Reasonable and safe scooter/motorcycle parking in CC?

**ThePursuit84** · 04-22-2012, 03:56 PM

Hi there, just relocated to the area. I am planning on commuting to the center city area. I can certainly bike my commute, but miss riding a motorcycle and like the idea of riding that or a scooter. It's certainly safer than riding a bicycle in traffic. Car parking around 10th/Chestnut area and it's like $200/month in a lot. I probably won't be a fan of just throwing a scooter or motorcycle on a sidewalk and hoping for the best that I don't get a ticket or that someone grabs it. So, does anyone know a reasonably secure parking option in this area? Can you chain a motorcycle to a bike rack like a scooter? (The idea of this seems ridiculous to me). I was hoping to find a parking lot or covered parking of some sort that offered first level motorcycle parking at cheaper rates than cars, but haven't found anything with my cursory search.

Thanks for any help!

**dogoagogo** · 04-22-2012, 05:03 PM

http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...e-parking.html
and
Motorcycles & Scooters « Philadelphia Parking Authority

Lock it securely wherever you park, or it will be stolen. In some spots you can back up to the meter enough to wrap a lock around it.

**Big Irish** · 04-22-2012, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by ThePursuit84

I was hoping to find a parking lot or covered parking of some sort that offered first level motorcycle parking at cheaper rates than cars ...

Read the above. He's not asking about metered on street parking.

OP - I don't know of any lots or garages that give discounted rates to cycles.

**ThePursuit84** · 04-23-2012, 02:41 PM

That's cool. Thanks anyways. I've read that people get tickets for locking to meters? Where I'm from, motorcycle parking in lots is actually free (super nice deal). Anyways, if I find any good places and/or deals, I'll post on here.

**Big Irish** · 04-23-2012, 03:30 PM

Cycle parking regs are not enforced consistently. Sometimes you'll get a ticket parking on the pavement, sometimes you won't. Same goes for chaining to meters. There's no rhyme or reason.

Even if you can chain to a meter, or a tree, if you're cycle is on street there's a very real chance some jack@ss will bump it while trying to park and tip your cycle over.

**MareMcHenry** · 04-23-2012, 05:18 PM

There are some lots that offer a discount. If you call South Philly Scooters they can tell you which ones. I just rented space in my next door neighbors garage. No way I'd park it overnight on the street unless you have theft insurance.

**Grad hospital** · 04-23-2012, 09:30 PM

pretty close to center city

Motocycle parking secured Graduate Hospital

**londoner** · 04-24-2012, 11:17 AM

To the OP, i along with dozens of other people commute on a scooter to CC and have no problems parking in the metered spots. Really the whole purpose of using a scooter is convenience, parking very nearby your destination and cheaply...Parking in a relatively expensive garage, several blocks away, then having to hoof it to your office seems contrary to the whole convenience thing.

**qweezyq** · 04-24-2012, 12:02 PM

How do you handle locking up your scooter, or do you?

Originally Posted by londoner

To the OP, i along with dozens of other people commute on a scooter to CC and have no problems parking in the metered spots. Really the whole purpose of using a scooter is convenience, parking very nearby your destination and cheaply...Parking in a relatively expensive garage, several blocks away, then having to hoof it to your office seems contrary to the whole convenience thing.

**luchobucho** · 09-25-2012, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by qweezyq

How do you handle locking up your scooter, or do you?

Londoner. I got a new scoot. How do you lock your scoot in motorcycle spots in center city?

What kind if scooter do you have?

**qweezyq** · 09-25-2012, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by luchobucho

Londoner. I got a new scoot. How do you lock your scoot in motorcycle spots in center city?

What kind if scooter do you have?

I use this
Products « :: Obsessive Security – Official OnGuardLock Site::
gives about 4' length. Wish it was a little longer, but gives a little more flex where u can lock up.

**qweezyq** · 09-25-2012, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by qweezyq

I use this
Products « :: Obsessive Security – Official OnGuardLock Site::
gives about 4' length. Wish it was a little longer, but gives a little more flex where u can lock up.

Sorry link doesnt bring u to the specific product. It is the mastiff.

**luchobucho** · 09-25-2012, 01:29 PM

Yeah I have the mastiff noose. It's very flexible cuz it loops around itself. Great chain, but if I were to park in o e of the ppa spots near my office what could I lock it to?

**qweezyq** · 09-25-2012, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by luchobucho

Yeah I have the mastiff noose. It's very flexible cuz it loops around itself. Great chain, but if I were to park in o e of the ppa spots near my office what could I lock it to?

if you park head in all the way up to the curb in the spot directly in front of the meter, I have reached before. you need perfect conditions for this.
I have complained to PPA about this and they basically gave me a big FU and said deal with it (i also complained that I need to keep a jar of quarters with me). I also talked to the guys at the scooter store on passyunk about it. The PPA consulted with them prior to implementing the spaces and basically ignored all their suggestions.
The only other thought I have is to buy another chain so you can extend it. gets expensive and cumbersome though. fortunately for me, I havent had to use the ppa spaces much.

**luchobucho** · 09-26-2012, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by qweezyq

if you park head in all the way up to the curb in the spot directly in front of the meter, I have reached before. you need perfect conditions for this.
I have complained to PPA about this and they basically gave me a big FU and said deal with it (i also complained that I need to keep a jar of quarters with me). I also talked to the guys at the scooter store on passyunk about it. The PPA consulted with them prior to implementing the spaces and basically ignored all their suggestions.
The only other thought I have is to buy another chain so you can extend it. gets expensive and cumbersome though. fortunately for me, I havent had to use the ppa spaces much.

Yeah. I was at the scooter place today got the same story. I'm gonna write my state rep.

Where do you park in cc.

**luchobucho** · 10-17-2012, 03:18 PM

http://www.change.org/petitions/phil...n-center-city#

I started a petition to try to show ppa that people are genuinely interested in having something to lock their scooters to when they park in the scooter/motorcycle spots.

**qweezyq** · 10-17-2012, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by luchobucho

Petition | Philadelphia Parking Authority: Provide SECURE scooter/motorcycle parking in Center City. | Change.org

I started a petition to try to show ppa that people are genuinely interested in having something to lock their scooters to when they park in the scooter/motorcycle spots.

I signed it and fwd to a few riders. Good luck. I doubt they care though.

**luchobucho** · 10-17-2012, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by qweezyq

I signed it and fwd to a few riders. Good luck. I doubt they care though.

They may not but I'm feeling motivated currently so I figured I would capitalize on the energy. Also I figured with the recent stories about scooter thefts it was a topic on people's minds.

I don't know what the outcome is but I'm willing to put in some effort to maybe bring about some change. If PPA doesn't do anything it will atleast be a record of the level of interest that people have in more secure street parking.