Boston Motorcycle Parking: Seaport Blvd / Northern Ave?

Is anyone familiar with the line of motorcycles that are often parked on the sidewalk along Seaport Boulevard or Northern Ave (I think), just a couple blocks south of the channel/canal of the financial district, downtown Boston?

This is the area near the 1st Circuit Courthouse, Barking Crab, etc. In the summer months I often see bikes parked there, outside one of the large parking lots, seemingly unmolested. Wondering if anyone here knows whether they park for free, pay a lot attendant something on the side, etc.

I've been wondering the same thing. My girlfriend works right there, and it would be so convenient to just park the bike on the side. I'll see if she can ask around.

I work at WTC, but no idea about the bikes parked there. I always see the same ones so I doubt they are getting ticketed. Bostongixxer works in this area as well, I think he might have parked there in the past (don't quote me on that) but now that he has a new toy I think he plans on being in the garage. :dunno:

Yeah, I work nearby as well, and this spot would be really convenient for me.

There is a certain, perhaps false, sense of safety in numbers with those bikes -- which is lacking with the 2-3 bikes that park directly under the "No Parking" sign at One International!

I used to work at 343 congress st and parked directly on congress between boston wharf rd and e service rd. the spots on one side of the street are free and there is usually room between cars or on an end. did this almost every day for about 5 months without issue.

I used to park in the Haymarket garage for free, with the bicycles. Management said that bikes throw off the counting mechanism, and they don't care if you park with the bicycles.

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Originally Posted by BMFR6

I work at WTC, but no idea about the bikes parked there. I always see the same ones so I doubt they are getting ticketed. Bostongixxer works in this area as well, I think he might have parked there in the past (don't quote me on that) but now that he has a new toy I think he plans on being in the garage. :dunno:

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Yep...new toy in the garage. Actually, I've always parked in the garage. I just ride around the gate going in and out...never an issue. I don't take up a space, and don't think they've ever cared. As for bikes on the street, I think there was a brief period of ticketing last year, but it seems to have subsided. Another guy I work with parks out across from the cruise line with the other bikes all the time...never an issue. BMFR6...where are you?

ive parked my bike on the sidewalk there on a few occasions, never got a ticket. also 90% of the time they'll let you park in garages for free

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Originally Posted by schleppy

I used to park in the Haymarket garage for free, with the bicycles. Management said that bikes throw off the counting mechanism, and they don't care if you park with the bicycles.

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Thats good to know. I work in Govt Ctr. Lots of garages around. Hmm! :)

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Originally Posted by Omahastylin16

ive parked my bike on the sidewalk there on a few occasions, never got a ticket. also 90% of the time they'll let you park in garages for free

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It seems that the Intercontinental (when I each French Toast) and Independence Wharf buildings are in the 10%. The Intercontinental offered me the generous rate of $200/month for the bike, down from the $450ish/month charged for cars. So, I started looking around for other options.

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Originally Posted by bostongixxer

Yep...new toy in the garage. Actually, I've always parked in the garage. I just ride around the gate going in and out...never an issue. I don't take up a space, and don't think they've ever cared. As for bikes on the street, I think there was a brief period of ticketing last year, but it seems to have subsided. Another guy I work with parks out across from the cruise line with the other bikes all the time...never an issue. BMFR6...where are you?

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do you leave around 5:00 every day? i hear a bike from time to time when i am walking through the garage, but never see it. i'm actually in world trade center and park in the seaport garage, generally near the center elevators.

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Originally Posted by BMFR6

do you leave around 5:00 every day? i hear a bike from time to time when i am walking through the garage, but never see it. i'm actually in world trade center and park in the seaport garage, generally near the center elevators.

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I'm in the seaport garage...I park on P2 on the west side. I ride in only occasionally if the weather is good and I don't have to wear a suit, but rarely see any other bikes. I probably rode past you, but was going too fast for you to see me. :shredder:

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Originally Posted by schleppy

I used to park in the Haymarket garage for free, with the bicycles. Management said that bikes throw off the counting mechanism, and they don't care if you park with the bicycles.

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It seems allot of garages are like that. I found the same FREE motorcycle parking when I was going to Mass General for my Occupational Therapy sessions. I was psyched to stop paying the $50 for 2 days per week I had to pay with my car. $1,000+ in parking alone last summer.

My girlfriend just asked one of the cops down there and he said that the area wasn't part of their jurisdiction. They see the bikes there all the time, and said that they never have a problem.

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Originally Posted by Legion1440

My girlfriend just asked one of the cops down there and he said that the area wasn't part of their jurisdiction. They see the bikes there all the time, and said that they never have a problem.

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FYI...it's Massport jurisdiction for the most part. That could mean Massport Port Officers or State Police. Neither may be very forgiving...although like I said, I've not seen or heard about much ticketing around here.

Ok, since parking seems to be an issue ( I really can't help the bikes) but if you park in Boston (a car) and need a better rate. PM me with the location you work/garage you park/and current price.

No guarantees but I am the Operations Manager for one of those bastard companies that makes money off everybody all over the City so I will do my best to A: win your business from my competitors, and B: get you a better rate.

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Originally Posted by bostongixxer

I'm in the seaport garage...I park on P2 on the west side. I ride in only occasionally if the weather is good and I don't have to wear a suit, but rarely see any other bikes. I probably rode past you, but was going too fast for you to see me. :shredder:

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you ride in yesterday? i heard a bike but never saw it. thought it may have been you as i've never seen any bikes in the garage.

I have a conference at the Seaport WTC this week and decided to ride in today, so I found this thread ahead of time.

I first planned on parking in the Seaport garage, there was an attendant standing by the gate when I rode in, but I just ignored him and went around the gate. I didn't think he'd mind, but instead he started hollering at me, so I pretended not to hear him and headed for the exit!

Plan B was to park along Seaport Ave just past the metered spaces since I'd seen another bike do the same the last two days, but I ended up getting a parking ticket from Massport. So, I'm going to ride in again tomorrow, but I'm not sure where I'll park.

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Originally Posted by rpete

I have a conference at the Seaport WTC this week and decided to ride in today, so I found this thread ahead of time.

I first planned on parking in the Seaport garage, there was an attendant standing by the gate when I rode in, but I just ignored him and went around the gate. I didn't think he'd mind, but instead he started hollering at me, so I pretended not to hear him and headed for the exit!

Plan B was to park along Seaport Ave just past the metered spaces since I'd seen another bike do the same the last two days, but I ended up getting a parking ticket from Massport. So, I'm going to ride in again tomorrow, but I'm not sure where I'll park.

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Enter the Seaport garage on seaport ave...at the World Trade Center West entrance. It says "monthly parking only"...go down the hill and around to the right or left. If you go right, just run around the gate. Guys are never there...if someone sees you, tell them you have a monthly pass and it doesn't trigger the gate. Offer to give him your name and tell him you work at Foley Hoag. You can go left also, but hug close to the left wall and go through the space on the outside of the left exit gate. Either will work. Park your bike on P2 in the area near the elevators. Then report back and let us know how it went.

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Originally Posted by bostongixxer

Then report back and let us know how it went.

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:spit: Guinea pig? :lmao:

Why not just pull a ticket in the garage go across Northern ave to the convenience store. And hold them up for the cost of parking? If your going to steal at least be a man about it. Or better yet go to nj and take a couple bikes from the track.

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Originally Posted by slammp

Why not just pull a ticket in the garage go across Northern ave to the convenience store. And hold them up for the cost of parking? If your going to steal at least be a man about it. Or better yet go to nj and take a couple bikes from the track.

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Not a bad idea for tomorrow morning, but I don't have a firearm and it's kind of difficult to obtain one in Massachusetts with such short notice. I'll have to think of something else.

Granted I run garages so I'm biased but I'd be the guy to chain your wheel to the nearest column until I got my money.

Well if it helps you rest easier, I'm not looking to park on private property if I'm not wanted. A lot of garages ignore bikes as long as they don't take up a space, and I left as soon as I saw the situation at this particular garage. The real problem is that instead of encouraging people to commute by motorcycle or mopeds, using reasonable parking policies for 2-wheelers (see this photo from Italy - http://www.italylogue.com/files/2008/06/parking3.jpg), the city and in this case massport are just hoping to shove everyone into normal car-sized spots so they can generate revenue. that's my take anyway :P

The reason most garages disourage motorcycles is because the I'm ground loopsthat trigger the gates do not always read the bike and you get liability issues from potential gate arms striking riders. The second issue I have seen in those that do offer the parking is that people try to abuse it by paying the discounted motorcycle rate monthly and then using their car instead.

I agree it's a problem and would actually recommend either looking for free parking or trying to set up a deal. Where you are just a one time visitor that's hard. If it helps I can hook you up for the day in the open lot behind the Gillette factory (284 A street). It's about a 5 min. Walk but it would be free.

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Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

:spit: Guinea pig? :lmao:

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That was me -- and the system works like a charm.

Does anyone know of anywhere in the back bay to park a bike? I work on Berkeley St two days a week and in Cambridge the other three. In Cambridge, the Marriott garage lets bikes park out side for free, but nothing so far that I can find for back bay.

Bikes do park on Huntington Ave right past Dartmouth Street kind of alongside the large above ground parking garage on the right hand side. I have seen them ticketed on occassion but not most days.

I created this google map for spots in East Cambridge. I made it public, I think it's possible for anyone to collaborate (if you've got a google account) and add any other spots in town.

http://tinyurl.com/y9szk9b

I just noticed a bunch of bikes parked near a bicycle rack across from Legal Sea Foods near the Park Plaza Building. Anyone know what this spot is all about. It's that little park that has a statue of I think Abe Lincoln.

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Originally Posted by bostongixxer

Enter the Seaport garage on seaport ave...at the World Trade Center West entrance. It says "monthly parking only"...go down the hill and around to the right or left. If you go right, just run around the gate. Guys are never there...if someone sees you, tell them you have a monthly pass and it doesn't trigger the gate. Offer to give him your name and tell him you work at Foley Hoag. You can go left also, but hug close to the left wall and go through the space on the outside of the left exit gate. Either will work. Park your bike on P2 in the area near the elevators. Then report back and let us know how it went.

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Thanks brah!
I work at 601 Congress and park my bike at my building but recently they complained and got a ticket last week. Parked my bike at Seaport today using your strategy :hug3:

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Originally Posted by bostongixxer

FYI...it's Massport jurisdiction for the most part. That could mean Massport Port Officers or State Police. Neither may be very forgiving...although like I said, I've not seen or heard about much ticketing around here.

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A friend who parks his car nearby explained this to me yesterday: there's a meter followed by some dead space and then a fire hydrant. The bikes are parked after the meter and sufficiently before the hydrant as to not get ticketed. I saw them yesterday when he gave me a lift home from the parking lot nearby.

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Originally Posted by dhawks

Is anyone familiar with the line of motorcycles that are often parked on the sidewalk along Seaport Boulevard or Northern Ave (I think), just a couple blocks south of the channel/canal of the financial district, downtown Boston?

This is the area near the 1st Circuit Courthouse, Barking Crab, etc. In the summer months I often see bikes parked there, outside one of the large parking lots, seemingly unmolested. Wondering if anyone here knows whether they park for free, pay a lot attendant something on the side, etc.

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Well here is my experiences.

Seaport garage/ booted me
Little spot in front of Sals. Plenty of space! Yup I got a $25.00 ticket non metered spot!

My next spot to try will be scooter spot by silver line

- - - Updated - - -

They booted me after at least a week

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Originally Posted by Bostvirago

Well here is my experiences.

Seaport garage/ booted me
Little spot in front of Sals. Plenty of space! Yup I got a $25.00 ticket non metered spot!

My next spot to try will be scooter spot by silver line

- - - Updated - - -

They booted me after at least a week

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Inside the Seaport garage booted you? I am looking at a job down there and I will be getting a monthly parking pass, does this mean no commuting?

If you mean the place across from Whiskey Priest which is roughly 150 Seaport Blvd, people have been parking there for years. I've parked there a number of times.

There is a bicycle parking area over by where the Silver Line buses cross D street where people have parked bikes. Think that's a jurisdictional limbo zone between MassPort and Transit police.

No, I am looking to park in the Seaport garage underground

One thing, if they tell you can't park there, call up the BCEC and complain. They are receptive to making the garages make the necessary changes.

No, they charge motorcycles 10.00 a day. They said there is a spot for motorcycles somewhere. I have not seen it yet. I park on Fargo near the navy building...I squeeze in between cars.

Yes, that's my next stop in the "free parking in seaport" tour. 😀

So I just signed an offer on a new job in the seaport. I will be needing to get a monthly parking pass. Some days I will ride in and some I will drive. I would say mostly driving as at least 2 days a week I need to drop my daughter off on the way in.

Any recommendations on best place to park. Office is in seaport building but monthly pass there is 365 and I get reimbursed 260

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Originally Posted by Bostvirago

Yes, that's my next stop in the "free parking in seaport" tour. 😀

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