·        Try to park with your rear wheel into the curb. Most roads have a camber - that is, they slope down towards the gutter. Also, most motorcycles have only forward gears, so the engine can only help you pull away if your machine is pointed towards  the centre of the road.  

·        Your tires will never sink into even the softest of ground, but metal stands do. Park on the sidestand.  If you have the slightest worry about the surface (mud, soft tarmac, etc) you can put a proprietory stand support, flat rock, piece of wood or the ubiquitous flattened tin can under the side stand in such a case. It's much harder to chock up both legs of a centrestand. Also, on the sidestand you are "three point stable" like a tripod, whereas the centre stand only gives you "two point stability". And it's far easier to "fine tune" the position of a 'bike on the sidestand than it is to take it off the center stand and start again.  

·        Remember that on sunny days the tarmac which was like rock when you parked can become like marzipan.  Be especially suspicious of tarmac used to fill holes in a damaged surface – it is often softer than the stuff it replaced.

·        Similarly, always use the sidestand and a suitable support under the end of it when on camping trips. Even if the ground is rock hard when you park, rain or dew may soften it enough for the sidestand to dig in. And position the 'bike so that, if the stand sinks in despite your precautions, your tent with you in it will not be beneath the wreckage!

·        Park at an angle to the flow of traffic (depending how wide the road is). Parking parallel to the flow of traffic makes the 'bike far less visible to other road users, without reducing the actual width all that much. If you can't park safely at an angle, you probably shouldn't park there at all.

·        If the road is so steep that you need to leave it in gear to stop it rolling, it is probably not the right place to leave it.  Remember it is perfectly possible for an engine to ‘creep’ past compression - so leaving it in gear does NOT make a good parking brake. If you have to park on a hill, park at an angle with the rear tire downhill of the front and against the curb. And use the sidestand.

·        Think before you park! Look at the ground for the aforementioned mud or soft tarmac.  If you see a "No Parking" sign or marking, consider parking elsewhere. If you see broken car window glass (Halton Moor Confetti!) consider parking elsewhere!  If you are a bit on the short side (like me), look for pot holes that will catch you out when you get back on the ‘bike and try to put your foot down.  Believe me there is nothing more sickening than having to smile sheepishly as your pride and joy tips sideways with you on it because the road surface that was supposed to be there isn’t!

·        If you have a choice of parking spaces you should park where the road is widest, and away from any corner or junction. Don’t park under a tree but do park under a street lamp. Park next to a wider vehicle but not behind one that may have difficulty reversing or where the ‘bike is not easily seen.

·        Try to leave a considerate space for other road users (because they'll only try to move the 'bike if you don't). Never park in the middle of a gap that is "one and a half" cars long: it's rude and selfish. However, you should park in the middle of a gap that is only one car long, to indicate to car drivers that they shouldn't try to squeeze in.

·        If you possibly can, whenever you do have to move the 'bike under your own steam, sit astride it. If you are walking alongside a 'bike and have to turn or brake it sharply, it can easily fall away from you. As the bulk of the 'bike itself prevents you placing your feet to brace yourself, this quickly leads to the embarrassing position of you lying on top of the 'bike – probably in front of a crowd of giggling school children.

·        When you have to move a 'bike under muscle power, don't let the exertion make you forget your Roadcraft. In large fleets, up to 80% of accidents happen while parking. People relax and forget to concentrate at the end of a trip. Don't forget to check for other moving vehicles before pushing your machine across the road!