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]

There's probably absolutely nothing you can do except move somewhere where you have your own assigned off-street parking spot. That's just the way things are around here.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Please tell me you're kidding.

[ron_newman]

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

[nalz.livejournal.com]

Officially? What do you mean by that - like what legal rights do you have?

Unless the spot is owned by him/his building/whatever it sounds like you're within your rights to just move the barrel. That's probably what I'd do.

[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.

[ellf.livejournal.com]

Not in my experience. This guy has no claim to that spot - it's unassigned parking, and he cannot simply "claim" a spot with a 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?

[docorion.livejournal.com]

Well, a number of things occur directly. Speak to the neighbor and ask them if it's OK if you move the barrel while you drop your groceries/laundry/whatnot off, then move and walk a couple of blocks (you mentioned the person is elderly, and I do hope you're willing to let them have the space most of the time, as long as you can load/unload when you need to).

It is, technically, illegal to 'reserve' an on-street space in that manner, and you are within your rights to move the barrel (bikergeek's opinion about the propriety of this action notwithstanding :-). But since you say you don't want to start a war, you should be aware that nothing will start one faster than arguing about this with the person without talking to them; just moving the barrel is a legal, but highly inflammatory, option.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

I don't know...a lot of what one can get away with around these parts seems to depend on what kind of friends one has, and where. In any event, the prevailing attitude, if it comes to any kind of legal intervention, is going to be, "He's lived here for decades and you're nobody, suck it up and move on."

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

You should talk to the neighbor. That's your only permanent fix.

I've never seen someone who puts a holder in "their" space to approach this sort of thing rationally, so you should act like it is their space when you talk to them. Legally they've got no basis (in fact Somerville law prohibits this behavior), but the city won't help you.

Does your neighbor have a handicap plate or tag? Because if they do, they can lobby the city to have a designated handicap space setup where the can is, and then you'd get ticketed if you use it.

[ellf.livejournal.com]

The law, thankfully, doesn't make exceptions for old guys with trash barrels.

[sekala.livejournal.com]

I definitely understand how annoying it can be to have something like that happen on your street. I live on a street where people routinely take up 2 car spaces with one car...all the way down the block.

But realistically speaking, if you talk to him, and he stops putting the barrel there at all, you're no better off. It's just another parking space that someone else is parked in by the time you get there. If you talk to him and he agrees to let you use the spot(I know that seems stupid as it's not his spot, but the alternatives aren't hugely appealing), then do so. Moving it yourself is an option, but I think it's probably better to avoid bad feelings etc. to talk to him. Moving it on your own would just make someone more likely to watch for you and blame you rather than less.

[pushupstairs.livejournal.com]

this is Somerville, not Southie.

[dylanesque29.livejournal.com]

If it was a spot he clearly shoveled out and was reserving it after a blizzard, sure. But ANY OTHER TIME? He really doesn't have an excuse.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

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

[bitvoid.livejournal.com]

Steal the barrel. Put it somewhere far away.

If a new barrel appears, repeat.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Ummmm... you can officially move the barrel.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Hell, I'll do it for you.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[ruxxell.livejournal.com]

you all dont seem to understand the fear here that anyone who parks int he spot after the barrel is moved risks that slight chance of getting their car keyed or demolished.
speaking from an anxious point of view, thats what i would suppose would happen if i took everyones "move the barrel" advice.
move the barrel and the next time you go to your car you find a severed horse head in the passenger seat.
YOU FOLLOW?

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Tell you what, I'll even be a nice guy and talk to your neighbor for you.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

you move or take the barrel. don't park there. someone will.

if the barrel comes back, remove it again. repeat.

i know someone that would clear out entire streets he walked pass in this manner. imagine the antics. imagine getting caught keying someone's car that did nothing wrong. oh my yes. what fun, the city.

sooner or later, they'll give up. well, you'd think. some people just have a lot of barrels.

two winters ago, i needed to park, and behold, a nice spot with a LOT of snow in it. i double parked, got out the big shovel, and cleared the spot and parked. before i left, some douche TOLD me that i had better not park there after dark, that's HIS spot. a spot *I* just shoveled? right. when i left, i did the SMRT thing. i filled it in again :) best way to reserve a spot for someone too lazy to shovel. key the snow douche.

#

Leave a note, maybe?

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

You could always leave a carefully polite note... esp. if you say something like "if you really need that space specifically you could always get it designated as a handicapped space..."