Scooter Parking Policy

[jflegere]

I was wondering if anyone has seen a written scooter parking policy for their place of business.

I work in downtown Washington, DC and the company where I work owns the building which has a great, limited-access parking garage underneath. The current parking "policy" (it's verbal, not written anywhere) is that "anything with an engine" has to wait on the tenure waiting list for a spot in the parking garage. As with many garages, there are many odd shaped spaces that could easily accomodate my Buddy 125. There are two bicycle racks (not tenure-based) which are under-utilized, two parking spaces that cars can't really get into, and a few other "nooks and crannies."

I've been invited to put forth a proposal to allow free scooter parking in the garage which would be awesome for Bud and me. I think that it would be best to actually provide a sample policy rather than making the "powers that be" compose one (which might never get done) and I'm obviously trying to make it so that 125cc's get in while the big motorcycles (which I know that management wants to keep out) don't. The only thing that I could find via Google was a policy that defined "moped" as 50cc or less and "motor scooter" as 50cc or less - that obviously won't be good for me...

Any thoughts on a cc number (maybe 150cc or less) that would be fair to scooters and still keep the motorcycles out (no offense motorcyclists, the company just doesn't want them)? Or any complete policies at your work?

Thanks!

[Quo Vadimus]

Any thoughts on a cc number (maybe 150cc or less) that would be fair to scooters and still keep the motorcycles out (no offense motorcyclists, the company just doesn't want them)?

I hate to tell you, but almost everywhere in the US a scooter over 50cc *IS* a motorcycle.

If they don't want motorcycles that are not step-through, I think someone needs to ask why. Is it because motorcyclists are jerks? Irresponsible? Prone to accidents? Something seems funny here. I'm sure I'm jumping to conclusions, but it does seem like those on two wheels should stick together - we *all* can be mistreated and overlooked.

[siobhan]

Interesting...I'd be curious what you come up with. I know that many commercial parking garages don't allow any 2-wheeled vehicles due to insurance/liability issues. I think you'd have a stronger case to keep the motorcycles out if yours was a 50cc. You'll have some aggrieved motorcyclists if you can park your 125cc and they can't bring in their bigger bikes.

I was told I couldn't park my scoot on campus (I work at a college) as no 2-wheeled vehicles are allowed. I wrote up a plethora of arguments for why I felt scooters (and motorcycles) should be allowed and petitioned the director of security. He acquiesced, and the security guys even have a special spot for my scoot that they can see from the entry guardhouse so they can keep an eye on it for me.

Let us know how it turns out.

[ryder1]

Why not ask for "scooter" parking with no cc's mentioned and see what happens. You could always bring the Genuine Photo the Buddy as an example.

[pugbuddy]

Siobhan,

I'd be interested in your list of arguments! Any chance you'd post or PM them?

[ERik3tb]

To get ideas on where to start, you just need to do a quick google search for

"motorcycle parking policy"

first hit I got was here.

http://ae.uth.tmc.edu/parking/policy.htm

Read over a few and you can have the basis to write your own.

[siobhan]

Siobhan,

I'd be interested in your list of arguments! Any chance you'd post or PM them?

Hi Pug,

I love email...it was right there in my sent box (good thing I get along with the IT guys so they can keep adding space to my email!).

Here it is, in all its suck-up glory:

"I am writing to you to request a special exemption so that I can park my scooter on campus. It is a 49cc Honda, registered with the DMV through June 2008, fully insured, and I have the proper driving license to operate it. It is street legal in Rhode Island and tops out at a max speed of 37mph. It has three separate locks, including one on the steering column, one to keep the kickstand in place, and a third, heavy-duty motorcycle chain lock.

I have been driving scooters for over 6 years, and am a safe, courteous driver. I always wear a helmet, gloves and solid shoes. In an effort to live a smaller footprint on the earth, I prefer to drive the scooter as it gets over 100mpg and takes up 1/3 of the space of a parked car. Plus, it’s fun to drive and makes the drive to work something to look forward to.

My concern with parking it on the street is not so much that it will get stolen, but more that it will get hit by someone trying to parallel park or pull out of a space and tip over. If it is parked in a lot on campus, I would feel more secure in knowing that someone wouldn’t mess with it. I am happy to park in a far-off campus lot as I don’t mind walking to my office."

The response I got from the Major was something along the lines of "You can park your scooter on campus."

[kilted texan]

Why not ask for "scooter" parking with no cc's mentioned and see what happens.

+1 Scooter defined

[jflegere]

Quo Vadimus,

As I was writing the proposal it seemed like I was writing a justification for any two-wheeled, gas saving vehicle - and that was fine with me. But when I explored the reasons for the current "policy" so that I could make sure they were addressed, it was obvious that for whatever reason, motorcycles were not going to get past the tenure waiting list. They are welcome, you just have to work here for like a million years.

I'm trying to justify the scooter so I don't have to wait. I could ride my bike (I did that for years at another job downtown). But now that I have a Buddy...

[docutech]

Not entirely related to parking at a place of business but I think you will find it an interesting read.

This article will enlighten you on just some of the parking issues we are facing in the city of Saint Louis. Enjoy the read!

I work in different places on different days and have yet to take my 5 day old scooter to work. I plan on riding to work tomorrow and the place where I will be has designated bicycle and motorclycle/scooter parking (it is also covered ) I imagine that I will run into parking issues in due time and if I have to I will utilize a full parking space if needed.

[EP_scoot]

jflegere,
keep in mind that are scooters that go up to 800cc. Maybe the issue is more with a style of bike such as the scooter vs. motorcycles?

One thing you can add to your proposal is to get (or make your own) layouts for the different floors on the parking ramp and color the areas that are not being utilized for parking because of them being too small, odd shape, etc, but they would work for scooters. In other words, they would NOT be loosing any parking spaces, just modifying some of the underutilized spaces they already have.

I think rather than defining the word scooter, just leave it as is. I am sure they are picturing a vespa type vehicle . . . not sure what would happen when a guy with a Suzuki Burgman 650 wants to park his scooter in the ramp, though.

[Quo Vadimus]

And maybe if you can get them to loosen up a little bit, motorcyclists can pull that thread out a little longer as they see fit. =)

Sorry I sounded a bit pompous - just annoyed lately by parking issues. Why would ANYplace that has had to pay to install a limited number of parking spaces not want me to ride a thin, space-saving bike rather than a giant car. Waa, you're different than me, waa waa!

Best of luck with the proposal - if I were you I'd go with previous advice and just call it "scooter parking," rather than cc. If The Man is worried about motorcycles in particular, ya don't want to exclude the Burgmans! Scooters are step-through, bikes are not.

[Scro]

The motorcycle issue pobably relates more to size than style. I think wheel base would be a good deliniator as it is easily measured, usually published in vehicle documentation, and speaks to the size issue.

I second the idea of clearly marking the approved areas. It may only take one guy blocking a service entrance or something to blow the whole deal.

Good luck.

[charltons]

I'm thinking about asking my Principal if we can have a designated scooter/MC spot in the faculty lot. A few of us drive scoots and 1 scoot/MC hybrid. I would like to be able to lock thm up. Does anybody know where one can buy bike racks?

I've started to park mine in the classroom- I can't keep the kids off it!

[peabody99]

Why not ask for "scooter" parking with no cc's mentioned and see what happens. You could always bring the Genuine Photo the Buddy as an example.

it is times like this that I would suck it up and call it a "moped" if you plead your case. Most non scooter drivers call it that anyway. For the most part I agree about 2 wheelers sticking together, but I think it is really a size issue, not whether the frame is step through. I think a maxi scoot would be just as a unwelcome as a giant motorcycle. They take up as much space as a small car, and will not tuck into corners. Plus, I will sound like a curmudgeon now, but some motorcycles are just too F*&^'in loud to be enclosed and reving in a garage-too much noise pollution for enclosed space.