Comments on: Why people park on the sidewalk… http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/09/why-people-park-on-the-sidewalk/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:22:12 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: pdub http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/09/why-people-park-on-the-sidewalk/comment-page-1/#comment-1109 pdub Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:17:57 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=865#comment-1109 I don't even consider parking in the city (NYC in my case). I can't think of riding somewhere in the city, getting off, and walking away from the bike for awhile. Unattended in an urban environment where theft, vandalism, capricious law enforcement, or several million people who just don't give a F about your shiny pride and joy if taking care to not damage it inconveniences them in the slightest is too many variables left to fate. I'll only leave my bike if I'm riding with others and there's at least one person to mean mug anyone careless enough to endanger the bikes. Now there is the idea I've been thinking of about having a beater city bike. Apart from those who get jollies from posturing and revving their way from stoplight to stoplight I'm feeliing a sport bike is about the worst application of 2 wheeled moto transport in the city. I always eye the dual sport riders with envy for their upright seating position and suspensions made for moonscape roadways. Thinking a cheap dual sport bike with a couple budget mods towards supermoto would be an ideal bike to ride around town, leave anywhere and not care about dings and drops. I don’t even consider parking in the city (NYC in my case). I can’t think of riding somewhere in the city, getting off, and walking away from the bike for awhile. Unattended in an urban environment where theft, vandalism, capricious law enforcement, or several million people who just don’t give a F about your shiny pride and joy if taking care to not damage it inconveniences them in the slightest is too many variables left to fate. I’ll only leave my bike if I’m riding with others and there’s at least one person to mean mug anyone careless enough to endanger the bikes.
Now there is the idea I’ve been thinking of about having a beater city bike. Apart from those who get jollies from posturing and revving their way from stoplight to stoplight I’m feeliing a sport bike is about the worst application of 2 wheeled moto transport in the city. I always eye the dual sport riders with envy for their upright seating position and suspensions made for moonscape roadways. Thinking a cheap dual sport bike with a couple budget mods towards supermoto would be an ideal bike to ride around town, leave anywhere and not care about dings and drops.

]]> By: Jesse http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/09/why-people-park-on-the-sidewalk/comment-page-1/#comment-1084 Jesse Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:43:09 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=865#comment-1084 I think fear of *DAMAGE* is at least as great a concern as fear of theft. I park legally, and my bike has been knocked / over FOUR TIMES this year! (And, that doesn't even count the time my mother-in-law nearly knocked it over with her CRV. ;-P ) Last time it happened was about four weeks ago. Professional movers decided my (legally parked) bike was in teh way of their moving truck. They dragged it (and dropped it) to the curb so they could park. (Those of you who know me, know what I did -- but that's another story.) New York City needs DEDICATED, LEGAL street parking for motorcycles and scooters. My belief is that illegal sidewalk parking will cease if scooter and motorcycle riders have a safe place to park legally. For example, why can't we have THIS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerlbaum/3616858185 Instead of THIS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerlbaum/3616865705 (Any rider who looks at this picture will cringe.) I think fear of *DAMAGE* is at least as great a concern as fear of theft. I park legally, and my bike has been knocked / over FOUR TIMES this year! (And, that doesn’t even count the time my mother-in-law nearly knocked it over with her CRV. ;-P )

Last time it happened was about four weeks ago. Professional movers decided my (legally parked) bike was in teh way of their moving truck. They dragged it (and dropped it) to the curb so they could park. (Those of you who know me, know what I did — but that’s another story.)

New York City needs DEDICATED, LEGAL street parking for motorcycles and scooters. My belief is that illegal sidewalk parking will cease if scooter and motorcycle riders have a safe place to park legally.

For example, why can’t we have THIS:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerlbaum/3616858185

Instead of THIS:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerlbaum/3616865705
(Any rider who looks at this picture will cringe.)

]]> By: Rich W http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/09/why-people-park-on-the-sidewalk/comment-page-1/#comment-1080 Rich W Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:20:50 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=865#comment-1080 Wow. No question chain it to something. Wow. No question chain it to something.

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