Parking

badinfluence63 · #1 02-18-2008, 09:34 AM

I originally posted this in the Touring category but it is more appropriate here. My question is when you pull into a crowded restaurant, do you park close or more towards the open less congested area? Reson why I ask is last time I was out I stopped at a McDonalds and I parked close so I could get a seat and watch my bike. Man that sucked because drivers kept pulling precariously close to my bike. With a side car you don't have the plus minus of parking in the middle of the spot. I thought about in the future parking in the less congested areas where I would have more space but then I couldn't see my bike. Or I'll just pack a lucnh and never go out to eat when ever I am on the sidecar bike.

What do you do?

Road Toad · #2 02-18-2008, 10:48 AM

I like to park where I can see my bike, but have already got a ding in my sidecar where someone opened their door and hit it, so I'll start parking in the less populated spots.[:@]

eglidetrike1 · #3 02-18-2008, 03:01 PM

I park in less congested areas unless I'm with other bikes then we take up more spots than we need.

badinfluence63 · #4 02-18-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

I like to park where I can see my bike, but have already got a ding in my sidecar where someone opened their door and hit it, so I'll start parking in the less populated spots.

I knew it. Thats what was going thru my mnd as I watched all these cars swing in,swing out and being precariously close. I finally got up and stood by my bike until everyone else was done eating. I envisionedthe very same scenario like yours. If I'm gonna get a dent or ding I want it to be on my terms. I parked as best in the middle as I could but still a car or 2 would pull with in 6-8 inches. Had I not been standing right there I may have gotten my first ding/dent. I am sure the passenger got out as carefully as he did because I was standing right there like a psychotic parking attendant.

And by the way roadtoad I like your flashy set up, very nice.

badinfluence63 · #5 02-18-2008, 03:12 PM

eglide,

Another excellent compromise. You probably park somewhere in the middle of the pack.

modelflyered · #6 02-18-2008, 03:26 PM

I Carry four small orange cone behind the sidecar seat. i put em at the corners of the spot and park the bike sightly sideways. I pisses some people off others couldn't care less....so im anal...sue me.....a friend of mine has a alarm on his...car door hit the side bag cracked the paint...he did'nt see it happen but someone else got the plate # and left it on his bike...long story short...got the cops....matched the mark on the door to the bag..guys insurance paid for rental bike and repairs while it was down for a few days. Might be worth the price of a cheap alarm system....Just my $.02

btefft · #7 02-18-2008, 11:19 PM

I tend to park with the bike on the left side of the slot. I also parka little to the rear to give cagers more room to open their door. I also like to sit inside someplace in the restaurant so I can see the rig. I've had a lot of folks see me and my Harley hat/shirt and interupt my dinne by asking all the questions that we tend to hear over and over again - but I don't mind the folks leave, I think, thinking that biker was a nice guy. So, I gues you could say I'm a biker ambassador of good will.

Hack

1sportytrike · #8 03-06-2008, 07:18 PM

I tend to park in the places a little farther away and least crowded. Do it with my four wheel vehicles to. I just hate surprises when I get back to a vehicle.