Parking a motorcycle in an car park?

Question

What is the legal situation for parking a motorcycle in an open car park bay when there is no allocated motorcycle bay. (not a multi storey) If I park my bike in a car bay do I have to pay As there is no secure place on a motorcycle to put a ticket it could blow away, get wet, get stolen etc. so if I do pay and something happens to the ticket it could prove difficult to prove that I had purchased a ticket. Do different Parking companies or Councils that run these car parks have different policies when it comes to bikes using their car parks? If I were to be give a parking fine for not displaying a ticket or indeed for not paying has there been a legal precedent where I could challange the fine and win my case? There have been many occassions when I have had to park in a bay and not paid and fortunately I haven't been given a ticket probably because there hasn't been any attendents in the area rather than being allowed to park there if I have been observed. Daveh

Answer 1

Interesting question, I have parked in a car lot a couple of times. I have never had an issue as they were the ones that issued you a ticket, then you paid as you left.

I would suggest talking to the person at the gate (if they have one) or calling the management company and asking them.

If a parking lot has no designated bike parking, most people I see and ride with park in either a car spot, out of the way sidewalk, or in bicycle parking (if they have it) - I have only had an issue once with people getting bent out of shape with this practice.

Answer 2

In the UK if a park does not have an allocated motorcycle bay area you still have the same entitlement to park using a car bay. There is the fees displayed at the pay point and if motorcycles are free as most of the council rum parks are then it would still be free

If however you park in a car bay and there is a motorcycle bay provided you could be liable to a fine for not parking in the pre-allocated area and therefore failing to display a ticked

I found myself in this position when I had clearly missed that there was a designated m/c bay and a stroppy b tch decided to give me a ticket. It was 7.30 am on a Sunday morning and no other cars in the area. The motorcycle bay was not easily identified and I made my point that in no way was I at fault and would refuse to pay any fine. I then photographed the carpark on my phone and the said warden. She promptly told me that she has the authority to have my then new Harley towed away. That was not a good move and I told her to try her best. I waited for the tow vehicle to arrive and promptly rode to the now identified motorcycle bay where under our local law she coule do very little about it

She still issued the ticket and I returned with my photo and letter and heard nothing since

So good luck with your parking

Answer 3

I have addressed this very issue with the AMA...american motorcycle association. First of all there is NO such thing as a CAR only lot. If you have a valid, properly licensed vehicle then they must permit you to enter and provide you with parking the same as they do for cars/trucks...period. You use a full car space and park as though you were a car. Any licensed motor vehicles have the same rights and parking privileges as another if the lot is open to public fare. If they do not permit you to enter file a complaint with the AMA and they will investigate and begin to ask questions and write letters to find a solution to this process. Now that said, always pay for your parking so you are squeaky clean and clear on your end when you challenge this.

In my case they were using the excuse that the gate sensors would not pick up my motorcycle presence and hence not open properly which was bunk. Besides they have magnets now that you can affix to the bottom of your bike that will trigger the magnetic sensors. You can have decent recourse on them if you can show that they are refusing just because you are a motorcycle. If there has to be a stub displayed on your vehicle then they should provide an adequate means for you to do so without risk of theft from your bike or recourse on you for the wind blowing it away etc. An entrance receipt in addition to the display sticker should be valid if you ask.

Now that said you can always stage a bike in and fill the lots or block the entrances to make your point to the management with your local bike club....It is a great way to gain media attention and send the owners to the table for changes. I would definitely advise writing letters to the owners and management if they do not allow motorcycles...and casually remind them that you are contacting the AMA about this.....they will NOT want to tangle with their lawyers at all on these matters.

Answer 4

Legally a motorcycle still counts as a motor vehicle the same as a car, van, truck or whatever. Yes you should have to pay to park in the garage. If you are worried about your ticket blowing away keep it in your pocket till you get back, that way if you have a fine when you return you can show the ticket where you paid to park and get the fine taken care of.

Answer 5

Reminds me of my experience at the Pasadena Plaza (or whatever they're calling it these days). My motorcycle didn't activate the sensor so I couldn't get one of those time-stamp tickets, so I went around to the exit gate and went in through it. I parked.

When I left, I went through the guarded gate, and handed the attendant a buck, which is the price for parking, and told her I did not get a ticket when I entered. She told me I had to pay $4, the cost of "lost ticket." I argued and said I did not LOSE a ticket because I did not get one in the first place. Then I gave her a choice:
Give me back my dollar, and I would stay in the parking structure,
or
keep the dollar and let me out.

There was a line of cars forming behind me wanting to get out. She called her supervisor, and, eventually, let me out.

Answer 6

In 25 years of riding motorcycles, I have never paid to park one in a car park, anywhere in Britain.

Never had a problem, either...

Answer 7

Over 30 years riding in England and never paid for parking, I just stick it somewhere out of the way with a bloody big chain and padlock on it.