Reserving parking spaces

[tut21.livejournal.com]

A question for the hive mind in this handy forum.

What, if anything, can I officially do about a neighbor who regularly claims a parking space in front of his house with an upside-down trash barrel? I'm getting tired of walking several blocks with my groceries when there is a perfectly good spot steps away from my door.

I'll spare you a vent about what I'd like to do because I'm not going to start a neighborhood war. This neighbor is old and he has probably lived in the same house longer than I've been alive. I'd speak to him about it but I don't want to get involved with someone who may blame me (or my car) if someone else acts on the frustration I feel.

(edited to clarify a few minor details)

Comments

[ron_newman]

I'd just pick up the barrel and move it onto the curb.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Please tell me you're kidding.

[ron_newman]

No. Do it late at night or early in the morning.

[ellf.livejournal.com]

Why would he be kidding? This guy is being a passive-aggressive bully; move the barrel, and move on.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

That's what I'd do, too. They have no legal claim to the parking space, trash barrel or no trash barrel.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Why?

I'm totally sympathetic to people who reserve a space that they've shoveled out after a snowstorm, at least for a day or so, but just reserving a space all the time? Hard to be sympathetic to that. Or do you think he's kidding because you wouldn't find the prospect of a war with the neighbor all that appealing?

[pushupstairs.livejournal.com]

this is Somerville, not Southie.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I do this all the time, and don't even own a car.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

It's much safer to do this sort of thing when you don't have a car to get keyed. I used to do this sort of thing quite regularly (when I more frequently when I lived in areas where this occurred). Reserving spaces like this is rude and exascerbates an already bad parking situation. If anyone questions you, you're "removing debris from the street".

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Of course, it may suck to be the next person to innocently park in the now empty parking spot.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Agreed.