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Columbus Scooter Parking Debate
June 10, 2008 by Jeff Johnson
A group of downtown enthusiasts/scooter fans met this past Friday to discuss ways to enhance the urban experience and how it relates to moving people in, out and around downtown Columbus.
Those who commute to work on motorized two-wheeled vehicles are seeking solutions. This group is interested in safe and secure parking, not unlike any other commuter. Their challenge, however, is unique, in that most parking garages prohibit scooter parking and securing a scooter is often essential, as some weigh less than 200 pounds.
The urban enthusiasts are seeing opportunity. There is an opportunity for the city to reduce congestion by promoting the use of two-wheeled vehicles. There’s an opportunity for downtown businesses to see increased foot traffic when more people arrive on two-wheeled vehicles – it leave more spaces open for four-wheeled vehicles.
Considerations discussed at Friday’s meeting included designating specific two-wheeled vehicle areas in and around downtown that would offer no-cost parking. Private lots and city owned parking spaces were considered, as was the potential for advertisers, such as Harley Davidson or Vespa, as sponsors these various locations.
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Columbus Scooter Parking Debate
By: Walker
Related Posts:
New resource:
http://scooterparking.wordpress.com/
I promise I’m not trying to turn this into a cycling debate, as many of these posts tend toward. Rather, I am in the process of rebuilding a motorcycle: A two-wheeled, yet faster version of the scooter, and still economically and emissionaly (to coin a term?) better than a car. Why all the pain toward having a place where two-wheeled vehicles can park? Seriously it wouldn’t take more than 1 or 2 spaces in a garage, and they can pay the same as a car. So now you get two fees for the same space. I wish I had the capital to put toward buying some of that wasted parking space downtown. I think I could put a 2-level 2-wheel garage in place and still be in the black every quarter. Not to mention the return if I made it available for both types of vehicles.
toss in a shower facility and you are all set…. :D
Am I paranoid to think that the more attention that is brought to this topic the less places I’ll be able to discreetly park my scooter?
In the short term, you may be correct. In the long term you should have more legit parking spaces as a solution gets implemented.
I’ve simply been voting with my money on this one. I frequent places, like grandview’s bank block that are scooter friendly and avoid places that I have had problems with.
Perhaps we can start a thread with a list of places that ARE scooter friendly. that we can direct our two wheeled brothers to those places, or other parking tricks. Off street parking with good visibility a plus. Cable locking ability a BIG plus.
Friendly:
Grandview – almost anywhere seems great, but the luck brothers front lot is sometimes problematic and the grandview cops DO NOT allow sidewalk parking.
North Market – Scooters seem to be keenly encouraged. Hi Mary!
Gay st – cops dont seem to mind a scooter parked between cars, or at the bike racks, but bike parking is SORELY needed especially when they bag the meters at the resturant that shall not be named. I’ve seen a LOT of bikes stuffed into the cracks on gay street. A certain place has a vespa in a fenced off area suggesting scooter parking, but there is no ramp to get up there.
Cafe Del Mondo – 5th ave. Scooter parking on the brick patio seems fine with the owner.
Most of high street in short north: On street, but parking between cars and throwing an extra dime in the meter seems to work ok. Usually you can find a space where you can see your bike out a window. WARNING: a guy trashed a friend’s scooter outside the revari room one night and assulted him when he tried to intervene.
Bristol Bar : valets directed me to park on the sidewalk where they would keep an eye on the bike. Nice service!
NOT VERY FRIENDLY:
Cap City Diner on olentangy. – seemingly no good non-standard spots, and the competition for parking is bad enough that it seems more likely some pissed off monster truck driver will take out a bike
City Center – nothing. I was ticketed while chained to a meter. Taking up a meter spot seems to be the only option.
Lot next to Mac’s – No visibility = less security. Pissed off car people leave funny notes on bikes. Lot behind mac’s may be an option, but IS listed as tow zone. I’ve parked there chained to fire escape though.
i am happy you guys are bringing this topic up for discussion. it seems like there are definitely more and more of us motorbikers out there now. good things are happening.
anyway, i have a motorcycle, but a small one, 125cc. she is a scooter at heart, but looks like a motorcycle. i park in city center for work if i drive my truck, but the cycle is just a pain to park there, somewhere closer and w/o auto anger would be beneficial to me and my safety.
Friendly:
North Market – Scooters seem to be keenly encouraged. Hi Mary!
Hi Mike! Where have you been?
At North Market we permit pavilion parking daily except weekends when we’ve got the farmers market or artisan market. Even then there’s parking at the north end near the bike rack (but don’t block it or you’ll have cyclists calling you out).
I’ll add Caffe Apropos on W. 3rd to scooter friendly. Owner Anton has a silver Stella he parks there and there’s ample room for half a dozen more.
Great happy hour from 5-8PM EVERY DAY too!
Note: I partake in happy hour and walk the couple blocks home.
Just out of curiousity, when cable locking scooters, where’s the most secure place on a scooter to loop the cable through/around? Usually I go around the bottom footboard, but I was wondering if there’s a better, more secure place.
And, if they create specific on-street scooter parking spots, will there be anything to lock the scooter to on the curb?
Maybe I’m paranoid but I feel a lot better when it’s locked.
Maybe I’m paranoid but I feel a lot better when it’s locked.
Shoot…I feel nervous if my motorcycle isn’t locked to something. I have a small dual-sport bike that’s about 200 pounds…and I always wonder if it’ll still be where I left it whenever I run errands.
Perhaps we can start a thread with a list of places that ARE scooter friendly. that we can direct our two wheeled brothers to those places, or other parking tricks. Off street parking with good visibility a plus. Cable locking ability a BIG plus.
AMC in the Lennox – I’ve parked on the sidewalk out front many times and never had a problem. The area is very high traffic so it isn’t theft prone.
Hi Mike! Where have you been?
workin. You know how it is. Now that i’m not just a grad student i have a lot less free time and I seem to sleep through most of the free time I do have. :(
AMC in the Lennox – I’ve parked on the sidewalk out front many times and never had a problem. The area is very high traffic so it isn’t theft prone.
I can vouch for that one too. I’ve locked to their bike rack a few times.
Scooters above 50cc are regulated as motorcycles in the entire state of Ohio: registration & license of vehicle required, specialized operator’s license (endorsement) required.
Park them as is legal! Without specified alternatives in place you’d better use a parking spot designed for a car. Spouse & I both have one and we always park on street when there is no specified, designated alternative.
You idiots who park on the sidewalk help give car-only drivers the impression that all scooters are more like bicycles than cars.
They they think that any scooter can be passed at will. Spouse and I can go 65 on ours and hate people attempting to pass us (in an unsafe or illegal manner) thinking we’re on mopeds. If scooter owners treat them like vehicles instead of bicycles, all other drivers will, too!
If you know how to ride in a safe, confident, legal manner, you should park safely and legally, too. Then drivers will respect you and your ride.
Columbus parking code allows bicycles only on sidewalks:
2173.105 Driving motor vehicles and riding motorcycles on sidewalks, bike paths or bike lanes.
(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle or motorcycle upon a sidewalk, bike path or in a bike lane.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one (1) predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two (2) or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. (ORC 4511.711) (Ord. 1050-77; Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part).)
That doesn’t mean there are enough motorcycle parking spaces in Central Ohio, there aren’t. Every parking garage and every other block of on-street spaces should have specialized motorcycle-only parking. Call Lelia Cady @ Maryellen O’Shaughnessy’s office with your opinion. Maryellen has a moped and loves this topic.
Uh…
fuckpiss off?I’ll park my scooter in any responsible or discreet place I want to.
:roll:
and perhaps if i got some of those dangly balls for my scooter then people would respect me as a big truck.
What other laws do you blatantly ignore Ndcent? I’m sure there are many.
Care to tell me how being law-abiding is not responsible? Or vice versa?
Care to tell me how being law-abiding is not responsible? Or vice versa?
You’re right, there are laws I blatantly ignore.
Scooters should not be subject to silly laws that dictate where they can or can’t park.
I parked on the sidewalk last night, against the south wall of High Beck under the fire exit stairs (read: unusable sidewalk, read: responsbile and discreet scooter parking spot, read: your “idiot” statement is bullshit.)
Let me guess, you’re one of those 65mph fast lane hogs?
Sorry, no. Scooter won’t pass at freeway speeds. We stick to 50-55mph roads. You?
I tend to freeway commute on my motorcycle at about 85-95mph.
Safer to ride ahead of traffic than in it. :wink: