Legal to push bike on sidewalk engine off? | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Legal to push bike on sidewalk engine off?

I pushed my vulcan 500 to the shop when i had it, aside from being unplated etc the only issue was people thought i stole it! haha

someone called the cops and they pulled me over literally 1 block from the shop
 
At CMTS (Horseshoe Valley Resort), the procedure we followed as a group was to walk the bike (idling) across any public roads. Now, I'm sure all those bikes are insured, but not for the road. If I'm pushing my motorcycle along the sidewalk and my negligence causes damages, I'd suppose my homeowners general liability would cover that, the same way it would cover me and my self propelled walk-behind mower if it gets away or launches debris at someone. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to push my motorcycle along a sidewalk rather than the road.
 
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turbodish said:
When the bike is being trailered, the liability coverage for damage and injury caused by that trailer and trailered load falls on the towing vehicle. Same goes for a vehicle hooked up to a tow truck.

Take a different track. If you're pushing a disabled car down a wide sidewalk, are you not "operating" the car even though it is not running? If you have a collision and cause property damage or injury, how do you think the incident would be categorized? And why would a motorcycle be fundamentally any different?

If you've modified the motorcycle so that it is obviously no longer used as a motor vehicle, say you turned it into a baby carriage instead, then you could walk it down the sidewalk without impunity.

However, if its obvious use is still that of a motor vehicle (whether operational, insured, or not), at the very least you need to consider the motor vehicle insurance ramifications if someone's property is damaged or someone is injured while you're pushing that motorcycle down the sidewalk.
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I don't question that it is illegal but would hope that the officer's judgement would come into play. Is there a greater risk of damage or injury (Especially to innocent bystanders) if the bike is pushed down the road, pushed down a sidewalk or left on the road impeding traffic?

If you are wearing a tee shirt that indicates you hate cops you might want to turn it inside out.
 
promac said:
At CMTS (Horseshoe Valley Resort), the procedure we followed as a group was to walk the bike (idling) across any public roads. Now, I'm sure all those bikes are insured, but not for the road. If I'm pushing my motorcycle along the sidewalk and my negligence causes damages, I'd suppose my homeowners general liability would cover that, the same way it would cover me and my self propelled walk-behind mower if it gets away or launches debris at someone. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to push my motorcycle along a sidewalk rather than the road.
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Homeowners insurance will not cover the liability effects of a collision involving a motor vehicle.
 
turbodish said:
Whether or not you're likely to get ticketed for walking a bike down the sidewalk is the least of your worries.

The motorcycle, whether running or not, whether licensed or not, whether insured or not, is still a motor vehicle. You need insurance if you are off your own property, and if you hit a pedestrian while pushing your bike down the sidewalk or it falls on someone, you've just had a motor vehicle accident.

You'd better hope you have insurance in such an event. On or off the roadway, you'll still be liable for the other person's medical/rehab/wage loss costs, plus that big fine for not having insurance.
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What if you disable the motor somehow, is it still a motor vehicle?

EDIT
NM, answered
 
nobbie48 said:
If you are wearing a tee shirt that indicates you hate cops you might want to turn it inside out.
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That sir, is good advice. And funny as hell.

The bike is a motor vehicle. Same rules apply to it as to a car or truck. Whether a cop would or should care or not is another matter but clearly it's not legal to push a motor vehicle along a sidewalk.
 
if you know how to ride a bike you should be eable to figure it out yourself if it is ok or not to push the bike on the side walk ,i say dont do it just for the hell of it but if you break down sure as hell i would push it on the side walk ,this is the last thing i would worry gettin nailed for...
 
"is it legal to push a bike on the sidewalk"....YES!


I once ran out of gas, was not too far from a gas station, and did not want to leave my bike where it was, nor did I want to walk down a busy roadway. I called the non-emergency number for Toronto Police, and asked a constable this exact question. They said, as long as the motor is not running, and I am not riding the bike (not even if I am coasting down hill), then yes, I may push the vehicle down the sidewalk, as it is the safest course of action.
 
So I did this today. I picked up my bike and walked two intersections to my house. Tiring as hell and all you get is weird looks from people. Took me about 20min pushing a 400 pound machine. =)
 
My bike ran out of gas at midnight on the Transcanada highway leading out to Banff. Actually it ran out of gas twice on the Transcanada highway lol. You have to kick my balls to tell me the legal way is to push my bike along the highway with cars buzzing by me at a speed limit of 110 km/h in heavy Rocky mountain fogs too make matters worse.
[
QUOTE=suprPHREAK;1520271]"is it legal to push a bike on the sidewalk"....YES!


I once ran out of gas, was not too far from a gas station, and did not want to leave my bike where it was, nor did I want to walk down a busy roadway. I called the non-emergency number for Toronto Police, and asked a constable this exact question. They said, as long as the motor is not running, and I am not riding the bike (not even if I am coasting down hill), then yes, I may push the vehicle down the sidewalk, as it is the safest course of action.[/QUOTE]
 
I was riding a friends 07 R6 and stopped at a gas station 3 blocks from my house before heading out to hit the highway.
I did not turn the key all the way off and the lights finnished off an already crapped out batter.
Try as I may, i was not able to keep it running after many attempted push starts.
Tired as hell I decided to push it home on the side walk using pedestrian crossings were needed.
Cops passed by but did not bother me but I did get alot of strange looks from people probably thinking I stole it.
Imagine pushing a bike on the sidewalk in full gear :D

I sure as hell would feel safe pushing that on the road with my back turned to traffic and I didn't even have enough juice to keep the hazard lights running. If it happened again, I would take my chances pushing it on the sidewalk rather than on the roadways especially in brampton.
 
It sounds like a very reasonable thing to do. So even if there is some obsure law. I am sure its fine.

I express doubt that pushing a vehicle = "operating" it.
If the meaning of operation was that broad, there would be no need to use the words "care and control" in the DUI law.
 
Much of what is being said is based on definitions.
What is a motor vehicle?
What is a motor?
If it is incapable of running is a motor still a motor or is it a piece of metal sculpture?

I would suspect that it is considered a motor vehicle if it has, or has in the past, had a permit issued by the MOT, regardless of whether it runs or not or even has a motor.

What is the definition of operating?

I would think that operating it would require actually using the vehicle for any purpose, motor running or not. If you are simply transporting an inert object I wouldn't consider it as being used. That said, motor vehicles are not allowed to block sidewalks even if they are not being used.

Thus far in the thread those walking bikes on the sidewalks have used common sense caution and the LEOs have used common sense discretion.

From where does the court get its definitions and what are the accepted legal terms of MV and operating?
 
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nobbie48 said:
Much of what is being said is based on definitions.
What is a motor vehicle?
What is a motor?
If it is incapable of running is a motor still a motor or is it a piece of metal sculpture?

I would suspect that it is considered a motor vehicle if it has, or has in the past, had a permit issued by the MOT, regardless of whether it runs or not or even has a motor.

What is the definition of operating?

I would think that operating it would require actually using the vehicle for any purpose, motor running or not. If you are simply transporting an inert object I wouldn't consider it as being used. That said, motor vehicles are not allowed to block sidewalks even if they are not being used.

Thus far in the thread those walking bikes on the sidewalks have used common sense caution and the LEOs have used common sense discretion.

From where does the court get its definitions and what are the accepted legal terms of MV and operating?
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From the very first section of the HTA:

“motor vehicle” includes an automobile, a motorcycle, a motor-assisted bicycle unless otherwise indicated in this Act, and any other vehicle propelled or driven otherwise than by muscular power, but does not include a street car or other motor vehicle running only upon rails, a power-assisted bicycle, a motorized snow vehicle, a traction engine, a farm tractor, a self-propelled implement of husbandry or a road-building machine; (“véhicule automobile”)
 
Rob MacLennan said:
From the very first section of the HTA:

“motor vehicle” includes an automobile, a motorcycle, a motor-assisted bicycle unless otherwise indicated in this Act, and any other vehicle propelled or driven otherwise than by muscular power, but does not include a street car or other motor vehicle running only upon rails, a power-assisted bicycle, a motorized snow vehicle, a traction engine, a farm tractor, a self-propelled implement of husbandry or a road-building machine; (“véhicule automobile”)
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so,, when a vehicle is propelled by muscular power,, it is not a "motor vehicle" at that point?
it seems the muscular power,, street cars etc are exempt from the definition of motor vehicle
 
meester_jamie said:
so,, when a vehicle is propelled by muscular power,, it is not a "motor vehicle" at that point?
it seems the muscular power,, street cars etc are exempt from the definition of motor vehicle
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Unless you've removed the engine and converted the thing to a pedal bike, it is still a motor vehicle despite the means being used to move it at any given moment.
 
meester_jamie said:
so,, when a vehicle is propelled by muscular power,, it is not a "motor vehicle" at that point?
it seems the muscular power,, street cars etc are exempt from the definition of motor vehicle
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That's a form of hair-splitting, that the courts do mot take part in.
 
This thread brings up another question I've had for ages. One time I was drinking up the hill from where I lived and being an idiot drove my motorcycle there. I ended up not over drinking and being safe, but had contemplated that, had I really been drunk, I would unlock my steering and give the key to my friends going home by other means. I would then ride the bike down the hill obviously not ignited and actually incapable of being ignited (with no keys).

Would I have been charged had I been drunk and cops caught me riding down the hill powered by gravity??
 
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