Jason Stephens | December 29, 2022 | Texas Law
If you ride a motorcycle in the State of Texas, it’s important to abide by the rules of the road. While these rules pertain to operating your vehicle, they also govern where and how you can park. To help ensure that you don’t run afoul of the law, here’s an explanation of motorcycle parking laws in Texas.
Are Motorcycles Treated the Same as Other Vehicles?
In Texas, motorcycles are considered to be the same as any other vehicle when it comes to parking. This means that you must park your motorcycle in the same way that you’d park your car.
Can You Park a Motorcycle on the Sidewalk?
Since motorcycles are treated the same as any other vehicle, the short answer is no. In Texas, it is illegal to park your motorcycle on the sidewalk. Additionally, it is illegal to park a motorcycle in any of the following areas:
- On a bridge
- In a crosswalk
- On a curb ramp
- In a safety zone
- In an intersection
- On a railroad track
Additionally, it is illegal to park your motorcycle anywhere that blocks access to pedestrians or other vehicles. Basically, if it’s not a designated parking space, you’re not allowed to park your motorcycle there.
Parking a Motorcycle in a Handicapped Parking Space
As with a regular car or truck, you can only park your motorcycle in a handicapped parking space if you have a valid placard and disabled license plate on it. Removing a license plate and allowing others to use it is illegal.
Additionally, you are not allowed to park your bike in the striped area next to the handicapped space, as that’s reserved for wheelchair lifts.
Street Parking
It is perfectly legal to park in a designated parking spot along a curb in Texas. However, some cities have ordinances that could fine-tune how you may park in practice. This rule demonstrates why it’s a good idea to check the local ordinances of areas you are unfamiliar with before you ride in them.
Parking Garages and Lots
If you are parking your motorcycle in a regular parking lot, you will want to follow the same rules you would for a normal car or truck. That is, only park one vehicle per space.
This rule doesn’t apply if you’re parking in a lot specifically designed for motorcycles. However, special lots should have obvious striping around the parking spaces.
Metered Spaces
Parking in a metered space falls under local jurisdiction, so make sure that you know the rules of the town you are driving in before you park. Otherwise, you could find yourself with a ticket and other unwanted headaches.
Helmets
Texas law requires that helmets meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #218 be worn by operators and passengers of motorcycles.
However, operators and passengers in the state who are over 21 years of age can ride without a helmet if they complete a motorcycle operator training course or carry a minimum of $10,000 in medical insurance.
Know Before You Go
Knowing the laws of the locality you are traveling in will help you avoid tickets, towing, or worse, an accident. Always research the local laws and have a plan in case any trouble arises. If you have questions, the internet makes for a great resource. However, for the most up-to-date information, it’s best to contact the proper authorities.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth motorcycle accident lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000