@#$%'s parking in the M'cycle parking area

[malber]

This has become a problem at my work. We have a nice parking area lined out and signed specifically for motorcycles with a cement strip set in the asphalt for the center stand. I'm turning into an all season rider (caveats: no snow, temps must be 40+F) and try to commute nearly every day. There are some cage driving people here at my work who seem to think that motorcycling is a seasonal activity and the motorcycle parking is fair game after the start of November. I've verified with my facilities department that the motorcycle parking area is year round, yet some people inist on parking there. One day I parked my bike in the slim area between the cars thinking they'd get the point. The next day the cars were still there so I parked behind them blocking them in. The manager of my department was out smoking and noticed this and I got a stern warning. Turns out I had parked behind a couple of sales reps' cars. Bigshots. One bitched about my close parking job the other day that my bike "could've fallen over and damaged her car." Well don't park it in a spot designated and designed for motorcycles you dumb... Anyway, I told them that it was marked m'cycle only and that I had verified that it's year-round not seasonal. It was later again verified with facilities.

Now blocking the cars was probably an a-hole move, but it's getting pretty frustrating. Drove the cage in today because I didn't leave enough time to put on the gear and of course there are cars parked there.

Grrrrrr!!!!

[prometheus578]

"It's amazing how discourteous some people are."

At least when I park in a handicapped spot... I make an effort to limp my way into the store. (But that's if only people are standing around watching)

[malber]

We've also got "stork parking."

I guess I could assume there aren't going to be any pregnant mothers in November.

[webbcraft2150]

We had the same problem at a Cat house (thats Caterpiller Tractors you weridos!) I worked at. We cured it by putting parking blocks around the bike area, leaving 'nuff room for bikes to get in but no cages. Had one person complain why the bikes got to park so close to the front of the building, I told em its cause we put up with cage drivers all the time and we need a break somewhere. Ride a bike and you to can park close to the front!!!

BTW, if ya keep a valve removal tool in your pocket, you can crack the cagers valve stem open just enough that they have a flat when they come out to go home. Now, this is just something I heard about. I would never participate in such work place antics.

[webbcraft2150]

Re: "It's amazing how discourteous some people are."

Originally posted by prometheus578
At least when I park in a handicapped spot... I make an effort to limp my way into the store. (But that's if only people are standing around watching)

Was riding with a buddy that parked in a handicapped spot and was getting razed by some lady, "your not handicapped she lamented to my buddy", he replied that it was obvious she had never seen him with his clothes off, she stormed off in huff, or was it a Ford?

[malber]

Originally posted by webbcraft2150
BTW, if ya keep a valve removal tool in your pocket, you can crack the cagers valve stem open just enough that they have a flat when they come out to go home. Now, this is just something I heard about. I would never participate in such work place antics.

Tempting, but somehow I don't think they'd get the point.

I'm probably the only one crazy enough to try riding to work every day, so I wouldn't mind as long as they leave enough space for one bike. they should figure that if more people rode to work there would be that much more space for cages.

[Jerry]

Have something of the same problem today. One spot - its the one closest to the bulding - in our parking lot is reserved for motorcycles, and I continue to ride whenever I can. (Above freezing and dry when I leave the house.)
However, it helps to work for a Sheriff's Office...I leave a note on the windshield, written on the back of my businesss card, and have not had the same car pull that stunt twice. Note says "You are illegally parked in a designated Motorcycle parking space. This is a warning. If I find your car parked here again I will arrange to have it towed." Funny part is that a few people have called to see if the card is legit...and get our receptionist, who forwards them to me. After one call they never call back.

You should speak to the head of your security or parking division; my past experience is that these are working guys / gals who won't cut 'bigshots' much slack for parking illegally. When I was at the UW - Whitwater campus (working, not as a student) our head of parking actually had a few vehicles towed out of MC designated parking spots, word went around and we had few problems after that.

[prometheus578]

Good one, Webbcraft!

[SiP]

I have found that a bloody nose is a fair way to get your point across Most ignoramus get the message after that.

[malber]

Originally posted by prometheus578
Good one, Webbcraft!

Yes, tempting. But since I'm easily the recognizable as the only nut to ride a motorcycle to work in November in New England, I think cages in the bike parking area would be the least of my worries after that.

[mro]

originally posted by SiP
I have found that a bloody nose is a fair way to get your point across Most ignoramus get the message after that.

Lucky your not here in CA....
You'd run into so many " ignoramuses" before lunch you'd need an infusion from bleeding so much


mro

[Czekus21]

That problems not just in NewEngland. Here in the Sioux Falls area, cages park in the MC parking even at the motorcycle shop. I've mentioned it to the people that run the place, doesn't seem to matter.

[prometheus578]

Hard to correct ignorant customers, lest they get offended and take their stupidity elsewhere.

[manshack_one]

We made a parking spot at the end of the row where there's a little concrete island that the lamp post is built into. Somebody before me put a little concrete block at one end so you don't bottom out jumping the curb. Other than that there isn't any designated parking. I'm too nervous to crack all the muffler weld I put on my header pipes at the collector so I don't try and jump the curb for fear of having to redo my patch job. I just park in a regular spot but leave my rear even with the other rears of the vehicles next to me so someone doesn't whip in there and wreck my bike because they weren't able to see it between the SUV's.

[DiverRay]

Malber,
Talk with your facilities person, and have them put a few of the "tire stops" in front of the motorcycle parking. If they space them about 8" apart, you should be able to get in easily, and a car will have problems. IF that does not stop them, drive some 1/2" rebar into the ground through the holes in the top of the stops, but leave it about 6" above the stop. That should "modify" the oil pan of anyone who tries to park there.