Parking - How to work out where

[omniflow]

Hi,

What's the deal with parking a bike / scooter when out and about?

Some scenarios are crystal clear, others less so. The ones I understand are:

1. Car parks with marked bays / a marked section for motorbike parking - all the ones I've seen are free
2. Car parks where the small print says that you don't need to pay to park a bike, but it must be parked in a bay, just like a car.

Scenarios I am less clear about are:

1. A row of marked bays, one car parked per bay. 2 hours free. Room to park sideways on between two cars - I presume that it's NOT ok to park here
2. A single long bay with room for several cars. 2 hours free. Room to park sideways on between two cars (without obstructing either car) - I presume that it IS ok to park here
3. A car park where the small print doesn't mention bikes - I presume that this means park like a car, pay like a car.

Any tips / pointers on how to figure this out?

[RemaL]

I've never paid to park. Maybe i'm lucky. I don't often park in multistory parks. If it's a normal car park and a bay is free the bike goes in the middle.
Best bet is to just check "if any" notices and what is says about bikes or general parking.

My local small village parking says no vehicles over 1800kg. No issues with my 2600kg Disco. Same in my favorite bike cafe in mid wales. No issues with double yellows and police ever in over 10 years of parking on them

[CallorFold]

Intrigued myself. Fairly new to riding, haven't found myself having to park anywhere unfamiliar yet -

Couple of examples I can think of;

1. Pay and Display car park - no specific bike bays, no mention on signage regarding motorcycle parking.
- should it be in a bay, or maybe just some hashed lines/empty space not obstructing? should you pay and display, even if the ticket goes missing?

2. On street, metered/pay and display ticketing/X hours free
- presumably it's fine to park there, do you have to pay and display if there's no mention of motorcycles?

[Donbot]

This may help.

https://www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk/riding-advice-and...

I park my bike anywhere I like so long as it doesn't cause an obstruction. Never paid for parking or got a parking ticket. (I've not ridden in London though).

[towser44]

I've never paid for a ticket on the bike, because as above, there is nothing at all to stop someone nicking it.

[AceOfHearts]

Yup same here, just be considerate and don't obstruct walkways etc and all is ok. Good rule of thumb is you should be ok as long as a wheelchair or wide baby buggy can still get past.

14 years riding and never paid or got a ticket.

(I never ride in London though so rules may differ)

[omniflow]

Donbot said:

This may help.

https://www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk/riding-advice-and...

I park my bike anywhere I like so long as it doesn't cause an obstruction. Never paid for parking or got a parking ticket. (I've not ridden in London though).

Thanks - this did help. The basic rule is "It depends....."

[Dog Star]

I don't live in that London and in my 35 years biking I've never seen paid motorbike parking. I guess this phenomenon will spread north eventually.

If I'm nipping to town I'll park my bike on the pavement. Never had an issue.

[revvingit]

There is now a few near me that charge motorbikes to park in motorbike bays.

In acknowledgement of the fact putting a ticket on a bike is a PITA you use an app and put your reg and details through that, which I'd assume the parking wardens have access to when doing their rounds.

Lot of people also seem to park on the pavement nearby without much trouble though.

Some cities nearby let you park in Pay and Displays whilst others don't. Some let you park in bicycle bays while others fine you.

It's all a bit of a mess.

[PenultimateSpiderman]

I only ride in London (boo) and use parkingforbikes.com to check- each borough has different rules about whether you can use resident bays or motorcycle only bays etc

As above, Westminster charges £1 a day for parking in any of their bays. It's a joy.