There’s plenty of street parking in my neighborhood – but everyone has too many cars. My neighbors to the left (husband and wife) have a Mustang, a pickup, a “hot rod” and a camper van; the new neighbors on the right (two guys) have a Neon, a pickup, an old Jaguar, and two motorcycles. And of course I’ve got the Pinz and the Rover.
Street parking is, of course, public parking – you can park anywhere you’d like if you get there first – but common courtesy dictates that you should park near your house causing as few problems for neighbors as possible.
The “lefts” have a single space in front of their house and have always parked their van there; they park the Mustang in the space in front of my house (and the other two fill their garage). I have the space taken by the Mustang and another 24′ space that’s about halfway in front of my house, and halfway in front of the “rights” (Pinz in the driveway touching the garage door; neither will fit into the garage thanks to a short door). They also have 35′ (two spaces) on the other side of their driveway in front of their house.
A few months after they moved in, they appropriated the space that’s partway in front of my house with their giant (16′) pickup. So I’ve been parking in front of my driveway (driveway is only 10′ long; Rover is 14′), or in the Mustang’s space (when I could get it), or wherever else I can find a space. Have discussed this situation with both neighbors, to no resolution. Have also researched and found that parking in front of a driveway (even your own) is ticketable (I once got a ticket for the Pinz blocking the sidewalk when I had left it out far enough to open the garage door).
I seem to always get home last, so have to park wherever there’s space left. The other night I came home late, and the partial space was taken (they like to park the pickup so it’s right up to their property line, leaving me about 8′ on my side). So I parked the Rover in front of their house.
All this by way of setting up for the note I found on my car the next morning (grammar errors and ridiculous nicknames SIC):
Good Morning Fred
I was surprised to come home from a business meeting late last night to find your rover parked on our property. Obviously you may have mistaken. Whatever. Popeye and I have bent over backwards, so to say, to accommodate your wishes, as well to be good neighbors. Actions such as this does not and will not resolve any issue.A fact here. Popeye’s truck is parked within “our property” boundaries of which we rightfully lease. He has never parked on your property. We have a right to park our vehickes where they are and will defend that right if need be, rest assured. We are not at fault that your neighbor parks on your property to accommodate storage of his RV, that is between you and him, NOT US.
I ask you again, to be a good neighbor and follow your own rules. Call if you have questions.
Thank you.
Too Cool