“When I first moved to Chicago,” says Mike, “my grandfather told me about parking in the winter. One would dig out a spot and insert a chair, reserving the spot for your trouble.” One of his neighbors, it seems, didn’t get the benefit of such grandfatherly wisdom.
Neither, apparently, did Chris…who made the mistake of parking in an empty space outside his friend’s house in Chicago for few hours. When he got home, he found this note affixed to his mirror with glue.
And of course, Chicago isn’t the only city that takes its snow-shoveling etiquette seriously.
Just ask Anna in New Jersey…
Or Brooke in Indianapolis…
Or Amy in Washington, D.C…
Or Larry in Silver Spring, Maryland…
Or Kristin in Pittsburgh…
Olivia in Albany…
Or Chris in Boston…where they’re always keepin’ it classy.
related: Boston, a place for friends
361 responses so far ↓
#1
molly ringwald
if you read the note from indianapolis a couple of times, it sounds dirty…
and at first glance, i thought the note from d.c. said “whew” instead of “when” in an effort to indicate how tired she was after shoveling snow… i almost wish it did.
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:26 pm rating: +6
#2
r3loaded
In the UK, if it’s gonna take us more than 5 minutes to shovel away enough snow to get the car out or to make a parking space, then we don’t bother with going to work in the first place – it’s clearly extreme and unusual weather so we stay at home
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:33 pm rating: +49
#3
Canthz_B
Yup. Being from NY means that you automatically know all social conventions nationwide and are therefore an asshole when you break one.
It also automatically makes you a Yankees fan, which makes you an even bigger asshole than the asshole who assumes these things about you.
Sweet!!
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:35 pm rating: +47
#4
Dobie
We do this here in Pittsburgh – and if you get caught moving someone’s chair, boy look out. You’re likely to get a lot more then just a note on your car.
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:36 pm rating: +21
#5
Andi
Wow…massive snowstorms bring out the best in everyone
If I’d spent 3 hours shoveling only to have someone park in my spot I’d probably put the shovel through one of their car windows.
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:40 pm rating: +48
#6
Andi
I would find some burley friends and move their d@%^ car – into the street but I am just a pissed off New Englander like that!
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:45 pm rating: +16
#7
tiff
I’m glad I live in San Francisco…where there is snow only far out in the distance on some inconveniently located mountains.
When it’s time to clear out the rubble from The Big One in order to park, I’ll make sure to leave some passive aggressive notes on people who go near my earthquake’d parking zones.
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:48 pm rating: +19
#8
rhombchick
Being from australia, I didn’t realise snow shoveling was such a big issue! LOL! I don’t think I ever want to go to the US in winter, or at least not have a car that needs parking….
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:49 pm rating: +1
#9
seawolf
I’m from California and lived in Chicago. It’s first come first served. It’s just ridiculous to think you own a spot on a city street because you had to remove the snow for you to drive away.
But maybe I’m the kind of asshole who would park in your spot.
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:50 pm rating: +44
#10
Gunderson
Dear Chicago resident. I’m from NY, and I’m nice enough not to take your parking spot. But I did take you up on your offer of leaving me with a free chair. Between you and your 5 neighbors, I got enough chairs for my patio set.
PS, I hope the Cubs do as well this year as they did during the last 100 years.
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:50 pm rating: +90
#11
Ethnic Avenue
Shit like this is why I live in Los Angeles.
God Bless the Left Coast.
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:51 pm rating: +14
#12
Jenny
Living in Philly, where we got 44″ of snow this week, I have to say that these note-writers are totally justified. It’s one thing to consider it in the abstract, but I’ve never seen this much snow before in my life. I haven’t driven my car in 2 weeks because the work to dig it out was too overwhelming. It still looks like a snow drift with side view mirrors. If I moved someone’s lawn chair to steal their parking spot, I would consider myself lucky if my windshield didn’t get busted in.
Feb 21, 2010 at 4:55 pm rating: +35
#13
Liz
Wow, this is a totally new concept to me. I live in Minneapolis, where we get PLENTY of snow every year, and there is no such thing as “claiming” a spot here. If you want the spot that bad, you take public transportation or a cab and leave your car there. A freaking chair to hold your spot?! I would laugh my ass off if I saw that on the street here. And then run it over and park there.
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:10 pm rating: +85
#14
Tim Kolb
I usually have to drive around at least 15 min to find a spot within 2 blocks of my apartment. I’m taking it shovelled or not.
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:13 pm rating: +9
#15
muley
I’m glad I live in Scottsdale. No snow, ever.
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:18 pm rating: +2
#16
Monique
Yeah, sorry folks. Here in Canada, where we get that much snow for EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR, you learn to keep a shovel in your car. In fact, we even help our neighbours shovel! Come on, the climate is changing, there is more and more snow where there wasn’t any before, you just have to adjust.
PS: Except in Toronto… where they are the centre of the universe and call out the military to help them dig out of a snow storm. You’re not as bad as Toronto, are you?
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:23 pm rating: +28
#17
Jeff
I am also from New York and, yes, I do think I am better than everyone. Because, you see, being from a *real* city, I don’t have a car and therefore don’t have to put up with this shit. The day after a storm, the sidewalk has been cleared and I can easily walk to two blocks to the subway!
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:24 pm rating: +20
#18
Wade
And New York style pizza sucks too.
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:25 pm rating: +24
#19
Marissa
I’m with the note-writers generally; it takes hours to clear out a spot after 3-4 feet of snow, given that you’re not doing a half-assed job.
That being said, it’s illegal in D.C. to “save your spot,” so sorry, my District neighbors. If a cop catches you with a folding chair in that spot you cherish, you’re getting a ticket. So you might not want to write that note.
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:41 pm rating: +16
#20
Marie
I think it’s bullshit that people think they are entitled to a public spot..You don’t own the street!!! I live in Philly and if you’re afraid of someone taking your spot, just take the goddamn bus or the train. There were still LOTS of buses running throughout the storm, and the city trains never stopped running. The worst is in South Philly where on a perfectly fine day, people will put out chairs to claim their ’spot’ because they feel entitled to reserve the street that they do NOT even own!! Go suck a duck you losers..take public transit if it’s such an issue!!!
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:43 pm rating: +24
#21
David
The Boston people here are at least justified, there is a law of some sorts (or mayoral doctrine) that allows you to put crap in your spot for 48 hours after a snow emergency is declared to claim it after you dig it out. And like someone else said, the people who only got notes are pretty lucky, slashing tires or broken windows is the usual retaliation. (I say this as someone who doesnt own a car)
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:44 pm rating: +17
#22
gracefultortoise
Hmmm… as a native Chicagoan, I recall times when we’d spend many hours digging cars out and try to hold spots but knew that sometimes it was an exercise in futility. The only surefire way to hold your spot is to leave your vehicle there and hop on the bus or the el. Also, it’s been illegal to try to “hold” a space using furniture for quite some time and you can get fined for attempting to do so. If you try to hold a space with a folding chair, the person removing it may very well be saving you from a hefty fine. It’s the midwest. It’s winter. It snows. Sometimes a lot. The world doesn’t stop so we gotta suck it up and deal with it.
Feb 21, 2010 at 5:45 pm rating: +22
#23
matty-wat
If I throw the word aforementioned into my note will it sound more official?
Feb 21, 2010 at 6:00 pm rating: +7
#24
anglophile
The table may not have been trash when it was put out to the curb, but it will be once I shove it out of the way with my bumper.
Feb 21, 2010 at 6:19 pm rating: +18
#25
KayOkay from Toronto
Where are the enterprising tweens and teenagers who want to make a buck by shovelling? Is that not popular in American cities?
Not that there wouldn’t still be spot stealing, but fewer adults would be doing those big 3-hour workouts.
Feb 21, 2010 at 6:27 pm rating: +6
#26
park rose
Guess maybe the eightfold* PANs are a way to the eightfold path? Maybe the eightfold path is serviced by an efficient and safe public transport option? I know this isn’t an option everywhere.
*I know we’re going to get an origami PAN on here one day.
Feb 21, 2010 at 6:37 pm rating: +2
#27
eslinger
Re: #20.1 – sleeps
I’m all ears!
Gotta say, I’m so proud of Indianapolis for keeping it classy and polite! Hoosiers represent!
And for the record, I have a driveway of sorts, but have been in the street parking situation, and never once “claimed it” as my own, no matter the weather. Get real.
Team Finders, Keepers; Losers, Weepers!
Feb 21, 2010 at 6:52 pm rating: +7
#28
Paul Tomblin
Somebody parked in my spot after I’d spent several hours shovelling it out. I poured several gallons of water on his car, and packed tons of snow over it. Unfortunately it wasn’t cold enough so he was eventually able to get his car out.
Feb 21, 2010 at 6:59 pm rating: +11
#29
AMoparGirl
I am SO glad I have a driveway!
Feb 21, 2010 at 7:02 pm rating: +4
#30
Stephanie
I live in a mid-western city, and all of this spot-saving is bullshit. If I parked in your spot, that means that I, too, had to shovel a spot in order to get my own car out and move it. In a city, it’s usually hard enough to find a parking space without people insisting that a space sit empty all day while they’re at work.
Unless you’re in the fourth grade, “quack quack spot back” just doesn’t cut it. Grow up. Everybody who lives here where it snows has to shovel. We all have to carry shovels in our trunks. We all think it sucks. If it prevents you from conducting yourself as an adult, then move where it doesn’t snow.
Feb 21, 2010 at 7:08 pm rating: +17
#31
Wordtinker doesnt smith
Mark your territory. Dogs do.
Feb 21, 2010 at 7:09 pm rating: +6
#32
Rebecca
I am so glad that we choose to pay for parking where we live. I don’t have to deal with people who have to shovel themselves out. Best money we spend!
Feb 21, 2010 at 7:13 pm rating: 0
#33
Policywank
These people are lucky they found notes on their cars. I’ve lived in two places where parking in the spot that someone else shoveled would get your tires slit, your window broken, or both if the vandal felt like they could get away with both.
Feb 21, 2010 at 7:27 pm rating: +5
#34
Alexus
It’s a public street. Get over it a-holes. Most of these comments just beg me to get a crappy car that barely runs, park it in your spot and set up cameras to catch you doing any damage to the car. You know … for evidence. For the whole willful and malicious destruction of property thing. Then all of sudden you will have bigger problems to worry about. And yes, I have applied this tactic to other situations. With great success.
Feb 21, 2010 at 7:33 pm rating: +16
#35
Manda!
Wow. I am glad I live in California where I get no snow what so ever… I don’t feel bad for never seeing snow after reading these gems!
Feb 21, 2010 at 7:41 pm rating: +1
#36
SET
If it takes you 3 hours to shovel out a parking spot, you’re doing it wrong.
Also I think it’s super unfair to assume that everyone knows these “rules”. I live in a part of Canada that gets tons of snow, and I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous.
Feb 21, 2010 at 7:52 pm rating: +17
#37
Eric
This “owning” of a PUBLIC parking spot is ridiculous. If you don’t want someone else to park there, don’t shovel the snow. If you shoveled it to “reserve” it you’re just as ridiculous. Of course, I live in CA and it never snows where I live. If you tried putting out a chair with a note saying “this is my spot” you’d be likely to get YOUR @ss kicked. First come, first serve. No matter if you shovel the snow, sweep the leaves, or camp there. Get over it, Northeasters.
Feb 21, 2010 at 8:02 pm rating: +7
#38
CourtH
I agree with the city of Boston.
It’s the responsibility of city government to plow roads so that people can drive and park, but if it falls on the citizen to shovel out a spot they should be able to hold that spot until the city is able to do its job.
Feb 21, 2010 at 8:27 pm rating: +12
#39
Dave Anthony
I’m willing to overlook the hoarders for a few days after a big snow storm, but it pisses me off when they think they still have a right to the spot TWO WEEKS LATER after all the streets have been cleared. My neighborhood in Herndon, VA still has chairs holding spots. I’m tempted to go throw them all in the dumpster.
Feb 21, 2010 at 8:32 pm rating: +13
#40
pm
Some people don’t realize that parking spots are sometimes reserved in the summer too. Some homes are so close together there are no driveways and many of the older homes have become apartments, and more people now have cars. I live where I have a huge driveway and the city plows the street where people sometimes park. But, if I cleaned away the huge hard icy pile left by the snowplow I’d expect some consideration too. What goes around comes around you know, and sometimes it gets helped around.
Feb 21, 2010 at 9:14 pm rating: +1
#41
JK
Wow! I’m glad I live in sunny California where there is no snow!
Feb 21, 2010 at 9:15 pm rating: 0
#42
PhillyGuy
I’m a lot less entertaining than most people on this thread! Overall I agree with Dave Anthony: a day or two after a massive disruptive snowstorm, when people only go out for quick runs to get beer and other essentials, holding your spot can be overlooked. I mean, nobody is really out trying to take it – they’re all inside staying warm and skipping work.
But when does it stop? Do the renters next to me who have 3 cars really get to claim 3 spots on the street? Most of the year I clean their sidewalks, plant trees on the block, and call the cops when their drunken late night parties start waking up sleeping babies and old ladies.
My vote is: you don’t own the spot unless your name is on the deed. If you don’t want to risk losing it, well…don’t leave the spot.
Feb 21, 2010 at 9:32 pm rating: +6
#43
...
Seriously. Try that chair shit in the middle of summer and see where it gets you. Just because there’s snow on the ground doesn’t mean anything.
Feb 21, 2010 at 9:53 pm rating: +4
#44
Sheena
Who takes 3 hours to clear a spot? I’ve lived in places that have plenty of snow (Alberta, Nova scotia…), it’s a 20 minute job max. It use to take less than an hour to shovel out my whole apartment building…. :/
I’d don’t see any claim to a spot on a public street. If you want a reserved spot then pay the bit extra for a place that gives that to you (give up something else to pay for it if it’s important to you). The only exception to that is maybe when it’s cold and you need to be close enough to your house to plug in your car (but then everyone just makes sure to park in front of their own house so it works out fine).
Feb 21, 2010 at 9:54 pm rating: +6
#45
Canthz_B
It doesn’t snow here in the sunny Phoenix, AZ area. But back on my old residential street in NJ, if you shoveled out the spot in front of your house, the neighbors generally respected that that was your spot.
If someone who lived on the street took your spot, you were entitled to their first born child, or their car, whichever had fewer dents.
Feb 21, 2010 at 10:07 pm rating: +15
#46
Grizzly
Ah memories. I recall shovelling out a spot for my car, then walking up the street to get mine and by the time I came back a neighbour’s visitor from across the street had taken mine.
I asked her to move it and she refused rather rudely.
So I spent the next hour calmly shovelling snow back on to her car.
Feb 21, 2010 at 10:09 pm rating: +46
#47
Canthz_B
Isn’t porking shitboxes illegal within the city limits of Boston?
I know they do that kind of thing up in Lynn, but Boston?
Feb 21, 2010 at 10:22 pm rating: +4
#48
Lisa
Aww gee, here in Buffalo we have something called snow plows.
I’d actually love to see a lawn chair mine-sies game in the hood. It would be awesome.
Feb 21, 2010 at 10:31 pm rating: +2
#49
TippingCows
I know when I lived in Medford (and a couple of other Boston suburbs), during snow emergencies you could only park on a certain side of the street (odd or even numbers). I don’t know if they still do that but it is a bitch. I didn’t mind walking five minutes to my car every morning, actually. But if you’re that concerned and it’s that competitive, just call into work. Keep the car in the spot and play video games all day or something. It’s not worth getting that upset over it.
Feb 21, 2010 at 11:00 pm rating: +2
#50
Little Miss Trouble
A guy in my building (in Chicago) uses this excuse to keep a parking spot in front of our building reserved at all times. He doesn’t even shovel the space out; he just puts chairs there and keeps them there until April.
Feb 22, 2010 at 12:13 am rating: +2
#51
Josie
I’m so glad that I don’t have to deal with this… we Vancouverites just helicopter snow in when we need it, and enjoy the fine warm weather when we don’t!!
Feb 22, 2010 at 12:45 am rating: +5
#52
Heldt
Here in Germany we
a) use in addition to the barrels/chairs a rope or even barrier tape to mark our spots.
still, we
b) usually don’t care about shoveling anything free and just park on the snow.
If you had more snow than we had here you are _really_ in trouble…
However, if you don’t tell people not to park on the spot (e.g. by taping a message on the barrel) some people that don’t know about this unwritten law and park there. Or, at least I would…
Feb 22, 2010 at 2:59 am rating: +2
#53
KIND GENTLE GUY
Thank non-existent god I live in England, not having to deal with arrogant, selfish and petty individuals. (like you C***s pointlessly moaning) This message is for anyone who feels this applies to them.
Feb 22, 2010 at 4:09 am rating: +5
#54
kevin
being from florida i have no idea about this… but just makes me more afraid to ever move up north for fear of screwing up some cultural tradition involving lawn furniture.
at the same time if i was driving along and saw chairs over and over again i’d probably assume it meant i couldn’t park there…
Feb 22, 2010 at 6:04 am rating: +6
#55
at2002
Its not that people who park in spots other people shoveled don’t *know* snow-parking-space etiquette, they don’t care about it.
I moved to a small town with street parking-no public transportation here. No one had to tell me that I shouldn’t park in a spot someone else shoveled. But, I still thought it was douchy when I saw someone leave a note on a spot-violator’s car.
Now, to start acting old-what’s wrong with kids these days? My neighbor has a 19yr old and twin 13yr old boys-he and his wife shoveled, then paid some of the enterprising day laborers to finish. Isn’t that why we have kids-legal slave labor?
Feb 22, 2010 at 6:38 am rating: +7
#56
Kelly
I have shoveled god only knows how much snow this year, and after this last snowstorm i finally managed to dig out a spot for my car right out in front of my house, when my neighbor rented a plow truck and DUMPED ALL OF THE SNOW FROM HIS DRIVEWAY INTO THE SPOT I HAD SO *DILIGENTLY* SHOVED BY HAND.
These people are lucky no one smashed said placeholders through their windshields =P
Feb 22, 2010 at 6:54 am rating: +9
#57
[c]
these notes display one of many reasons i love living in the south!
Feb 22, 2010 at 7:15 am rating: +1
#58
Canthz_B
Did they have an exhumation order from the court to “unbury” that aforementioned car?
Feb 22, 2010 at 7:48 am rating: +1
#59
hungrygrrl
My problem with ’saving spots’- this means that all you can do is go to work and come back home. You can’t visit friends because you might be taking someone’s spot! You can’t have people over, because they might be taking someone’s spot! The horrors. It’s not the snow that makes me hate going into town (metro Boston up in here!) in the winter, its the fact that there is no where for a visitor to park.
Feb 22, 2010 at 8:12 am rating: +5
#60
K
Oh Boston. Road rage, parking rage, yankees rage… never change.
Feb 22, 2010 at 8:23 am rating: +3
#61
Dan
City folks are so fickel…
Feb 22, 2010 at 8:24 am rating: 0
#62
threeseven
Pshawwww, try to “save” yourself a spot in the parking hell that is NYC.
You shoveled this spot? Good, thanks for clearing it for me.
Feb 22, 2010 at 8:49 am rating: +7
#63
Bunnee
Down here in the South, our parking woes don’t involve snow. They involve baking, scorching sun. You know, molten-hot steering wheels that are too hot to touch, car seats that scorch the backs of your legs, etc…Prime parking spaces usually involve shade of some sort, like under a tree. If I saw a lawn chair reserving a spot in the shade, I would just wait a few minutes. It will spontaneously combust at some point, and Voila! A parking spot in the shade!
Feb 22, 2010 at 8:56 am rating: +9
#64
Ridiculous
If you want a reserved spot, pay for one. Period.
If there is a bad storm, everyone who needs to move their car on the street needs to shovel it out. If you don’t need to move your car, you can leave it there covered in snow. Therefore, there is a finite number of spots which are shoveled out. If someone parks in “your” spot, they must have shoveled out another spot someplace else. The thought of leaving spots open all day long just because someone thinks they own the street is absurd.
I live in a busy neighborhood in Queens, NY, and I shoveled out my car, left, and returned about 12 hours later. Guess what, “my” spot was taken, but I found another one a few streets over. Big deal, I had to drive around an extra 15 minutes and walk a few blocks. I sure as heck didn’t throw a temper tantrum like a 4 year old about it.
Feb 22, 2010 at 8:58 am rating: +15
#65
Southpaw
As nice as it is that they shovelled out the snow, that doesn’t magically make the spot theirs once they leave. It doesn’t matter how much time they spent on shovelling, it’s still public domain for parking and gluing a note to their car/smashing their windows/or otherwise damaging their car is still illegal and if you’re turned in for it will still land you a few thousand dollars poorer.
Feb 22, 2010 at 9:09 am rating: +6
#66
bridget
seriously? you shovel out so that you can LEAVE and get to another destination, not so you have a space to park in when you return… i have never left a shoveled out parking space and expected it to be there when i got back. i guess Virginia is just more reasonable than our neighboring states.
if you don’t like dealing with city parking, buy a house with a driveway or return to the country.
Feb 22, 2010 at 9:37 am rating: +4
#67
anon-anon
Well, this just about never happens in New York.
If you pull out of a spot, its GONE. Tough luck.
If you leave something in that spot to save it, its going to get (a) run over or (b) stolen.
Feb 22, 2010 at 9:38 am rating: +8
#68
reyna
If I spent 3 hours shoveling out one parking spot, I’d consider myself mentally retarded and stay home. Stop with the friggin hyperbole already.
Feb 22, 2010 at 9:50 am rating: +6
#69
ANgela
Can I blame this on being an American thing? In Canada either the snow plough will dig you out, or you just drive back and forth until you have ‘ploughed’ your own way out of the snow bank.
Feb 22, 2010 at 9:58 am rating: +3
#70
Jazz
How very bizarre. Here in Montreal you shovel yourself out and leave, too bad. I’ve never heard of anything like this…
Feb 22, 2010 at 10:03 am rating: +7
#71
Wednesday
@ Jugga Jugga: Whoop Whoop !!! Much Clown Love !!
Feb 22, 2010 at 10:09 am rating: 0
#72
Dutiful Daughter
We just put Gramma out on the curb with a LOT of hot strong coffee and her cane–she enjoys yelling “Git off’a my space!” at all those young whippersnappers. And it keeps her busy and out of the my hair
.
Feb 22, 2010 at 11:06 am rating: +14
#73
llamagirl
Oh this is nothing. In Pittsburgh if you move someone’s Parking Chair and steal their spot you run the risk of your car getting vandalized or worse, re-buried… http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/22514683/detail.html
Feb 22, 2010 at 11:06 am rating: +1
#74
Candy
Surveyed my office after I read this. We live in Chicago. Every person who thinks saving the spot is ok voted for Obama. Only one guy thought it was stupid and you shouldn’t. He voted for the other guy.
Feb 22, 2010 at 11:52 am rating: +2
#75
DavidSKi
I live in Little Italy, baltimore, md where the chair thing is local neighborhood law. Ive seen flat tires (air let out, not slashed) because of some asshole moving a chair and parking in someone’s spot.
Me? Someone parks in my spot, I will rebury them and let them see how fun it is. What even more fun if the car i just reburied belongs from an out of towner, in town for a nice dinner.
Guaranteed no shovel. Enjoy!
Feb 22, 2010 at 12:25 pm rating: +4
#76
Vintage_K
I live in an “urban” area, in NJ. A couple of weeks ago, when that snowstorm finally hit us, we received 14 inches of snow. I digged out my car in approximately an hour and a half (with a smoke break included). The following morning on my way to work everyone in my neighborhood had trashcans/chairs situated in their spots where they dug out the night before. Sooooooooo, I grabbed a chair and claimed my spot. There is limited parking in my area and I wasn’t going to let another lazy asshole park there for at least the next 2 days (tops!). I do drive around with a shovel in my trunk just in case of emergencies (thankyouverymuch). Receiving tickets for placing chairs and what have you, don’t necessarily happen in my town, as snow plowers don’t really do their jobs anyway. With all that said, if you received a lovely note like one of the above, you effin’ deserved it! So spare me the drama, nobody gives a damn. Ooh and yes…bite me!
Tootles!
Feb 22, 2010 at 12:32 pm rating: +10
#77
Brian
I think I’ll just let all you assholes argue over this stupid shit and ride on past on my bike, or walk past on my way to the train station to pick up my I-Go reservation.
Feb 22, 2010 at 1:20 pm rating: +1
#78
Liosis
You are all silly. You are simply reacting to the passive-aggression in the notes. Yes, passive-aggression is bad. That does not mean that the act of taking advantage of someone’s hard work isn’t wrong. If I found a chair in the dumpster and fixed it and painted it and tied a little ribbon on it it should be obvious that it is mine. That is the same as stealing someones parking spot. It requires the same work and commitment, in fact it requires more work!
Feb 22, 2010 at 1:27 pm rating: +1
#79
S
This all makes me laugh. I’ve never seen this happen in Minneapolis, and we’ve been battling horrible parking all winter.
Even now when new parking restrictions have been placed so we can only park on one side of the street, nobody is pulling this.
Feb 22, 2010 at 1:33 pm rating: +4
#80
Matt
I’m sorry, but the great rules of “finders keepers, losers weepers” dictate that you’re sol once you leave that spot open for 4-8 hours.
Feb 22, 2010 at 1:39 pm rating: +2
#81
Jen
I live in Chicago (and i actually mean the CITY not some stupid suburb!), and i think “saving” a spot is stupid. The street (even if its infront of your house) is not YOUR property and neither is the sidewalk in front of your house! if there is a crack in the side walk…you cant fix it on your own, you need to call the city to come out and fix it. I’ve lived here my entire life…never had the luxury of a driveway or garage, and despite all that…i have NEVER EVER saved a parking spot with some thing…NEVER! And i say Shame on you! to the people who have and continue too…I hope everyones chairs, strollers, toilets, bed frames, cones and any other random object you put out to “save” your spot, gets stolen or moves it and takes your spot. There are more important things to worry about than a parking spot.
If you live somewhere w/ snow…you know what to expect. get over it and stop being a baby. If its that bad…MOVE your stupid lazy ass somewhere else!
Feb 22, 2010 at 1:39 pm rating: +6
#82
Snow Parker
Yes, the parking spot saving in Boston is fierce. This year, I finally got mad enough at someone stealing my spot that I wrote “You Jerk” on a door–with my keys.
Feb 22, 2010 at 1:56 pm rating: +2
#83
Emily
Whats with all the “if you think the spot saving is dumb then you must have a driveway?” Ive lived in Chicago for the past 3 years. I have a car and I park it on the street. Now Ive never taken anyones spot that had chairs, cones, trashcans or whatever else- but not because I think its wrong but because I dont want my car keyed. I think its pretty rude (and illegal in Chicago) to mark off your own spot. So guess what, when I come home at 7:30 at night and the only spot left on my street is your spot thats blocked off I think youre the asshole.
Feb 22, 2010 at 1:57 pm rating: +6
#84
Tom
I didn’t leave a note. I just buried the free rider with the snow that I shoveled. I feel it is fair that everyone get the opportunity to shovel snow.
Feb 22, 2010 at 2:09 pm rating: +6
#85
Janey
Haven’t these people heard of “Move your feet, lose your seat”? Same basic rule applies here.
Feb 22, 2010 at 2:18 pm rating: +4
#86
Tracy
As an overly hostile note writer in Baltimore during this past blizzard, I highly regret the things I put on paper.
Feb 22, 2010 at 2:38 pm rating: +3
#87
Al
When I lived in Chicago a couple times someone knocked on my door, asking me if I (or my roommates) had moved her bucket. I think she knocked on every door on the block, screaming and cursing all the way. For the record, we were innocent — I had an uncovered spot in the alley behind the building (it was a bitch to get out of in heavy snow, but at least in the alley people didn’t write gang signs in the snow on the back window).
Feb 22, 2010 at 2:54 pm rating: +3
#88
JMonkey78
I live in Oklahoma and we got 18 inches of snow, doesn’t sound right to me either, earlier this year. I cleaned my car off, got the doors unstuck and moved it out of the driveway, so I could clean the driveway off. I got through and it was late, so I went to bed. When I came out my neighbor had parked in my driveway, because his was covered in snow. Apparently he works nights and his sleep and energy is more valuable than mine. My wife would not let me tow him, or he would have really been wondering where his car was.
Feb 22, 2010 at 2:56 pm rating: +1
#89
JMonkey78
Did anyone else notice that Chris drove all the way home before noticing the note glued to his mirror. That to me is more alarming than the note. He drove some distance and never once checked all his mirrors. Being that this one should have been on the same side as the road, he pulled out and never even checked for oncoming traffic.
Feb 22, 2010 at 3:11 pm rating: +4
#90
noah
wow, when i lived in madison, wisconsin, nobody ever said anything about a stupid rule like that, and I wouldn’t have followed it if they had.
You shovel out a space, and then that space is yours forever? Ridiculous. I park where there’s room. If you want the space you shovel out, shovel it out right before you park.
Feb 22, 2010 at 3:14 pm rating: +2