One of those commissioned studies that prompt a press release caught my eye the other day. This survey was called “War of the Wheels: A quarter of Texans have fallen out with neighbors over parking disputes, reveals survey.”
Oddly, the study was done by Gunther Volvo Cars Coconut Creek, which surveyed 3,128 drivers across the country. You don’t see dealerships doing this kind of work.
But it was an interesting study, especially for a region loaded with subdivisions and developments, many with narrow streets. The dealership’s survey found that 26 percent of Texas drivers have had disputes with neighbors about parking. Interestingly, West Virginia had the most disputes, 46 percent; Mississippi was more sedate with 9 percent having issues with neighbors.
Disputes range from blocked driveways, your parking space occupied by a neighbor to visitors of neighbors parking on your curb or in front of your driveway.
The findings include:
- Almost one-fifth of drivers admit they have taken preventative measures to stop other vehicles parking in their preferred spot.
- 87 percent of drivers think they and people in their neighborhood should have primary access to parking spaces over those who are not from the neighborhood.
- Over 1 in 10 say they have put up a private parking sign to protect their favorite parking space.
- 13 percent say they would not tell a neighbor if they accidentally scratched their car while parking.
Gunther Volvo Cars provided tips on how to resolve disputes amicably before filing a formal complaint.
- Speak to your neighbor: Your neighbor might not even realize they’re causing you an inconvenience by parking in the space concerned.
- Document occurrences of the parking issue: Take photos or videos, date them, and make notes of when they happen. It might also be of help to research your local neighborhood parking bylaws and see if the issue violates any of these.
- Compile a clearly written, polite, formal letter: This might include evidence of the issues, along with any notes, as well as offering any potential solutions.
- Send the formal letter to your neighbor first: By laying out your concerns in a formally addressed letter, your neighbor will realize the seriousness of the matter.
I live in a part of Dallas-Fort Worth where older subdivisions adjoin newer ones and the streets and parking haven’t supported the population growth. In some places, the streets are too narrow because residents have overloaded garages and park in the streets. So, this is a good study to check out.
