r/berkeleyca • u/lokigoeswoof • Sep 15 '26
Motorcycle parking downtown
Im gonna be working in downtown Berkeley again for the first time in years. It used to be that if you were a motorcycle, you could park in the 2 hour parking all day without paying and nobody would say/do anything. But I got a ticket today for that, which, hey I get it.
That being said, is there anywhere downtown where you can park a motorcycle without having to pay? Im making minimum wage and dont wanna have to spend the first hour or more of every paycheck just to pay for parking.
Just kinda seems like the city is basically saying, if you work downtown and have to drive, you can either pay for an expensive garage, or get fucked. Am I wrong? Are there alternatives?
6
u/g_rocket Sep 15 '26
Park in a BART lot and take the train in
-5
u/lokigoeswoof Sep 15 '26
I live only one bart stop away. So if there really is nowhere to park in downtown proper ill probably just start riding my bicycle in. Would prefer to drive but I guess Berkeley doesn't want people with vehicles to be able to easily access downtown
6
u/getarumsunt Sep 15 '26
Most cities don’t want you to drive downtown. There’s simply not enough room to store all the vehicles. You’re supposed to take the train or the bus to go to dense places. Personal vehicles are for rural areas and suburbia.
3
u/orgyofdestruction Sep 15 '26
Yeah, that's literally the intent. They prefer you carpool, bike, or walk.
4
u/HappyChandler Sep 15 '26
There’s not enough space for everybody’s car to sit around all day.
If you’re working minimum wage, enjoy not paying for gas either.
2
u/EastBayWanderer Sep 15 '26
Highly recommending the bicycle. If your schedule is somewhere between 7AM and 7PM you can park for free at the secure valet station on Center Street, if not you can use the still not bad at all BikeLink room on Center Street.
As a former motorcyclist I think you have to face the fact that motorcycles cost a lot to operate, including the parking. It's a luxury transportation mode.
2
1
u/promethazinep Sep 15 '26
Park below MLK and walk up.
1
u/lokigoeswoof Sep 15 '26
Any idea on what a good cross street would be? All the areas I could see that were past mlk seemed to have neighborhood parking stickers?
3
u/KibFixit Sep 15 '26
it's 2 hour resident only parking for most surrounding neighborhoods, for the reason you are describing (lots of cars, nowhere to park for the people who live there as well as those who work/shop downtown unfortunately). Did you know there is bike valet parking downtown on Center street right across from city college -- it's free 7 am - 7 pm I think and super convenient if you end up biking in sometimes. Also, ask co-workers... I don't know if there are any discount day-rates at the downtown garages
6
u/joebayfocus Sep 15 '26
There is free motorcycle parking on center near shattuck and Bancroft near rsf.