Apartment Building Discriminatory Motorcycle Parking Policy

[Eddie]

So, My apartment building's management just issued a memo regarding the parking policy.

According to the memo Motorcycles have to park on the "motorcycle designated parking area". Granted, I reviewed my lease contract to ensure there wasn't any clause there that states I have to park on such designated area, I am feeling a bit singled out because I have not observed any other bikes in the complex. I also registered my bike with management to ensure this sort of stuff would not happen. Needless to say, I am very unhappy with this situation. Here are my reasons I believe this policy is discriminatory:

1. There in no clause in the lease contract about any motorcycle designated area;
2. As far as I am concerned a motorcycle is a vehicle like any other: it needs a registration and insurance, you need to pay property tax on it, and according to the Mass drivers manual it should occupy the same space as a car while in transit.

So yeah, I am confused. How do you think I should approach management about this?

[union]

If the motorcycle only spots are out in the middle of no where Id go ask wtf. I think usually they do this to keep bikes safer. Make it less likely that they will be hit by accident by other cars in the parking area. Do you have assigned parking? If you do and your spot is better then the bike only places then park there. Its your spot.

[Eddie]

If the motorcycle only spots are out in the middle of no where Id go ask wtf. I think usually they do this to keep bikes safer. Make it less likely that they will be hit by accident by other cars in the parking area. Do you have assigned parking? If you do and your spot is better then the bike only places then park there. Its your spot.

There is no assigned parking, only resident and visitor spots. The "designated area for motorcycles" in on the other side of the complex which is messed up. Right now I have it next to my unit where I can clearly see it.

Also, it should be noted that there has been a motorcycle theft in the condominium. So yeahh, I am very concerned about this policy.

[Doc]

Where are you parking it now? In the parking lot or on the grass or on the sidewalk?

If you are not parking in an "appropriate" space that may be the issue.

[rbrais]

I would talk to management first. Explain the situation that you can't see your bike when it is in the designated parking area. If they persist, show them the lease and tell them that you will be contacting your attorney.

Also let them know that you don't own a Harley, hence no oil leaks, and that you place a pad under your stand so that it does not damage the asphalt.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Just talk to the manager and explain the situation, Come to some kind of understanding. Do not use the Word Discrimination (its not discrimination Motorcyclists are not a protected class).

its their land they make the rules.

If they persist, show them the lease and tell them that you will be contacting your attorney.

That is the worst advice Ever. I am a landlord and someone said this to Me I would tell them to get fucked and have their lawyer call me. If you do not lease a spot or if you Have a car and a bike (do you pay for parking?) They can also tell you they do not want a bike there at all.

[Eddie]

Where are you parking it now? In the parking lot or on the grass or on the sidewalk?

If you are not parking in an "appropriate" space that may be the issue.

I am parking in the parking lot...just like any other vehicle.

To be honest, I am ready to put it away for the winter but I am concerned that if I don't express my concerns I'll be haunted by this policy year round.

Thanks

[Pittenger5]

Just go talk to the dude in charge. Express your concerns in a polite fashion. If they had a reason for doing this, they will state them. If theyre viable concerns, take that into consideration (maybe theres a videocamera in that area or somethign), if not, talk to him and maybe appease his fears.

Either that or 187.

[Eddie]

So I called the office and neither the GM or the assististant manager are there today. I am thinking about sending the GM a polite e-mail expressing my concerns.

As far as winter storage is concerned I am thinking about purchasing an enclosed trailer. Trouble is, although I see some enclosed trailers in the lot I do not know if they have problems with them.

Enclosed trailer or not, I need to resolve the issue regarding parking the motorcycle.

I guess, all of this only further demonstrates that I need to get out and purchase a house - Specially with that tax credit up to 8k....not a bad deal

[Eddie]

Just go talk to the dude in charge. Express your concerns in a polite fashion. If they had a reason for doing this, they will state them. If theyre viable concerns, take that into consideration (maybe theres a videocamera in that area or somethign), if not, talk to him and maybe appease his fears.

Either that or 187.

Thanks Richie!!

BTW, what's 187?

[DuncanMoto]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

Being polite and stating your case will go a long way.

[Pittenger5]

Thanks Richie!!

BTW, what's 187?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=187

[TTD]

Finding out the motivation behind the rule is important.

Many places do this for noise reasons. If the parking is far from tenants, they don't have to listen to a loud bike being started early or parking real late. (unfortunately, doesn't matter if your bike is quiet... you can thank all riders with loud pipes for these rules)

Others do it for space reasons... they can fit more bikes in a smaller area without giving up a full spot.

[nt650hawk]

Is the motorcycle area concrete? One reason might be that the side stands are digging up the black top.

[spicy]

might also be security concerns (though this is exceptionally unlikely, unless the GM is a rider), and they've installed a new concrete slab with dedicated locking points impregnated in the concrete, with a state of the art laser/infrared theft alarm, 24/7 high-res camera with a dedicated, armed security force (snipers and infantry) within tackling distance...











..sorry, got a little carried away there

[slammp]

Rest assured that the only reason this is coming up is because someone has complained about a motorcycle. Management companies are not interested in administering new rules unless they are being hounded by someone. The fact that a memo already went out may indicate its already too late. Nobody (particularly the property manager) wants to look like an idiot by sending memo's and then rescinding them. I would imagine they are prepeared to stick by their guns - in fact they probably considered what you and other riders might say before they sent out the memo.

[OreoGaborio]

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Lube.... Er, Glyde: Mozilla/5.0 440x240 Samsung SCH-U940 NetFront/3.4)

Thanks Richie!!

BTW, what's 187?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=187

me.

[Pittenger5]

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Lube.... Er, Glyde: Mozilla/5.0 440x240 Samsung SCH-U940 NetFront/3.4)



me.

Only cause you stole my number.

[mycirus]

Make a stencil that says motorcycle parking and paint your spot one night. Just say well its in the spot that says motorcycle parking.

[Eddie]

Make a stencil that says motorcycle parking and paint your spot one night. Just say well its in the spot that says motorcycle parking.

LOL...I like that idea

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (Instinct: Mozilla/4.1 (U; BREW 3.1.5; en-US; Teleca/Q05A/INT))

Are you taking up 2 spots? 1 for a car and 1 for the bike? if so then you should be consolidating...you can fit a bike in front of a car with no issues

[SVRACER01]

Wirelessly posted (Instinct: Mozilla/4.1 (U; BREW 3.1.5; en-US; Teleca/Q05A/INT))

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Lube.... Er, Glyde: Mozilla/5.0 440x240 Samsung SCH-U940 NetFront/3.4)

Thanks Richie!!

BTW, what's 187?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=187

me.

I was waiting for pete to make this about him

[daviid]

Wirelessly posted (Instinct: Mozilla/4.1 (U; BREW 3.1.5; en-US; Teleca/Q05A/INT))

Are you taking up 2 spots? 1 for a car and 1 for the bike? if so then you should be consolidating...you can fit a bike in front of a car with no issues

i did this and had assholes park in my spot with my bike there several times

[mzdagrl]

i did this and had assholes park in my spot with my bike there several times

Rob and I went this route when we were living in our condo complex, as we had two cars, and two bikes so we decided to be nice and only use two spaces. Other residents complained that we were parking multiple vehicles in one spot (illegal), so we started parking all of our vehicles in their own spaces. They liked that less, and we consolidated parking again. (and when we had a roommate with a bike, we managed to squeeze all three bikes and one car in one space. Granted, it was an oversized space....

On the other hand, we owned our condo and our parking spot, and when parking became an issue we purchased an underground space in the neighboring building....we really tried to follow the rules as much as possible. When we heard word of them changing, we did our best to lobby our case, and eventually moved out when they became too bureaucratic for us.

If you are in good financial standing to purchase a house, this is a great time to look - prices drop in the winter and people are likely to sell faster and for less money. Don't really know why, but that's what our realtor told us when we were looking for our house....

[Rambunctous]

BTW next time they want you to renew the lease throw it in the trash. They won't do a thing about it if you just keep mailing the checks. Think about it. Are they gonna cash the checks or throw you out.