# Motorcycle parking question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-parking-question/727382>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 9, 2015, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-parking-question/727382 "2015-08-09T13:19:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-parking-question/727382/1 "2015-08-09T13:19:13Z")

</div>

I was trying to park in a very crowded parking lot yesterday. I had to circle the lot for a while before a spot came available. During my rounds I notice that one full spot was taken up by a motorcycle. When I came back from shopping I noticed that a second motorcycle was now in that spot. It hadn’t blocked the first one, but the first one hadn’t really parked in such a way as to best utilize the spot for two.

Is it considered bad etiquette to double park in another cyclists spot, or is ok?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-parking-question/727382/2 "2015-08-09T13:42:10Z")

</div>

I wouldn’t do it unless I was friends with other cyclist, like at work or something.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-parking-question/727382/3 "2015-08-09T15:38:21Z")

</div>

And to balance things out, I would park with another bike provided I could do so without being an obstacle. When I park in a crowded lot and have to take a full space, I will always try to position my bike so that another bike will fit.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-parking-question/727382/4 "2015-08-09T15:47:54Z")

</div>

I used to park in the “non-spaces” at the end of the row.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-parking-question/727382/5 "2015-08-09T16:20:58Z")

</div>

Was it a pay lot (IE, was the spot metered)? Because if it wasn’t, the two motorcycles were just saving an empty spot somewhere in a crowded lot, giving you and your car more chances to find a parking space.

(If it was a pay lot, then the local authorities have a reason to be annoyed with them.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-parking-question/727382/6 "2015-08-09T19:03:25Z")

</div>

Not a pay lot, just a very crowded municipal lot.

To be clear, I wasn’t complaining. I’m thinking of getting a bike and was just wondering about this.