Arguments for why bikes should have their own parking spots

[TomC]

Forum Sponsor

I got a warning letter on my bike today for parking on a yellow crossed line at work. I've always parked at the crossed line, but usually on the other side of the parking spot, in a corner, and it's less visible. I guess this one was more visible.

I want to walk in the security office, and call out my company for being a bunch of hypocrites and demand them to have a designated parking area for motorcycles. They claim they care for the environment, and one of the steps they're taking to show that is by encouraging people to carpool by having a designated carpool parking spot right in front of the freakin building. Do motorcycles use less gas and emission than cars? Because if I want to use that argument. They also take less room, so they don't need a whole row in the parking lot just for them.

What other arguments can I use? If they tell me I should take it up to HR, I will. I'm going to write them a letter stating all the reasons why we should have our own parking area and start a petition going.

You need look no further than places like taipei/taiwan which are populated by hundreds of thousands of scooters. You can't see 10 feet in front of you. From a one person to one bike to emissions ratio, bikes are WAY less green than your modern day automobile, when you factor in their ability to carpool.

 

[backmarkerducati]

Simple answer, get in early so you get a spot close to the building. Use a car spot and park so you use the entire car spot. A few riders doing this and the people in charge of parking will see the light. Most places have a shortage of parking and they will see that they can save a bunch of spaces by using an "car unusable" corner for motorcycles. If they have excess of parking spaces this will not work.

 

[CruisnGrrl]

start leaving divots in the parking lot.

 

[CruisnGrrl]

Yes, but they are very limited, not very close to any building entrances, and some are not even paved and are just gravel scraps of leftover space.

last time i was there they had a large concrete pad in the main parking lot, fairly central to everything, right by where the bus drops you off inside campus. looked like it would hold quite a few bikes, possibly as many bikes as cars could park in the lot. maybe your turbovision missed it because it wasn't hidden behind a corner. or do you think motorcyclists should be closer to the door than the people parking cars and getting off the bus.

 

[rukus]

last time i was there they had a large concrete pad in the main parking lot, fairly central to everything, right by where the bus drops you off inside campus. looked like it would hold quite a few bikes, possibly as many bikes as cars could park in the lot. maybe your turbovision missed it because it wasn't hidden behind a corner. or do you think motorcyclists should be closer to the door than the people parking cars and getting off the bus.

i think his turbosenses completely missed that spot.

 

[turbodish]

last time i was there they had a large concrete pad in the main parking lot, fairly central to everything, right by where the bus drops you off inside campus. looked like it would hold quite a few bikes, possibly as many bikes as cars could park in the lot. maybe your turbovision missed it because it wasn't hidden behind a corner. or do you think motorcyclists should be closer to the door than the people parking cars and getting off the bus.

I know that particular lot, and it's hardly the "main" parking lot. True, it is a minute or two walk from the University Center to its north, but maybe your jaded vision missed the fact that it's not central to anything.

It may be convenient if you want to get on a bus or go for lunch in the UC, but most student class and after-class life doesn't happen at the UC. Most of the buildings that students actually attend classes in, not to mention the library, the Athletic Center, the stadium, the various campus pubs, meeting places, etc are located at various distances north, east and west of that UC and relatively far away from that motorcycle lot. The rest of the motorcycle lots are tiny by comparison and are also hardly in what anyone would consider "preferred" or protected or even highly visible public locations. The car lots tend are more convenient to more buildings.

That gets back to the OP. The OP wants dedicated motorcycle parking closer to the building where it can be watched from the windows of the cubical. Nothing at Guelph fulfills that sort of requirement.

 

[turbodish]

i think his turbosenses completely missed that spot.

I know the spot, just off the South Ring Rd near Gordon. It's not that big an area, especially when you consider the amount of space dedicated to auto and truck parking at Guelph. It's also not in a "prime" location for most students as far as parking convenience for getting to class or many other campus activities is concerned.

 

[rukus]

i love turboproof

 

[turbodish]

i love turboproof

It is what it is. Take the tour of the Guelph U campus yourself. Minimal motorcycle parking at Guelph, total space of about 18, maybe 20, standard car-spots in size, and most of which are hardly in what you could call convenient, protected, or otherwise desirable locations.

You have to pay for a special motorcycle parking permit, and you can only park a motorcycle in those limited designated motorcycle parking areas. You cannot park a motorcycle in the more convenient car parking areas even if the limited motorcycle parking spots are full when you arrive. The only alternative is to pay for metered parking. I doubt the OP would be happy with a designated motorcycle parking area at the OP's work location if implemented in the way Guelph did their's. At least Mohawk's minimal motorcycle parking at the Fennell campus is free.

Forum Sponsor