MOTORCYCLISTS have long complained that it is difficult to find parking in the Central Business District (CBD).

Just this week, one rider complained in The Straits Times Forum page that few commercial buildings in the CBD provide parking for motorcycles.

In fact, several buildings fine riders who park their bikes in their properties.

Mr Arul Prakash, 35, found this out the hard way when he was made to pay $107 for parking his bike at The Cathay shopping mall, which does not allow parking for unauthorised bikes.

He argues that there weren't enough clear signs to warn him.

The Cathay management said that signs placed near the carpark entrances clearly inform riders of the 'no parking' rule for unauthorised motorcycles and bicycles.

Mr Arul and his wife, Madam K Gayathiri, 27, returned from watching a movie on 18 Feb to find a clamp on his motorcycle wheel.

Carpark staff told him that his motorcycle was clamped because he had parked illegally.

Said the technical officer: 'Before entering the carpark, I saw a sign saying 'No entry to unauthorised motorcycles or bicycles'.

'I thought they (the management) meant those without a cashcard or IU (In-vehicle Unit) couldn't enter the carpark.

'I didn't try to sneak in for free. The barrier automatically lifted as I approached the gantry,' added Mr Arul, who was parking there for the first time.

This reporter found out that as long as there is a cash card in a motorbike's IU, the barrier would automatically lift, allowing entry into the carpark.

Said Madam Gayathiri: 'We parked at a motorcycle lot marked with white paint. There wasn't any sign saying the lots were meant for staff or tenants.

'If the lots were painted red, we would at least think that they were reserved. We just didn't know we were doing something wrong.'

When the couple returned to the bike, they saw a note on the motorbike asking them to call the carpark management.

The management said no motorcycles were allowed there except authorised ones for staff, said Mr Arul.

CONFUSING SIGNS

He added: 'If that was the case, why not put a sign clearly stating 'No motorcycle parking except for staff'? Then there would be no confusion.

'The word 'unauthorised' could be interpreted differently by each person.'

Madam Gayathiri was upset that nobody from the Cathay management had approached them after they entered the carpark.

Mr Arul said he wanted other riders to know of the 'no motorbike' policy at The Cathay.

Mr Arul isn't the only one lamenting the lack of parking facilities for riders in the CBD.

In a letter published on Tuesday in The Straits Times Forum, rider Seah Kian Chong wrote that 'as a motorcyclist who runs errands in the vicinity of Orchard Road, I have discovered that there is not a single commercial building there which provides parking for motorcycles.'

However, a check with a list compiled by the local biking community shows that at least 50 buildings in the CBD allow motorcycle parking.

The list, found on the forum pages of Singaporebikes.com, says that there are motorcycle-friendly properties such as Capitol Building, Centrepoint, Central@Clarke Quay, Suntec City, Shaw Towers, and Raffles City.

It says these offer offer free parking for motorcycles.

The list also shows buildings that are out of bounds to motorcycles, like The Cathay.

Unfortunately, Mr Arul was not aware of it.

Said Mr Arul: 'I think the nearest carpark would be at Plaza Singapura. Alternatively, I could park illegally on the pavement.

'Still, it doesn't make sense. I want to watch a movie at The Cathay, not at Plaza Singapura.'