Neighbour Doesn't Want Us Parking out The Front of Their House

chiefbodge on 15/02/2017 - 21:30
Last edited 15/02/2017 - 21:31

Considering how popular these moral dilemma threads are on OzBargain I thought I'd start one of my own to get the opinion of you good folks.

We have two cars but only one spot in our driveway right now. Unfortunately we have a bike lane out the front of our house so can't park there. Instead we park the extra car on the side street. We don't really park in a specific spot, just wherever is convenient at the time.

We recently got a letter attached to our windscreen that said:

To the driver / owner of the vehicle just to let you know that the continued parking of this vehicle outside of residence of HOUSE NUMBER STREET NAME is causing some safety concerns for residents of ANOTHER HOUSE NUMBER and HOUSE NUMBER entering and exiting our driveway.

Perhaps the vehicle could be parked further south along STREET NAME or in other local side streets. Regards resident of HOUSE NUMBER.

Our vehicle has always been parked legally and we don't make an effort of parking out the front of their house. We did get a letter from them years ago when we had a different car that asked us not to do U turns in their driveway (we never entered their property but would sometimes use the council part of their driveway, we complied with this request as it seemed pedantic but reasonable enough).

There's plenty of parking in the street, and generally no one is parked in front of their place, especially not them as they have plenty of parking for their own vehicles.

Here is a diagram of the roads: http://i.imgur.com/MQZx3rV.png

Do you think this is a reasonable request? What would you do?

Poll Options

  • 5
    Write them a note telling them how ridiculous they are being
  • 26
    Make an effort to park in front of their house as much as possible
  • 422
    Continue to park there if convenient
  • 161
    Park somewhere else to keep the peace
  • 37
    You are in the wrong, don't park there
  • 24
    Bikies
Automotive

Comments

  • Nice one baby on 15/02/2017 - 21:38
    +61

    I'ld just park a little bit down the street away from their house. They may be crazy or they may be really short and can't see past your car to pull out.
    Either way they care enough to write you a letter so if it's not to much further to walk if you park down the street you might as well not have to deal with crazy.

    • rambutann on 15/02/2017 - 21:44
      +2

      Yeah i'd go next door. I think people that react like this must be a little NQR unless its a stupidly busy street and they dont have off street parking themselves.

      • chiefbodge on 15/02/2017 - 22:27
        +8

        They are an elderly couple with an immaculate yard so I'm not too worried about anything happening to my car.

        I'd usually comply with a polite and reasonable request but given this person's history and the way the letter was written it just feels like they don't like our car messing up their view of the road. I feel if I comply they'll just feel like they can keep on making unreasonable requests of people. If I park my car somewhere else it's just someone elses problem and they might have a genuine reason why they need their spot.

        • lethological on 16/02/2017 - 09:11
          +19

          You said it, they have an immaculate yard. They probably like showing it off and your car blocks all their hard work.

        • lgacb08 on 16/02/2017 - 12:02

          If that's the case and you're generous with your money, buy a crappy bomb and park it semi-permanently to see how they go.

        • SkMed on 16/02/2017 - 13:47
          +38

          Haha I just replied further down then saw this. Exact same situation we had!! Older couple, no family, no friends, nice property and bored. Keep parking there, they might complain, but secretly its the most exciting thing they have to talk about. You are actually helping them by parking there.

        • lakers1222 on 18/02/2017 - 00:54
          +2

          @SkMed:

          most exciting thing they have to talk about

          with who ?

        • nikey2k27 on 18/02/2017 - 07:06
          +2

          keep parking most like happen in apply parking sign like old lady in my street did so park there for 1hour any time day or night. call after one hour to get you fined

        • Gershom on 18/02/2017 - 09:17

          @nikey2k27: Can anyone learn to speak like this?

        • BartholemewH on 18/02/2017 - 09:26

          @Gershom:
          Can sure?

        • Musing Outloud on 18/02/2017 - 14:08
          +1

          @lakers1222: Just each other…

        • SkMed on 20/02/2017 - 17:56

          @lakers1222: each other! also probably the very busy people at the post office.

  • MJ101 on 15/02/2017 - 21:39
    +12

    I don't think what they are asking for is reasonable.

    Maybe you can talk to them face to face and see how they are like. If they are nice then you might consider it but I wouldn't think you are in the wrong.

    If when you talk to them they are aggressive then you might need to worry about what they might do to your car if you keep parking there.

    At the end of the day you are parking there legally.

    • Musing Outloud on 18/02/2017 - 14:14

      I'd get them a copy of the Australian Road Rules, tag the relevant section, and add a note thanking them for their concern and tuck it behind their screen door (i.e. right inside their property).

  • em on 15/02/2017 - 21:46
    +24

    Well, I can tell you don't live in the inner suburbs of Sydney.

    • CurrentCalculations on 17/02/2017 - 09:15
      +1

      I agree. When I parked out the front of someone's house in Western Sydney I came back to the car and saw smashed eggs on the windshield.
      To top it off, they were screaming at me from their house.

      • Daabido on 17/02/2017 - 14:00
        +8

        Were they screaming, "Look what you've done to my f'ing eggs?" I blame welfare. There are too many families where Mum has 5 kids by 6 different fathers and 7 of them are in foster care, but she really wants to get them back (for the extra $). Plus she's had a steady boyfriend for four weeks now, ever since he got out of prison.

      • em on 17/02/2017 - 17:25
        +1

        It's more that… where I lived (Balmain) parking on the street is a way of life - and even if people have driveways, they don't use them most of the time (not many people do have driveways though!) No one expects to be able to reverse out of their driveway and actually be able to see what is happening behind them, and people don't get so precious about only parking in front of their own house.

        There are still people taking advantage (e.g. a house with a driveway, they don't use the driveway, and park their three X5's up and down the road, usually a foot or so away from the kerb) - but the only people who get notes on their cars are the ones who park in front of driveways or where the vehicle is obviously abandoned (i.e. doesn't have plates) and the note is a towing notice.

        No one is sweating the small stuff. OPs post is small stuff.

    • Munki on 17/02/2017 - 10:29
      +3

      Obviously. His neighbour has a yard.

  • trungtily on 15/02/2017 - 21:50
    +1

    if there isn't parking restriction on the road, I think you are not wrong to park there. It is public area. somebody else may park their cars if the spot is vacant.
    As MJ101 pointed out, trying to have a nice chat with them to "sense" and explain. It wouldn't hurt anyway.

  • PJC on 15/02/2017 - 21:52
    +1

    If the safety concerns are legitimate, rather than based on preference, you are not stopping them alerting the authorities.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/02/2017 - 22:23
    +14

    I wouldn't worry. Someone else parked in front of my place….really sucked when they parked there after bins were put out and the garbos didn't collect.

    • chudson on 16/02/2017 - 15:18
      +1

      I've also had this happen. Very annoying.

    • Mosha on 16/02/2017 - 21:54
      +1

      I've called the council regarding this issue. It's the collectors responsibility in our area and I'm sure it's the same in most.

  • kryptoz on 15/02/2017 - 22:28
    +8

    I would park further along the street, not directly in front of their house, to appease the neighbours. I would also knock on their door and politely explain, mostly so you change from being the 'faceless bastards next door / over the fence' to a real person. They will most likely stop harassing you.

    As for your legal right — the area of the driveway crossover (ie concrete curved turnout), the footpath, the nature strip if there is one, the kerb and gutter, parking spaces and the roadway, are all owned and managed by either local government (for minor roads), or jointly by local and state road authority (for arterial roads). No part of this is you property or your neighbours, from the property title boundary (typically the fenceline).
    Many people will get grumpy about it, but every road user is entitled to use the publicly-owned space (ie. crossover, not the driveway on your land) to reverse/turn/etc as well as the parking spaces to park. You and no other individual cannot legally interfere with another persons' use of these (without prior government authorisation/permits to do so).
    This all even applies to the nature strip which is a huge bone of contention for many Australians as we are expected to maintain it, even though it is not our property, as most councils rarely or never do so.

  • Dancasper on 15/02/2017 - 22:41
    +4

    I don't get it. Are you parking too close to their driveway (such they can't see approaching traffic when exiting) or using the driveway to do a U-turn?

    • chiefbodge on 15/02/2017 - 22:45
      +1

      We park with at least 1M distance from their driveway. We used to do U-turns in the council section of their driveway (not on their property at all) many years ago but stopped after they asked us not to.

      • apple2016 on 15/02/2017 - 23:10
        +9

        I had this before. Not sure what car u drive. But if you park are SUV 1M distance from the drive way it is still difficult to get a proper view of the road if your neighbour is using a sedan. For me I did not complain but spent the extra couple of mins in slowly edging forward into the road. You neighbour has chosen to complain. If you want to maintain good will with your neighbour then park a little further or just ignore him.

        I am not sure why u need to use their drive way to do a u-turn though. Unless you drive a limo you should be able to do a u turn (3 point u turn) without using a driveway. Why would you need to use a drive way for a u turn?!….

        • chiefbodge on 15/02/2017 - 23:20
          +1

          It's a commodore, and it's probably more than a metre most of the time. It would be very easy for them to get out of their driveway anyway as it's a very wide driveway.

          You're right - we didn't need to use their driveway, it just makes the 3 point turn a lot quicker and I believed as it was council property it was OK to do. But that's many years ago (about 5 years ago) and they asked us to stop (after we did it maybe 10 times in the 3 months we'd been there) and we stopped.

          I don't think us parking there is a safety issue but if it concerns them I think maybe they could contact the council and have a yellow line put there.

          Thanks to everyone who has responded to the survey, the most popular option was what I was planning to do so it's good to hear my view is sane. I'll continue to park there when convenient (but not all the time) and make sure they have room for their bins (this wasn't an issue that they raised but it's always good to remember).

        • lint on 16/02/2017 - 10:13
          +7

          @chiefbodge: These guys sound like the type of old people everyone hates who complain about everything and when they go shopping they abuse the staff for the slightest thing they're not happy with.

        • ronnknee on 16/02/2017 - 15:08

          Why would you need to use a drive way for a u turn?!…

          If the street is narrow like mine where it is wide enough for 3 cars but the width of 2 car spaces is for street parking, then is necessary to use the driveway for U turns.

        • donga100 on 16/02/2017 - 21:32

          @chiefbodge: Install a road mirror in their front yard to eliminate the safety concerns.

        • OBone on 16/02/2017 - 22:20
          +4

          @chiefbodge:
          Not sure where you are located but in Sydney at least the driveway is paid for by the home owner and not the council. Perhaps that's why he objected to you using it for 3 point turns.

          http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/development/public-domain…

          As the owners are elderly, perhaps they have restricted movement and can't adequately see the road from their driving seat, especially if they're reversing out.

        • Euphemistic on 17/02/2017 - 13:58
          +3

          @OBone: time for them to hand in their licence if they can't see adequaelty from the driver's seat.

        • OBone on 17/02/2017 - 22:22

          @Euphemistic:
          So you'd stop anyone who suffers with arthritis from driving then?
          You might have a point though, think what that would do for traffic congestion!

        • Euphemistic on 18/02/2017 - 13:33
          +1

          @OBone: no, I just believe you shouldn't be driving if you can't see out of the car properly. too many dangerous drivers out there not suitably in control of the vehicle.

          Why should we compromise everyone's safety accepting that it is ok for people to keep driving despite having difficulty to do so.

        • Sammy2000 on 19/02/2017 - 09:07
          +1

          @Euphemistic: I can't see out of my car window when I am surrounded by SUVs.

        • Euphemistic on 20/02/2017 - 07:55
          +2

          @Sammy2000: Yes you can, but it's limited to the view of the top of the 24" chrome rims.

        • Sammy2000 on 20/02/2017 - 21:24

          @Euphemistic: Very true

  • SydStrand on 15/02/2017 - 22:46
    +36

    Get a refund on your house. Threaten negative feedback. 'Seller did not mention bike path in listing.'

  • Axelstrife on 15/02/2017 - 23:02

    Forget about it and move on its their problem there crazy not yours.

  • justjack on 15/02/2017 - 23:42
    +21

    Excellent diagram, when I saw the link I was thinking something drawn with a mouse on paint

  • Diji1 on 16/02/2017 - 01:59

    Just continue to park there.

  • Nugs on 16/02/2017 - 06:28
    +16

    Are you Cedric?

    • tomsco on 16/02/2017 - 08:38
      +1

      Well if it is, at least he's removed his car from his cover photo.

      • Kangal on 17/02/2017 - 19:22

        Oh, how the story changes when it comes from the opposite party.

  • DarkOz on 16/02/2017 - 06:55
    +11

    If they are concerned with the safety of their cars enter/exiting their driveways they should write to the Council to have that particular on-street parking area changed into a no parking area. If everyone behaves their way there would be notes on every car that is parked on the street every day.

    • tomsco on 16/02/2017 - 08:41
      -1

      Sums it up perfectly.

      Admittedly, they were very open in identifying which house they were from (although it would be hard to hide this from the motivation of the letter), but a letter on a windscreen is a very passive aggressive approach.

      From what the OP has described, their car is not stupidly tall, they leave at least 1m from the edge of the driveway. Therefore I say the issue is very much with the resident of the house.

      Either they are a poor driver that has issues driving, or it's a dangerous spot to park, in which case it should be the council being contacted, not the car owner.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/02/2017 - 10:39
        +10

        'a letter on a windscreen is a very passive aggressive approach'. I think you misunderstand the phrase. This is not passive aggressive behaviour. It is a polite request to cease what they see as unacceptable behaviour. .

        • tomsco on 16/02/2017 - 11:41

          Chances are (being elderly) they've seen the OP park there. Rather than discussing it, they wait till they leave and put the note on.

          You're correct though, passive aggressive probably isn't the best phrase. They might simply be afraid to confront them - which is a sad indication of the state of our community these days.

        • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2017 - 09:24
          +1

          @tomsco: I agree. Often we don't have a social relationship with our neighbours so approaching them to resolve a mutual problem becomes confrontational. Back in 'the old days' everyone knew everyone else, so problems were resolved much more easily.

  • theguru1 on 16/02/2017 - 07:24
    +5

    You said there was plenty of parking in the street, so why not just park in one of those spots?

  • shaybisc on 16/02/2017 - 07:57
    +3

    Won't someone else park there if you don't, in the dog eat dog struggle for a parking spot in the city?

  • jjjaar on 16/02/2017 - 08:09
    +4

    Parking is a public commodity. Anyone can park anywhere (within signposted restrictions) and there's nothing anyone can do about that.

    That being said, it sounds like they may struggle to exit or enter their driveway safely when you are parked in that spot. Is this a possibility? Is it a narrow street?

    If this is their issue, it sounds like they need to contact the council to make it a no standing zone.

    If it isn't the issue, refer to my first paragraph. They're just being dicks.

  • kolorijo on 16/02/2017 - 08:19
    +6

    Not even worth your time thinking, discussing, or worse, arguing about it. Park somewhere else, move on, be happy and forget about them. Let them be worry about the space in front of their house and someone else less nicer than you park in that spot. Your well-being is worth so much more than this.

    Do this for your sake, not for theirs.

  • H E B on 16/02/2017 - 08:39

    I may have missed it - but why not just park on the opposite side of your street where you can still see your car? I get your side of the street has a bike lane.

    • chiefbodge on 16/02/2017 - 09:03
      +3

      There's a bike lane on both sides of my road - I just forgot to show the other side.

  • Seraphin7 on 16/02/2017 - 08:52
    +8

    I had a not dissimilar incident some time ago. My response was basically I am parking according to conditions imposed by the local council and will continue to do so unless those conditions change. Basically I've had a gutful of people attempting to impose special conditions on others.

    Quite frankly, they've got form with the previous matter of the U-turns. As you rightly point out, the driveway is council property until you reach the boundary of the property.

    On this matter I don't even understand why the person who has written the note has written it. It would seem they are getting involved in a matter that has nothing to do with them.

  • CSR on 16/02/2017 - 09:04
    +5

    While you're not doing anything wrong I know it would bug me if a neighbour always parked their car outside my house rather than their own. I understand in your case you cannot park outside your own house (as asked above, is there a reason you can't use the opposite side of your street?) and that you don't always park outside the same house.

    I'd continue to do what you are doing if you believe your actions are fair and reasonable, even if you aren't breaking any laws. Try to put yourself in their shoes and consider how you would react if on the other side of this situation.

  • DingoBilly on 16/02/2017 - 09:32
    +1

    The only thing I'd be worried about is if they're crazy enough to track your car and where you live etc., and think that they can dictate how a public space is being utilised…. they'd also have no issue keying your car or something similar because you deserve it for not respecting them and being evil jerks.

  • crazyj on 16/02/2017 - 09:33
    -1

    You are parking well away from your own house. It's not illegal, but in the spirit of fairness you should be parking at least CLOSE to your own house. I'd be annoyed too, particularly if you did it regularly.

    As to using someone else's driveway to turn around - doesn't everyone do that?? As long as you don't go on their land, and don't damage the driveway, knock yourself out!

    • chiefbodge on 16/02/2017 - 10:13
      +3

      I agree it's not ideal parking so far away from our place but it's pretty much the closest we can legally park to our place. If there wasn't a bike lane in front of our house we'd park there.

      They don't use the space in front of their house ever - about 20% of the time there are other peoples cars there and the rest of the time it's empty. If we are coming from the other direction we park on the other side of the road or sometimes even park on the other street. We certainly don't make an effort to park in front of their house.

    • ronnknee on 16/02/2017 - 15:12

      Umm… Did you read the bit about the bike lane on OP's street?

      • crazyj on 16/02/2017 - 15:18

        Sorry, I actually misunderstood the statement from OP. Got the impression it was just directly outside the house that was the problem, not that the whole laneway marked there was a bike-lane.

        I get it. 20% is fair, methinks.

  • furys12 on 16/02/2017 - 09:36

    From an optimistic point of view there might genuinely be a safety problem, maybe people drive to fast down the side street, or park on both sides and having even a regular car near their driveway has caused them some issues getting out, this would be far more believable if you had a big SUV and imo the letter should have straight up said that was the issue.

    pessimistically the vague wording in their letter and the fact you mention they are old just makes it sound like they are past their driving prime and see your car, even a meter away, as a hinderance to getting in and out of their driveway or they are just crazy old people that don't like people parking in front of their house for a myriad of reason, i think we have all known someone who over reacts about their perfect world.

    if you dont feel like they are wildly crazy and won't resort to damaging your car or causing troubles you're well within your rights, moral or otherwise, to keep parking there, if it's a true safety issue there are better ways for them to solve it

    • lint on 16/02/2017 - 09:56
      +2

      There might be a genuine safety problem, but that's no different to any road in Australia. You petition council to do something about safety, not the people who are parked legally.

  • JIMB0 on 16/02/2017 - 09:37

    Maybe they just don't like your car. Have you tried parking your other car at the front of their house?

    • altomic on 16/02/2017 - 10:02
      +5

      or buy a Rolls Royce and park in front of their house and see if they have any further concerns.

  • lint on 16/02/2017 - 09:54
    +2

    If it's a public road and your car can legally fit there, I don't see the issue. Maybe write a note back stating you're parked there legally and can see no safety concerns as long as you're parked in accordance to the road rules. If you refrain from parking there, somebody else will anyway.

    If they don't like it, their only legal avenue is to petition council to make it a no parking zone. Council will investigate whether it's reasonable and erect the necessary signs at the petitioner's cost if it is.

  • ade on 16/02/2017 - 09:57
    -1

    If it is a safety issue then the individual can ask the council to put in a no stopping zone. If it is really only for convenience kepp using the public bit of road……..that is what you pay your road taxes for….

  • treeman on 16/02/2017 - 10:46
    +6

    I have a similar story.

    We live in a narrow street. My neighbour has 2 housemates plus her current boyfriend. Technically there is only a spot for one car in her driveway. She has a spot in front of her house which is always used by her first housemate. Her second housemate then parks in front of our house. When the boyfriends stay which is at least 2 days a week if not more she takes up four spots on the road. I know that the neighbour across the road has put notes in the car saying do not park in front of my house but she doesn't care.
    She doesn't have the room for that many housemates and just loves the fact she is getting all this money from them every week to pay for her mortgage. Strictly speaking though we can't do anything about it, there are no laws against parking on the curb. It does get annoying due to bins so every bin day we put the bins on the road so no one can park there, plus if we have visitors over there are no spots for them to park.

    So in short your neighbours can't do anything about it. Maybe mix it up to at least keep the peace.

  • thriftybunny on 16/02/2017 - 11:41
    +6

    Do you think it'd be better if you actually knocked on their door and spoke with them?
    I think sometimes it's better to talk to the actual people and get it off your chest, maybe from the way they explain to you in person, you can gauge whether it's a genuine issue or they are just being unreasonable, and act from there.
    Good luck!

  • Lockieasy on 16/02/2017 - 12:18
    +1

    Where are the driveways located in your diagram? I know it can be a pain in the butt to exit a driveway if the road is thin enough and cars are parked next to or across the road from it.

    That said, it sounds like it's some elderly people complaining for the sake of complaining. From my experience they tend to do that when they have nothing else better to do.

    • mmd on 16/02/2017 - 17:55

      The other potential issue is the parked car could be blocking their view when they're reversing out.

  • THICKnSLOW on 16/02/2017 - 12:35
    +1

    Do they own a trailer? Or they aren't confident at reversing their car.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 16/02/2017 - 13:04
    +1

    These days most people only think about themselves and do what they want unless there's a big chance of some punishment. So common decency and consideration for other people is out of the window. Therefore most will say leave it there. But don't be surprised if it gets keyed.

  • Tiller76 on 16/02/2017 - 13:28
    +2

    It's not unreasonable for them to ask and not illegal for you to park either. At my last house, a school was nearby and even though every car parked legally, it was impossible for me to reverse out the driveway in the mornings due to the number of cars and obstructed views. The best way forward would be to talk to the people and see how you can compromise to park there since you said it was only one spot in your driveway right now so it sounds like you can park two cars later.

    • factor on 19/02/2017 - 10:01
      -1

      The best way forward is to drive forward out of your driveway.

      Why are you reversing out of the driveway if you think it dangerous?

      • Euphemistic on 20/02/2017 - 07:57
        -1

        This. I much prefer 'getaway parking' whenever possible. Makes it a lot easier if you live in a quiet street though.

      • Tiller76 on 21/02/2017 - 10:48

        Most people drive forwards into their own driveway and not every house allows for a 3 point turn in their front yard. All I ways trying to say is that just because you park legally, doesn't necessarily make it automatically possible for every individual to use their own driveway.

        • factor on 22/02/2017 - 00:40

          No - you said it was impossible to reverse out of your driveway. Therefore a solution was to park your car the other way around. Genius.

          Instead you moved house.

        • Tiller76 on 22/02/2017 - 10:16
          -1

          @factor: Yes. I moved house because of a driveway. That makes total sense. Thank you for your valuable contribution.

        • Euphemistic on 22/02/2017 - 15:04
          +1

          @Tiller76:
          Don't know why I got down voted, driving out is safer than reversing out. Many WHS conscious work sites will not allow parking that causes the driver to reverse out. It is safer to park in reverse, then drive out especially if you have children around.

          Most people drive forwards in to park because it is a bit easier/quicker. Unfortunately a problem with reversing into a garage is that you fill up the joint with fumes.

  • SkMed on 16/02/2017 - 13:44

    We had the exact same thing happen to us.
    We obliged and made sure not to park out the front of their house when possible, but if it meant parking out of sight of our own front fence I would still park there.
    The people who complained were an old couple with no kids and no social life and just wanted something to complain about, your neighbours are probably the same.

    I say park somewhere else if possible, but if not just park there and if they put another note on the car write a note back telling them to get stuffed (politely).

  • dylan345 on 16/02/2017 - 14:24
    +2

    Safety concerns should always be taken seriously, imagine if someone got badly hurt because of this you'd never forgive yourself.

    If they are just making stuff up then who cares. Do what you want as long as its legal.

  • majimaji on 16/02/2017 - 14:52
    +2

    When someone parks out the front of my house or even on my verge, I always think "oh, I wonder who that is?", as if there's a visitor or something. I can understand where they're coming from. I think you should just park out the front of another house, or maybe even have a chat and explain your situation?

  • ronnknee on 16/02/2017 - 15:22
    +3

    I have a related story. One night, my girlfriend and I were eating out. I found parking on a busy street in front of a house. Someone had placed their bins there, spaced out, but the spot was still big enough to fit my car. I got out of the car and a lady came out of the house and started yelling at me to not park outside their house because her husband was coming home soon. I told her the spot behind me where the bins were, was big enough for another car; but I went back in my car anyway and inched a bit more forward. During this time, her husband had arrived and parked behind me. When we both got out of the car, they were both yelling at me for being selfish.

    Cray cray.

    • crazyj on 16/02/2017 - 15:25
      +1

      damn, you're lucky you didn't come back to a seriously keyed-up car…. Just saying.

      • ronnknee on 16/02/2017 - 15:53
        +2

        Yea I was a bit worried for the whole duration of the dinner. I did do a thorough check when I got back. Luckily there was nothing unusual.

        I guess they figured that they were more vulnerable since I knew where they lived.

        • crazyj on 16/02/2017 - 16:06

          absolutely. swings and roundabouts.

          this is why I think people are crazy, when they behave like assholes in public shopping centre car parks.

          behave like a dick in front of the wrong person, and it would be scratch city!

  • Ayedeevee on 16/02/2017 - 15:36
    +2

    Go and talk to them? They made an effort to contact you and were reasonably polite about it - they even suggested an alternative rather than just demanding you gtfo. You'll be able to pick up what their real motivation is by talking to them. I imagine not being able to see past your car when pulling out is the "safety concern". A friend of mine had a similar thing happen a few years ago where visitors were parking between his driveway and the neighbour's driveway, and the elderly neighbour couldn't see around the parked car when reversing out.

    If they weren't so polite about it, I'd just say continue parking there anyway.

  • gimli on 16/02/2017 - 16:42
    +2

    The letter doesn't seem unreasonable or demanding. You don't need to park elsewhere but you could to make it easier for the other guy to pull out and reduce that small change of them damaging your car when you pull out.

    • Brucet on 22/02/2017 - 12:04

      You are right.

  • Elnato on 16/02/2017 - 16:48
    +10

    Ask yourself if you'd care your neighbour was constantly parked out the front of your home, I think it's taking the pi#s personally, you have 2 cars with the space to park one, it's not your neighbours fault you have a bike path out the front of your home, it's your problem

    • Roary on 16/02/2017 - 18:14
      +4

      Furthermore if you have 2 cars and only your house has only space for 1 car, why are you living there?
      Move and find another house where you can park both your cars and not leave them outside other peoples houses..

      • Elnato on 16/02/2017 - 19:42

        Indeed, if you don't have room for vehicles on your property dont have them

    • chiefbodge on 16/02/2017 - 21:35
      +1

      We're not constantly parked out the front of their place, We park in all sorts of places, sometimes we park in front of their place. Right now our car is parked on the other street, most of the time in the last week since their note it has not been parked in front of their property.

      We have only been parking in the side streets for about 3 weeks. Before that we only had one car. It's only a temporary thing (<6 months) while we complete renovations that are using the space in our driveway where a second car could go.

      I am a rate payer just like they are, so technically I have just as much right to the space out the front of their property as they do. They certainly don't own it.

      Yes, we bought our place knowing full well it had a bike lane out the front, and it's really not a problem as we can legally park in the side street if needed.

      • Elnato on 16/02/2017 - 23:49
        +3

        That seems fair if it's temporary, let your neighbours know politely and I'm sure they wouldn't mind too much

      • Ayedeevee on 17/02/2017 - 08:53
        +2

        Don't be brought down by the bitter internet pitchforkers. You are entitled to own as many cars as you like, regardless of how many you can garage. This whole discussion has nothing to do with what you choose to own, it's about how you ensure your choices don't negatively impact others. You're here asking for genuine advice and these people feel the need to bag you out. Don't get dragged down to their sorry level.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/02/2017 - 17:21
    +4

    whether it is you or someone else, if a parking spot is available someone will use it eventually.

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