Saving public parking spots for others

[ghostman]

This is weak rant, but it pissed me off yesterday night.

I live in NYC. For those who have been to NYC in a car, you know that finding a public parking spot is difficult. Yesterday, I was standing at the corner of a street, waiting for a friend to show up. I noticed an open parking spot a little up the block, so when my friend showed up in his car, I let him know.

He drives up to it, but there are now two women standing (on their feet, not in a car) in the spot. My friend indicates he's backing into the spot, but the ladies scream out "No no... we're saving it for a friend! He's just a few blocks away." We weren't rude, but they continued with "We're not moving. What are you going to do? Run us over?"

In the end, it wasn't a big deal. My friend found another spot. I understand having your car parked already and waiting for a friend to arrive to give them your spot, but this was especially frustrating.

 

[newb111]

Originally posted by: ghostman

In the end, it wasn't a big deal

Rant ruined.

 

[effowe]

I haven't done that on foot, but I've definitely saved spots with my car for friends. If one of my friends was circling and I found a spot on foot I would probably stand in it for him, not a big deal.

 

[imported_Imp]

Don't really know what to say about it. People on my street save spots sometimes with lawn chairs or garbage cans. They put them there for days at a time, but it's usually for a contractor/construction thing, so can't blame them.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Imp
Don't really know what to say about it. People on my street save spots sometimes with lawn chairs or garbage cans. They put them there for days at a time, but it's usually for a contractor/construction thing, so can't blame them.

Unless it was a snow situation where the person had to dig his car out I totally ignore thsoe Garbage Cans /Lawn Chairs. I and everybody else has as much right to park there as some Napoleanic Wanker who thinks the world is his oyster.

 

[jiggahertz]

This story would have been better if your friend ran the women over.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
This story would have been better if your friend ran the women over.

more points for pictures too.

 

[beat mania]

Should've done the Seinfeld thing and block the spot so their friend can't move into it.

 

[ghostman]

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
This story would have been better if your friend ran the women over.

I was thinking the same thing last night.

Actually, I was tempted to stand there with the women until their friends showed up in their car, then tell them they can't park there because I'm saving it for my friend. Just to be an ass.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: ghostman

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
This story would have been better if your friend ran the women over.

I was thinking the same thing last night.

Actually, I was tempted to stand there with the women until their friends showed up in their car, then tell them they can't park there because I'm saving it for my friend. Just to be an ass.

how long did it take the friend to show up?

 

[rh71]

I fecking hate when people do that. My relatives tried to do that for me once but I told them DON'T DO IT. It pisses me off that people think that's ok.

Besides, whoever you pissed off knows where your car is... just like if you were to fight for a spot and actually stay in it.

In a movie theater, it's ok for people to do that (if it's just a couple seats) because it's more important that people who go together sit together. For parking spots, they're just being selfish.

 

[kranky]

In Pittsburgh, some older neighborhoods have a custom in the winter where if you shovel out a parking spot, and place a lawn chair in the space, it's yours. Someone moving the lawn chair to park a car is simply an invitation to have their tires flattened while their gone, if not worse.

It is practically unheard of for anyone to disrespect the lawn chair, but I would say that does not apply to someone standing in a parking spot to save it for some driver who is not at the scene. I have never seen it done.

 

[FoBoT]

reason #341 not to live in a big city

 

[abaez]

I would have just started parking in it. Slowly back in, you know they aren't going to stand there.

 

[darkxshade]

So you weren't in the car, you should've stood there too so they couldn't park and see who can stand there the longest while your friend looks for another spot.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: ghostman
We weren't rude, but they continued with "We're not moving. What are you going to do? Run us over?"

"No. But I'll throw a coffee mug full of human urine on you."

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Usually if I try to save a public spot it's because we need to load or unload something.

 

[ahurtt]

Originally posted by: ghostman

Originally posted by: jiggahertz
This story would have been better if your friend ran the women over.

I was thinking the same thing last night.

Actually, I was tempted to stand there with the women until their friends showed up in their car, then tell them they can't park there because I'm saving it for my friend. Just to be an ass.

See this would have made the story much better had you actually done that. You puss.

 

[paulxcook]

If there were other spots available or I was in a hurry I wouldn't have given this much thought, but if it were the only spot around for blocks I would've made an issue of it. Pull in as much as possible and wait, stand next to the women for the same reason, something.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: abaez
I would have just started parking in it. Slowly back in, you know they aren't going to stand there.

 

[elektrolokomotive]

I used to live in Chicago on a street with fairly tight parking. If it snowed heavily, I'd go out there and shovel out a space in front of my house. Damn betcha I would put stuff in it when I was gone. It takes a quite a bit for Chicago Streets and Sanitation to start removing snow on residential streets, and they rarely, if ever, do anything about clearing the alleys. But standing in a space to block? Retarded.

 

[Evadman]

I would have backed right over them. They are not in a crosswalk, and are thus worth 20 points.

 

[lokiju]

I would never hold a spot by standing in it cause I'd feel like a douche.

First come, first serve IMO.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
reason #341 not to live in a big city

Oh, I can think of many reasons that you should like in a big city.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: ghostman
We weren't rude, but they continued with "We're not moving. What are you going to do? Run us over?"

Sounded like an invitation to me