Dealing with parking garages, closed lots, etc

[iandunn]

Does anyone have any tips for dealing w/ parking garages, etc? If I pull up to a gate I have to try to dig out my wallet with gloves on, then take out a card, insert it, put it back, put the wallet back all with impatient cars behind me. Taking gloves off would take too long. Anyone have a special way they've learned to do it to make it easier?

[css4608]

I keep my card in a coat pocket or put it there before I leave so I can get it with gloves on.

[iandunn]

Yeah, I'm hesitant to do that 'cause I know I'll forget to put it back in my wallet a lot and then end up without it when I take the car.

[Chilly Willy]

What about in a tank bag?  Mine has a clear plastic map holder on top that would make a good place to store a card.  Or, get two cards--one for the bike, one for the car.

Chilly

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I want to sew a small pocket onto the back of my left glove, to hold a small amount of change. Cuz paying tolls on the bike sucks... Not that it's relevant anymore...

[OctaneMotorsports]

I'd try to find something like this:



Punch a little hole in your card and attatch it to the card. Then attatch the other end to somewhere on your jacket (maybe on the zipper?) and tuck the card into a pocket. Then when you pull up, you can just pull on the cord and your card is right there and you can't drop it or anything. You can find those at a dollar store 99% of the time.

[RVertigo]

You know what worked for me?  I put the card in the back of my left glove...  If you get it seated well, you can't even tell it's there.

Or like NGFL said, make a little pouch for it in the back of your glove.


My problem is the little tiny garage-door opener I have...  My old one was the big-ol-box with a huge button, so it was really easy to use...  But, the new one is like an alarm remote...  SUCKS!

[Alphamazing]

My problem is the little tiny garage-door opener I have...  My old one was the big-ol-box with a huge button, so it was really easy to use...  But, the new one is like an alarm remote...  SUCKS!

My apartment complex gate remote is like that (the small one). I've found it's best to orient the remote in your pocket so that the button is facing up, and all you have to do is stab at you thigh with a finger until you press the button. No glove removal necessary.

[RVertigo]

I've tried that Alpha...  The damn remote always flips over...     I tried starting with it flipped, then it didn't flip...   

I just want a huge garage door opener like I had at my last place.     Or one of those built-in ones that attach to your brights switch.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

A guy on GSB has an '06 SV650.. he rewired the stupid little "pass light" trigger switch to a garage door opener instead.. so he pulls up, clicks the pass switch, and he's set.. neat idea, if you ask me...

[blue05twin]

A guy on GSB has an '06 SV650.. he rewired the stupid little "pass light" trigger switch to a garage door opener instead.. so he pulls up, clicks the pass switch, and he's set.. neat idea, if you ask me...

Hmm remember who it was?  Thats something I'd like to do.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I apologize, it was on BSB, not GSB.

http://www.blokessportbike.com/showthread.php?t=9617&highlight=garage+door+opener

There it is.. he didn't post details, but I'm sure if you PMd him, he'd tell you.

[ducati_nolan]

Before I come up to a toll booth, I pull off my left glove on the fly and sit on it then use my bare left hand to get the money/ticket/card out of my tankbag when I pull up to the toll booth. For cards, I usually don't even need to remove my glove. While the attendant is making change, I put my glove back on and then toss the change in the tankbag and take off. This was dosen't take any longer than a car.

[hmmmnz]

i can't beleive they charge you for parking or going through tolls,
i have only had experience in nz oz england and scotland on motorbikes and i have never been charged for using a toll bridge or parking building in any of those places,
and there is always free parking in the citys designated for bikes only.

there you go you learn something every day, do they charge up in canada as well??

[pantablo]

roll around the drop down bar in a parking garage...

[blue05twin]

i can't beleive they charge you for parking or going through tolls,
i have only had experience in nz oz england and scotland on motorbikes and i have never been charged for using a toll bridge or parking building in any of those places,
and there is always free parking in the citys designated for bikes only.

there you go you learn something every day, do they charge up in canada as well??

Parking downtown Atlanta is about $5 to $20 depending on where you want to park. 

[iandunn]

For dealing w/ the parking pass itself I ended up getting a Retractable Reel clip from Office Depot. It's what people use for their office badges, so I can pull it out to insert the card, then just let go and it'll retract itself. I wasn't confident that the clip would hold it to my jacket while ridng, though, so I got some beaded chain from Home Depot and ran it through the zipper on my jacket. I haven't found a new lot to park in yet (don't even want to try w/ the 6 level garage I'm in now), but I'll try to remember to let you all know how it goes.

[ohgood]

I use the two map pockets on my jacket for change and the gate key. The left side is for the gate key (complete stop + fumble fumble/ swipe) and the right side is for change (feel two quarters, toss & keep going). Everything else goes in the BIG rear pocket or the softbags (those have outside zipps also) for long ride days.