Parking Ticket 'cause its a MC
This week I got a parking ticket for parking my F650GS in a parking garage at the train station in New Haven, CT. This kind of ticked me off. So, I decided to take some action. I'm not sure what will come of it, but I have fired off letters to the American Motorcycle Association, the Executive Director of the New Haven Parking Authority, and the Mayor of New Haven. The letters take a constructive posture and are provided below - if anyone's interested.
At least now, I feel like I have spoken my peace.
Dave.
Email transmittal To:
American Motorcycle Association
Edward Moreland - Government Rleations V.P.
Sean Maher - Director of State Affairs
Terry Lee Cook - Grassroots Manager
Recently, I experienced my first occurrence of discrimination for being a motorcyclist and thought it prudent to bring this matter to AMA's attention. Attached are letters to the Mayor of New Haven, CT and the Executive Director of New Haven Parking Authority. These letters explain how on Thursday July 21, 2005 I received a $20 parking fine for parking my motorcycle in the Union Station parking garage, New Haven, CT. This garage is the primary parking facility for the MetroNorth commuter rail line which connects to Grand Central Station, New York City.
My only violation was that motocycles are prohibited from the garage - as indicated by a very inconspicuous sign. The rationale for this prohibition as explained by the security guards is that the automated gate cannot be activated by a motorcycle.
My letters take a constructive posture in suggesting that by allowing MC's to park in the garage the city could increase revenue and reduce air pollution. However, I also feel as though New Haven, CT is discriminating against motorcyclists as a matter of convenience to accomodate their automated gate system.
I would appreciate AMA's assistance in changing this policy.
Also, please know that as a result of this occurrence, I will be signing up as an AMA member.
Please contact me by email or postal service.
Sincerely,
David XXXX
____________________________________________________________
July 24, 2005
Mr. William E. Kilpatrick
Executive Director
New Haven Parking Authority
50 Union Avenue, 2nd Floor East
New Haven, CT 06519-1752
Re: Parking Violation - Union Station Garage,
Revenue Generation, and Pollution Reduction
Dear Mr. Kilpatrick:
On Thursday July 21, 2005 I parked in the Union Station parking garage to ride MetroNorth to Grand Central Station. I make this trip about two times per month. Upon my return to New Haven, I found a parking ticket on my vehicle (see attached copy). I could not understand why I received a ticket – I was not in a reserved spot, my registration was valid, and I was parked between the lines of the stall. My only offense was that my vehicle that day was a motorcycle.
I asked two security guards why I had received the ticket. They informed me that motorcycles were not allowed in the garage and explained that the automated parking slip reader is tied into the magnetic loop embedded in the pavement at the parking attendant’s booth and it could not detect a motorcycle. After much effort, and the placement of a steel plate over the magnetic loop, the attendant collected my $7 parking fee and was able to get the automated gate to open so that I could exit the garage.
The security guards had also pointed out a small sign (about the size of a bumper sticker) on the articulating arm of the gate specifying that no bicycles or motorcycles are allowed in the garage. Because there was a sign, albeit inconspicuous, I am paying the $20 parking fine.
I have one request and one suggestion:
I request that you send me a copy of the City Ordinance supporting the “policy” stated by the sign on the entry gate to Union Station prohibiting the parking of motorcycles. I have reviewed the on-line copy of the New Haven Code (Article VI Sec. 85 through 94) and could not find any City Ordinance prohibiting motorcycles from parking in any facility managed by the New Haven Parking Authority. In addition, I searched the entire New Haven Code and could not find reference to motorcycles and parking restrictions anywhere in the Code.
Secondly, I recommend that the New Haven Parking Authority revise their parking policy pertaining to motorcycles. If motorcycles were allowed in the garage, the Parking Authority could increase revenues because more motorcycles than automobiles can be parked per square foot of available space. In addition, as you know, New Haven recently passed an ordinance providing free parking to owners of hybrid vehicles, as a means of encouraging the use of less polluting vehicles. Motorcycles typically get much higher gas mileage and generally are less polluting than the vast majority of automobiles on the road. To illustrate this point, my motorcycle (a BMW F650GS) is equipped with a catalytic converter and routinely gets better than 65 miles per gallon. The policies of prohibiting motorcycle parking in garages, while encouraging the use of hybrid vehicles (with worse mileage than motorcycles) are incongruous. Allowing or encouraging motorcycle parking could aid New Haven in reducing air pollution.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
David XXXXX
cc: Edward Moreland, - V.P. Government Relations, American Motorcycle Association (AMA)
Sean Maher – Director of State Affairs, AMA
Terry Lee Cook – Grassroots Manager, AMA
_______________________________________________________
July 24, 2005
John DeStefano, Jr.
Mayor – New Haven, CT
165 Church St.
New Haven, CT 06510
Re: New Haven Parking Revenue and Pollution Reduction
Dear Mayor DeStefano:
The purpose of my letter is to provide a suggestion that could increase parking revenues and aid New Haven in their efforts to reduce air pollution.
On Thursday July 21, 2005 I received a parking violation because I parked my motorcycle in the Union Station parking garage. Parking Authority security guards explained that motorcycles are not permitted because the automated gate utilizes a magnetic loop embedded in the pavement at the parking attendant’s booth that cannot detect a motorcycle. I have paid my parking violation because upon inspection, there was a small inconspicuous sign specifying that bicycles and motorcycles are not allowed in the parking garage.
I recommend that the New Haven Parking Authority revise their parking policy pertaining to motorcycles. If motorcycles were allowed in the garage, the Parking Authority could increase revenues because more motorcycles than automobiles can be parked per square foot of available space. In addition, as you know, New Haven recently passed an ordinance providing free parking to owners of hybrid vehicles, as a means of encouraging the use of less polluting vehicles. Motorcycles typically get much higher gas mileage and generally are less polluting than the vast majority of automobiles on the road. To illustrate this point, my motorcycle (a BMW F650GS) is equipped with a catalytic converter and routinely gets better than 65 miles per gallon. The policies of prohibiting motorcycle parking in garages, while encouraging the use of hybrid vehicles (with worse mileage than motorcycles) are incongruous. Allowing or encouraging motorcycle parking could aid New Haven in reducing air pollution.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
David XXXXX
cc: Karen DuBois-Walton - Chief of Staff New Haven, CT
William E. Kilpatrick - Executive Director New Haven Parking Authority
Edward Moreland, - V.P. Government Relations, American Motorcycle Association (AMA)
Sean Maher – Director of State Affairs, AMA
Terry Lee Cook – Grassroots Manager, AMA
At least now, I feel like I have spoken my peace.
Dave.
Email transmittal To:
American Motorcycle Association
Edward Moreland - Government Rleations V.P.
Sean Maher - Director of State Affairs
Terry Lee Cook - Grassroots Manager
Recently, I experienced my first occurrence of discrimination for being a motorcyclist and thought it prudent to bring this matter to AMA's attention. Attached are letters to the Mayor of New Haven, CT and the Executive Director of New Haven Parking Authority. These letters explain how on Thursday July 21, 2005 I received a $20 parking fine for parking my motorcycle in the Union Station parking garage, New Haven, CT. This garage is the primary parking facility for the MetroNorth commuter rail line which connects to Grand Central Station, New York City.
My only violation was that motocycles are prohibited from the garage - as indicated by a very inconspicuous sign. The rationale for this prohibition as explained by the security guards is that the automated gate cannot be activated by a motorcycle.
My letters take a constructive posture in suggesting that by allowing MC's to park in the garage the city could increase revenue and reduce air pollution. However, I also feel as though New Haven, CT is discriminating against motorcyclists as a matter of convenience to accomodate their automated gate system.
I would appreciate AMA's assistance in changing this policy.
Also, please know that as a result of this occurrence, I will be signing up as an AMA member.
Please contact me by email or postal service.
Sincerely,
David XXXX
____________________________________________________________
July 24, 2005
Mr. William E. Kilpatrick
Executive Director
New Haven Parking Authority
50 Union Avenue, 2nd Floor East
New Haven, CT 06519-1752
Re: Parking Violation - Union Station Garage,
Revenue Generation, and Pollution Reduction
Dear Mr. Kilpatrick:
On Thursday July 21, 2005 I parked in the Union Station parking garage to ride MetroNorth to Grand Central Station. I make this trip about two times per month. Upon my return to New Haven, I found a parking ticket on my vehicle (see attached copy). I could not understand why I received a ticket – I was not in a reserved spot, my registration was valid, and I was parked between the lines of the stall. My only offense was that my vehicle that day was a motorcycle.
I asked two security guards why I had received the ticket. They informed me that motorcycles were not allowed in the garage and explained that the automated parking slip reader is tied into the magnetic loop embedded in the pavement at the parking attendant’s booth and it could not detect a motorcycle. After much effort, and the placement of a steel plate over the magnetic loop, the attendant collected my $7 parking fee and was able to get the automated gate to open so that I could exit the garage.
The security guards had also pointed out a small sign (about the size of a bumper sticker) on the articulating arm of the gate specifying that no bicycles or motorcycles are allowed in the garage. Because there was a sign, albeit inconspicuous, I am paying the $20 parking fine.
I have one request and one suggestion:
I request that you send me a copy of the City Ordinance supporting the “policy” stated by the sign on the entry gate to Union Station prohibiting the parking of motorcycles. I have reviewed the on-line copy of the New Haven Code (Article VI Sec. 85 through 94) and could not find any City Ordinance prohibiting motorcycles from parking in any facility managed by the New Haven Parking Authority. In addition, I searched the entire New Haven Code and could not find reference to motorcycles and parking restrictions anywhere in the Code.
Secondly, I recommend that the New Haven Parking Authority revise their parking policy pertaining to motorcycles. If motorcycles were allowed in the garage, the Parking Authority could increase revenues because more motorcycles than automobiles can be parked per square foot of available space. In addition, as you know, New Haven recently passed an ordinance providing free parking to owners of hybrid vehicles, as a means of encouraging the use of less polluting vehicles. Motorcycles typically get much higher gas mileage and generally are less polluting than the vast majority of automobiles on the road. To illustrate this point, my motorcycle (a BMW F650GS) is equipped with a catalytic converter and routinely gets better than 65 miles per gallon. The policies of prohibiting motorcycle parking in garages, while encouraging the use of hybrid vehicles (with worse mileage than motorcycles) are incongruous. Allowing or encouraging motorcycle parking could aid New Haven in reducing air pollution.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
David XXXXX
cc: Edward Moreland, - V.P. Government Relations, American Motorcycle Association (AMA)
Sean Maher – Director of State Affairs, AMA
Terry Lee Cook – Grassroots Manager, AMA
_______________________________________________________
July 24, 2005
John DeStefano, Jr.
Mayor – New Haven, CT
165 Church St.
New Haven, CT 06510
Re: New Haven Parking Revenue and Pollution Reduction
Dear Mayor DeStefano:
The purpose of my letter is to provide a suggestion that could increase parking revenues and aid New Haven in their efforts to reduce air pollution.
On Thursday July 21, 2005 I received a parking violation because I parked my motorcycle in the Union Station parking garage. Parking Authority security guards explained that motorcycles are not permitted because the automated gate utilizes a magnetic loop embedded in the pavement at the parking attendant’s booth that cannot detect a motorcycle. I have paid my parking violation because upon inspection, there was a small inconspicuous sign specifying that bicycles and motorcycles are not allowed in the parking garage.
I recommend that the New Haven Parking Authority revise their parking policy pertaining to motorcycles. If motorcycles were allowed in the garage, the Parking Authority could increase revenues because more motorcycles than automobiles can be parked per square foot of available space. In addition, as you know, New Haven recently passed an ordinance providing free parking to owners of hybrid vehicles, as a means of encouraging the use of less polluting vehicles. Motorcycles typically get much higher gas mileage and generally are less polluting than the vast majority of automobiles on the road. To illustrate this point, my motorcycle (a BMW F650GS) is equipped with a catalytic converter and routinely gets better than 65 miles per gallon. The policies of prohibiting motorcycle parking in garages, while encouraging the use of hybrid vehicles (with worse mileage than motorcycles) are incongruous. Allowing or encouraging motorcycle parking could aid New Haven in reducing air pollution.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
David XXXXX
cc: Karen DuBois-Walton - Chief of Staff New Haven, CT
William E. Kilpatrick - Executive Director New Haven Parking Authority
Edward Moreland, - V.P. Government Relations, American Motorcycle Association (AMA)
Sean Maher – Director of State Affairs, AMA
Terry Lee Cook – Grassroots Manager, AMA
posted by dbtgeology at 9:02 AM
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