Hartford opens one garage to parked motorbikes

The Hartford Parking Authority so far has rented six of the 15 spaces allotted for motorcycles and scooters at its Morgan Street Garage, 155 Morgan St., authorities say.

The authority raised liability concerns when motorbike owners approached two years ago about opening its garages to two-wheelers.

Authority Chairwoman Patricia LeShane said manufacturer of the swinging entry-control arm that was unwilling to assume liability if the arm were to whack a rider in the head.

"We kind of creatively found a way to solve the problem,'' LeShane said.

The agency that regulates the city's metered and off-street parking spaces spent $50,000 to create spaces that are within the garage but beyond the control arm.

Bikers pay a flat $5 daily or $60 monthly to park. Four-wheel owners pay $12 maximum daily or $140 a month to park in the same garage. Central Parking of Connecticut Inc. runs the 24-hour garage under contract for the city.

According to parking authority records, staff estimates the capital costs to the parking agency at about $13.81 per space a month to provide the spaces. That reflects the cost of staffing, maintenance and debt service to the eight-level, 2,290-space parking garage that also houses the parking authority's offices.