I live in Los Angeles, and I try to park my bike where it is out of the way of cars if possible. I trust cars NOT. So I will usually try to park at a bike rack if possible in a large parking garage, or wherever I am. If it is somewhere with motorcycle parking I will utilize that. When parking at a meter, or on the street I back my bike in until the back wheel hits the curb, unless the curb is extemely high and could hit my fender. When parking at a meter, which is almost everywhere is L.A. I always try to take the entire spot so there is no way a car can fit in with me. I have had cars back over bikes I have owned in the past. And not leave any info, just leave my bike on it's side. Amazing. Thank god it wasn't my harley.

The other issue with parking is I don't remeber ever getting any instruction on this in the DMV book. I jsut learned on the fly. Being a motorcycle messenger in the city will teach you how and where you can park real quick. I used to always squeeze into spots with cars as long as the car had anough space to get out, until a friend of mine came home and tole me that he got a ticket for doing that. Scandalous parking patrollers is Santa Monica. Anyway, sometimes I park on the sidewalk if I know t is safe, but thats mostly over since 9/11.

 

Same here, always park away from cars when i can, and yes also use the whole parking spot when i can't avoid the cages.

 

I park mine on concrete so the asphalt won't give way in the heat. I have been known to park it up near a building...just not blocking walking traffic. I will take up a whole parking spot if I have to park in a parking lot...Most generally near a light post or other such thing. Other than that, I park it in my garage.

 

Yeah, seldom let those tires cool [8D]

 

AWAY from cars. But with an obstruction next to me. Often in a lot, car will shortcut through a lot and perhaps not see you beyond the cars. A lightpost makes a nice barrier. Look up, check for seagulls.

 

When diagonal parking, or at the grocery store, leave tail of bike in plain view lest a car think the spot is open![8D]

 

You can share a meter with a car in CA, but if the meter expires you both get tickets. I don't do it unless I know the car owner.

I always try to park so the door will hit my crash bars if possible.

I always park taking the whole spot on the street so that a car doesn't try to fit in.

I also flip down my highway pegs to do some good damage to doors/bumpers before they do real damage to the bike.

 

[quote]ORIGINAL: Rhubarb

I also flip down my highway pegs to do some good damage to doors/bumpers before they do real damage to the bike.
[/

Thats a good idea I`m going to do that the next time , always worried that the A holes are going to open there doors and hit the bike . Thanks for the tip !

 

As far away from cars as possible.

 

On the jiffy stand