Laws concerning Scooters?

[mahala]

Can anyone tell me what the scooter parking laws in Ottawa are?

Can we park on sidewalks?

Can we park for free in parking spots/lots?


Has had or heard of scooters being stolen?

I have heard they are a high crime rate in Toronto and everyone locks their scoots up with a big chain and NEVER leaves it out overnight. I always lock mine but just my steering wheel and I leave mine out every night. I live in an apartment so not much choice in the matter but now I'm a little nervous that maybe I could be locking it up?

[nocattle]

In Calgary I had my scooter moved behind a big SUV from the stall I had parked it in. I saw a video on the Seattle club site from a security camera showing a thief stealing a classic Vespa. I know of only one theft here in Calgary. At the Victoria Rally a scoot was stolen on the first day but police recovered it a few blocks away only a few days later. It was stolen, moved but not started.

Theft is one thing. The theif can't register and insure it easy in North America. It'll disappear into a barn for decades or more likely in a port city it'll be shipped to overseas. Vandalism or tomfoolery is probablely more common. They'll move it just because they can, just because they're small, just to piss the owner off, just because they lack respect.

I have an alarm system in my ET2, which was easy to install. It's a bit of a deterrent I suppose. I also have a big-ass chain. The modern Vespa ignition is difficult to jimmy. A determined thief can get through any obstacle you put in their way. It's best to not aid them. Always keep your key in the wheel lock position. Park either in full view of pedestrian traffic, under a light, or completely out of view in a shed/garage/etc. Of course insurance keeps a potencial loss bearable, but it'll never replace the love and attention you've invested in your scoot.

As for parking, I think every city is different. I understand that in Toronto parking is free for cycles. Here we pay, at least after all other options are exhausted. I think if you get it off the street and off pedestrian walkways it should be fine, but don't take my word for it. Ask the good folks who enforce the laws and write the tickets.

[mahala]

Thanks nocattle...I always do keep it in the wheel lock position but I have to leave mine parked outside as I live in an apartment. I think my area is pretty safe though...it's under a motorcycle cover AND in front of my car with a curb behind it....it's when I choose to take the car that it's left exposed or when I go downtown with it...
thanks for the advice though, I will be more AWARE of where I park and who's around.

[jacques]

Good morning ..

Did you ever get an answer to this question - I take me scoot downtown and have been chaining it up with bikes - I called the city and they were not sure what the rules were... they first said it was a vehicle so had to go in a formal parking space - I told them this was not safe and that Toronto allowed parting on sidewalks (as long as the scoot did not impede pedestrians) ..
I'll be taking my scooter to the by-law office in the next few weeks and show them the thing and explain the dilemma ..

But still - did you get an answer on parking in Ottawa ??

Thanks
Jacques

[DD]

Below are links for Ottawa related parking regulations.

Get a free Pay and Display ticket holder:
www.ottawa.ca/residents/parking/motorcycle_en.html

(The Toronto argument was that the Pay and Display Tickets were being stolen - because there was no where to put them on your bike - in Vancouver almost all of the on street (metred) parking spaces downtown are call activated now - so your license plate is used to keep track of parking rights).

I guess you have motorcycle zones:
ottawa.ca/city_services/bylaws/a_z/traffic/bylaw_6_en.html#mczone

Parking Restrictions:
www.ottawa.ca/residents/parking/regulations/on_street_restrictions_en.html

Parking on private property:
ottawa.ca/city_services/bylaws/a_z/traffic/bylaw_12_en.html#top

Definitions:
ottawa.ca/city_services/bylaws/a_z/traffic/bylaw_1_en.html

A scooter is a motor vehicle and can not park on sidewalks (as in Vancouver). It can only be parked on private property (i.e., apartments, office towers, malls) with the permission of the owner of the private property (as in Vancouver), and can not be parked on public property except in designated spaces for parking motor vehicles. There are designated motorcycle parking spaces in Ottawa, and scooters are considered motorcycles. Now why don't you confirm that with the By Law people and post back you findings.

[jacques]

I went down to the new satellite City of Ottawa parking office last week and was firmly shot down regarding parking my 150 on the sidewalk ... They advised that they had dealt with someone last year who had chained their scoot to a parking meter on a sidewalk and tried to argue the ticket and lost ...

Personally I can see that chaining your scooter to a meter may impede pedestrian traffic .... in any event they gave me the e-mail address of the by-law chief - but despite the Toronto success - I have been told that the Scooter is considered a motorcycle and all parking laws apply in the same manner ...

Shot Down !!

Regards,

Jacques