Motorcycle Parking Guide: Learn How to Park a Motorcycle

The internet is full of skilled and trained riders sharing their experiences about learning how to ride a motorbike, cruise down highways, and long-distance touring. Many riders are seen discussing different aspects of motorcycling on the forums. However, the internet fails to provide a useful opinion on one of the most basic things, and that is motorcycle parking.

Parking a motorcycle is an important part of riding a motorbike. You can never become an experienced rider if you don’t know how to park a motorbike.

How you park a motorcycle tells alot about how good, skilled, and experienced you are as a rider. Learning motorcycle parking etiquette can save you from getting embarrassed in front of the motorcycle community. It can also help you keep your motorbike safe from getting stolen and avoid heavy fines.

For those who don’t know how to park a bike, this article is a detailed motorcycle parking guide. It includes motorbike parking etiquette and rules for different situations. Continue reading this article to learn how to park a motorbike.

Follow the motorbike parking signs/boards to know where you can park your motorbike. Remember! You cannot park your bike anywhere. There are specific parking lots, areas, and zones where you can park your bike, marked by the parking signs. Follow the parking instructions on the parking sign/board.

Never park your motorbike in a traffic lane. It will interrupt the flow of traffic, causing traffic blocks. This is unlawful and can get you a ticket for a traffic violation.

Avoid parking your bikes in the below places:

• Intersections

• Overpasses

• Tunnels

• Bridges

• Handicap space

• Fire Station Driveways

• Driveways/Alleys/Curb Cuts

• No parking areas/zones

• Sidewalks/crosswalks

• Loading Zones

• Do not park your motorbike at the entrance.

• Avoid parking close to the fire hydrants (Leave at least 15 feet of space with fire hydrants while parking your motorbike).

• You can only park your motorbike in the handicap space if you have the permit.

• Ensure your wheels are within the parking boundary.

• Respect the motorcycle parking time limits.

• Do not block buildings’ entrances.

As a road user or a biker, one thing that you must first learn is that you cannot park your bike anywhere. This is one of the most basic motorcycle parking etiquette and laws that every rider must learn. Most riders and road users are seen neglecting this basic motorbike parking law.

Usually, there are parking signs in certain areas indicating whether you can park a motorbike or not in a specific zone. The parking sign/board usually has a big “P” written on the board with a red or black border on the edges, indicating that parking is allowed. You can park your motorbike in that area where there is a parking sign/board.

On the other hand, there is a “No Parking” sign/board informing road users or bikers not to park their bikes in a specific area. The “No Parking” sign or board usually has a “P” written in bold with a “none” or “no” sign on top of the “P”, denoting “No Parking”. In some cases, there may be simply written ‘No Parking’ on the board, showing that you can’t park the bike or a vehicle in that specific area.

There are parking lots that require you to pay to park your motorcycle. In most cases, the parking signboards displayed near such parking zones also mention the parking fee charged to park the bike.

However, the parking fee can differ depending on the type of vehicle, including motorbikes and cars. Also, the parking fee may be applied on an hourly basis. The parking fee will increase if you park your bike for longer hours.

Before you park your motorbike in an area where there is a time-restrained parking sign/board, make sure to check the timings mentioned. These parking signs/boards only allow motorcycle parking in a limited time slot and during certain days of the week. If you park your motorbike in such parking lots during off hours, you will be responsible for any mishap.

Motorbike riders are often seen committing some serious mistakes when it comes to parking their bikes. They not only put themselves in trouble but also the safety of their vehicles and other road users. Therefore, it is important to learn how to park a motorcycle and avoid these common motorbike parking mistakes.

Motorbikes are often seen being parked too close to other vehicles. It happens even at times when there is enough room on the other side, but the rider still prefers to park close to a vehicle. It will not only make it difficult for you to get off your bike safely without damaging the nearby vehicle. It will also make it hard for the other vehicle owner to get into their car safely.

Sometimes, people have to wait for too long just because they cannot access their vehicle because some biker parked his bike very close. They cannot open the door to the driving seat. If they try to open the door and get into their car, it will most likely cause a scratch or damage.

Do not make your and others’ lives difficult by parking your bike too close to other vehicles. Use the full space. Your small mistake of parking your motorbike too close to an expensive car may cost you thousands of dollars.

Even if you manage to find an empty slot for your motorbike in a parking lot and manage to get your bike there, make sure it has enough space for you to park the bike on the kickstand. To do so, you will have to lean the bike to a certain degree. However, some motorbikers don’t leave enough space for their bikes to be parked on the kickstand.

Sometimes, your motorbike may fit in the parking space, but the handlebars are most likely to scratch someone’s expensive car while dragging the bike.

Even when bikes are parked too close to each other, there is a higher chance of damage. It will not only cause a scratch on your motorbike gas tank. Instead, it can even cause a dent. Also, it can scratch your leg when parked too close to a motorbike. To avoid moving awkwardly after parking your motorbike close to another vehicle, make sure to leave a good distance.

Parking a motorbike uphill or downhill seems pretty dangerous, even at the time while parking. However, riders still choose to park their bikes this way.

Motorcycle parking is very different from parking a car in a parking area. Cars have hand brakes or parking brakes that lock the wheels when the vehicle is in neutral. Even if you park a car uphill or downhill, it will not move from its place.

However, motorcycles tend to slide or move due to the momentum. When parked downhill, a motorbike can come off its center stand and can crash.

Similarly, parking the motorcycle uphill is a much bigger problem. You may park the bike uphill without any issues. However, when you want it back for the ride, it will give you a tough time. Keeping the bike still in neutral when it is parked uphill can be a problem. It takes time to start a motorbike, put it in the gear, and start riding. At the same time, while you perform all these actions, you need to ensure that the bike is forced upward so it doesn’t roll down backward.

There are only a few premium and well-equipped bikes that come with a Hill Assist Control (HAC) or Hill Start Control (HSC), like the Honda Gold Wing. These bikes also feature the reverse ride mode. If you don’t have a bike with these advanced features, park your motorcycle somewhere flat.

Motorcycles don’t have a hand brake or a parking brake, which is why it is not safe to park them uphill or downhill. They will likely roll down forward or backward, depending on whether the bike is parked downhill or uphill.

To ensure the bike doesn’t roll down and you don’t face difficulty while removing the kickstand and taking the bike out of the parking, park your motorcycle in gear. As a personal experience, we have always observed that it is beneficial to park the bike in gear.

Parking the motorbike in gear makes motorcycle parking easy and less stressful in different conditions.

Some motorbike riders argue and claim that parking the bike in gear may cause damage to the bike’s transmission. It will unnecessarily put stress on the motorbike’s transmission when it is parked on an inclined surface.

However, we haven’t seen any solid evidence of the motorbike’s engine or transmission damage due to parking the bike in gears on an inclined surface. In certain cases, parking the bike in neutral is seen to be more problematic than parking the motorbike in gear.

Even if the ground has a small amount of incline or decline, it will constantly push the bike toward the fall when it is parked. So, it is best to make the bike immovable when parked by putting it in the first gear.

Motorcycles are usually parked using the kickstand. Beginner riders are often seen parking their bikes while keeping the leaning side in the direction of the inclination. It can easily cause the bike to fall over on one side, causing damage to the motorbike.

It comes with an instinct to park your motorcycle in a way that the leaning side faces the opposite direction of the inclination if the parking space has a slope. Parking your motorbike this way will keep it safe from falling on one side.

It is one of the stupidest things to park a motorcycle in mud or on soft ground. However, bikers are still seen parking their bikes in such places. When you park your motorbike on soft ground or mud, the kickstand can’t withstand the weight of the bike and gets deeper into the ground, causing the bike to drop on one side.

When you park your motorcycle, make sure that the bike stand is placed somewhere solid. While parking, your bike stand acts as the anchor or base that holds the weight of your motorbike. If the ground is soft, it will not be able to stay balanced, and eventually, as the bike continues to lean further, it will fall, causing damage to the bike and the stand.

Another important rule to park your motorbike is to ensure it is safe. Never leave your motorbike unattended for too long in the parking lot. Firstly, you must ensure that it is parked somewhere safe. Usually, the parking areas, including both public and private, are secured. You don’t have to worry that much about your bike getting stolen.

However, if you have parked your motorbike anywhere other than the dedicated public and private parking spaces, your bike’s security is compromised. Make sure it is kept under the watch if it is parked somewhere unsafe.

Even if you park your motorbike in a private or public parking lot, you must still ensure that the bike is properly locked and secured. Nowadays, motorcycles are among the most expensive assets, especially if you are living in the US. Therefore, you must not take the risk.

Whether you park your motorcycle outside your home, workplace, college, or anywhere, invest in a good-quality lock system for your motorbike. Spending a few hundred dollars on a reliable motorcycle safety system and locks is completely worth it, especially if you don’t have a garage. It is better to be safe than sorry.

There may be many instances when motorbike riders have to park their bikes in an emergency during the ride. It may be due to running out of gas or any other issue with the motorbike, causing it to break down. Remember! It can get very dangerous if you don’t opt for the right strategy to park your bike during the ride, especially on main roads and on fast lanes.

It is always safe and preferred for bike riders to ride in a separate/left lane on the road. This way, even if the bike stops or breaks down, it will not put your safety at high risk.

On the other hand, if you are riding on the right-most fast-traffic lane or where cars and heavy traffic drive, your life can be in danger if your bike breaks down.

Therefore, it is best to ride normally on a separate lane for safety. Also, if you predict your bike can stop at any moment due to running out of gas or some other issue, keep it closer to the roadside. If you find any emergency stop area on the roadside, get there as soon as possible. Do not wait for the gas to run out or for your bike to break down.

Make sure to turn on the indicators pointing out toward the roadside if it happens. Even after stopping the bike, keep the indicators on. If your motorbike has emergency indicators, that is good for you. If not, simply keep your turn signals on.

Do not park your leaning into the traffic. Also, do not interrupt the flow of traffic. After parking your bike somewhere safe on the roadside, do not start relaxing. Move your bike to a safe spot and seek roadside assistance as soon as possible.

Motorcycling parking on the sidewalk in the U.S. is against the law. You must not park your bike on the sidewalk, or else you will be fined. If the relevant authority finds out, your motorbike may be towed to remove it from the sidewalk. Sidewalks are intended for pedestrians to walk.

It is always recommended that you park your motorcycle in the designated parking area for motorbikes. No matter where you go, either for groceries or just to visit someplace, you will most likely find a designated parking space in the area. If you can’t find a designated space for motorbikes in the parking lot, you can park your bike in a safe spot where it doesn’t obstruct or waste parking space. Do not park too close to another vehicle.

On the other hand, when it comes to motorcycle parking or storing your bike, it is better to park inside the garage. Parking the motorbike outside your home is not a safe option.

If you have to park a motorcycle on a hill or on an un-leveled surface, follow the below tips to do it safely:

• Try finding a level spot to keep your bike balanced while parking.

• Be sure to put your bike in gear while parking your motorbike on a hill.

• When you park your motorcycle, make sure that the kickstand is placed on something solid.

• While parking the motorbike on a hill, make sure it is facing uphill.

• Park the bike at an angle to avoid slippage.

Parking the motorcycle while turning the handlebars to the right is a common practice among bike riders for added stability. It is usually done while parking the bike on slopes. Parking the motorbike this way balances the weight on either side.

When you park the motorcycle on the kickstand, the weight or the pressure is on the leaning side where the kickstand is. It is believed that when you turn the handlebars towards the right side, the bike will not fall. It divides the weight or pressure on the leaning side where the kickstand is.

Parking the motorbike while turning the handlebars to the right also helps in preventing rolling. To most riders, it also helps them easily mount and dismount the bike.