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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 23
| Let me first start out by saying that I think handicap parking spaces are merited for people WITH disabilities.
Ok then. You know how we like to park our bikes in any 'safe' spot in a parking lot to keep from getting hit? Well, don't use the handicap parking ACCESS areas! According to the Americans With Disability Act (ADA), these access areas are for just that. Even handicap permitted vehicles can NOT parking in any part of the access areas. The fine amount? A whopping $250 for parking in the space or the access areas!
Many jurisdictions are now allowing 'volunteers' to monitor AND ticket individuals. The 'Family Parking Posse' in Jacksonville, Fl got me. Ain't that a B?
And the fine for obstructing life-saving fire rescuing equipment from reaching a fire hydrant...... in most states, $25. Any lawyers out there with some thoughts on this? Happy riding. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | Thanks for that ricvic, I've got the habit of parking down front in the those stripped areas and most bikers around here do the same and get away with it. For now on, I'll park in a regular spot regardless what we can get away with. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | I usually park next to bicycle racks that aren't being used up on the sidewalk. Anybody ever have issues doing that? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| The only time I park in a "non-legal" spot is in a parking garage. I like to park in those corners where they have the stripes so cars don't try to park there but they have plenty of room for a bike. I think the parking garages would like it cause they have more spaces for cars. When I go to Yale-New Haven hospital they have designated area for bikes only and you still get some dumbass that parks there SUV in there at times.
Why would anyone even think of parking in a blue line handicap parking area? Isn't the striped area for there wheelchair? ALL handicapped areas are blue lined areas around here. Blue means stay away no excuse. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I did this once, but the mall security got to me before I left the bike and asked me to move it. I wouldn't have thought about the $250 ticket. How does that work on private property? Can they actually enforce the ticket? |
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | There are alot of malls/shopping plazas that sign an agreement with local jurisdictions for traffic enforcement. So yes if there is an agreement in place LEO's can write tickets.
mike |
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Tourer
Posts: 307
Columbia, SC | To be clear, as I understand it (at least where I've been riding), handicapped access areas are a no-go. However if there are hashed lines that are NOT by a handicapped spot (for instance, just diagonal parking where they can't fit a car), it's ok. And from what I've seen, it seems like bikes can park up on the sidewalk out of the way at movie theaters and walmart. provided they are far enough from the general entrance/exit area so as not to obstruct traffic.
But if there's hashed lines by handicapped spot, or any lines that are blue, stay away.
Alexi |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | sfalexi - 2011-01-10 3:38 PM
To be clear, as I understand it (at least where I've been riding), handicapped access areas are a no-go. However if there are hashed lines that are NOT by a handicapped spot (for instance, just diagonal parking where they can't fit a car), it's ok. And from what I've seen, it seems like bikes can park up on the sidewalk out of the way at movie theaters and walmart. provided they are far enough from the general entrance/exit area so as not to obstruct traffic.
But if there's hashed lines by handicapped spot, or any lines that are blue, stay away.
Alexi
+1 |
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Cruiser
Posts: 177
Fredonia, WI United States | This is kind of a pet peeve of mine. What makes us so special that we can park where nobody else is supposed to? Unless it is marked motorcycles only, we are just carving out a bad name for bikers. |
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Tourer
Posts: 307
Columbia, SC | GeekVisionRider - 2011-01-11 9:34 PM
This is kind of a pet peeve of mine. What makes us so special that we can park where nobody else is supposed to? Unless it is marked motorcycles only, we are just carving out a bad name for bikers.
True. It's a motor vehicle that warrants its own space. But if I was driving, I'd rather see a bike taking up a spot that car can NOT fit into instead of seeing a bunch of bikes have the good parking spots (towards the front of walmart) taking up spots that could be taken by cars. Especially if there's hashed lines that would fit a bike but NOT a car.
It's like lane-splitting. Lane splitting may LOOK like the bikes are just trying to "get to the front", but in reality, it also reduces traffic congestion and allows MORE cars to get through a light.
Parking in the hashed lines may LOOK like we're just taking advantage of small areas so as not to walk, but in reality it also allows MORE vehicles to fit in a parking lot and allows at least ONE more car not to have to park in the back.
Alexi |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359
New Bohemia, Va | It's only on my judgment call that I have done "priveldged" parking in the slash marks up front, ensuring there would be no hinderance by the handicap folks that may park in the spots adjacent. However, the bike is a motor vehicle, and bears no special priviledges above the 4-wheelers, and subject to the same fines that would be expected. I've tried to justify myself in everyway that I can and still come up empty handed on this one. I relinquish the thought of priviledge parking and will park in an authorized space, however, I will not begrudge anyone that continues to do so, as they will have the law to deal with and the fines that come along with it. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 31
| I've stopped parking in the yellow hash marks and just pull up on the sidewalk next to the coke machines. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 64
| Nozzledog - 2011-01-09 11:18 PM
I usually park next to bicycle racks that aren't being used up on the sidewalk. Anybody ever have issues doing that?
I used to do that all the time with a 750 Yamaha I had without a problem, but the Vision is so much bigger, you could be asking for it. I tried it once at a local mall. These weren't even traditional bicycle racks. They were two separate, good sized bollards, with loops on each side to chain a bike to. As soon as I shut the Vision off, someone started yelling at me that it was bicycle parking, not motorcycle. I went into the store. When I came out a few minutes later, mall security was there. He stared asking some dumb questions, when I caught on the he was trying to delay me from leaving, so I assumed the PD was called. I just got on the bike and rode away.
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Tourer
Posts: 307
Columbia, SC | Chief Waldo - 2011-01-15 5:31 PM
Nozzledog - 2011-01-09 11:18 PM
I usually park next to bicycle racks that aren't being used up on the sidewalk. Anybody ever have issues doing that?
I used to do that all the time with a 750 Yamaha I had without a problem, but the Vision is so much bigger, you could be asking for it. I tried it once at a local mall. These weren't even traditional bicycle racks. They were two separate, good sized bollards, with loops on each side to chain a bike to. As soon as I shut the Vision off, someone started yelling at me that it was bicycle parking, not motorcycle. I went into the store. When I came out a few minutes later, mall security was there. He stared asking some dumb questions, when I caught on the he was trying to delay me from leaving, so I assumed the PD was called. I just got on the bike and rode away.
Makes me wonder. What if you took out a cable and locked your motorycle to the bike rack? Think you'd be able to pawn it off as just being paranoid and spin a story about your dual sport that got picked up and thrown into a van a couple years earlier so you're not taking ANY chances anymore? Hmmmm......... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 238
SF Bay Area | Yeah, I never park in those access areas adjacent to handicap parking, but any other available area large enough is fair game, IMO.
Ironically I swooped a parking spot near the entrance of a market, and some grain fed beeaatch yelled out the window of her '95 suburban (rolling on 24's) "do you need to use a whole parking space for just one motorcycle?" I laughed, and ignored her complaints. She ended up parking a few hundred feet away and was still complaining as she waddled by. When she finished her lecture I replied, "hey you should be thanking me, you really need the exercise". She stopped and turned to approach me red faced... but fortunately kept going towards the store. As she has at least 150# on me, I would say that was the closest to hitting a woman that I hope to ever have. Death by smothering is not something I plan to experience. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 181
Henlow, Bedfordshire, England | I never park in handicap parking areas, not sure about the US but most parking areas have designated motorcycle parking which is normally in a good position as well. Here in the UK there are also some seemingly stupid laws about parking spaces, for instance shopping parking must allow 6% of parking designated handicapped use, this despite only 1.4% of the population qualifying, we also have designated family spaces for parents with small children to contend with. This means in most malls the best floor I cannot park on but this doesnt bother me as I am grateful I have no health problems and can go the extra stairs or lifts to get there.
Saying this, I should avoid the town of Romford in Essex, only last week I went there and because I ride a Vision I tend to go into multi storeys and pay to park in a car space unless they have proper bike bays. well I pulled into the car park to be stopped by a security guard and told that for Health & Safety reasons motorbikes were not allowed to park inside, they were unable to tell me where bikes could park in that town. Too stunned to say any more I left and it was a nightmare finding a bike bay near by. Perhaps I should have asked them what the H&S reasons are for barring bikes as I have never come across this before. |
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BEWARE OF HANDICAP ACCESS AREAS