Motorcycle Etiquette Question - Sidewalk Parking

[Amorousnerdium]

Alright, I'm extremely new to riding (only riding since November) and have a question about etiquette.

Every few days I end up at Walmart. When I park, I generally just find an empty parking space just as if I was in my Mustang. I notice a few bikes parking in the blue lined off sections up front next to the handicap. I also notice a few parked ON the sidewalk to the left and right of the doors. Is parking on the sidewalk typical considered uncouth? I asked a few buddies on the local sheriff department and they said it is not illegal per se, but is towable at the business owners discretion.

On the flip side, I hate taking up a whole parking space just for my bike...

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Businesses such as Wal Mart is private property, any illegal parking is at the discretion of the business if you get towed or not. I don't think the cops will be wasting their time citing you.

If you are blocking any access to handicapped stalls, you are certainly taking a greater risk. If your bike is obstructing the normal flow of foot traffic, you are subject of getting towed. Use good judgement if you decide to park your bike other than a designated parking space.

Wal Mart is known for having plenty of striped areas to park your bike. As far as I'm concerned, I think all businesses should offer motorcycle parking. If they don't, this is what happens. You literaly have riders parking their bikes deciding on their own where to park.

I myself will rarely park my bike in a parking stall, as I have seen, heard, and know many riders who have had their bikes knocked down by careless drivers backing up. Usually results in a hit n run too.

 

[08fz6]

I don't have the answer to this, but kind of made me chuckle. During the summer my girlfriend gets mad at me cause we will have the bike and I will not stop at walmart to grab anything. I'm like there is no way in hell I am gonna take the chance on some moron backing over my bike..... Plus we currently only live 8 mins from there so I will come home and grab my car....

 

[Yasko]

At Walmart, I park in the back by the service drive up, out of the way. My bike is away from people and cars, but the service guys can see it and keep an eye on it for me. I check out in the back with no wait 90% of the time, and drive out the back parking lot with less traffic.

 

[Yamma~Tiger]

You shouldn't feel bad about parking on a full parking. Unless there is specific parking for motorcycle, you have a right to park there just as any car does. Also I think In some ways it may be even safer to park in a regular spot. Less traffic.... Not the automobile traffic, but the ones on two foot.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

At Walmart, I park in the back by the service drive up, out of the way. My bike is away from people and cars, but the service guys can see it and keep an eye on it for me. I check out in the back with no wait 90% of the time, and drive out the back parking lot with less traffic.

+1 on the above.

Also, parking in the striped area next to a handicap spot is considered the same spot (at least in Florida) and will land you a big $ ticket, (private property or not-officers discretion)...

I personally don't park on the sidewalk (you can be cited in Florida) as I don't want the added attention and have someone miffed knocking over the bike/damaging it... Being in Florida, I try to find a shade tree and park under there and walk some...

 

[wolfe1down]

I personally don't park on the sidewalk (you can be cited in Florida) as I don't want the added attention and have someone miffed knocking over the bike/damaging it... Being in Florida, I try to find a shade tree and park under there and walk some...

I agree. Bikes & Bikers get a bad enough 'rap' without adding to it by parking on the sidewalk. But, by the same token, we also get backed into/over more that cages/cagers. There are plenty of lined off areas at places like SprawlMart (ie. around lamp posts, near the shopping cart returns, where the curbs start/stop, etc.) and you could even park in the compact parking spots (can't get much more compact than a bike, eh? Unless you're on a scooter).

I always make sure I park my bike where it is visible to other motorists, and as far from the 'prime' parking real estate as I can get it. This way no one will whip into my spot when they see a vacant 'first in the row' spot...

As always, YMMV.

 

[chunkygoat]

I've gotten into arguments with past employers for parking my bike on the sidewalks. After an incident where a co-worker almost annihilated my bike flying into a parking spot, I decided to park on the sidewalk. I do it fairly often, but like others here said - use your own discretion.

I don't think it's legal, but a lot of places don't mind. I have noticed that people get jealous of your guarenteed front row parking every day. That's what got me into trouble, co-workers complained because they would have to park all the way in the back and I would park 10 ft away from the front door.

I would say its a judgement call. No it isn't legal, yes they can tow you, and yes it instills jealousy in others - but amongst bikers - its commonly accepted - provided you aren't BLOCKING THE FRONT DOOR or the only path of travel to it.

 

[Jblk9695]

I don't have the answer to this, but kind of made me chuckle. During the summer my girlfriend gets mad at me cause we will have the bike and I will not stop at walmart to grab anything. I'm like there is no way in hell I am gonna take the chance on some moron backing over my bike..... Plus we currently only live 8 mins from there so I will come home and grab my car....

That's just the way I feel about it:thumbup:

 

[Norbert]

That's just the way I feel about it:thumbup:

lol, i'm glad i'm not the only one.
walmart parking lots are death traps.
i hate being there even with my car.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

On the other hand, I've actually had parking attendnts tell me to park in a particular area, that a car would not be albe to park just so that I wouldn't occupy a regular spot, allowing the maximum the amount of income the garage could generate.

On this principle alone, I don't know why all business think that way. Just about every parking area will have odd shapes and sizes that will not be able to accomodate a car, but would be ideal for a bike.

This is one of the rare times you will find me occupying a full space. If I or a group of motorcycles go pay to park at an event, and they charged the same amount for a bike as a car, I make sure I occupy one full space per bike! Twelve bikes, twelve spots when we know that we really could fit four bikes in one stall. Ironically, it would end up being more money per stall if they charged half price. Some business just cannot see the big picture.

 

[lytehouse]

Best answer: Don't shop at WalMart!

Seriously though.....I am a toy merchandiser, WM is our largest customer so I am there 4 days a week. On a daily basis, I hear someone being paged back to their car (myself included) because of a ding in the parking lot.
I park my bike on the sidewalk, usually between the grocery & GM doors, out of the way, and alot of the time with another bike! I've never had a problem. Good luck with whatever you do!

 

[Evitzee]

lol, i'm glad i'm not the only one.
walmart parking lots are death traps.
i hate being there even with my car.

I wouldn't call them 'death traps', that's a little over the top. In general parking lots offer a lot more opportunity for fender benders by careless and often poorly trained drivers. I try to minimize my time in these sorts of lots and my attention factor is always on high when I'm driving (car or bike).

Unfortunately the US has a poor attitude towards motorcycles, like they are a nuisance rather than a legal component of the traffic mix. In Melbourne, Australia it was generally legal to park your mc on the sidewalk as long as it wasn't blocking pedestrian traffic. You'd see mc's parked all over the streets and sidewalks in Melbourne and it was accepted as long as it wasn't blocking anyone. Try that in almost any town in the US and you'll get ticketed quickly. And lane splitting was ok, too.

 

[Amorousnerdium]

Well, it is interesting to see the diverse outlooks lol.

 

[Kazza]

I wouldn't call them 'death traps', that's a little over the top. In general parking lots offer a lot more opportunity for fender benders by careless and often poorly trained drivers. I try to minimize my time in these sorts of lots and my attention factor is always on high when I'm driving (car or bike).

Unfortunately the US has a poor attitude towards motorcycles, like they are a nuisance rather than a legal component of the traffic mix. In Melbourne, Australia it was generally legal to park your mc on the sidewalk as long as it wasn't blocking pedestrian traffic. You'd see mc's parked all over the streets and sidewalks in Melbourne and it was accepted as long as it wasn't blocking anyone. Try that in almost any town in the US and you'll get ticketed quickly. And lane splitting was ok, too.

Not really legal in Australia. You can't park on the footpath over here. You will get fined for it. What tends to happen is one person does it and everyone else follows suit.

I would try to park near other bikes - that has got to be the safest.

 

[wolfe1down]

Parking on footpaths/sidewalks is...

Not really legal in Australia. You can't park on the footpath over here. You will get fined for it. What tends to happen is one person does it and everyone else follows suit.

I would try to park near other bikes - that has got to be the safest.

If this is not legal where you are from, I would avoid parking near other bikes. Traffic Enforcement officers would have a field day if they only had to get out of their car/truck once and be able to write their quota of tickets for the day...

Seriously though, the more bikes there are, the more visible you are. Also, I agree with VegasRider. If you each get dinged full parking at an event, you each are entitled to a full parking space IMHO. :Flip:

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

On the other hand, I've actually had parking attendnts tell me to park in a particular area, that a car would not be albe to park just so that I wouldn't occupy a regular spot, allowing the maximum the amount of income the garage could generate.

On this principle alone, I don't know why all business think that way. Just about every parking area will have odd shapes and sizes that will not be able to accomodate a car, but would be ideal for a bike.

This is one of the rare times you will find me occupying a full space. If I or a group of motorcycles go pay to park at an event, and they charged the same amount for a bike as a car, I make sure I occupy one full space per bike! Twelve bikes, twelve spots when we know that we really could fit four bikes in one stall. Ironically, it would end up being more money per stall if they charged half price. Some business just cannot see the big picture.

They pulled that crap, pay for a full spot for each bike (at a theme park in Tennessee) when we could easily get 2 bikes in each spot... That's fine, we all took a full spot for each bike!!!!

 

[nextfriday]

if i park the bike where there is a lot of traffic movement, pedestrian or car, whether in a parking lot or on a sidewalk, i feel like the bike is more vulnerable. So i park where there is less people movement, period.
I had to laugh once when i was in an outdoor mall grabbing a bite to eat when a couple sport bikes pulled up and parked their bikes inside some pedestrian bollards next to small kids play area way off the parking lot. I proceeded to watch these bikes get a lot of attention from the the kids by the climbing they did on them like they were an apparataus! I wont ever park my bike very near a playground!

 

[Signal 50]

In my opinion parking that close to a store only serves to have someone mess with your bike. If I'm going to park at a big box store, I'll do it next to a light post. At least it will be protected from two sides.

I really wouldn't lose any sleep over "taking up a whole space". Its a means of getting around, the same as cars are. You take up a full space, big whoop.

In garages I'll find a corner spot out of the way that is protected.

 

[lonesoldier84]

I always park on the sidewalk area by the door. If I can park literally 10 feet from the front door and nobody really cares one way or the other, I will do it. No business owner is going to call a tow truck for even an hour or two long shopping run.

Just don't put your bike somewhere it makes you look like a jerk. Always keep it out of the way and in a corner or something.

Plus it makes me feel superior to everyone and I am also an attention whore so that's another plus.

haha