Sarah Palin Quits
Beware of Blind, Gargantuan Cyclists Roaming City Streets
Photo du Jour 448
Happy 4th of July!
SFist Drinks: The Rio Grande Cocktail at 15 Romolo
Local blogger Bunny Land had a bit of trouble when trying to park his scooter the other day. "I parked at a small stretch of curb between two driveways. I avoid this spot, because the first time I parked there, when I came out in the morning there were notes on my scooter" -- e.g., the image at right.
He goes on to say that "you can't rent a curb, there was no where else, so I parked there. I have actively been avoiding this spot, since I got the note, because anyone dumb enough to think that they can rent a spot on a public street is not someone I want to deal with."
Reasonable enough. Because the rub is this: you can't own or rent a "small stretch of curb," right? Right. So, after making the decision to park in the totally not private space, here's what went down the morning after.
This morning I made sure to bring a pen, just in case I needed to respond to a note.But no.
When I turn the corner, my scooter is parked on the sidewalk. And there are two people getting into a car that is parked where my scooter was when I left it last night.
"Hey did you move my scooter?"
The guy said that he didn't. The woman in the car said that she did. That set me off, geeze, I have not been so mad in a very long time. She fucking lifted it by the locked front tire, and rolled it onto the sidewalk, then parked her car in "her" spot.
When running into her, Bunny Land (rightfully) yelled at her. "If you're paying for this spot, you're an idiot and getting ripped off," he says. Which? Is true. The lady then retorts, "If you park there again, I'll have you towed," Which? Is inane.
Bunny Land says that "1164 Alabama is inhabited by a moron." While we won't go so far as to slam her as a tool, the lady at 1164 Alabama is either a) lying that she pays for that spot, or b) has an evil landlord who is stealing money from her in exchange for a bogus parking spot.
Anyone else have to deal with this Alabama Street terror? Or had a landlord promise you a private space on the street?
(Via Mission Mission, via Eve Batey)
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It's amazing what people will believe, regardless of the fact it makes no sense at all...renting a curb spot? Wow. Just....wow!
Next time, call a cop. She has no right touching your gear. People get shanked for that in other neighborhoods. (If) she owns the adjacent building, she owns up to the sidewalk and that's it.
PUBLIC EFFING PROPERTY!!!! AHHHHHRRRGG!!!!
Wow, such animosity. *shudder*
better lock both wheels next time. Or install an alarm &, when it goes off, call the police and say that someone's stealing your scooter.
Meanwhile in another corner of the playground Timmy, Foetus, and Mally were vigorously trying to complete a game of "soggy biscuit" before the bell rang.
I had a hard time comprehending the original post when I read it a couple of days ago, because I couldn't believe anyone was stupid enough to pay rent on a curb (never mind parking meters, you know what I mean).
save the note, wrap it around a brick, and toss the aforementioned brick thru her windshield.
that'll learn her.
Maybe we're looking at this wrong. Maybe the woman is actually incredibly smart and has been parking in this spot for years by being really mean and convincing people that she has a right to it? Maybe? Then, because everyone knows you can't rent a curb, everyone figures she's crazy and just doesn't want to deal with her and her craziness.
Presumably this dispute is over a small stretch of curb between two driveways that should be painted red with white stencil of "D.P.T." on them. In which case it would be conceivable that the spot was rented out with the arrangement that the lady's car, exclusively, can block the driveway without being towed. But maybe she's just another crazy lady in San Francisco.
In either case, whining on a blog is the response of an eternal peon.
good ol' city living.
long live the immortal peon!
I can think of so many more interesting things to get upset about. Like, you know, stuff that actually matters, and stuff.
These types of disputes are the ridiculous things that tie up essential city services, not to mention making baby jeebus cry.
What is probably going on is that the landlord is renting her the spot in front of the driveway (he's probably got junk in the garage). She needs the little strip between driveways to make a "whole" spot.
Yes, it's sleazy, but the landlord can probably do it, although IMHO, what she's paying for is a right to not get towed (by her landlord for parking in front of a driveway) and not actually a spot.
Just continue to park on the strip... it's common city property, not the landlords. She will eventually figure out the error of her ways :-)
She's definitely crazy like a fox. Who else in SF can count on a spot being reliably free right in front of their building?
i wouldn't risk someone fucking my scooter up just to get my way. if you stop to deal with these kind of people you'll never get where you're going. park somewhere else?
1. go to Hertz rentals and purchase a cardboard Tow Zone sign
b. fill out in black sharpie and affix to parking meter in front of their car
3. call tow company from pay phone complaining of illegally parked car
d. ???
5. profit and lol
Looking at this on Google Streetview (http://tinyurl.com/6yghfg), I think you're asking for trouble. Sure, you can't rent a sliver of curb, but those are two garages that are butted right next to each other. And if other street parkers hang over on the outer sides of those driveways, it's going to be a tough turn to get in with a scooter in the middle.
I agree with twenex. The woman is probably getting duped by their landlord.
But, yeah, moving someone's scooter is not cool and can really f it up if the wheel is locked.
call DPT and have the curb painted and stamped with "DPT" and when she parks her car there complain and she will get ticketed.
RobInSF, has anyone ever called you a twisted genius before? I love it!
There is a woman who lives on our street and in demonstrating her God given right to drive an SUV two sizes larger than her ability, she demands that motorcycles and scooters avoid parking in the curb spot next to her driveway. She simply knocks them down with her big SUV and leaves the scooters or motorcycles on their sides in the street. The scooter and motorcycle owners complain to her and she yells at them to not park in her curbside area(we've all seen her do this). She also has no right to the street curb. (This woman does not pick up her dog's poop either).
It hurts when I pee.
You could call DPT and have the area striped for motorcycle parking only, like this. Go to "street view" and spin around so you're facing south to see what I mean.
That's a motorcycle spot if I ever saw one. The scooter rider shouldn't have to be the one to find a new spot, it should be the car driver. It's probably bullshit that she's paying for the right to park in front of the driveway, but moving a bike is more bullshit. Totally unacceptable.
I do agree that defiantly parking there anyway is probably not a good course of action though. I've had my bike moved out of spots like that before too, and nothing makes me madder. I feel violated when it happens. I guess my bike shouldn't have been wearing that sexy seat cover.
Film the woman hitting and leaving the motorcycles, there is a name for that, "hit and run". As for the other woman who moved your scooter, that is called "criminal mischief"
you've got keys right?
just remember to get more than one panel at a time. more expensive to fix.
That is absolutely ludicrous. Those strips of curbs are MADE for motorcycle/scooter parking (not literally, but you know). What's the alternative? Parking between two parallel parked cars? They'll bump you trying to get out. Park on the sidewalk? $100 ticket if you come across a grouchy meter maid.
If there's a car parked on the street in the driveway (like in google maps' street view), you obviously wouldn't park there, but if there's just two open driveways on either end, that's an ideal scooter/bike spot.
I would be FURIOUS if someone moved my motorcycle while it was parked and a scooter is no different. That is ILLEGAL. Call the cops on her. Either she's making up the story about paying for the curb or she just honestly is that stupid, in which case she needs to be set straight.
I'm tempted to print this webpage out and tape it to her door.
Do it, @phyxius!
People like the Alabama Street woman are annoying. Nine years ago, I heard a neighborhood rumor, that the guy who owns the house at the end of my block (not Alabama St.) vandalizes any car he finds parked outside his house. I never investigated this gossip, so it's possible it's not even true. But in nine years, I've never parked there.
I agree that people like this shouldn't get away with their misdeeds. If I ever caught the end-of-my-block guy in the act, I'd call the police. And I hope someone calls on the Alabama Street woman, too.
But yeah, the scooter owner should probably park elsewhere from now on, for her own safety. Anyone who would pick up and move a scooter to prove a point is crazy. Hopefully, she would back off after the cops got involved, but she doesn't read like someone who responds well to boundaries!
Is there any way to call the City about people painting their own curbs? AFAIK, painting your own curb is illegal and is considered "vandalism on public property".
Also, is there a way to call DPT to reevaluate how much of a curb between driveways should be painted? I see a lot of curbs painted red that could clearly fit a Smart, Mini, or a couple of motorcycles/scooters.
Here's also a good read on parking. Link
@Shibi:
Solution is easy. Grab a bag, pick up her dog's poop, and carefully fill the area underneath her door handle with it. Leave her a nice note explaining that you don't appreciate her damaging motorcycles, taking up more than her share of the parking space, and not cleaning up after her dog.
I've done this before. It may not change her behavior, but holy god is it funny. It will make you feel better.
Also, I have a scooter. I'd park elsewhere rather than risk my scooter being knocked over/picked up and moved.
Here's a handy flyer - call it a shot across the bow:
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/uploadedfiles/dpt/DrivewayFlyer%20Revised-06-06.pdf
So, no matter what the problem with the parking is, there's absolutely no good reason why it's ok for her to move your scooter. I ride a scooter, and it's happened to me as well. With my vintage vespa, parked in a busy neighborhood, and people just think it's like moving a bicycle or something. Truth is, a lot can go wrong if you move a scoot like that.
And need I mention the many times people have knocked over my scooter while parking their cars and not left a note?? Meanwhile, it's like $4k worth of damage!!!
People who park cars on the street need to understand they're SHARING the parking with others, and due respect needs to be given.
That flyer is pretty cool. Looks nice and official!