Summary & Quick Facts
- Everyone who rides a motorcycle in NYC along with their passengers must wear motorcycle helmets.
- Motorcyclists cannot ride between lanes or between traffic and parked cars.
- Motorcyclists cannot overtake or pass a car or truck in the same occupied lane.
- Motorcycles must park at approximately 90° angle or perpendicular with the rear tire close to the curb.
- It’s always best to try to park in “end spots”.
- Motorcyclists using Muni-Meters must display their receipt on their vehicle.
- You cannot park or operate your motorcycle on the sidewalk.
Motorcycles in NYC
For those who love a rush, riding a motorcycle is easily one of the fastest and most convenient ways to get around New York City. But just like regular city drivers, motorcyclists have their own unique set of problems that other drivers on the road don’t face when cruising the city. Luckily, this article has compiled a bunch of tips and important information to help folks ride a motorcycle in NYC safely and without fear of getting a parking ticket.
Safety First!
Riding a motorcycle in New York City can be extremely liberating and fun, especially when you do it safely. Everyone who rides a motorcycle in NYC along with their passengers must wear motorcycle helmets that are approved in USDOT federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS 218). To improve the visibility of the motorcyclist, we recommend that helmets have at least four square inches of reflective material on both sides. Along with helmets, all motorcycle operators must wear approved eye protection. Even if your motorcycle has a windshield, you must still wear them everytime you ride.
Safely Driving Your Motorcycle In NYC
Motorcycles are a lot smaller than cars, but that doesn’t mean cars own the road. Motorcyclist have the complete right to use a full lane, so take advantage. Motorcyclists can ride side by side with other bikes, however, they cannot ride alongside another vehicle in the same lane. While riding a bike in the city is a lot more maneuverable than a car, motorcyclists are still subject to all rules of the road. This means you cannot ride between lanes or between traffic and parked cars. In addition, a motorcyclist cannot overtake or pass a car or truck in the same occupied lane.
Also, although tempting, motorcyclists cannot avoid an intersection or traffic control device nor operate a motorcycle on a sidewalk to dodge traffic. The only time you can ride your motorcycle on the sidewalk is to legally access a driveway or parking lot. Finally, anytime you ride your motorcycle in NYC always remember that your headlight and rear light must be on at all times when you’re on the road.
Protect Your Motorcycle Against Theft
The streets of New York City has long been a place of opportunity for people, some good and unfortunately, others bad. Don’t let your motorcycle be someone else’s come up. Bike thieves in New York City are ruthless and will steal any bike they see that isn’t locked up. So always be sure to lock your bikes when you park in the city. Luckily for NYC motorcyclist, there has been a growth in bike-specific garages across the city. A lot of these bike garages offer some sweet perks for riders as well which include lounges, community events, track days, maintenance clinics and much more.
You may simply want to save money and not park in a garage. If that’s the case, definitely take the necessary precautions to protect your motorcycle. If you are chaining up your bike on the street, always go for the biggest, thickest and sturdiest chain you can use with a very secure lock. Also, remember to never loop through the wheel! Bike thieves can simply remove the wheel and keep it moving with your motorcycle.
Parking Your Motorcycle In NYC
So what’s the deal with motorcycle parking in NYC exactly? Parking a motorcycle in the city can be one of the most tricky things for motorcyclists. The best way to handle parking in the city is to simply try to park as legally as you can.
Parking On The Street
For starters, remember that you must park at an approximately 90° angle or perpendicular with your rear tire close to the curb. Another handy thing for motorcyclists to remember is that it’s always best to try to park in “end spots”. An end spot is a parking spot that is easy for cars to get in and out of. For example, it’s usually a spot at the beginning or end of a block where the car is not boxed in. If the street you park on happens to be a one-way, choose a corner that won’t have any turning traffic. Another good place for motorcycles are spots where there are large stationary objects on the street such as garbage or construction dumpsters. You can even try to park between construction equipment and the first parked car.
When you park also make sure your license plate is fully and clearly displayed. Sure, you might think it will spare you a hefty parking ticket if a traffic enforcement agent can’t tell who owns the illegally parked motorcycle. However, before you know it, your bike will not only have a pricy fine slapped on it but maybe worse, you might return back to an empty spot because your bike was subject to the tow.
Parking On A Meter
Parking in spots that have metered parking may be a little tricky. Like other motorists, motorcyclists using Muni-Meters must display their receipt on their vehicle. To prevent theft or damage to the receipt, DOT recommends using clear plastic holders attached to the motorcycle with a lock or other mechanism. Devices made especially for this purpose can be found in specialty stores.
Riders try to get away with parking in a metered space that’s already occupied by another vehicle. Many believe that as long as the meter has time and you’re not blocking a car from parking, you’ll be fine. This is unfortunately quite far from the truth. If the paying car pulls out of the spot and the meter expires, you can expect to receive a parking ticket. Instead always choose a spot that is free and always feed the meter. Metered spots tend to be spacious, so you’ll have enough space but still try to park just a foot or so ahead of the meter, it will usually give you and any car that tries to park in that spot enough space to move in and out.
If you rather not pay for parking, motorcycles are small enough you can squeeze into a lot of free parking spots. Just make sure the spot you choose is legal. So check the street cleaning times or “commercial vehicles only” times closely. If you don’t, you may get a ticket, or worse, the dreaded boot or tow.
Parking On The Sidewalk
While you may be able to dodge a parking on the sidewalk ticket if you have a motorcycle, don’t always bank on it. Sure in the outer boroughs you might get away with parking on the sidewalk for a few hours. Some lucky riders have even gotten away with parking overnight without getting a ticket. But this may not fly in less residential and more heavily trafficked areas like Midtown Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn. In either case, you are risking a $115 blow to your wallet with a hefty parking ticket.