View Full Version : Parking rules for motorbikes?
missyburd
30-10-10, 08:21 PM
Can someone please inform me the exact legislation concerning bike parking?
Other day I went to meet my ma in a town on the bike. Parked it in a little council car park but there were no bays free. I couldn't be bothered going round in circles trying to find awkward spots so I parked in the car park but on paving under a tree. My mother was insistent I buy a ticket even though I said I wasn't technically in a bay, what was I paying for (she bought the ticket though so smiled and nodded along, putting it in my pocket). I do normally buy a ticket regardless and put it in my pocket...but usually only if I'm taking up a bay.
So was I doing a bad thing? When I came back to the car park another bike had parked but down the side of one of bays, on paving too like me. I could see no ticket displayed like me, I have yet to see a ticket displayed on a bike in fairness but what do we do? I'm fed up of going to towns, parking up, going about my business and constantly worrying about what I'm going to find when I get back....
I know this is an ongoing problem but I still don't know exactly what I should be doing in the circumstances!
beabert
30-10-10, 08:30 PM
Just make sure its parked on private land as the tickets are unenforceable, i have tested this myself, several debt collection threats and they give up :-)
Parking on council owned land dodgily is asking for trouble though, tested that out too lol!
barwel1992
30-10-10, 08:38 PM
Is it if they don't provide spots or say no bikes then you don't need to pay ?
beabert
30-10-10, 08:40 PM
Is it if they don't provide spots or say no bikes then you don't need to pay ?
Always first read the small print of the council signs, if in doubt dont park on council property, dont assume its free, some aren't.
barwel1992
30-10-10, 08:42 PM
Ahh ok cheers
luckily some towns seem to be quite bike friendly, colchester is with use of bus lanes and a fair bit of free bike spaces around town, just not enough spaces unfortuately, therye often all taken when i go into town.
I noticed an R1 parked just outside the free bike parking, and had parking ticket wrapped round the right hand grip!!
missyburd
30-10-10, 10:36 PM
Is it if they don't provide spots or say no bikes then you don't need to pay ?
Well I had checked the sign and there was no mention of motorbikes at all, just that trailers and caravans were prohibited. Why do we get ignored dammit! I only want to be honest and be able to go about my business without worrying about my bike! :smt102
DarrenSV650S
30-10-10, 10:43 PM
Just stick it on the pavement somewhere quiet out of the way. Dr pepper
Is it if they don't provide spots or say no bikes then you don't need to pay ?
My understanding is that motorbikes have to pay unless the sign says otherwise. In number of car parks you can use the motorbike bay FOC, but you need to pay if the bay is full and you use a 'car' space. Using paving or anywhere that is not a marked space can lead to trouble.
Basically - read the signs and if there is nothing about bikes then you are supposed to pay as a car. :confused:
There is an interesting potential loophole, in that a lot of tickets say display on windscreen... what if you don't have one?
The following might be of some use as well... http://www.mag-foundation.org/secure%20parking.html
Dicky Ticker
31-10-10, 08:51 AM
You could always try Pegasus's trick----buy one ticket and photograph it on all the bikes-----------SORRY ,IT MUST HAVE BLOWN OFF BUT HERE IS THE PROOF.
-Ralph-
31-10-10, 09:05 AM
Interesting thread MYC, I don't have much to add other than you can't just assume it's OK to park anywhere, ie: on the pavement, etc as you used to be able to. What you can do however, is park sideways between the cars, anywhere where you have free kerbside parking for cars, but there are no spaces left. Just park with your rear wheel into the kerb. You do risk some blind muppet knocking your bike over when parking their car though.
In smaller towns you are generally still OK so long as nobody could claim you were causing an obstruction. Solihull has an "unofficial" bike parking area in the main shopping square, where bikes ride onto the pedestrianised square and park up, but as the square is so big the bikes don't cause any inconvenience to anybody, and make an interesting exhibit for young children to go look at and break the boredom of being dragged round M&S. If you tried the same on a 6ft wide pavement you'd almost certainly get a ticket nowadays.
beabert
31-10-10, 09:13 AM
Id like to add, if you speak to a local council traffic warden they can be helpful, mine told me i could use a bicycle park in the centre of town.There are no dropped kerbs or anything and no signs saying motorcycles are actually allowed. Its a great little spot that no one knows about, no one wants to risk a ticket lol. So its mine all miiiiiiiiiiine hahahahahaaaa, cough; Sorry.
-Ralph-
31-10-10, 09:14 AM
These links are useful, particularly the online map
http://www.motorcycleparking.com/
http://www.parkingforbikes.com/map/onlinemap/
There are different rules for different spaces. Private and council. Even things that are legally un-enforcable create hag. Personally I assess the situation and risk it - or not! Always read the rules near the pay and display machines. Asking wardens is a bit hit and miss as they all seem to have different rules. The more out of the way it is, the the safer I feel about leaving it in a non bike designated area.
Where I work at the moment they provide staff parking, for a monthly charge, in a large carpark for the car but no spaces for the bike. I park the bike where there is limited opportunity for Patients (Clue to where I am working there) to knock it over or for it to get in the way.
-Ralph-
31-10-10, 09:22 AM
Hmm, interesting extract from the above website which basically says that a council or contracted traffic warden can't ticket you for being on the pavement outside of London, unless there is a TRO in place (off roaders will know exactly how these work, but if this is a new term for you google it, and see your local authority website for a full list), but the police can if you are causing an obstruction
"Pavement (Footway) parking is different in London than in the rest of the country. In London under the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1974 it is prohibited for any motor vehicle to park on the footway (unless it is specifically exempted and signs indicate that you may park partially or wholly on the footway). Outside of London local authorities may only regulate pavement parking through the implementation of specific Traffic Regulation Orders and the police are only able to regulate pavement parking when a vehicle is deemed to be causing an obstruction."
I'd urge caution before whooping yippee and parking where you want, as this website COULD have it wrong, or legislation may be interpreted differently by the authorities to the way you or I would read it.
-Ralph-
31-10-10, 09:26 AM
"One point to be aware of is that under the Highways Act 1885 and the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is an offence to drive a vehicle over a footway (unless the action is permissible - normally a drop-curb will have been put in place), so even if you do find a section of land which is not part of the footway, you may still find a ticket on your motorcycle when you return (not a parking ticket but one reflecting your driving over the footway contravention). One current loophole is that it seems to be that you have not contravened either Act if you push your motorcycle!);"
Gene genie
31-10-10, 02:12 PM
most cars park on the road with two wheels on the pavement with the intention not to block the road, illegal or not they do it. we only have two wheels so should be left alone wherever we decide to park.
probably got that wrong though.:smt102
Drumming_Animal
31-10-10, 09:10 PM
I've always been tempted to think well the bike's registered on the V5 as a Bicycle and i tax it as a Bicycle sooooo...... i'm sure you get the picture ;)
New to the forum btw, so hi all!!
Isnt Parking something that has palgued motorcyclists for years?
The Government should actually create a standard guideline/law to actually set the record straight.
I belive that as long as the bike is secure and not creating an obstruction then it's safe to park.
Last time i took the bike into town i parked infront of the shop window to where i was going, pavement was wide so no obstruction and a little further up was a drop kerb (for the crossing but it's still a drop kerb)
toby_smith
01-11-10, 10:36 AM
Use my method of bike parking. Look for pushbike parking railings, and park there
missyburd
01-11-10, 10:42 AM
Isnt Parking something that has palgued motorcyclists for years?
The Government should actually create a standard guideline/law to actually set the record straight.
Exactly. I'm surprised there's no real solution to the problem. It's all very well having your own method of parking but at the end of the day there's still that doubt that you're doing the wrong thing, I'm don't like having to worry about my bike and then feel relieved when I get away from the parking spot for not being booked. Pain in the 'arris I tell thee!
The other thing that Biols my blood is why do bikes have to pay full price for parking?
as we only use half a space we should only pay half the fee, but likewise cars who use 2-3 spaces should be charged appropiately.
And dont get me started on cars parking in motorcycle parking bays, i saw yesterday when i was in Cardiff town a cage parking in the motorcycle parking bay, I wished i had my bike so i could park legally and block him in then when he hit my bike to get out the bay i'd have taken his license from him for the privelidge (driving in a maner other than on license, failing to report an accident, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, parking in a non desiganted parking bay) the list continues.
In Brighton or had to buy one before so just trapped it in the petrol tank cap and took a picture, I don't care about paying, better safe than sorry I guess...
timwilky
01-11-10, 11:54 AM
I think the real problem is when free motorcycle parking is provided, its existence is not advertised.
for instance my own local town of Chorley, the web site says :-
The Car Park is open seven days a week.
The Flat Iron Car Park has 362 car parking spaces, 2 mother and child spaces and 20 disabled spots.
They fail to mention there is free parking for motorcycles in a bay as you enter and can accommodate about 10 bikes if properly parked. Great, they have at least provided free parking. But in order to leave the bay you have to pull your bike out and into the entrance road. On a number of occasions I have been abused by car drivers who object to me blocking the road whilst I pull my bike out and climb on board.
My local city of Preston. does advertise free bike parking on its council web site for one of its car parks, but only if you click on that car park link. There is also free bike parking provided on a private car park, but nothing to tell you in advance. You have to know. So not visitor friendly. But what gets me is if you park on the road, you have to pay/display.
Also If I take my wife as a pillion, where do I securely leave her blue disabled parking permit?
Isnt Parking something that has palgued motorcyclists for years?
The Government should actually create a standard guideline/law to actually set the record straight.
I don't think it is unclear in law, just in signage. You pay the same as a car unless the sign says otherwise. Having a small vehicle does not make you exempt, however much we may wish that to be the case.
I belive that as long as the bike is secure and not creating an obstruction then it's safe to park.
Last time i took the bike into town i parked infront of the shop window to where i was going, pavement was wide so no obstruction and a little further up was a drop kerb (for the crossing but it's still a drop kerb)
The problem is that your idea of an obstruction and mine may be different. The shop-keeper may have thought that you obstructed his window, which is his advertising space. :smt102 IMHO, footpaths are for pedestrians, not drivers/riders who think that they are not causing an obstruction.
kaivalagi
01-11-10, 12:20 PM
Interesting read...
What are you supposed to do in a pay and display anyway? If I pay and display then some skinflint pinches my ticket to display in their car what am I to do? Do I need to take a picture of the ticket being displayed every time I park up?
Interesting read...
What are you supposed to do in a pay and display anyway? If I pay and display then some skinflint pinches my ticket to display in their car what am I to do? Do I need to take a picture of the ticket being displayed every time I park up?
The recommendation up here is that you write 'M/cycle' or somesuch on the ticket. Dunno if it works - don't use pay and display myself.
I know that in some carparks near me they ask for your reg when paying and displaying, this doesnt get printed on the ticked but it does get stored in the machine so i guess you could argue that you paied and if the machines records match then all is fine.
I'm also assuming (always dangerous) that the operators can downlaod the list of reg plates with serials of the tickets printed and if they wish match them when walking round the carpark.
not that i use those carparks any way with the bike.
luckily some towns seem to be quite bike friendly, colchester is with use of bus lanes and a fair bit of free bike spaces around town, just not enough spaces unfortuately, therye often all taken when i go into town.
I noticed an R1 parked just outside the free bike parking, and had parking ticket wrapped round the right hand grip!!
I'll second this. Colchester is pretty bike friendly. Several largish free bays down the High Street (4 I think) where otherwise only disabled is allowed and that's the best parking around. I also think that M/bike parking is free with the bicycle parking at the station
Colchester was also one of the pilot towns for allowing bikes to use the Bus Lanes, so you can thank us and our courteous behaviour for that priviledge spreading.
Edit - and just checked; there are dedicated free m/bike bays in the CCTV covered Car Parks as well.
kaivalagi
01-11-10, 03:40 PM
The recommendation up here is that you write 'M/cycle' or somesuch on the ticket. Dunno if it works - don't use pay and display myself.
I know that in some carparks near me they ask for your reg when paying and displaying, this doesnt get printed on the ticked but it does get stored in the machine so i guess you could argue that you paied and if the machines records match then all is fine.
I'm also assuming (always dangerous) that the operators can downlaod the list of reg plates with serials of the tickets printed and if they wish match them when walking round the carpark.
not that i use those carparks any way with the bike.
I haven't used a pay and display yet either, I normally find a spot which doesn't get in anyone's way and hope...
The problem is that when parking up there tends to be no "carpark" for bikes at all and so you're left at the mercy of a traffic warden's discretion or at least that's how it feels etc...
+1 for proper rules and places to park, I wouldn't like to argue my way out of a ticket for parking on a piece of land with no marking on etc...I'll look out for more bicycle parks in future I guess but the situation is a bit carp
timwilky
01-11-10, 04:26 PM
I haven't used a pay and display yet either, I normally find a spot which doesn't get in anyone's way and hope...
The problem is that when parking up there tends to be no "carpark" for bikes at all and so you're left at the mercy of a traffic warden's discretion or at least that's how it feels etc...
+1 for proper rules and places to park, I wouldn't like to argue my way out of a ticket for parking on a piece of land with no marking on etc...I'll look out for more bicycle parks in future I guess but the situation is a bit carp
Noting your location as Norwich. It doesn't take long to find this (http://www.norwich.gov.uk/webapps/atoz/service_page.asp?id=1400&pid=1014)
Personally I think it is very good that Norwich advertises specifically parking for motorcycles and apologies for some places being closed. I think you must have a good local council. Especially when you read
You may also park for free in any of the on-street pay and display bays, but only for the maximum stay allowed as shown on the parking signs.
dizzyblonde
01-11-10, 04:39 PM
I was most disappointed with Scarboro Council, having made us pay for our parking in Whitby yesterday. They have always been a bike friendly place! Have their own large bike specific parking area, and used to be free.
You now have to pay the minimum stay(but can stay all day, even though only an hour is purchased) and display a ticket within good view, or the woman comes to stamp a ticket on you, as Pmapp found, even though the damn sticker was well on his screen! I had to wrap it round my brake cable, having only a set of carbon horns!
We were lucky as she was stood there, but had she not, we'd have all had tickets, like some other unsuspecting folk, thankfully Orose had already warned us.
punyXpress
01-11-10, 05:20 PM
Hey, dizzyblonde - that park @ Whitby was British Rail or whatever, but Scarborough council is ( if anything ) even worse!
kaivalagi
01-11-10, 05:36 PM
Noting your location as Norwich. It doesn't take long to find this (http://www.norwich.gov.uk/webapps/atoz/service_page.asp?id=1400&pid=1014)
Personally I think it is very good that Norwich advertises specifically parking for motorcycles and apologies for some places being closed. I think you must have a good local council. Especially when you read:
You may also park for free in any of the on-street pay and display bays, but only for the maximum stay allowed as shown on the parking signs.
Thanks Tim, went out of your way there, I am definitely lucky if the council makes this much known to bikers...next time I'll look at my local councils website more often, I might learn something!!!
I have to admit I did know about the motorcycle specific parking in place as they are in prime spots and easy to spot due to all the bikes, unfortunately though the few times I have tried parking in those areas there are no spaces because of the location, and for the other times I am nowhere near them and am left with pay and display as an option only.
I didn't know about the free parking for on-street pay and display though, that is something I really can't complain about and something I will use in the future for sure
Thanks again for pointing this out
dizzyblonde
01-11-10, 08:10 PM
Hey, dizzyblonde - that park @ Whitby was British Rail or whatever, but Scarborough council is ( if anything ) even worse!
yeah my bad, forgot you said that yesterday..duuuhh. But as you say no matter, both as mean as each other!
and our courteous behaviour for that
cough cough, sorry bit of a cough there :D:D:D most bike spaces are withing a few walking paces of the centre of town in colchester, ideal on a bike for quick visit, unlike in the car!!!
riding across town using all the bus lanes (which are quite time saving shortcuts) is worth it just for the sake of it :p
arenalife
03-11-10, 02:59 PM
Don't forget that doctor who was given heaps of parking fines for keeping a scooter on his OWN property in front of the surgery but wasn't fenced off. Apparently that's the same as leaving it on the pavement.
-Ralph-
03-11-10, 04:29 PM
Don't forget that doctor who was given heaps of parking fines for keeping a scooter on his OWN property in front of the surgery but wasn't fenced off. Apparently that's the same as leaving it on the pavement.
I'm sure he would have or could have got off with those.
There's nothing to stop you pushing a scooter over a pavement onto private property. I would think they would be contraventions for riding on the pavement, or parking fines from a warden who was not properly trained. Unless he contracts somebody to enforce parking on his private land, there is nobody that has the power to write a ticket. Even if he did contract somebody to write tickets, they are practically unenforceable.
How many properties have a their own driveways on the other side of a pavement, but not fenced off? Over 99% I'd have thought. You could only get a ticket if you'd put a driveway somewhere that there wasn't a drop kerb, and then it wouldn't be a parking ticket.
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