If you’ve traveled here in the continental United States and abroad, you’ve seen the creativity that goes into motorcycle parking. From bikes parked between cars on impossibly tight city streets to columns of motorcycles in Rome. That, or solitary Harley-Davidson bagger bikes occupying comparably massive parking spaces. The latter begs the question of whether it’s the best use of space. So, is parking a motorcycle on the sidewalk or alongside a building illegal?

Parking a motorcycle on the sidewalk can land you a ticket or a tow in the United States

As sensible as it might seem, parking a motorcycle on the sidewalk in the United States counts as an illegally parked vehicle. Unfortunately, the width or shape of the sidewalk doesn’t factor in. A police officer may ticket or call for a tow for a bike parked in an illegal manner. It’s not just sidewalks, either. Many riders like to park their bikes in the striped zones near other parking or unloading zones. This is also illegal, regardless of the circumstances. 

Tragically, in what could be described as the apathy of lawmakers toward lawmakers and proprietors, motorcycle parking is a rare presence in the United States. Instead, the expectation is for riders to park their diminutive, two-wheeled vehicles in full-size or compact parking spots. And this is itself, a problem. Many riders on Reddit have shared stories of motorists attempting to move their parked bikes. It frequently results in a dropped and damaged bike. 

Of course, there are exceptions. Many universities with limited parking will designate motorcycle and motorized scooter parking to free up vital space for larger vehicles. What’s more, some establishments like Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals will offer motorcycle parking due to the popularity of bikes among their regular visitors.

There are, however, ways to make the most of your bike in a country that doesn’t prioritize the conservation of space. The most popular way is to share a parking spot with other motorcyclists. Three full-size bagger bikes will easily fit in a standard parking spot. Moreover, riders often share curb parking by stuffing bikes into a single curb-adjacent space. It’s an effective way of capitalizing on the tiny footprint of bikes in contrast to cars.