell/medium motorcycle drivers there deserved them as well. After weeks of trying to state my case (for me and other moto riders), they decided to add motorcycle spots.... on the sidewalk.

Since then, I've moved on to a better job across the street, but it's nice to know that my complaints helped other riders who worked at that building. Even if it was just a couple of small spots on the sidewalk.


EDIT: You ride a Tuono. I am immensely jealous and changed my mind. Those spots are only for cars and people who don't own one of the all time best motorcycles ever.

At my university motorcycle are not allowed to parking in any space that was designed for a car. We have to park in the designated spots, that tend to fill up extremely fast on nice days.

[dfox]

i'd personally stay away from those spots.

it's just asking for trouble from...
-some smug prius driver keying your bike.
-distracted prius drivers who are so happy they're recognized for their vehicle that creates more carbon emissions over its life time than an average car, that they are blinded by their awesomeness and run into your bike, knocking it over.
-guys who drive f350 dualies into tight parking lots, because they can't see your bike over the massive hood and will likely take your bike out even if they're trying to park next to you.
-other angry people who throw their shopping carts into the space next to your bike because they're too lazy to walk 10 more feet to the cart corral, likely hitting the side of your bike.

I just avoid the garbage that could come with spots like that, and park towards the back of the lot where people are less likely to be pissed off.

[Peanut_EOD]

Originally Posted by Malicious Logic

I'm sorry but I had to throw a flag on this one. Fuel efficiency is pretty simple imo. Here's a gallon of gas. How far can your vehicle go on that gallon? 11-12 miles? gtfo of the fuel efficiency spot. Regardless of what your vehicle is, it's not using the fuel very efficiently. A fuel efficient vehicle should be anything that is in the upper MPG spectrum of vehicles on the road. Anything under 30 really isn't that efficient.

That being said, don't mistake this for me supporting those spots. Don't really care about those spots but I usually laugh/take a pic to show all my friends the dumb*** when I see a corvette parked there.

Then I guess thos signs need to include an MPG range. I'll still park there though.

[broken neck]

And what about the old folks? Do they deserve a spot too? I would say they do...

So imagine, an handicaped pregnant woman with two kids driving a Prius. Where would she park? Difficult decision...

But, yeah I would park there with my Ninja, but not with my 3.0R Outback...

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by Peanut_EOD

Then I guess thos signs need to include an MPG range. I'll still park there though.

"oh 30mpg minimum? well I get double that on my bike!"
*happily parks there

comes back to angry prius drivers who felt acknowledged until they saw your bike

[Soujyu]

Originally Posted by broken neck

And what about the old folks? Do they deserve a spot too? I would say they do...

So imagine, an handicaped pregnant woman with two kids driving a Prius. Where would she park? Difficult decision...

But, yeah I would park there with my Ninja, but not with my 3.0R Outback...

Around here, old folks can fairly easily get a handicapped placard or license plate.

The entire talk about Priuses is kind of amusing to me because I drive one when I'm not on two wheels.

[Minikin_Jo]

Originally Posted by leia

I take bigger issue with the fact that you're going to Jo Ann Fabric. Yes fuel efficient, a-ok, and more bikes can share, more efficient.

Ha! My thoughts exactly.

[broken neck]

Originally Posted by Soujyu

The entire talk about Priuses is kind of amusing to me because I drive one when I'm not on two wheels.

Maybe because they are the "Kleenex" of the hybrid transportation... They're the one that pop to mind...

[LNasty]

I just park on the ****ing sidewalk by the front entrance. Do it every store I go to. At some stores there are employee motorcycles parked there as well. Never have had an issue with it. Try it, you may like it!

[bfpower]

We have those at the hospital where I work. There's always someone in a massive pickup parked there.

I park in those spots when I'm visiting or just picking something up. Since they're at the front of the lot (and employees park at the back), I don't use them while working a shift.

Should they be able to tow? Legally? Yes, because it's private property and the person is parking in a space they were specifically asked not to. Ethically? Maybe, maybe not. If it was my lot, I'd leave them a 'you park like a jackass' card.

[alex.s]

what do you want to bet the manager of that joanns drives a prius

[NathanUc]

Originally Posted by thisisbenji

At my university motorcycle are not allowed to parking in any space that was designed for a car. We have to park in the designated spots, that tend to fill up extremely fast on nice days.

Wow, that's awful. In the summer, almost ALL our motorcycle spots get taken up.

I've gotten notes from people when I park in car spots... "park in the motorcycle spots!". It annoys me because I would if I could. One of these days, someone's going to do more than leave a note

[choneofakind]

^^ Just do what my buddies and I did in high school. Split the car spots among multiple bikes. 2 fit easily longitudinally, and 4-5 fit easily laterally if you're on an end spot and can back out of the side of the spot.

[lgk]

i park in those spots, all the time, never been bothered...

if it happened, i imagine their head would explode from me telling them i get 85mpg...

[Soujyu]

We have motorcycle parking where I work. The problem is that no one really follows a set way of which way to park your bike (parallel or perpendicular to the wall).

[aeroblade]

Originally Posted by NathanUc

Wow, that's awful. In the summer, almost ALL our motorcycle spots get taken up.

I've gotten notes from people when I park in car spots... "park in the motorcycle spots!". It annoys me because I would if I could. One of these days, someone's going to do more than leave a note

I wouldn't risk it since its abundantly clear how stupid people can be sometimes.

[NealWright]

You all do realize ... most motorcycles have the emissions of a '60s automobile? Fuel efficiency and Low Emissions are not necessarily the same.