For those of you that live in or frequently ride into parking-challenged metropolitan areas...how do you typically deal with parking?  

I haven't investigated at a lot of places, but many of the garages out here seem to charge the full auto rate for parking a motorcycle, which seems excessive.  The times I've needed parking downtown, I've been fairly lucky to find normal spaces crippled by construction, someone's poor parking job in the adjacent space, or otherwise unusable by a car; but I wouldn't want to count on that.  Of course, a few weekends ago, I watched a guy on his Rune just tool up on the sidewalk and park next to a cafe, but I can't imagine that's encouraged.  

It's a little bit frustrating that I can't find any information regarding motorcycle parking in downtown Boston...I can only assume there is no special policy and it's one-per-space, metered spots only, etc., which seems really stupid to me.

Actually, while I'm on the parking subject...when you're parking in a normal lot (say, at a shopping center) do you generally: find a normal space and consume it; leave it in a non-car-parking area of the lot (i.e, diagonal-striped borders of parking areas, end caps, etc.); or just pull right up to the building and leave it on whatever walkway, fire lane, or non-roadway surface is convenient?  I always try to find a real space, but frequently see folks playing "create a space" all over the place.  On the one hand it seems wrong to park in what would otherwise be a "no parking" area, but on the other hand it seems wrong to take up an entire space with something that would just as easily fit somewhere else.

Any place that doesn't have motorcycle parking is 1 per spot, metered only. However, it differs greatly on how that's enforced. when I'm running into a store to grab something, I just park on the sidewalk in front, but out of the way. Same if I'm going to the movies. I've read some guy's page that rides on Manhattan (the one in NY) daily and just parks whereever and has only gotten two tickets. The first was a noise violation from his alarm, the second he was towed, but the Presidents motorcade was comming down the street that day. But I've also heard that downtown San Diego will ticket you for 2/spot, sidewalk, not perfectly parked, etc.

So you'd park on the sidewalk if you're going to the movies? Hmm. I wonder if that's legal here. I've seen a few bikes in odd places before around here. There is a guy who parks his CBR outside of his work on the sidewalk, so I guess it's at least sort of legal.

I park on the sidewalk out of the way or in one of those hashed areas as long as it isn't part of a loading zone or a handicapped spot.
Best is to go with a riding friend - two bikes per one car spot.

Quote from: dionysusAny place that doesn't have motorcycle parking is 1 per spot, metered only.

The only place I've seen motorcycle parking in Boston is where I think it makes the least sense...in front of the clubs on Lansdowne Street.  Even there I'm not sure it's actually motorcycle parking, but there always seems to be a dozen or so sportbikes lined up when the clubs are open.  Well, there and previously in front of the (now closed) H-D shop on Newbury.

Nope, its not legal. Parking a bike anywhere you wouldn't park a care is illegal. Cops just don't care (usually). A cop usually won't ticket you unless the owner of the place your parking in front of complains. But, if a cop is missing his donut....

Its like speeding (5-10MPH), or splitting surface streets, or splitting the double yellow between the HOV lane and fast lane... All illegal, but you'll just about never get a ticket for it. I've also seen bikes in santa monica backed in between two cars parked in meters on the side of the road (that make any sense?) Like

-----> traffic->>>>
[CAR] | [CAR]
____________ <- sidewalk

where there pipe is the bike. Just do it and if you get a ticket, stop...

Quote from: BadgerThe only place I've seen motorcycle parking in Boston is where I think it makes the least sense...in front of the clubs on Lansdowne Street.  Even there I'm not sure it's actually motorcycle parking, but there always seems to be a dozen or so sportbikes lined up when the clubs are open.  Well, there and previously in front of the (now closed) H-D shop on Newbury.

Asside from work, I've seen some is San Diego. But thats it. Heck, there was even a 500E  parked there

Quote from: dionysusbacked in between two cars parked in meters on the side of the road

I've done that, too, if neither of the previously mentioned options look good.  But that's low on the list, due to possibility of numbnuts in car un-parking by braille and knocking the bike over.

I prefer parking next to the slopeout of the curb in an indented parking row.

I should mention that our work area has dedicated motorcycle parking spots underground and away from cars if you buy a permit (I have an annual one), and I love them for it.

Quote from: Roadstergal

Quote from: dionysus
I should mention that our work area has dedicated motorcycle parking spots underground and away from cars if you buy a permit (I have an annual one), and I love them for it.

The garages at UC used to allow motorcycle parking inside, but don't anymore as they've placed bicycle racks in those spots.  Not like there aren't already bicycle racks all over campus, too.

In order to reach my designated parking area I have to leave the road and cross up and over the sidewalk to get to a slab of concrete slapped precariously on a hill.  Getting back on the road involves jumping off the curb, which can suck when your bike isn't fully warmed up and stalls as you gas it over the edge.

UT is pretty cool about providing motorcycles with parking. There are spots in all the garages on the bottom levels for permit holders ($60 yearly, as opposed to $600 for resident cars and $100 for commuter cars) as well as having areas outside many main building areas (for example on the streets next to the engineering buildings). There are spaces about a block from my dorm, as well as 2 blocks up the street. They're pretty cool about providing enough room, except for in a few choice areas. They're expanding those, too.

My only qualm with UT is that they won't let motorcycles on campus (they have guard booths to prevent it) between 7:30am and 5:45pm. It makes no sense, really.

I wish I had underground parking Actually, I don't know what the point would be since it is so cal. But at UCR we have lots of dedicated bike parking in just about every lot, and a lot of really small bike-only lots. The lot I park in has a 1-2 year waiting list for cars and they pay $150 quarterly while I pay $42.

I work near the Texas Medical Center in Houston.  I park on the sidewalk next to the bicycle racks.

I haven't been to downtown Houston on my motorcycle much, but I've seen a few others park on the sidewalks in front of various restaurants.  I'm not sure of the legality.

One really nice advantage of having a motorcycle here in Houston is that you can take the carpool lane even without a passenger.  It saves me a lot of time and aggravation.

+1... Using the HOV lanes each day saves me an hours worth of driving

+1 on using HOV.  

Universiy of Minnesota has many ramps, which all prohibit motorcycles.   :x  I have had to walk farther than if I drove a car.  Once you get to know an area, you find out where you can leave a motorcycle.  But it's nothing you can get from a map.

Downtown Minneapolis has very little legal street parking.  Valet ramps don't like motorcycles.  Ramps with unattended entrances work fine, except you have to pay full car fare to get out.  At one ramp, I just ride around the barrier to get in and out.  The parking attendants have never asked about it.  And there's a m/c lot that is impossible for a tow-truck to get near.  I can't imagine that they'd tow anyone, even without a parking pass.

The pattern seems to be: parking legally can be harder with a motorcycle than with a car.  But there are many "gray areas" to be exploited, and most businesses and police don't care.

Quote from: RoadstergalI park on the sidewalk out of the way or in one of those hashed areas as long as it isn't part of a loading zone or a handicapped spot.

I usually look for the non-handicap abutting hashed space first when the closest regular spot looks to be in another time zone.  I haven't had the gumption to encroach on pedestrian territory for parking as yet.

Quote from: RoadstergalBest is to go with a riding friend - two bikes per one car spot.

That doesn't make parking easier to find.

Quote from: xtalmanOne really nice advantage of having a motorcycle here in Houston is that you can take the carpool lane even without a passenger.  It saves me a lot of time and aggravation.

I'm fairly certain that motorcycle hov usage is a national thing.  Not that that helps me out that much, 'round here there is only one hov lane, and it changes direction with rush hour traffic (the "zipper lane"...they have a machine that reorganizes miniature jersey barriers like a zipper), but it doesn't service the direction that I would ever need to go.

here in Toronto they JUST, like days ago, passed a new law that all motorcycles, scooters or mopeds can park in any legal spot for free. so anywhere that theres a parking meter or one of those, "pay and display" things (where you buy your ticket from a machine and hope some a$$hole doesn't take it off your bike), bikes can park for free. and in the future they're going to make it so that in most government owned parking lots (there called 'Green P Parking' here) will have free motorcycle spots specifically set aside, as well as scooters and mopeds offically and "legaly" being alowed to park on the sidewalk, (but they already all do it anyways without any problems) big steps here in Toronto, if only the government would step in and stop insurance rates form constantly riseing then life would be good. I never understood how that works, every year I gain another year of ridding experiance, but somehow insurance goes up, even with NO TICKETS! I envy those in florda and other states who don;t have to have motorcycle insurance if they have health insurance.

as far as metered parking and sharing spots go, I've heard that so long as the meter isn't expired, however many bikes you can fit in that spot can park there. However, if the meter expires, every bike in that spot can get a ticket =P

As far as parking on campus, UCLA's really nice about that. I've seen several lots set aside for motorcycle parking, and you don't haveta pay a dime! Very nice IMO =)