Park Safe LA   (iPhone App)
  • Home
  • Screen Shots
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • About
  • Blog

Two Sets of Motorcycle Rules

9/4/2014

24 Comments

 
Picture
I recently responded to a question from a PSLA user named Andrew who wanted to know if he could legally park his bike on the sidewalk in LA, so I decided to break down some of the common motorcycle parking myths for you this week.

Parking your motorcycle in LA can be confusing  because there are the technical rules for motorcycles and then there are the actual rules that are enforced. These two things are often as far apart as James Harden and a Gillette razor endorsement. (that’s a basketball reference). Here’s a breakdown of motorcycle parking laws for LA.

1.     Can I park my motorcycle on the sidewalk as long as it’s not blocking the sidewalk?

No. Under CA Vehicle Code 22500 you can never park your motorcycle on the sidewalk legally. I know you’re thinking you park your bike by the sidewalk all the time without any problems.  Most parking officers don't enforce this, but know that you are always taking a risk of getting a ticket if you park there.

2.     If the spot says permit parking only, can I still park my motorcycle there because it doesn’t take up the full spot?

Negative: If a sign says permit parking only it applies equally to cars and motorcycles. If you park your bike there you can could get a ticket.

3.     Can I share a metered parking spot with a car?

Sometimes false and sometimes true. This varies widely by town ordinance and enforcement.  Even in most towns where this is technically illegal it is a rare parking enforcement officer that will actually ticket you it. Be warned though, it is not unheard of for this to actually garner a ticket in some parts of metropolitan Los Angeles.

4.     I can park my bike in between two parking spots?

No. This, like most answers, comes down to enforcement. A lot of officers won’t ticket for this, but technically they could. If the area in between the parking spots is a red zone you will definitely get a ticket, but if it’s not you’re probably okay.

Here’s a little light reading to help you fall asleep at night.

CVC § 22500 
No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control device, in any of the following places:
. . .
(f) On any portion of a sidewalk, or with the body of the vehicle extending over any portion of a sidewalk . . . . Lights, mirrors, or devices that are required to be mounted upon a vehicle under this code may extend from the body of the vehicle over the sidewalk to a distance of not more than 10 inches.


24 Comments
Kyle Benner
7/6/2016 10:07:16 pm

Parked scooter in front of True Tattoo on Cahuenga & Hwd blvd. I got a 63 dollar ticket for being at the very nose of the parking space parked at 90° with meter expired. That is a first.
Fucking whore

Reply
Gordon Brown
10/19/2016 10:00:53 am

Good read. I have been ticketed for sharing a metered spot. Hated when they painted the in betweens red. Such a knock at the convienance of parking it anywhere.

Reply
Brian
11/25/2016 02:29:52 pm

This just happened to me 5 minutes ago in Eagle Rock. WTF!! I caught the officer mid ticket and he said that if there are no dividing lines it's illegal. I was parked on the very edge of the space with loads of room for another car to park.

Riders beware, I now have a $63 ticket to contend with.

Reply
Jake
1/24/2017 09:45:49 pm

Same thing just happened to me in Eagle Rock, such assholes

Cameron
8/7/2018 10:51:55 am

The very thing happened to me today. I was on Lankershim between Magnolia and Burbank in Noho and got a $63 charge for expired meter. A space I did not occupy.
I've parked like this for 8 months all over Noho, Hollywood, West Hollywood, and downtown and have never received a ticket until today.

Reply
Derek
2/24/2017 04:29:42 pm

So pissed. Been riding and parking everywhere for over a year and just got a ticket for parking between two metered spots - no red curb. I wonder if they're just now starting to crack down on this? Such a joke. I'm going to contest it anyway.

Reply
Derek
2/24/2017 04:33:44 pm

This was on Radford just above Ventura in Studio City.

Reply
Jackson teller
3/19/2017 12:53:48 am

Just got my bike towed cuz o parking in a side walk

Reply
Derek
3/21/2017 08:52:00 pm

Oh crap. Sorry man. I see people do that all the time. What part of town?

Reply
Draken
4/4/2017 12:41:53 pm

I was riding with a buddy in DTLA and learned that two motorcycles can't legally share a metered street parking spot. Apparently you're paying for the vehicle, not the spot.

Also, I kind of understand not being able to park between metered spots as that would hem in parked cars, leaving them no room to exit.

Reply
Danny
4/23/2017 12:45:51 am

I parked in between 2 metered spots in Pasadena and got a 50 dollar ticket. Freaking BS.

Reply
Graeme
6/28/2017 05:44:09 pm

Parking on the sidewalk is a bit too general - What about the part of the sidewalk that is not really part of the walkway? For example, you have a building, the sidewalk where people walk, then that extended part where, say there are trees, or newspaper racks... I've seen bikes parked there.. is that legal to park, say between the trees or newspaper racks? Thanks!

Reply
Ivan
1/16/2018 12:46:34 pm

I've been parking my scooter in residential permit areas for over 2 years now and last week i parked in hollywood and got a $68 ticket!! Where am i supposed to have a permit displayed on a scooter anyway??

Reply
Christopher A. Galarza
1/9/2019 07:52:04 pm

Total B.S. i just got ticketed for parking on sidewalk in front of apartment building, bike was covered and i left about 3 ft space for people to walk...they cracking down . 1st of the month new year...time for them to make money for city 👎

Reply
Jonas Dieder
7/8/2018 02:44:07 pm

Don't share a spot! I just saw a Ducati take a spill because the bike was not seen by the driver. If it wasn't parked directly behind the car, it wouldn't have happened! Fuck rude motorcyclists!

Reply
Paul
1/28/2019 10:42:15 pm

So I've been testing the sidewalk parking method here and there. Been pretty good, but got a ticket in Eagle Rock :/ Looks like enforcement there is pretty strict. Also just got ticketed on Santa Monica Blvd near 3rd street promenade by SMPD, but after 10 days I still don't see the ticket in their system so maybe it was a strong warning. It was probably dumb to park it near 3rd St with all the pedestrian traffic and cop patrols. Usually if it's out of the way and limited traffic I've been fine, esp on large sidewalk areas. I try not to take up car spots, and keep my bike safe(r)...

Reply
paul
7/26/2019 09:22:47 pm

I have a small gas scooter can I park at a possible parking garage for free?

Reply
Earl Sharkey
8/31/2019 05:44:22 pm

There are people living on the sidewalks with tents and all kinds of shit how the f*** is it illegal to park there...? I mean, there are people who live in the same spot on the sidewalk, no problem, for months, and I can't park there for 2 hours... Someone explain please...

Reply
Lee
10/12/2019 02:22:35 am

Easy!
Courts in California have established that they _live_ there. As such, they are not covered by _parking_ regulations.

Reply
John
3/19/2020 10:51:33 pm

So, heard if you park your motorcycle on the sidewalk, obviously not blocking the walk way, and you cover it, they are unable to touch, or ticket the vehicle. Anybody?

Reply
Joseph Gonzales
5/1/2020 01:15:39 am

I'm wondering same thing.an looking for a safe spot.where my bike wont get stolen thrashed or
Ticketed.

Reply
Joseph Gonzales
5/1/2020 01:03:27 am

I'm wondering the same thing just want to be able to park my harley Downtown where it dosnt cost 300 dollars a month...Does anybody know of parking for motorcycles downtown.

Reply
Joseph Speedy Gonzales
5/1/2020 01:13:33 am

I know this is an older post but still need a spot where I can park a damn harley and have it safe.been ticketed an people constantly messing with bike.it sucks..

Reply
Jery link
12/29/2020 08:59:58 pm

Grateful for sharring this

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Michael is the creator of Park Safe LA and always on the hunt for ways to make parking easier.

    Archives

    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    RSS Feed