Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I know how to park on the street but I don't know the correct way to park in a parking lot. You know, the kind with the painted lines designating spaces?

Is parking in a diagonal space different from a straight space?

Thanks.

nope. I just pull straight into the center of the parking stall the same as I would if I were driving my car. If the stall has a slope down to the end of it, then I will back the bike in so that I can ride it out (upslope) when I leave instead of having to try to muscle the bike backwards out of the stall.

For some reason, I find that I have to park dead centre in those stalls. I had to save my bike from being knocked over just the other day and it was in the centre. Some moron cager got out of his cage and hip checked my bike as he went by. Looked back as if to think "What's that doing there?" Luckily I was coming up right behind him and saved the car next to me and my bike. He didn't even acknowledge my comments... mind you I wasn't so polite...

Yeah make sure it's as close to center as possible.

Also some say it's a good idea to rest your front tire against the curb (if there is a curb), but personally I don't do this because it totally hides your bike if anyone parks next to you. And people aren't always paying attention when they fly into a parking space. Just ask the shopping carts I've hit.

WhyteGryphon has good advice about backing in if the space is on a slope. Make the engine do the work, not your legs.

I like to leave the bike in gear to prevent rolling.

And finally, for some reason people will lump together in one area even if the lot isn't very busy. Try to get a spot that isn't right next to someone else if you can.

Thanks for your replies.

Yeah, parking away from the rest of the pack makes a lot of sense.

FireFly800 wrote:Thanks for your replies.

Yeah, parking away from the rest of the pack makes a lot of sense.

Unless it's with other motos. I noticed around here that they like to clump together. If anyone is going to be careful around your bike, it's going to be another rider. It's kinda funny, some days at the community college i go to you see 2 or 3 sport bikes, a cruiser, a UJM and this wicked ooolld smelly moped parked in the "No parking" lane next to the sidewalk.