MOTORCYCLE PARKING TIPS - MOTORCYCLEPARKING.COM - THE MOTORCYCLISTS GUIDE

PARKING TIPS

In short, the rules for where, when and how you can park your motorcycle are often confused; in some boroughs there are even differing opinions between the policy makers who set the rules, and the parking enforcement people who enforce them.

Some of the enforcers allow a degree of flexibility for motorcycles in that, provided bikers park 'reasonably' (normally this means at the end of a bay, with your bike at a right angle from the kerb and your rear wheel nearest to the pavement), then you are unlikely to be given a parking fine if you haven't purchased a ticket. This said however, the level of flexibility totally depends on the borough you are parking in and the way the enforcers decide to interpret the rules.

Pavement Parking

Footway / 'Pavement Light' parking: General information

Covering up your VRN and tax disc

Click here for the latest information on the legality of removing your vehicle identification so as to avoid a parking ticket.

Alleyway Parking

Click here for information on alleyway (Footpath - Not footway) parking including a successful appeal against a fine.

Pay and Display Bays

Some councils have wisely decided to allow free parking for motorcycles in their Pay and Display bays, since the policy makers have identified various problems with forcing riders to pay (Tickets can easily be stolen or blown off your motorcycle, whilst some tickets have the adhesive only on the front side of the ticket for car drivers to stick to the inside of their car window). If you are forced to use a Pay and Display bay then riders are advised to write 'Motorcycle' and their number plate number on their ticket to avoid it being stolen.

Alternatively, buy a second tax disc holder as recommended by Claire O:

If you have paid and displayed and return to you motorcycle to find no P&D ticket but a PCN! (someone has removed your P&D ticket or it has blown away), then it may well be worth reading the case of Starkey -v- Hammersmith & Fulham (PAS Case No. 2000402077 which was a successful appeal against a PCN made by a driver of a 'kit' car who paid and displayed but came back to find someone has stolen his ticket and he had been issued a PCN.....

Metered Bays

In some areas you may park free in metered bays, however in the majority you will have to pay. Parking at the end of one of these bays which already has a car in it and has time on the meter is an anti-social way of by-passing payment. Other than irate drivers of cars which you may have hemmed in, you also will be liable for a parking fine if the meter runs out.

Shared-use Bays

Shared-use bays are normally dual Resident and Pay and Display bays, but may be Resident and Business bay. In the latter case, it is unlikely that you will be able to park free unless in possession of a Resident or Business permit.

Be warned that they can change from being shared-use to solely Resident's bay at a given time, for which you will require a Resident permit.

Single Yellow Line Parking

The rules for parking on single yellow lines are as follows:

Single Yellow Lines without time plates near the bays (a sign showing timings of restrictions), are enforceable during the corresponding Controlled Parking Zone time (normally 8.30am to 6.30pm).

controlled parking zone sign picture

Note: Time plates are normally to be found at the entry point to the Controlled Parking Zone.

Single Yellow Lines with time plates are enforceable during the times stated on the plate.

Weekend and Bank Holidays

There is no legislation stating that a single yellow line cannot apply at a weekend or during a Bank Holiday. The yellow line DOES apply unless the sign plate says otherwise.

Loading and Unloading Regulations

Commercial / Collection vehicles (Multi-drop and couriers)

In some areas (such as Westminster Borough in London) Commercial / Collection vehicles (including motorcycle couriers) must be sign-written to indicate that they are commercial or collection vehicles (It must be obvious to Parking Enforcement personnel that the vehicle is of this type).

Loading and Unloading may be conducted on single or double yellow lines provided your vehicle does not cause an obstruction and is not parked where there is a loading ban (normally indicated by yellow stripes painted on the kerb at 90 degrees from the carriageway or by signs mounted on posts). Note: It is illegal to park on the approaches to a pedestrian crossing - indicated by zig-zag lines.

Unless indicated otherwise, after 11am the maximum time allowed for loading / unloading is normally 20 minutes (other than furniture removal vans, who have more time), but you are liable to be ticketed if there is no activity viewed for a period of 5 minutes (it would then be up to you to appeal against your ticket and give reasons why there was no activity viewed during this time). Before 11am it is as much time as required to load / unload. Note however that the time allocated would normally have to be deemed a reasonable length of time for loading / unloading, as well as reasonable time to check paperwork. It does not allow time for sorting or arranging goods.

Non commercial vehicles

If your vehicle is not a commercial or collection vehicle (including multi-drop and courier), then the loading / unloading must be necessary not convenient. It would be deemed necessary if you are loading / unloading heavy or bulky items or if you have a large number of items. However there is no exemption for shopping (unless the goods have been pre-purchased - which may allow you to be exempt).

The vehicle must be moved immediately the loading / unloading has finished.

Yellow Box junctions

You must not enter a yellow box junction until your exit road or lane is clear. You may however enter the box and wait when you want to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.