Permit Parking Takes Effect Monday, April 6, For Motor Scooters, Motorcycles and Mopeds Parked in Specially Designated Locations

Beginning Monday, permits will be required at the 23 non-metered on-street parking locations created last year for motor scooters, motorcycles and mopeds.

The non-metered spaces and corrals are located in previously unused right of way in three areas – Downtown, Short North, Brewery District. They can accommodate up to 267 two-wheeled motorized vehicles.

Annual permits can be purchased for $50 at the City’s Parking Violations Bureau, 400 W. Whittier Street. Bureau offices are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“The annual permit fee will offset our costs for signage, pavement markings and maintenance,” said Randy Bowman, administrator of the Division of Mobility Options.

In the coming months, City staff will be looking for additional unused spaces that could be transformed – through signage and striping – into parking corrals.

For a map of existing parking corrals, please go to the City’s website — http://www.columbus.gov — and click on Department of Public Service.

City Expanding Parking for Motor Scooters, Motorcycles and Mopeds Parking Permit System to be Implemented

With spring just around the corner, the City of Columbus is revving up its efforts to provide more on-street parking for motor scooters, motorcycles and mopeds.

Last year, the City opened parking at 23 locations – Downtown, Brewery District, Short North – that can accommodate 267 two-wheeled motorized vehicles. Most of the spaces and corrals are in previously unused right of way.

“Downtown Columbus is becoming more urban every day, and the addition of parking for motor scooters, motorcycles and mopeds is one more way we are investing to embrace alternative forms of transportation,” Public Service Director Mark Kelsey said.

In the coming months, City teams will be looking for additional unused spaces that could be transformed – through signage and striping – into parking corrals.

The City did not charge last year for scooter parking at non-metered locations, but that is about to change. The City will require an annual permit to park at these special locations. The cost of an annual permit is $50 per vehicle.

“The annual permit fee will offset our costs for signage, pavement markings and maintenance,” said Randy Bowman, administrator of the Division of Mobility Options.

Beginning March 16, permits can be purchased at the City’s Parking Violations Bureau, 400 W. Whittier Street. Bureau offices are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For a map of existing parking corrals, please go to the City’s website — http://www.columbus.gov — and click on Department of Public Service.

In all seriousness, I greatly appreciate the addition of two-wheeled parking, bicycle included, throughout Columbus. I want them to stay so I will be purchasing a permit.

I do have mixed feelings though. Primarily if I am going to pay a yearly fee to park my bike in city spaces, I want it to count when I use a metered space as well.

Also, who is going to pay for the bicycle parking corrals? Is covering cost of operation really the intent with the parking permits? Shouldn’t these have been covered in our taxes? When will I need a permit to park my ass on a city bench?

although, I must say that I normally ride my bike because parking is very easy to find when riding a motorcycle anyways, even without the 2 wheeled spots, so I might just forgo the $50 pass and just park like I normally would. the real benefit for the $50 pass is for those that use it for downtown parking. $50 year is cheap, I pay close to $100 month now to park downtown, equal to $1200/year.

- Park at a regular meter spot and feed the meter
- Pay for a monthly parking pass in a parking lot/garage downtown

$50 per year doesn’t really sound that expensive to me for downtown parking. Even if you don’t utilize it every day.

Is the sticker required to be displayed in any specific location on the bike? I guess I had assumed it was something that could be affixed to your license plate.

Since there are a few motorcycles that use the new corral-style parking downtown, I didn’t expect the cost to be so high…especially since we live in Ohio, where year-round riding is unheard of.

I am also very intrigued by the sticker concept. I own a vintage bike that I use as my daily rider, and have no intention of putting a sticker on it! I don’t have an alternative idea, not that it would matter, but this is just silly.

Thoughts?

http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/Maps/MotorcycleMap.pdf

Maybe more advertising to make students aware, but 15 bucks to park all year is pretty good encouragement.

But in the short term, I think the addition of more 2-wheeler lots should help to ease some of the congestion for the time being. The city was UBER-responsive with the the bike rack installations last year. I’m willing to bet they’re looking to do the same with scooter parking.

Mr. Urban Ventures Coordinator himself will probably be out there busting up concrete and planting scooter parking signs if you tell him where you want them. ;)