Kate in Melbourne caught a glimpse of this note from the street, and it looked so ridiculous that she snuck into the private lot to get a closer look. Adds Kate: “I imagine this person is quite popular with the neighbours.”
![DO NOT REMOVE. This is the property of unit 1. We pay rent for this carspace and shall therefore use it for whatever vehicle we want to. [crossed out scribbles]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2878854522_0683b2d0e7.jpg "DO NOT REMOVE. This is the property of unit 1. We pay rent for this carspace and shall therefore use it for whatever vehicle we want to. [crossed out scribbles]")
![DO NOT REMOVE. This is the property of unit 1. We pay rent for this carspace and shall therefore use it for whatever vehicle we want to. [crossed out scribbles]](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/6027389430_4e0bc2265a_b.jpg "DO NOT REMOVE. This is the property of unit 1. We pay rent for this carspace and shall therefore use it for whatever vehicle we want to. [crossed out scribbles]")
(By the way, Kate apologizes for the poor resolution of the photos; she only had her mobile phone with her at the time.)
related: Dear self-appointed parking cop: please direct your anger and self-righteousness elsewhere.
extra credit: This kid parallel parks better than I do [youtube]
125 responses so far ↓
#1
Andi
LOL, love the toy car – should have thought about that when we lived in a flat in Sydney and people would park in our parking space all the time because they thought we didn’t have a car (only one of us did). A bottle of Jif cleaner on an offending car’s windscreen seemed to fix the problem…
Aug 9, 2011 at 6:00 pm rating: 90
#2
bean
I’m gonna park a handtruck in my spot.
Aug 9, 2011 at 6:01 pm rating: 90
#3
Ember
I think this is pretty awesome. I have had people take my space a million times just because it was open. If you pay for it, it’s yours. I actually had a neighbor ask if he could park his car in my spot while my car was in the shop because his tabs were expired. I didn’t mind and it was cool of him to ask.
Aug 9, 2011 at 6:17 pm rating: 90
#4
Rillion
Team Toy Car. If they pay rent for it, it’s theirs. Better to be annoyed by a kid’s car in the parking space you want then to have to deal with your car being towed unexpectedly, right?
Aug 9, 2011 at 6:23 pm rating: 90
#5
Squirrely wrath
That’s no toy car, Andi. It’s a Smart car.
Aug 9, 2011 at 6:25 pm rating: 90
#6
J.See
I like it! We have a parking spot, but no car. But we live in an area with limited parking during certain events, so during those times we like to let our friends who may be visiting use it. Lately the person who parks next to our spot has decided that their little car is far to big to just park in their own, or they are far too lazy to park correctly, so they just use two spots now. I’ve been trying to think of a good way to combat this, as I have no idea what unit they are in to find them to ask. This might be a good way?
Aug 9, 2011 at 6:28 pm rating: 90
#7
scott hall
If they have a car then it’s cool.
If they don’t then not so much, but they aren’t really wrong, they could just stand to increase their coolness.
Aug 9, 2011 at 7:06 pm rating: 90
#8
Eileen
The crossed-out scribbles make me think that someone came along and wrote something like “F*** YOU” on the sign, and someone else crossed it out so the “children” wouldn’t see it.
To J. See: try printing out a “BAD PARK YOU!” sign and leaving it on their windshield a few days in a row, and see if they get the message.
Aug 9, 2011 at 7:15 pm rating: 90
#9
Really?
Team Toy Car!!
Aug 9, 2011 at 7:27 pm rating: 90
#10
Kate
Best idea ever! I’m so sick of having to pay for a parking space that my neighbor’s appropriate for their use. When my friends or relatives come over they have nowhere to park. I thought I was PAYING for that convenience?
Aug 9, 2011 at 7:42 pm rating: 90
#11
bookworm
Better in a parking spot than in the middle of the street where I usually see those toys.
Aug 9, 2011 at 7:47 pm rating: 90
#12
Dibs
Maybe it’s a stupid question, but if the tenants pay for a parking space, wouldn’t it make sense to paint the apartment number on the parking space? I live in a huge apartment complex and we all have a reserved parking space with our apartment number painted on the ground. If you don’t have a car then your space remains empty all the time but no one parks in it because you get towed.
Aug 9, 2011 at 8:21 pm rating: 90
#13
James L.
In China, many of the private parking spaces have mini-barriers bolted to the ground that pop up to prevent other people from parking in that space. They come in both manual and electric remote control versions. From what I saw, they seem to work well.
See, e.g.,
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/279643216/Manual_Operated_Parking_Barrier_BLA_MO.html
Aug 9, 2011 at 9:03 pm rating: 90
#14
AT
I am so happy to see so many people who share this problem! Our parking space is included in our rent so technically we are paying for it. We don’t have a car and people park there all the time and it irks me so much!
It doesn’t matter if they are numbered if anything it just helps the neighbours remember what parking space number belongs to the people without a car.
Aug 9, 2011 at 9:19 pm rating: 90
#15
Mei
Hi, for what it’s worth: I lived in an apartment complex that had non-designated spots – so there was no guarantee EVER that you would have a spot, let alone a spot anywhere near your unit.
I would have loved to have designated spots – and if your complex won’t help to enforce your spot, call a tow-company. They are illegally in your paid spot.
Aug 9, 2011 at 10:01 pm rating: 90
#16
humorless
I had a spot but no car, so I rented it out. Made $50 a month, so I definitely would have called a towing company on anyone parking there without my permission.
Aug 9, 2011 at 10:23 pm rating: 90
#17
chemgal
On a side note, I had to cut my SIL out of one of these cars after she thought it would be funny to get in it on Christmas Eve and then got stuck. Wish we hadn’t been as drunk as we were so we could have thought of a good note to have left from Santa explaining why it was ruined and why mommy had to go to the store and buy a new one on December 26th.
Aug 9, 2011 at 10:26 pm rating: 90
#18
Adriana
I was rocking that car in ’84.
Aug 9, 2011 at 11:47 pm rating: 90
#19
Canthz_B
Crap. Gotta go both ways here:
1) My rent covers my space, so no one has the right to decide when I may or may not need it anymore than they can barbecue on my patio if they notice I haven’t been using my grill very much lately.
If I didn’t have a car, it’s still mine for guest parking if nothing else.
Talk to me and I’ll consider subletting it to you.
2) I don’t see a way to go both ways on this.
The unused parking space assigned to an unoccupied apartment is fair game!!
I know…I use one because my wife uses our assigned space.
Aug 10, 2011 at 2:58 am rating: 90
#20
a-Arialist
I’m with the notewriter on this. I pay a shedload for my parking space, but only have a car 2-3 days a week. I get irate when people park in my space and I can’t use it when I need it. If you want to use my space on the days I don’t – knock on my door and ask. If you’re too lazy or rude to knock on the door, get the hell out of the space that I pay for!
Aug 10, 2011 at 3:09 am rating: 90
#21
Canthz_B
Why do people hate clowns so much?
Can’t a Bozo park in this mutha?
Aug 10, 2011 at 3:14 am rating: 90
#22
Canthz_B
One of the coolest things about my place of residence is that if you ask at the office they will give you a list of unoccupied apartments and which parking spaces are assigned to those units.
You can then use that space until the unit is rented, and then just go back to find the newest list of unoccupied apartments and the spaces assigned to them.
Sounds too much like easy, but it works.
Aug 10, 2011 at 3:20 am rating: 90
#23
Carl
Hahaha. 1000% awesome-balls.
Aug 10, 2011 at 3:48 am rating: 90
#24
Amoeba
It’s as much of a toy as most drivers’ cars.
A significant proportion of people have cars that are far too large and powerful for their needs and driving-skills. Anything unnecessary renders it a toy.
This space is of course, Private, however, cars on Public roads and land deny others the use of that Public Space, by enclosing Public Space, making it ‘private’. Just imagine the outrage of drivers if cyclists and pedestrians were to go around with a typical car-sized framework with signs saying ‘Private Keep Out’ on them. Well cars do exactly that. Just try and get into a car at a stop sign, in-order to use the Public Space that it encloses and tell us the response you got, if you live.
See: ‘tragedy of the commons’.
Aug 10, 2011 at 5:37 am rating: 90
#25
Schuby
outstanding
Aug 10, 2011 at 6:20 am rating: 90
#26
divaandwriter
This is great! I am Team Toy Car all the way.
Aug 10, 2011 at 8:59 am rating: 90
#27
Dr. Chalkwitheringlicktacklefeff
Team Toy Car. He/she HAS paid rent for it, after all, and it is very very funny.
Aug 10, 2011 at 9:01 am rating: 90
#28
aaa
That car’s trunk is hardly big enough to put groceries in.
Aug 10, 2011 at 9:55 am rating: 90
#29
KimG
A good solution if there is room: if you come in and someone is in your space just pull your car right up to their back bumper. Now when they try to leave they have to track you down to move your car. Hilarious!
Aug 10, 2011 at 10:03 am rating: 90
#30
Andrea
I don’t drive, but almost everyone else I know does.
I wrote two notes on one car before I called the tow. Then he got the idea that maybe he shouldn’t park in that spot.
Then he would keep trying to plug his car in wintertime into our plug in. I would just unplug it all the time in the night.
Aug 10, 2011 at 12:05 pm rating: 90
#31
Anne
I wish we had reserved spots in my complex. I used to come home from working night shift (7PM to 7AM) to find this one car parked across 2 spots. I finally got fed up one day and put a bit of a PA note on his windshield. After that I noticed he stayed within one spot when he parked.
Aug 10, 2011 at 12:38 pm rating: 90
#32
Amoeba
bookworm
Are you playing dumb, or just dumb?
Aug 10, 2011 at 12:42 pm rating: 90
#33
rusty shackelford
I thought the contributor’s comment (“I imagine this person is quite popular with the neighbours.”) was snarky and uncalled for. If I lived in this complex, I’d be a huge fan of theirs.
Aug 10, 2011 at 3:32 pm rating: 90
#34
Black Bellamy
I don’t know who that Amoeba fellow is, but he sure seems like a real dick.
Aug 10, 2011 at 3:34 pm rating: 90
#35
Nahhh
When I chew, I have a spot in my mouth that is over-sensitive, and it causes me discomfort.
My dentist says it’s under a bridge.
I suspect it’s a troll.
Aug 10, 2011 at 9:26 pm rating: 90
#36
Jeopardy
The Cozy Coupe is the best selling car of all time and is in the automotive-aviation museum. It earned that parking space!
Aug 10, 2011 at 10:38 pm rating: 90
#37
A
I have a parking space too, but no car.
I would feel like a true dick leaving a sign like this. If I can help someone at no cost to me, I’m happy to do so.
Aug 11, 2011 at 9:15 am rating: 90
#38
Amoeba
Why do I get the distinct impression that none of the writers of the comments aimed at me really understood what I wrote?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyOHJa5Vj5Y
Aug 12, 2011 at 1:21 am rating: 90
#39
FeRD
Clicking on the extra credit link led me to this cool little bit of reciprocal promotion, which I hadn’t previously seen: PAN now has its own YouTube channel!
http://www.youtube.com/social/blog/passiveaggressivenotes
Mercifully, there doesn’t appear to be any way for anyone to “comment” on it in any way, so it’s spared the usual brain-liquefying discourse that occurs in any and all YouTube comment streams. (Of course, the individual videos are not so fortunate.)
Aug 12, 2011 at 7:15 am rating: 90
#40
Dani
Totally team toy car… I lived in a duplex once and both apartments had completely separate driveways/parking spots that we each paid for in our rent. No one in my apartment had a car,but we often had friends come over that would use our spot. The people that lived above us took it upon themselves to treat our parking space as their own,telling their friends to park there,etc. without consulting us. My roommate borrowed a patio set from her parents and we put it right in the middle of our driveway and only moved it to the side when we knew someone was coming over and would need it. If the note writer pays for that spot..they should use it as they see fit!
Aug 12, 2011 at 1:21 pm rating: 90
#41
TKD
You get that impression because you are self-deluded. You are not nearly as intelligent as you believe yourself to be. Unfortunately for your case, you are not the first one here to read Hardin. But your attempt to synthesize an extension to support your own argument was poorly thought out, clumsily presented and almost completely out of context with the current topic of discussion. Further, your immediate jump to personal attacks when challenged leads us to one of two conclusions. Either you do not understand your own arguments well enough to hold a logical discussion. Or, worse yet in this forum, you lack any understanding of proper public discourse. So, while it may make you feel better to assume we are incapable of understanding your superior intellect, the reality is that the issues lie (or is it lay? I never can remember) between your ears. That was evident with your first post.
Aug 13, 2011 at 12:39 am rating: 90
#42
dkc
Team Toy Car all the way. If they pay for it, they can use it any way they want. No different than if they travel for their job… their apartment might be empty a lot, but it wouldn’t give someone the right to move into it just because they wanted it and it was unused at that moment.
Aug 14, 2011 at 10:19 am rating: 90
#43
Juniper
I’m on toycar’s side. I suppose it’s normal to notice that a space is regularly unused – but then you go and ASK to pay for use of the space if you want to park there.
Aug 15, 2011 at 7:02 am rating: 90
#44
Ceili
At our apartmentcomplex they have signs at the front of the parkingspaces saying RESERVED and then a sign with the licenseplate below it, any car parked in it that does not match the plate gets towed instantly, there are also people who own 2 cars that have 2 plates below it and its just 1st come first served for them, not ideal if you dont have a car and get a lot of visitors but it does make sure people don’t park there. Also all the other parking spots have a 2 hour limit on them, if you stay in it for longer then the allotted time you also get towed.
Aug 19, 2011 at 2:39 pm rating: 90
#45
Stephanie
I can see this from both sides of the coin. On one hand, if other people are taking your reserved spot, that’s a pain in the ass.
On the flip side, if you don’t own a car and there’s limited parking – don’t be a dick, rent out the space to someone who needs it. And a lot of complexes don’t allow anything but an actual vehicle in the spots – junk and old cars aren’t allowed.
Aug 23, 2011 at 10:18 pm rating: 90
#46
beth
Ahahaha! Is that a pack of cigarettes there beside the toy car?
Aug 28, 2011 at 1:04 pm rating: 90
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