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Visionary
Posts: 2118 Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Vancouver is not a friendly motorcycle city. While the Parking Nazi's mostly turn a blind eye to bikes parked at corners (on the painted striped area) or in lanes where they are out of the way of pedestrians or auto traffic, there are virtually NO spaces set aside for bikes. That includes public streets, parks or shopping centres or malls. While living in Florida 10 years ago, you could find bike parking in almost every mall - right by the entrances. And also fairs and expositions had parking set aside. Not here, for sure. Maybe things are looking up, though. My local mega-drugstore was recently remodeled, and when I went by last night, I found the sign (pictured below) that fits us (me AND my Co-Pilot) perfectly. She drives a SMART car. What's it like in YOUR town?
(Parking Sign.jpg)
(Our Smart.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- Parking Sign.jpg (88KB - 0 downloads) Our Smart.jpg (98KB - 0 downloads)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 741 Central New York |
Do you keep that in your saddlebag for foul weather?
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Visionary
Posts: 2118 Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Only when we're both out on the bike. Comes in handy when it rains - this IS British Columbia..... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763 Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | Don,
Which one has a bigger motor?
Very few stores or malls have MC parking in my area. However, many bars do. ???
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Visionary
Posts: 3006 San Antonio, TX | Don.
Isn't the Vision 6 inches longer than the Smart Car? |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118 Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | I forgot - I guess you don't see many of these in the U.S. Older Smart's had a diesel motor. New ones have a 70hp 3cyl gas with a 5 sp auto. Goes pretty good in stock form. But some folks have been installing things like a Hayabusa motor pushing 160hp or turbos at 140hp. Beat the crap out of your average Corvette!
And yes, I think the Vision is longer, and just about as comfortable. Although the Smart feels like a big car when you are seated - just nothing in front or behind you. Frame is built like a GP car - capable of enormous wipeouts while protecting the occupants. What would you expect from Mercedes?
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Cruiser
Posts: 249 Montreal, QC Canada | DON,
We have one also, white with black trim, convertable. AND PAUL, the bike IS 5" longer than the Smart.
(Pen's Smart.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- Pen's Smart.jpg (97KB - 0 downloads)
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Visionary
Posts: 3006 San Antonio, TX | How heavy is the Smart car? Without passengers.... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484 LaPorte,Tx. | Ken, can the Vision tow it? Now that would be a sight. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118 Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | At 1800 lbs, that would be a nasty tow..... and be hard to find parking for |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763 Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) |
Smartbusa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlJ_Idds3Ts&feature=youtube_gdata
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Cruiser
Posts: 137 Houston, Texas | Just got back from a week in Key West and if any of you have ever been down there parking is none existent ... BUT
They have designated motorcycle parking areas all over town and its free....SWEET
Edited by STARSHIP 1 2010-04-24 12:21 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
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Visionary
Posts: 3204 Memphis | |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118 Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | RedRider - 2010-04-25 9:47 AM I figured Don carried the sign with him and stuck it where he needed parking the day before. :P NOPE! Here's the two of them with the sign on the wall....
(Smart and Vision sm.jpg)
(Smart and Vision 2.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- Smart and Vision sm.jpg (84KB - 0 downloads) Smart and Vision 2.jpg (85KB - 0 downloads)
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Visionary
Posts: 2118 Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | RedRider - 2010-04-25 9:47 AM I figured Don carried the sign with him and stuck it where he needed parking the day before. :P NAH... Here are some photos of the sign that I DO carry with me:
(Vision Parking (1).jpg)
(Vision Parking (2).jpg)
(Vision Parking (3).jpg)
(Vision Parking (4).jpg)
Attachments ---------------- Vision Parking (1).jpg (41KB - 1 downloads) Vision Parking (2).jpg (93KB - 0 downloads) Vision Parking (3).jpg (99KB - 0 downloads) Vision Parking (4).jpg (91KB - 0 downloads)
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
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Tourer
Posts: 523 seattle, wa | Now thats a nice sign. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118 Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Looks like someone here in Vancouver is trying to do something about Bike Parking. Here is a story that was run in yesterday's paper: Motorcyclists to protest with mass ride in Vancouver on May 1 Motorcyclists will hold a mass ride on May 1 to push for more parking for their bikes in Vancouver. They will gather at 7:45 a.m. in the east parking lot of the Vancouver Aquatic Centre and proceed en masse to a central location downtown with high visibility and a high demand for parking. They will each then occupy a parking spot to illustrate their need. Vancouver resident and sometime motorcyclist Paul Brighton says more parking is "definitely" needed and he's mulling joining the rally. The bikers have a powerful ally in Ian Tootill, the man who helped kill photo radar in B.C. through the group he co-founded — Safety Through Education Not Speed Enforcement. Tootill has a bike and a scooter and is continually frustrated when he tries to find a place to park. Tootill thinks bikes deserve a parking break, specifically in the triangle of space between an intersection and where meters begin. "If we're trying to reduce vehicle traffic on the street, this [encouraging motorcycles] is a step in the right direction," said Tootill. "I take a fraction of the space, I consume a fraction of the fuel, I emit a fraction of the carbon and I can park in a seventh of the space required by an average motor vehicle," he said. Tootill persuaded COPE Coun. David Cadman to bring a motion to Vancouver city council last October, asking that the non-used triangle be given to bikers. The motion was referred to staff, who initially recommended the spots be given to zero-emission electric scooters but still haven't issued a final report.
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/cars/Motorcyclists+protest+with+mass+ride+Vancouver/2959612/story.html#ixzz0mWve8l1U
I will be there and will report back what I learn, and what results, if any - we get from this action. Wish us luck ! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 249 Montreal, QC Canada | The Toronto Scooter Club was instrumental in getting free parking for scooters and motorcycles here. They presented a case to City Hall and we park free in Toronto. They also petitioned City Hall to let scooters and motorcycles to drive in the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes and lanes designated for Busses and Taxi's only, and it was accepted by City Council.
Edited by kenandpen 2010-04-30 12:36 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 2118 Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | I will be there and will report back what I learn, and what results, if any - we get from this action. Well - I tried. That is, I got up - looked out the window at the black ugly rain clouds - and went back to bed. Later - while still in bed - I watched the 12 O'clock Noon News and saw the story on TV. Buncha bikes each took up ONE parking spot downtown to demonstrate the ridiculousness of bikes paying for parking when it already exists at every corner of every block - that cars can't use. Good Luck to us, 'eh? Here's another picture of my view of parking....
(Vision Parking sm.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- Vision Parking sm.jpg (86KB - 0 downloads)
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Cruiser
Posts: 127 OHIO | Donetracey,
Your area looks beautiful!!!! Looks like a very scenic area to ride.
On a side note, I can't see why people would want a smart car, when a VW diesel is larger, with better fuel economy.
Maybe they are different up there, but I'll take my Jetta TDI over a smart car anyday. LOL |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118 Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | RedDog - 2010-05-02 6:21 AM Donetracey, Your area looks beautiful!!!! Looks like a very scenic area to ride. On a side note, I can't see why people would want a smart car, when a VW diesel is larger, with better fuel economy. Maybe they are different up there, but I'll take my Jetta TDI over a smart car anyday. LOL SMART cars are now 3cyl 70hp Gas powered - and WAY cheaper to run than a Jetta TDI (my daughter owns one). And for the price of your VW - I could buy 3 SMARTS, thus having 6 doors, 6 seats, 12 tires, ... well, you get it. |
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