Council adopts ordinance allowing up to five motorcycles per marked parking space amid safety debate

The Culpeper Town Council voted July 14 to adopt amendments to municipal and on-street parking ordinances that allow up to five motorcycles to occupy a single marked parking space, provided the arrangement does not block travel lanes, pedestrian walkways, fire lanes or adjacent spaces.

The change affects municipal parking rules (section 11-36) and on-street parking (section 11-45). Assistant Chief White, presenting the proposal, said it implements authority in Virginia Code —E 46.2-1220 and defines safety conditions for angled or grouped motorcycle parking. "[The ordinance] allows up to five motorcycles to occupy a single marked parking space provided that the motorcycles park in a manner that does not impede traffic flow," White said.

Supporters told council the change accommodates motorcyclists and can support downtown visitation. David Wen, speaking during the public forum, described practical parking reasons for motorcycles to back into spaces and argued that some front-in parking requirements are not practical for heavy bikes. "Motorcycles can safely share parking spaces and use downtown parking more efficiently than passenger vehicles," Wen said.

Opponents raised safety and event-management concerns focused on the 100 block of Davis Street, where motorcycle meetups have concentrated. One councilor warned that the ordinance could allow large gatherings to overflow a narrow historic intersection and cause safety hazards for pedestrians and cars. Council debate repeatedly returned to whether a townwide ordinance was the right tool for a problem sparked by one business on Davis Street.

Councilors also discussed survey results and enforcement. Assistant Chief White noted that other localities typically allow three to four motorcycles per space and that the department researched peer ordinances when drafting the language.

Council voted to waive a second reading and adopt the ordinance the same night after a motion to do so. Roll-call votes were recorded; despite several "No" votes and expressions of concern about safety, the motion carried.

The ordinance requires that each motorcycle within a shared space comply with time limits, permit and payment requirements and can be individually subject to enforcement up to towing at the owner's risk if it violates the section. The council did not adopt additional location-specific restrictions or event permitting changes as part of this ordinance. Enforcement specifics and any follow-up coordination with the town's tourism or public-works departments were not detailed in the meeting.

The council implemented the change as an amendment to chapter 11 and the associated parking sections. The ordinance takes effect according to the town code process for adopted ordinances; the council did not set additional implementation deadlines at the meeting.