Parking on Footpaths - Is It Ever Ok?

L1mmy1mmy on 27/05/2017 - 13:50
Last edited 13/07/2017 - 14:45 by 1 other user

Is it unreasonable to ask my neighbours not to park on footpath up against my window?

We rent a place that's on the corner of a small street. We are lucky to have a garage but other people on the street have built gardens instead and they have multiple cars.

People park on the footpath up against our window so we started putting our bins on either side so the window isn't blocked. One neighbour keeps moving the bins and parking one of their cars there. Today she shouted at me and said I'm causing problems with the bins and that "she pays rates." (That's a bit classist - right?)

Anyway, I know you aren't supposed to park on footpaths by my council has said they don't care. I have no idea what to do…
Back down or stand my ground?

Any advice would be great!

Edit: am I just being obnoxious/ should I let it go? What would you do in this situation?

Edit2: https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/171031/49364/20170527_…

That is (one of her) cars taken from my lounge room, with the moved bins.

Edit3: ok so I got home from work today and she had parked both of her cars in front of her house https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/171031/49375/20170529_…
The other neighbours are either in the empty houses' driveways (there are two) or parked on "my" footpath but away from the window. Someone has taken all the bins of the footpaths on the street except mine (which are where I left them this morning) and placed them in the empty houses' front yard. If anything happens from here I'll update again. I did email Vic Roads just to ask what the best coarse of action was so they'll reply eventually. Looks like the street may have come to an understanding… Thanks to everyone for helping me and giving me excellent ideas.

Automotive

Comments

        • Scrooge McDuck on 29/05/2017 - 11:43
          +3

          Or you could put a car cover over it so no one can see that it's unregistered.

          If you trawl car clubs and classifieds you can occasionally find unregistered running cars being offered for free. Drive one back in the wee hours of the morning with a written letter, to any police officer who might unfortunately intercept you, stating that you are lawfully driving the vehicle to the most convenient motor garage for the purpose of being registered.

        • geoffellis on 29/05/2017 - 14:45

          @Scrooge McDuck:

          Do you mean an unregistered vehicle permit? cause at least in qld, a simple "letter" (written by whom??) isn't going to cut it for driving an unregistered vehicle.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 29/05/2017 - 15:39

          @geoffellis:

          Do you mean an unregistered vehicle permit?

          No.

          cause at least in qld, a simple "letter" (written by whom??) isn't going to cut it for driving an unregistered vehicle.

          What I stated is lawful in NSW. The letter isn't necessary but makes your claim more convincing.

  • Shame on 28/05/2017 - 22:20
    +5

    The correct answer to this is "proportionate response". Go through the following steps and make sure you exhaust the previous step before moving on.
    1) Ask her not to park in front of your window.
    2) Complain to council
    3) Complain to your councillor
    4) Complain to your state member of Parliament
    5) Complain to your federal member of Parliament
    6) Deflate a tyre
    7) Remove the rubber from the windscreen wipers
    8) Potato in exhaust
    9) Deflate all tyres
    10) Prawn juice in air intake
    11) Key one panel of her car
    12) Key all panels of her car
    13) Plant some nails in the nature strip
    14) Remove oil drainage nut
    15) Hammer a nail into the side of a tyre (don't leave fingerprints on the nail)
    16) Firebomb car (leave your phone at a friend's place with location tracking turned on while you do it)
    17) Bikies

    • stingy-oz on 28/05/2017 - 22:41
      +2

      First 3 will work.
      4, 5 - leads to a blackhole
      6,7 - great idea.. damn never thought about 7!
      8 - i used to use bananas but I lived a in a different country then where Bananas are fr1ggin cheap
      9 - too much time
      10 - Damn love it. I'd actually do it all over the car…If I can find a small opening into the car………………..
      11, 12 - that damage will be easilty traceable.
      13 - too much work… and dangerous for innocent people
      14 - too much work
      15 - isn't that can cause tyre explosion?
      16 - ….can't do it.. too near OP home..i mean the fumes…and the fire.
      17 - you need to have contacts…

      • Euphemistic on 29/05/2017 - 09:22
        +1

        9 doesn't take ong. Jst unscrew the valve core and walk away. 10secs each tyre max. Besides deflating just two tyres will disable the car - you only carry one spare. If they have a compressor, then deflating 4 won't make a difference anyway, it'll just mean the compressor runs for longer outside your window.

        • TurkishDelight on 30/05/2017 - 21:50
          -1

          7) Put a whole corn on her windshield wipers-hungry birds will do the rest. Also, remove the rubber from the wipers.

  • kale chips suck on 29/05/2017 - 00:18
    +9

    Just throw handfuls of bird seed on her bonnet and roof. When nature takes its course she'll have a car covered in shit but no evidence as to why.

    Likely, she'll choose to park elsewhere voluntarily because bird droppings etch paint if not dealt with quickly.

    If you want to defray suspicion, make a point of parking there yourself, later, and mock up some fake bird shit to 'splotch' over your paint. Something that won't affect the paint though, obvs. Let her see it and she'll assume you've been dive bombed by the aerial dysentery squad too … And, as a victim of it, clearly not the instigator….

    Alternatively, since you've advised council and they've done nothing, stage an injury where you impact the parked car in the dark (or whatever) and write to council demanding compensation as they've failed to exercise their duty of care. You informed them, after all. Have someone write a formal letter with suitably indecipherable legalese, send via resisted post.

    When they respond, let slip that all you really want is an unfettered, clear window, free of opportunistic neighbours vehicles because that's really the safest way - well, actually, the only safe way - for residents. See how long it takes them to offer to resolve your aberrant parking issue if you'll withdraw your claim.

    Failing all that, yeah, bikies!

    • PVA on 29/05/2017 - 14:55

      Brilliant.

  • jonathonsunshine on 29/05/2017 - 02:37
    +2

    tuck a dog turd up under the drivers side door handle.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 29/05/2017 - 11:46
      +4

      Does it have to be a dog turd? 🤔

  • nobarginsarehere on 29/05/2017 - 04:04
    +5

    I hate people who park on footpaths

  • ThithLord on 29/05/2017 - 07:57
    +2

    Good luck, OP - you'd better come back at us with an update!

  • psy on 29/05/2017 - 08:46
    +1

    You may find in the condition of your lease that they dont want you parking your car anywhere on the property except in the garage, or driveway.
    I'd contact your real estate agent and advise them that it's not your car that's parking there but a neighbours car.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2017 - 09:38
      +1

      Our real estate agent would write back saying… so what?

      • 1mmy1mmy on 29/05/2017 - 15:08

        Yeah… If they even wrote back!!

  • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2017 - 09:18
    +6

    I often go for walks and find that about every 20th driveway some ass has parked right across the footpath.
    9/10 times they could have parked further up their driveway or in one of MANY places on the road directly
    in front of their residence.

    Self absorbed a**holes.

    If I was a lesser person I'd key the cars, certainly the ones that regularly to this anyways.

    Before anyone suggests… these are not situations where someone who is incapacitated
    in any way would need to park thus.

    • Euphemistic on 29/05/2017 - 09:24
      +4

      Time to start leaving passive aggressive notes.

      "Thanks for parking across the footpath. It gives me a chance to practice my stunt man bonnet slides"

      "I was going to key your car for parking across the path, but I didn't have my keys, only a pen and some paper"

      etc.

      • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2017 - 09:48
        +1

        Yes, not bad… kind of get them thinking hey. +1

        Actually aside from being more the conscientious type that wouldn't do this in the first place (park across a footpath), the secondary reason I don't do it as I fully imagine someone WOULD key my car.

        Amazing how self absorbed some people can be even at the cost of their own misfortune.

        • Euphemistic on 29/05/2017 - 11:08
          +3

          Get creative during lunch at work. Run off a few signs, take a few with you when you go walking.

      • qwerty on 29/05/2017 - 15:10
        +2

        Use the old classic mickey mouse giving the finger bcard

        http://smg.photobucket.com/user/blackgrrl23/media/4fd81020.j…

    • 1mmy1mmy on 29/05/2017 - 15:09

      My first day at work someone had parked me in and I had to get an uber 20kms out west. I was not happy!

      • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2017 - 15:13

        Was any speculation or reason given??? How awful.

        • 1mmy1mmy on 29/05/2017 - 15:16
          +1

          When my husband found them moving the car later they were like 'oh, I didn't realise'

          But they haven't been back.

        • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2017 - 17:47
          +2

          @1mmy1mmy: Wow, people don't realise' when they've parked someone in… talk about oblivious and thoughtless.

    • froggym on 30/05/2017 - 20:44

      My bus stop is on the same corner as a wicked van depo. They take up the entire street (despite having a huge amount of private land to keep their vehicles on) and one car used to be parked on the footpath every single afternoon. One day I was walking around the corner and saw a guy digging around in the back. I pretended to be on the phone as I walked around the corner and said just loudly enough that "there is this car has been on the footpath for the last two weeks, if it is there again tomorrow I might have to report it to the police as abandoned". Surprise, surprise I haven't see it parked there since. Still can't stand wicked vans though.

      • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2017 - 11:27

        Sorry… 'wicked vans'? Some van customising place?

        • Euphemistic on 31/05/2017 - 15:56

          cheap backpacker camper vans. graffiti style painted ex telstra etc. Also known for offensive slogans painted on them.

        • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2017 - 18:34

          @Euphemistic: huh… learn something every day! Many thanks for the clarification!

  • Davo1111 on 29/05/2017 - 09:37
    +1

    pic? Ozbargainers are notorious for posting one sided questions.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2017 - 09:57
    +2

    In response to OP's question, sometimes it's okay (hold the negs).

    Moving trucks should be given an exemption and allowed to be parked on the footpath if the alternative is to block traffic or park much further away. It is a back breaking job that surely a handicapped pedestrian can sympathize with.

    This does not include daily deliveries - a loading bay would be necessary for that.

    • gromit on 29/05/2017 - 10:47
      +1

      It is NEVER ok to be daily parking a car on the footpath. Loading and unloading of trucks are hardly relevant to the discussion and even those have very limited exceptions. Really he needs to be following up with the council or with the police. personally I would put the bins back and add a chain lock connected to a picket in the ground.

      • 1mmy1mmy on 29/05/2017 - 15:12

        I think tshow means the softer version of park, as in you don't really leave the car and your ready to get your of the way if you're disturbing anyone i.e. wheelchair or pram use.

        • gromit on 30/05/2017 - 11:25

          that is generally referred to as "stopping" rather than parking.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/05/2017 - 16:54

          @gromit: I'd say stopping is a <15 minute affair. You cannot possibly move a fridge and a washing machine in 15 minutes, let alone a truck full in that time. But terminology and semantics aside, I'm sure you're on the same page.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2017 - 15:16

      Yes, it is important to remember that sometimes/occasionally exceptions need to be made.

      In the spirit of good will, it really is nice when people cooperate with each other rather than
      not if just out of bloody mindedness. Good point ts'.

  • jerjergege on 29/05/2017 - 10:44
    +3

    Let us know what the outcome is if you did call the police or what ever option you took.

  • fusion17 on 29/05/2017 - 11:12
    +4

    I saw the answer to your problem the other night

    http://imgur.com/a/tMmC5

  • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2017 - 12:00

    Call Rentaghost : Rentaghost was a British children's television comedy show, broadcast by the BBC between 6 January 1976 and 6 November 1984. The show's plot centred on the antics of a number of ghosts who worked for a firm called Rentaghost, which rented out the spirits for various tasks.

    Maybe not.

  • giventofly on 29/05/2017 - 12:09

    Only if you're a developer giving the local council a lot more in rates payments.

    I parked on my nature strip and got slapped with a $93 fine.

    Yet a construction site down the road building new apartments with about 10+ vehicles with two wheels on the grass were totally fine.

    • smpantsonfire on 29/05/2017 - 13:43

      They probably got a permit?

      • giventofly on 29/05/2017 - 14:13

        A permit would need to be displayed? These don't have any.

        • smpantsonfire on 29/05/2017 - 18:29

          So they don't have a building permit?

  • Ravensbane on 29/05/2017 - 13:40
    +6

    Screw this woman. Put something where she parks like a cement bird bath/water feature. Basically anything that is easy to move if you have to leave but difficult for this idiot woman to move. And at least in NSW it is illegal to park on the foot path and is roughly a $100 fine. Plus doing so makes you a bit of a C&^%.

  • Ranagade on 29/05/2017 - 13:48
    +3

    Place a bird bath near your window?

    (Ravens beat me to it!)

  • Mega001 on 29/05/2017 - 15:14
    +4

    Call the police, https://www.victorialawfoundation.org.au/sites/default/files…, accessed online 29th May, 2017 - especially if you have been abused.

  • Chris12345 on 29/05/2017 - 16:31
    +2

    If they want to park in a nice convenient spot outside their house, they should have stumped up for a place with a driveway or garage. I know when I bought my last house one of the critical things on my want list was a driveway - no cottage blocks.

  • ssyl9 on 29/05/2017 - 17:35

    You said you have put your bins there and she moved them

    So…

    1. Set up camera videoing her moving the bins in an angel that she moves the bins out of sight.

    2. Vandalize your bin that night a little (scratch profanity words on it or like "I PARK WHERE I WANT F**KER!")

    3. Call police saying someone has been stealing and vandalizing your bin.

    4. Supply video of her moving the bins and parking where your bins are

    5. Ask for new bin from council as yours is vandalized

    6. ???

    7. Profit

    • [Deactivated] on 29/05/2017 - 17:46

      'Set up camera videoing her moving the bins in an angel' - that sounds like a messy afternoon!

  • prinsenhof on 29/05/2017 - 18:07
    +8

    Pretty straightforward problem.

    You put bins there, she moves them.

    Call the council, say someone stole your bins and they will deliver new ones for free. Then fill either the new bins or the old ones with water once they are in a suitable position.

    If she actually manages to move 120kg of water (that will be messy), then repeat and remove the wheels. Next step after that would be to fill with concrete.

    • 1mmy1mmy on 29/05/2017 - 22:34

      Clever!!!!!

    • Scrooge McDuck on 29/05/2017 - 23:06
      +1

      Next step after that would be to fill with concrete.

      And if that fails: Depleted Uranium.

  • KaTst3R on 29/05/2017 - 18:50
    +1

    Im surprised no one mentioned Bikies yet…you guys are getting soft!

  • gccmelb on 29/05/2017 - 19:39
    +3

    You look like your somewhere in Footscray? Are they doing this at Night?

    Contract the council about this and send photos and ask for a reference number.. https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/About-us/Make-a-Request

    If you can send a PM which street on your on, I will make a complaint on your behalf.

    • 1mmy1mmy on 29/05/2017 - 22:41
      +1

      Hey cheers for that very kind offer… Speaking to council is no easy feat. PM'd. I have a reference number from council and they have said they are looking into it, but that the alternatives are a) residents park on the footpath on the other side of the street or b) things stay the way they are. I get the feeling they lean towards the latter.

      Night, day, whenever they are around.

  • dr on 30/05/2017 - 10:27

    Some creative windshield notes ideas ;-) http://www.journalistate.com/entertainment/hilarious-windshi…

    • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2017 - 11:36

      Oh those self absorbed a**holes that park right over the marked lines, and especially the ones that do it intentionally.

      Only makes me and I'm sure others think of the old keying' the paint technique. Saw a photo once of a car that had parked
      right over the line (clearly intentional). About 50 people must have poured drinks, ice cream and all sorts of rubbish over
      the car. My faith in society was somewhat restored after seeing that.

  • stingy-oz on 30/05/2017 - 11:10
    +1

    The other day I was just watching youtube and this recommended video came up from "Stop a douche" account. Some kind of civil activist in Russia going around with really large paper stickers…putting it on the passenger side.

    I think this is a good idea…start with maybe an A4 side and write "I am a douche for parking on footpath" or something like that…

    Surely it is going to take a while to take off ;)

    • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2017 - 11:41

      I've seen that. In fact the series is so good I went on to watch about 50 of them.
      I love the way they literally STICK on 'STOP A DOUCHE' posters right onto the front windows when necessary!!!

      If you also live Sydney's west, lets talk. Here's hoping you're about 6'4 and 200kgs
      because I'm not! Maybe you have some Rugby League sized pals you could also bring along?

  • letthiswork1 on 30/05/2017 - 11:26
    +2

    i demand an outcome

    • Euphemistic on 30/05/2017 - 12:28
      +2

      I also demand you come out.

  • itstuan on 30/05/2017 - 12:07

    When all the polite talk & council request fails, you know the only thing left is get down on her level.
    She would be looking for park else where if her tyres keep getting flat in the morning.

  • shaiguy on 30/05/2017 - 13:30
    +2

    This would annoy the hell out of me. Reading up on Victorian laws, only Police and certain Council Officers and VicRoad Officers can issue fines.

    Dealing with council is a pain understandably - could you provide Council details and perhaps they have details on their website.

    My best suggestion would be to do the following:

    Find/Hunt your council's infringement officers (they are rumoured to have quotas right). Find out where they usually go and then speak to them that someone keeps parking on the footpath you walk on. They may do it themselves or refer to their colleagues.

    Note, other Victorian council website which says either Police or their parking officers will issue fines:

    http://www.mvcc.vic.gov.au/for-residents/parking-and-transpo…

    "Parking on nature strips or footpaths

    We have a legal obligation to enforce the Victorian Road Rules, including the no stopping and no parking on the nature strip and footpath rule.

    We understand that people sometimes use the nature strip because they feel it is safer than parking on the road, especially in streets that are narrow. However the reality is that parking fully or partially on nature strips and footpaths, regardless of the intention, is illegal.

    Vehicles parked on the nature strip or footpath:
    •cause major damage to public infrastructure, both above and below the ground
    •may prevent emergency personnel from accessing key infrastructure such as water, sewage, gas, telecommunications and drainage pipes
    •can pose increased safety risks for pedestrians as they are less visible to oncoming cars
    •restrict access for wheelchair and pram users

    You can be issued with a parking fine from Police our our Parking Control Officers if you park on nature strips or footpaths.
    "

  • holdenmg on 30/05/2017 - 13:51
    +1

    $20 for a Wheel Clamp on eBay. lol

  • Make it so on 30/05/2017 - 14:47
    +1

    Gumtree ad:

    Blue VW New Beetle - free (FOR PARTS ONLY). Keys missing. First to see will take.

    • [Deactivated] on 30/05/2017 - 15:38

      That reminds me - the council might come out if you report the car appears unroadworthy and is parked on the footpath (use another name to report it).

      I had just such a vehicle parked partially on the footpath of a very narrow street full of million dollar houses on the Brisbane River (this was about 1993 back when 'a million dollars' and 'house' rarely went together.) and I was young and stupid. The council left a card on the car indicating I had 24 hours to move it to the street or I'd be fined. Hard work pushing an 1973 V8 XB Falcon!

      • Make it so on 30/05/2017 - 15:58

        Oh wow….

        Quite a far shout from the situation nowadays. I reported a car some 11 years ago, dumped in our street, attracting unwanted looters. Police asked "do you own the car"? I told them "no". "Then you can't report it". Nothing done.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/05/2017 - 16:04

          Perhaps the proximity to the Brisbane River and the wealth of the other residents (somehow my punk band had acquired a lease on a half falling down house right on the river - including our own jetty!) had an impact on the response.

        • Make it so on 30/05/2017 - 16:07
          +1

          @Mr Gradgrind: Yeah, it usually would :)
          In my case, I was in one of the dodgiest neighbourhoods of Perth, which had recently been classified as the most burgled area in the entire country. The police probably figured the car added aesthetic value and possible protection.

      • Amour on 30/05/2017 - 20:18

        Our neighbours had the same about 10 years after your warning, except they got a $375 fine and a warning of further costs if they didn't move thier unregistered car.

        If the OP lived in Brisbane City Council his neighbours would have been fined very soon after he complained, and anyone else parked on a nearby footpath would be fined as well. They regularly patrol the suburbs fining miscreants who park on footpaths - I've seen them issuing fines in my street after dark on a Sunday night. I recently received a warning for having my wheels on the sloped part of the gutter (about halfway up) in a narrow street. I wouldn't be surprised if BCC is the first council to use technology such as drones to ensure they don't miss one cent of revenue from every car that has a wheel touching the grass.

  • TurkishDelight on 30/05/2017 - 16:36

    1) Put whole corn on her windshield wipers-hungry birds will do the rest.

    2)Take a can (or two!) of sardines (Eew!) and carefully place them into the air vents at the top of her hood. When she goes for a drive the first day, she'll notice that her car is smelling funny…she'll probably get a new air freshener. She'll spend all kinds of money trying to get rid of the stench, maybe even get rid of her car! (and her trade-in value wouldn't be all that good, would it? hehe)

  • ribze1 on 30/05/2017 - 19:43

    Unacceptable.

  • lysp on 30/05/2017 - 21:22
    +2

    An unrealistic suggestion:

    Buy an old bomb - completely piece of crap car that looks old and that it's about to fall apart.

    ie.
    https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/9545/1370550…

    Park it on the foot path directly in front of her house.

    Leave it there permanently.

    Edit: looks like someone previous suggested similar thing.

  • serpserpserp on 31/05/2017 - 20:04

    Why don't you just park your car outside the window? Problem solved.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2017 - 08:30

    I suggest you get these guys. A wheelchair version of bikies.

  • 1mmy1mmy on 12/07/2017 - 14:54
    +3

    Wow everyone, thank you for all your advice! The council just replaced the sign!

    I continued to get mixed messaged from Council regarding parking on the footpath - either, it's ok for residents or it's never ok so call us and we'll send a parking enforcement officer out. I called the Ombudsman who told me that the council is allowed to let people park on footpaths if the Council has identified a good reason for doing so (I found that interesting). But they stressed that no matter what, the Council should communicate what it is doing. They said I should email Council with ATTN: CEO in the subject so that if they were using 'smoke and mirrors' at the lower level it may be cleared up. The next day they sent someone out and they spray painted a yellow cross where it would go. Three weeks later and still nothing, so I called the Ombudsman again and I made a formal complaint. After speaking to the Ombudsman on Monday I emailed with 5 months of emails with the Council and a run down of what had happened.

    And today… a sign!

    I was honestly considering putting in a bird feeder.

    A HUGE THANKS to everyone who helped me. I don't know how I could've done it without all your advice, support and humour.

    • PJC on 12/07/2017 - 15:04
      +1

      Excellent result.

    • Architectonic on 13/07/2017 - 01:59
      +1

      Glad to hear your problem has been resolved!

    • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2017 - 08:47
      +1

      But have the (profanity) stopped parking there? And have there been any repercussions?

      • 1mmy1mmy on 13/07/2017 - 09:26

        They are still on the footpath but not in front of the window… They got pass-agg again and put our rubbish bins in front of our garage door but that's the only reprocussion so far!

        • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2017 - 14:39
          +2

          Keep us posted from time to time on what the creeps do. Their behaviour thus far, shows a high degree of entitlement and both passive aggressive and outright aggressive behaviours. These habits are not those of sane, rational people. Without psychiatric treatment or a good beating, they are likely to relapse.

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