60 Second Lesson: Parking Lots

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• July 21, 2009 at 10:40 pm #3181
  Capt Crash

  Participant

  Parking lots can be dangerous places–here’s a couple of basic tips:

  60 Second Lesson: Parking Lots

  July 21, 2009 at 11:24 pm #20844
  Munch

  Participant

  Great vid. I always “Pull through” , also important to know that you should park closer to the opening of the parking spot and not in the back at the line.
  One doesn’t tick people off that try to dive into the first open one they see just to find a bike there…. or worse , see it after they hit it.
  You just had to do the donuts didn’t ya, damn now our “Figure 8 boy” will pop back in.
  Capt’n…. you got one for flat tires? I see this question pop up on every forum I have been to. Especially for front flats.

  July 22, 2009 at 5:10 am #20858
  zeppelinfromled

  Participant

  I rarely find a place to pull through, but I accomplish a similar thing by backing in, which is pretty easy to do. I also do what Munch mentioned, and park close to the exit of the space so that people can see my bike easily before they start turning in.

  In general, I ride extra low in parking lots and I make sure to have the brake covered (usually the clutch too), especially when they’re crowded. People are looking everywhere to make sure they see pedestrians and other cars as well as trying to find a space, so the chances of them not seeing me are even higher.

  Parallel parking is a breeze though. I try to park in the middle of a space so that a car doesn’t try to fit in with me and end up hitting my bike. But it still leaves room for other motorcycles to join me in the space on either side of my bike.

  July 22, 2009 at 8:01 pm #20867
  eon

  Participant

  I would urge caution when pulling through if there are cars on either side and you cannot see past them. All too often people will whip into free spaces not expecting someone to be “pulling through”. It also means you have to ride over 2 spaces worth of crap on the road. Can’t say this is something I do too often but then I usually look for corner spaces off to the side. The little nooks and crannies that cars cannot get into.

  EDIT: Should add that I live in a downtown environment where most parking lots are underground. The crap from the cars does not get washed away by the weather so it gets really bad. These lots are usually pretty tight and there are usually small spaces by the concrete pillars. Actually there are usually dedicated bike parking areas

  July 22, 2009 at 10:42 pm #20873
  Capt Crash

  Participant

  Pulling through does bring with it the need to be sure someone isn’t pulling in from the other side; however, if you can pull through odds are you’re in a lesser populated part of the lot. I prefer to pull through cause I’m nervous about stopping in the flow of traffic and then backing into a spot–you actually can have people try to whip it in behind you as you paddle backwards AND there’s no reverse lights to warn them you’re backing up. (more on that in the next “60 Second Lesson: Parking”).

  Bottom line: do what you feel comfortable with! There’s more than one way to skin a cat!

  July 23, 2009 at 10:24 pm #20892
  Amoryl

  Participant

  something thats always seemed to work for my cage, that’d likely work for a bike…try parking father away?

  I drive a cargo van for work, and trying to get anything reasonably close to the front is a hopeless pipe dream, everything’s crowded and hazardous, and people open their doors and bang my van. THEN they get pissy at me! just because my van’s ugly and beat to crap doesn’t mean that you have the right to be mad because you damaged your nice new door by flinging it open and hitting my ugly already beaten up van.

  so I just automatically park way out in the boonies where I’m pretty much the only thing out there.

  July 23, 2009 at 11:17 pm #20893
  SafetyFirst

  Participant

  There’s a spot at the Chipolte in town that’s diagonal lines. A car can’t fit in it, but my bike sure does fine. As a plus, I can sit and watch it out the window. Now that’s cool. *thumbs up*

  Only thing to watch for are diagonal lines by a fire hydrant or a handicap van spot. Don’t park there, a ticket may be affixed to your bike.

  July 24, 2009 at 2:15 am #20896
  Rab

  Participant

  Yes, and your actions could also prevent a physically handicapped person from setting-up a wheelchair alongside their car in order to exit their vehicle.

  Give Respect, Get Respect.

  July 24, 2009 at 3:22 am #20897
  owlie

  Participant

  I park at the end of the lot just because I don’t like dealing with the traffic by the door. It drives people who ride with me nuts, but I don’t mind walking…

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