No Parking for Motorcycles!
Seems Jeff Dean, long time SEAT member, got quite a shock when he pulled up to his favorite UA parking garage. “When I rode my motorcycle down to the UA to visit the Center for Creative Photography, I pulled up to park in the Park Avenue Garage across Speedway from the center, where I have parked often in the past. I was stunned to read a new sign posted:
Motorcycles prohibited in parking garages."
Post haste an email went to the University asking why motorcycles would be banned from the University parking garages. The answer came from Mr. Patrick Kass who is responsible for the overall management of the campus parking and transportation systems to include the parking structures. “The concern with motorcycles entering the parking facilities is based on how the in-ground loop detects a presence in the entry or exit lane. The electrical current running through the loop changes frequency when a metal object is overhead. The minimal amount of metal in a motorcycle can cause the detector to lose signal which will cause the gate arm to come down. We have had instances in the past where an individual on a motorcycle has attempted to enter the garage and the gate arm came down and knocked them off. We have attempted to increase the sensitivity of the loop, but this has not resolved the problem.”
Jeff pointed out to Mr. Kass in a second email that there are other Universities that operate similar parking garages to that of the UA and have overcome the problem. It will be interesting to see if there are any changes made that will allow motorcycles to park in the UA garages given Mr. Kass’s final comment in his email, “If we can find a way to safely have motorcycles enter and exit our parking facilities and maintain accountability of their usage, I will be more than willing to change our policies.”
Next time you ride by the UA, take a look and see if the signs are still there. You can contact Mr. Kass at pkass@email.arizona.edu.