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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Were they unreasonable to give me a ticket?

33 replies

ApignamedJasper · 10/07/2015 18:21

Genuinely unsure as I'm fairly new to being on the road and have never had a ticket before!

I was going to a seminar in the evening in a town about 12 miles from where I live. On the way I got a flat tyre (motorbike) but just managed to make it to the town where the seminar was as I had friends at the seminar who I hoped could help me fix it.

Unfortunately we couldn't fix it and I had to leave the bike in the car park overnight. I was parked in a car space but since the car park was quite small and very full when I got there, and there was no clear space designated for bikes, I thought it would be ok in the space. I left a note on the bike to say I had broken down and would be back the next day to pick it up. Tyre was very obviously, completely flat.

I got given a ticket for failing to buy a car parking ticket but a) motorbikes park for free and b) I had no way to attaching a ticket to my bike. Wtbu to give me a ticket for this or should I just pay the ticket? Is it worth contesting it?

OP posts:
honeyroar · 10/07/2015 18:24

Did it actually have a notice up saying motorbikes were free? If so I would question it.

Original poster
ApignamedJasper · 10/07/2015 18:30

There was a sign saying motorcycles were free in designated bays or where they are not causing an obstruction (which I wasnt), the only spaces that were not car spaces were striped with yellow lines - I thought this meant you couldn't park there? There were no marked designated bike parking spaces.

OP posts:
GrumpyOldBiddy2 · 10/07/2015 18:35

Where are you supposed to securely attach a parking ticket on a motorbike? If you did put one on its likely to blow away or get nicked. That's what DH pointed out to a parking attendant and he agreed and didn't write the ticket Grin

Lweji · 10/07/2015 18:37

If they specifically mention designated parking and there was none, then I'd appeal based on that.

VivaLeBeaver · 10/07/2015 18:41

Appeal it for sure. Council car park or private?

magicstar1 · 10/07/2015 18:51

I'm a biker, and I'm afraid you shouldn't have parked in the car spot. They will class as that as an obstruction.

Original poster
ApignamedJasper · 10/07/2015 21:30

But it wasn't obstructing anything magic! Where was I supposed to park if there was no marked bike spaces? My tyre was so flat I couldn't go to a different car park :/

Not sure if it was council or private, the parking ticket said something about the council so I'm guessing it was one of theirs.

Exactly grumpy, hence why I didn't get one, that and the fact it stated bikes were free.

OP posts:
LovelyFriend · 10/07/2015 21:31

Appeal

ghostyslovesheep · 10/07/2015 23:09

you where obstructing a car space - and that is what the ticket is for - if you where not there then a car would have been - paying for a ticket

magicstar1 · 10/07/2015 23:14

I know...its a pain, but its exactly what ghosty said. I'd have parked at the edge of the pavement.

wowfudge · 10/07/2015 23:15

Oh come on - obstructing a car parking space?! I would try appealing as bikes park for free, no designated bike spaces available so you parked in a proper space where the bike wouldn't cause an obstruction - i.e. not on the no parking areas and you left a note. What more would they need?

wowfudge · 10/07/2015 23:16

Parking on the footpath is illegal.

ghostyslovesheep · 10/07/2015 23:16

erm they need the revenue from the parking space that was occupied I would imagine - I bet that's the issue

Original poster
ApignamedJasper · 10/07/2015 23:53

If I had parked at the edge of the pavement I would have been causing an obstruction!

Even if I had actually bought a ticket, I couldn't have secured to to the bike so it wouldn't have been there when they came by and they would have given me the ticket anyway :/

Arrg. I know I shouldn't have really parked in the car space but there really was no where else, all the other space in the car park that wasn't actual spaces was covered in yellow lines so I couldn't park there.

OP posts:
magicstar1 · 13/07/2015 12:44

I know...it's so frustrating! You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

SomewhereIBelong · 13/07/2015 13:09

mmm if you were in a car and there were no car spaces, you go to another car park, find somewhere else etc.. same with a bike - there were no free bike spaces left - go somewhere else if you want to park for free. If you can attach a note to the bike, you can attach a ticket.

You are liable for parking in a car parking space that was not free...

Purplepoodle · 13/07/2015 14:18

So you parked bike in a car parking space?

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 13/07/2015 14:29

Appeal.

Give clear bullet pointed reasons:

No free bike spaces
You didn't believe using a car space was causing an obstruction
No way to securely attach a ticket
You couldn't go elsewhere at that time as the assistance you needed to fix flat wasn't available at that time

They might not accept your appeal, but it's worth trying.

SunshineAndShadows · 13/07/2015 14:33

Did the we park have a 'no vehicles to be parked overnight' policy? If so then it's fair enough
Depends what the ticket is for

TheReluctantCountess · 13/07/2015 14:36

I'd try appealing, but be prepared that it might fail.

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 13/07/2015 15:23

Tell them you bought a ticket & that some scrote has obviously stolen it....

morethanpotatoprints · 13/07/2015 16:23

I think its unfair and would appeal, but people saying you had no way to fix it or move it are being silly. Breakdown will come out to nobody and she'd have been given a lift home if they couldn't fix it. Repairs are the drivers responsibility and you can't just use this as an excuse.
The car park owners were out of order anyway though as they said bikes were free and there were designated areas.

Pantah630 · 13/07/2015 16:32

Another biker here, appeal but you're unlikely to get anywhere. We aren't allowed in car spaces in a pay carpark without a ticket despite there not being anywhere to secure one on a bike. If there's no designated bike parking and the hatched area is big enough to get your bike in without obstructing anyone's access park there. If not find somewhere else to park.

You said you had a flat, is it a tubed tyre? You really shouldn't ride on a flat as you'll damage the rim. Hope you've got it sorted.

Pantah630 · 13/07/2015 16:34

Also check your bike insurance, it might have come with breakdown cover.

Jinglebells99 · 13/07/2015 16:45

I think that by parking in a car space, you are preventing the car park earning money from that space, and therefore I'm not surprised you were given a ticket. I didn't realise that bikes could Park for free. Is that just particular car parks or everywhere? ! I do sympathise. My husband put unleaded in our diesel car at a motorway service area which allows 2 hours free parking. However, we had to wait for recovery so had to buy a £15! car park ticket for about 30 minutes parking to avoid a fine Angry Angry