Antisocial behaviour - parking - they think they are entitled to do this and nobody has done anything to stop them

[Nobodybothers]

Our neighbour used a covered up ebike or motorbike to block the parking space in front of their house.

Every day, at late night, their EV car would swap with the bike and they probably took the bike inside, as it's nowhere to be seen. Every morning, they took the bike out again to block the space when they drove away with their car. Since it's one of the two parking spots between two driveways, it became natural that they just have one of these two spots, as their bike is parked in parallel to the curb such so it's impossible to park another car despite the massive length of space.

It's a street with no parking restrictions and there's no patrol around. They have a door camera so neighbours are deterred to openly move the bike.

They've been doing this for three weeks in a row.

I've tried to report to the council online and by phone. But nothing has been done. AI seems to think there's very little legal ground for the council to do much.

How could they just claim the space to theirs when the elderly come home finding no space in the street and having to park elsewhere? How could this be allowed to carry on?

That's OP's hypothesis. But presumably she isn't watching her neighbours every second, so has no real idea if they are using it for travel sometimes.

ETA if the neighbours were previously keeping it in their shed or whatever, they might have had the bike for a while, not 'bought it specially'.

If it’s taxed, cheeky but legitimate.

If it is an E-bike I'd just move it , it shouldn't be taking up a parking space.

I think we need a diagram OP, because I honestly don’t understand how an e-bike can occupy 2 car-lengths and prevent anyone parking there. Surely it can just be picked up and put on the pavement? And so what if their cameras see it? As long as no damage is done, it’s not illegal to touch something on a public space.

I don’t believe it is. It’s taking up one space and OP thinks it shouldn’t be taking up any.

where is the diagram? the rules are pictures on paper are needed

1. There are two adjoining parking spaces, parallel to the kerb, between frail neighbour and bike neighbour
2. Bike neighbour puts their bike parallel to the kerb in the middle of one space, and swaps it for their EV at night
3. OP would like bike neighbour to put their bike either perpendicular to the kerb or towards the front of the space as then two cars would fit in as well at the bike
4. AFAI can tell, no one has actually asked bike neighbour if they will do this

roads are free to park stuff on, we all pay for them and all can use them for one, two or three vehicles. If we want to get a motorbike to the shed every night and park on the road, we can. Its not antisocial or "morally" wrong as its a free country and free at source public roads - obviously M6 toll is different

If there's a parking shortage in general, freeing up this one space isn't going to solve anyone's problems, is it?

Yeah, this - how hard is it to understand? What if somebody wanted to 'park' a Little Tikes car in there; or their shopping trolley; or a pushchair (empty!); or a wheelie bin; or a wheelbarrow; or a wheelie suitcase? In fact, does it even have to have wheels? Could you just leave a coffee table in there, or a camping chair, or a pile of cardboard boxes?

The whole idea of public parking spaces is that they are provided for use with vehicles that need a parking space. If you seek to hog them by leaving something in there that doesn't need a parking space at all, and which will otherwise be routinely stored off the road - in a house or garden - you are abusing the facility and acting selfishly and immorally.

Are a lot of you fed up aboit it? Why dont several of you put balaklavas on and late at night lift up the bike and throw it on the ground. They wont know who has done it. I dont know what good it would do but it would be retaliation for them being so selfish and mean.

The type of bike is important.
If its an actual motorbike I dont think there's anything you can do except try to catch them offguard and jump into the space with your vehicle when they are doing the switch.
If it's an ebike I would just move it.

How so? If it's a space that could otherwise have been used by another car all the time the actual car owned by the selfish neighbours wasn't needing to use it (when out at their workplace or wherever)?

It is illegal to park on a public road with number plate covered.

Do they own their house or rent? If they rent, then report to the LL/letting agent.
Not sure if you can report the vehicle to the police as possibly an uninsured one?
Or club together and pay for the disabled space for the elderly couple.
I think you just need a whole group of you to move the vehicle every time it's moved into position. Keep moving it further and further away!

An ebike (if that's what it is - and it sounds like it is as another neighbour moved it) isn't a motorbike or vehicle. It shouldn't be parked on a road to block a space that other vehicles could use - I would just lift an ebike onto the pavement.

OP doesn’t seem sure what kind of bike it is.

No she doesn't - but if a neighbour moved a motorbike that's impressive! A motorbike has every right to be there - an ebike, not so much.

Exactly 💯 fire with fire.

I like that. If their camera shows lots of neighbours involved, they cannot target an individual. OP should knock on doors and gather people to do it. They could leave a polite note explaining that they need the other spare space. Personally, I'd add that it is supposed to be first-come, first-served so if they keep hogging one space, others might get the same idea and park a bike in front of theirs so no one can park a car there, including them.

Because their behaviour is obviously selfish and despicable. Parking law needs an update. Would be so easy to do. Burnham needs to add that to his list.

If the parking space is in front of their house I can see why they’re doing this, and I don’t really blame them. After a long day at work they don’t want to have to park miles away either. They’re looking after their own wellbeing in a legal way by parking another vehicle of theirs out there, and I totally get that. It’s not just the elderly who have needs.

They’re probably working very long days and you’re talking about harassing them. Why not band together and collectively lobby the council about residential parking permits instead, and ban the non-resident shoppers and commuters clogging your spaces up.

Teport them to the council.

I like this. Return fire! They can't complain.

Make friends with them and ask if you can help guard the space with your car round the daytime