park passes on your motorcycle

[davidji]

I'm curious what y'all do with your national and california park passes.

For the national pass, sometimes I get annual national park pass stickers for my bikes, and when I apply them it's always been to the right fork leg. I've never seen instructions for where to put them. Do you use them? Where do you stick them on your bike?

Do they have such a thing for california state parks? In another discussion I saw the park pass mentioned, and I looked it up, and I only saw mention of hanging the pass from your rearview mirror, which is the car method. Didn't see any discussion of a sticker alternative for motorcycles or open cars.

When you purchase a national park pass they'll give you stickers for any of your bikes that you're carrying the registration for. They may tell you they don't have them, either because it would take them awhile to fill out the paperwork, or possibly because it's true.

 

[Smash Allen]

I folded the plastic pass in half and stuffed in my jacket. The third time the lady saw me she started just waving me through

 

[bpw]

I have never had issues not displaying my pass once inside a park, whether a day or annual pass. I think the rangers know its an issue and don't have issues with parked bikes not displaying a pass.

Come to think of it, I never display the pass in my car either, annual pass lives in my wallet. Never been an issue.

 

[Lunch Box]

I carry my card in my wallet. Whenever I'm going to be riding into a park, I take it out and put it in an accessible pocket on my Stich.

 

[bikeama]

National Park geezer pass is like a CC. they also require you to present your DL with the pass. I keep mine in the top of my tank bag if on the bike. If I do not have the tank bag it is in the sleeve pocket on my AeroStich.

 

[davidji]

National Park geezer pass is like a CC. they also require you to present your DL with the pass. I keep mine in the top of my tank bag if on the bike. If I do not have the tank bag it is in the sleeve pocket on my AeroStich.

The regular pass required ID too.

I've had them wave me through with the national park pass in the clear ID pocket of my high viz vest. One of the reasons I started wearing it touring. At least they've waived me through exiting where they're more lax. Not sure about entering.

For the national recreation pass the stickers are mostly for places where they aren't checking at the gate. Definitely not needed in Yosemite or Lassen for example. Sometimes the hang tag is or was needed at Pinnacles.

 

[NoTraffic]

I had a funny situation, I went to Yellowstone and got a week pass. I thought, perfect, I'll put it in my see-through emergency sleeve compartment so I just have to wave this when entering on my bike.

The next morning, I extend my arm out. The female ranger starts to shake my hand, thinking I'm initiating a handshake. I'm like . . nice to meet you but i put my arm out cause my pass is right there.

We couldn't stop laughing for the next 5 mins.

 

[Cabrito]

Just carry my card in my wallet and show them when I enter the park. A few times they let two or three of us in with my pass when we're on Moto's.

Thanks for the reminder! Mine expires this month..

 

[ScottRNelson]

National Park geezer pass is like a CC. they also require you to present your DL with the pass.

It depends on the national park. Some have rangers that examine the signature and compare to that of your driver license, and some take a glance at the card and just wave you through. I've been to lots and lots of national parks with my pass and have witnessed the whole range of behavior. More often than not, they don't look too closely.

The card stays in my wallet near credit cards and stuff. :cool

 

[davidji]

A few times they let two or three of us in with my pass when we're on Moto's.

The national pass is supposed to admit two bikes. Though officially it may be only if both riders have signed it. They haven't checked that part when I've done it.

I've been told the more expensive state park pass only admits one bike.

 

[Cabrito]

The national pass is supposed to admit two bikes. Though officially it may be only if both riders have signed it. They haven't checked that part when I've done it.

I've been told the more expensive state park pass only admits one bike.

I thought that was true, and it's worked for me. I only mess with the national pass since it's better for more parks. The bonus is when they let more than two go through. They did that for us at Crater Lake and Yosemite..

 

[russ69]

I was told to hang a copy of your pass on your bike.

 

[sv2007]

I've never displayed the ticket when on my bike and have never had any trouble (I do have an annual pass but I also keep the ticket in my pocket).

I don't think they do much about checking for the ticket inside the park because many people arrive late (past the ranger station open hours) and go in without getting a ticket. These folks would just pay on their way out if they aren't pass holders; so they'll never have a ticket to display while inside the park.

 

[sv2007]

It depends on the national park. Some have rangers that examine the signature and compare to that of your driver license, and some take a glance at the card and just wave you through. I've been to lots and lots of national parks with my pass and have witnessed the whole range of behavior. More often than not, they don't look too closely.

The card stays in my wallet near credit cards and stuff. :cool

Scott, I don't think you are old enough (at least when I rode with you guys 10 years back). This AMAbiker guy is really old, and he's probably talking about the lifetime old people pass. For those passes (which my parents also have), they do seem to look a little bit more closely (needing DL).

Otherwise, i agree with you, I think I've only had 1 case (or so few over the years that I just think it's 1) when they asked to see my DL.

 

[bikeama]

Scott, I don't think you are old enough (at least when I rode with you guys 10 years back). This AMAbiker guy is really old, and he's probably talking about the lifetime old people pass. For those passes (which my parents also have), they do seem to look a little bit more closely (needing DL).

Otherwise, i agree with you, I think I've only had 1 case (or so few over the years that I just think it's 1) when they asked to see my DL.

Old but not really old :mad :x Still ride a MultiStrada. When I get really old :afm199 I will need a lighter motorcycle. Then it will be time for a SM. :teeth:x

 

[sv2007]

Old but not really old :mad :x Still ride a MultiStrada. When I get really old :afm199 I will need a lighter motorcycle. Then it will be time for a SM. :teeth:x

Hey, sorry about that. I'll update my memory banks and move you into the "just old" category.

 

[bikeama]

Hey, sorry about that. I'll update my memory banks and move you into the "just old" category.

Thank you, in three years @ 70 I might be really old. I will let you know when I get there. :afm199

 

[CDONA]

I run my fed "decal" on the back fender adjacent to the license plate so they can find it when writing out the ticket I might get.
There is no fed decal for the gezzer pass, so I talk the ranger into an annual pass with the maximum punch. Last April I got one good until the end of '17.
Years ago there were instructions on pass placement, one is supposed to hang your pass from the rear view mirror, and place the decal up high close to the headlight on a fork leg. The decal was originally meant for open vehicles like topless jeeps.
The decal isn't something all rangers know about, sometimes I have to go up the chain of older rangers, and some parks don't carry them. I had the BLM office in Needles order up some, the old dusty ones they did find were expired by three years.
Lake Mohave rangers advise not to hang the pass from the mirror due to the thermal instability of the plastic that the card is made from, it melts there in Bullhead City behind your windshield . So they only check on entrance.
Installing on a fork leg could make it unable to service until you scrape it off, that is why I place it near the license plate.

YMMV

 

[Cabrito]

I don't recall ever getting a Decal. Anyone have a picture?

 

[ScottRNelson]

Scott, I don't think you are old enough (at least when I rode with you guys 10 years back).

You only have to be 62 to get the lifetime pass, and I passed that milestone a while back. I tried to get a pass in Death Valley the day before my 62nd birthday, less than 12 hours before I was officially old enough, and the ranger there wouldn't even bend the rule that tiny amount. I picked one up the next time I visited a different national park.

You might think I look young, but I already have a grandson in college taking the same major I took back in the day, and at the same university. :afm199