Small story: Last Thursday night, it was supposed to snow a couple inches in my area. Normally, I park my bike alongside my car in a small parking area on the side of my apartment building. But, because of the snow, I asked permission from my landlord to park my bike on the concrete porch/patio thing in front of the building, since it has an awning and I didn't want my bike to get covered in snow or hit by a plow. They said that was fine, and I told them I'd move it when the snow melted a bit. So, I left it there over the weekend because there was a pile of snow where I normally park my bike. Today, most of the snow seemed to have melted and I wanted to ride my bike back to work after my lunch break. When I got home on my break, I uncovered my bike and stashed my cover in my car. Then, I started the bike up to let it warm up a little while I put my gear on. As I'm putting on my gloves and stuff, the tenant of the apartment my bike is parked in front of comes out and complains about it being there. I shut the bike off to talk to him and I told him I was literally moving it right now. He called me inconsiderate and said that I should've asked permission to park it there, since its in front of his apartment window. I told him I asked the people who own the building and they said it was fine, and that it was there all weekend and I hadn't heard about anyone complaining. He didn't seem to care and said "you still could've just asked me if it was okay." I told him I didn't need to ask him, since everyone is allowed to use the porch and repeated that I had gotten explicit permission from the landlords to park the bike there. He said "how would you feel if I parked a motorcycle right outside your window?" and I told him "Honestly, if you weren't revving it right outside my window constantly I wouldn't mind at all. Anyway, I am literally moving the bike right now, so I don't even know what you're complaining about." And he walked away grumbling about it.

Now admittedly, the main reason I planned on starting it up and letting idle there for a second was because it was the middle of the day and I assumed no one was home and even if they were, I was only going to be there for a minute. So, I probably could've been more considerate and rolled the bike away from his window before starting it up if the momentary noise is that big of an issue. I get being a little annoyed at having a motorcycle running right outside your window, so whatever. But it was just idling while I was putting my gear on, it wasn't like I was revving it up over and over. Its a stock exhaust, it isn't a loud bike by any means. And, it was only running there for like 30 seconds before he came out so its not like it was there for an annoyingly long amount of time... AND, its not like the bike was blocking his "view" before I moved it since A. his blinds are always shut, and B. the bike isn't really tall enough to obstruct the window anyway. (And if you ask me, my bike is prettier than the brown grass and leafless tree out there anyway lol)

So, the question I ask to you guys is: was I wrong for parking it there without asking him specifically?

There are a couple of things I see going on here looking from the outside "into" your situation.

1. We all have--right or wrong--the desire to feel that we "own" our own little places we live. This often extends to outside our windows, as with your neighbor;
2. Your neighbor felt wronged, and you felt attacked, both of which don't usually lead to quality communication; and,
3. You now have what could be described as a new problem neighbor to deal with.

We don't have any control over how other people deal with their ownership over spaces we don't feel they should have ownership over, but we *do* have ownership over de-escalating problems.

I think the question now isn't whether or not you had a "right" to park your bike there (clearly you did), but what can you do now to smooth relations with your neighbor over.

If it were me, I'd write the neighbor a note letting him know that you think the two of you got off on the wrong foot. Explain again that you had the owner's permission, explain what you did here--that you didn't realize it would bother anyone since you had that permission--and let the owner know that you don't want to go forward with this as a problem.

The endgame is that you want to be able to park your bike where it will be protected from the weather and not have to worry about the neighbor doing anything.

One idea would be to tell the neighbor you'll leave him a note in future if you've gotten the owner's permission again and need to park the bike there. The neighbor wants to have some ownership over the area outside his window, and you want to occasionally use that area. You're not asking the neighbor's permission, but you ARE giving him a little satisfaction about having a small amount of control over his little world. He sounds like he could be a problem (walking away grumbling is not how we want problem people to be when it's our bikes that will take the heat). Leave your first name and cell number in case your neighbor wants to talk/hug it out.

I've lived around some problematic neighbors, and the REAL problem neighbors will never be satisfied, but I've found it helps to at least try and it's come to good things where I've tried and had success (when everyone's annoyance and grumbling has died down).

If this doesn't help, is there another place to park the bike....where you could knock on the door or leave a note letting the tenant know (when you park the bike), that you've gotten the owner's permission and wanted to let them know that you'd move the bike from in front of their window as soon as you can after the storm has passed, and then you could leave them your first name and cell number to let them know you're sincere)?

Love,
pandy

Next time park it in front of his apartment door? 

Ha! I'm totally kidding...don't do that. My wife and I lived in a multi-family building for a few years before we bought our house, and we were lucky to have neighbors that, for the most part, kept to themselves. I think pandy has the right idea about trying to smooth things over with your neighbor. The last thing you need is someone vandalizing your bike because of some pointless miscommunication. Give him the satisfaction of thinking that he won, and you should be fine moving forward.

Quote from: rscottlow on February 14, 2017, 12:59:28 PM
Give him the satisfaction of thinking that he won, and you should be fine moving forward.

LOL! Why didn't *I* think of the idea of parking the bike right in front of their door....I LIKE that as a fellow-rider statement! LOL 

In regards to the above quote, this is often how we make friends in the world instead of foes! He thinks he's wons a small victory (while you haven't said you'd ASK him). If he doesn't play ball after you've tossed him this softball, then he's an ass anyway, right? 

I don't think you were wrong.  You went about asking the owners and all was well.  If it were me, I would've asked him if it would've been ok to park it there, had I asked.  If he said 'sure' then I'd thank him for being cool with letting me park there (from now on).  If he said 'no,'  I would've stuck to my guns that the owners of the building are ok with it, but that I'd only park there when it was balls deep snow and stop acting like a baby.

At least he didn't go removing your valve stems...


It's an apartment building, it has a "public" area, you had permission.  That's not his space, you don't need his permission.

But I get that in a community environment you need some form of cooperation.  Downstairs neighbor might be like "I got a bad headache and can hear your subwoofer through the floor, do you mind?". "No problem, man, feel better."

There's also a distinction between being a total jerk because I'm right and you're wrong and being polite while dissenting.

If someone came out to me at 2pm like "Your motorcycle is too loud" I won't be like "f%$k you, take it up with the building manager."  At the same time it's 2pm, I park towards the street to try and deal with the noise as considerately as possible, I need to warm the bike up a minute before I leave.
So I'd say "Hey man, I know my bike is loud, but I don't go revving it up for no reason, and besides it's the middle of the day.  People are cutting grass, there's traffic, I'm not the only one making noise here.  This is a public place, you have to understand."

Making enemies is never a good thing.  Especially when motorcycles are so easily damaged by being kicked over and such.

I think if this guy had come out and said "Hey, can you please not run the bike right by my window, its kind of loud" I wouldn't have had any real problem with it. I would've just said "sure, sorry about that, I didn't realize you were home" and moved the bike. What made me angry was his insistence that I should've asked his permission to put the bike there in the first place. Maybe I was a little less polite about it than I could have been, sure I can admit that. But people acting like they own something that isn't really theirs really rubs me the wrong way. It's one of the things that I just simply cannot stand in a person. I've had neighbors act that way in the past, and I'm not really the type of person to just placate someone to avoid a conflict. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have any real desire to "smooth it over" with this guy, since I didn't do anything wrong.

That said, I'm not looking to start a conflict for no reason. If we get another snowstorm, I don't want to make the guy feel like I'm putting the bike there just to spite him. Maybe I'll take Pandy's advice next time, and leave a note on the guy's door simply telling him I'll be leaving the bike there for a few days because I don't want it to be buried or knocked over by the plow truck. That way, he can understand why the bike is there and just suck up the minor inconvenience with the knowledge that its temporary and that I am not doing it just to annoy him.

Quote from: Watcher on February 14, 2017, 09:13:13 PM
At least he didn't go removing your valve stems...

Did you ever figure out that whole situation?

No, not really.

Ever since I cranked the caps down and struck a paint line on the stem I haven't had any more instances of "tampering".  Either whoever was doing it thought better of it or figured it wasn't worth the trouble, or it really was just a loose Shrader that was being temperamental.  I've never had or even heard of a Shrader coming loose, though, so it's a new one for me and I consider it still a bit of a mystery.

Or maybe whoever was doing it saw the big iron on my hip and got a little intimidated.
I carry a full size pistol when I ride because it's easier to handle with gloves on, and my jacket usually covers it up.  But I'm not fixing a tire with my jacket on, not in this heat...

If you want to be friends with him you can coddle him and try to make him feel better about it by trying to "talk it out". He will likely not want to hear any of it.

Or,

If you don't care to be buddy-buddy with him you need to put him in his place by immediately going bat shlit crazy as soon as he opens his mouth. Scare the crap our of him so he fears you (just don't touch him). This is my first choice in dealing with pinheads. Stop them in their tracks before it starts. Some people can't be reasoned with. If you let him control you he will. Being a renter gives him no domain over you, the window, or the view outside.

It's kind of like the kids sitting behind you and talking in a theater. You can shush them and get laughed at. Or, you can turn and look them right in the eyes and say SHUT THE F*** UP !

It doesn't get any better once you own a property and have neighbors either. You'll still find a way to get on each others nerves. My next move will be to a house with no neighbors within shouting distance.

Disclaimer: This opinions does not reflect the opinion of the owner/operator of this site and is intended as satirical alternative for dealing with people who think the can walk on water. Injuries or damages caused by using "bat shlit crazy mode"  are the sole responsibility of the user.

Lol, thanks for the laugh pliskin. The Rick Flair GIF you have as your avatar makes the whole post way more funny.

Quote from: Watcher on February 15, 2017, 07:44:13 AM
No, not really.

Ever since I cranked the caps down and struck a paint line on the stem I haven't had any more instances of "tampering".  Either whoever was doing it thought better of it or figured it wasn't worth the trouble, or it really was just a loose Shrader that was being temperamental.  I've never had or even heard of a Shrader coming loose, though, so it's a new one for me and I consider it still a bit of a mystery.

Or maybe whoever was doing it saw the big iron on my hip and got a little intimidated.
I carry a full size pistol when I ride because it's easier to handle with gloves on, and my jacket usually covers it up.  But I'm not fixing a tire with my jacket on, not in this heat...

Who knows. As long as it doesn't happen again, maybe just brush it off?

I kinda wish all of the U.S.ofA. was an open-carry country. I think that if we all just were ABLE to show phat pistols on our hips, there would be a lot less problems (yes, I realize that this is likely a bit controversial, especially in our peace-loving ally countries where even the cops don't carry - this is a marvel to me!). Plus....well... I just want to be ABLE to carry.

I will agree with the above: neighbor squabbles stick around even after you own a home. People are people.

To me, there was a bit a "neighbor rage" going on here, rather than road rage. We people want to have ownership over whatever small things we can afford to own anymore, whether it's the space outside our window or the space we can manage to park our bikes safely if we don't have a garage. I don't use rage in a pejorative way, only descriptive.

Whatever you decide to do depends on what outcome you want. If you make a frenemy (you can decide for yourself which relationship is more to you  ) with the grumpy neighbor, he may do you a good turn by going out and messing with some stranger that may be messing with your bike (just a thought). If you remain on grumpy terms, he won't give a shiite if he sees someone kick your bike over; he'll be laughing in glee on the inside.

You weren't wrong, but being right doesn't always get us what we need. I wouldn't ever ask for permission for something that I had a right to; I'd simply either talk to the neighbor or leave a note letting him/her know that the apartment/house owner had given me permission to park there so that no harm would come to my bike. I think a LOT of things in life could be made easier if people just TALKED to each other, but as a society, we're doing that less and less (that's the Rhetorician and the Sociologist in me coming out... I'm trying hard to keep the Psychologist firmly chained in the back yard!  ).

I doubt the two of you will hug it out, but I hope you get your pitbull neighbor to work FOR you rather than against you!

Like I said, if I have to move the bike again due to another snow, I may leave him a note so he knows what's going on and doesn't think I'm just being an ass.

I'm not arguing with you; I think you're being very smart about the whole thing. I'm just laid up and bored this morning, and I get diarrhea of the keyboard when that happens. I will go find another thread to be bored in.



P.S. Plus, I think this is a great discussion to have, because we all run into problem people around our bikes every day, and figuring out how to deal with them (which is exactly what you're doing and teaching others to do by posting) never goes out of date. I hope more people post their opinions, not because any are wrong or right, but because dealing with these things is important.

Quote from: pandy on February 15, 2017, 10:26:55 AM
I'm not arguing with you; I think you're being very smart about the whole thing. I'm just laid up and bored this morning, and I get diarrhea of the keyboard when that happens. I will go find another thread to be bored in.

Lol I didn't think you were arguing. I welcome your input. If you have something worth saying, say it lol.

Greetings ohh mighty pandy, i tend to agree with what she said. you both will be neighbours, its best to keep things cool with eachother if at all possible. or mend aany percieved misgivings by him if at all possible.
Aaron.
p.s. pandy will redo the purple fro smiley and pm the linkie to you soon.

Quote from: qcbaker on February 15, 2017, 10:38:42 AM
Lol I didn't think you were arguing. I welcome your input. If you have something worth saying, say it lol.

I was already adding to my post above yours while you were typing. I just can't help myself! LOL 

I really DO think there are a LOT of good "problems" you posted about and discussion to be had: dealing with neighbors, in general; dealing with a neighbor who's grumpy about his/her "space," even if that space isn't really his/hers; dealing with landlords (getting your landlord's permission in advance was brilliant); dealing with grumpy neighbors who come out and show their grumpy world on us; dealing with others after a conflict centering on our beloved bikes; dealing with the frustration after we have encounters like this that make us want to split someone's head open; getting feedback, opinions, & advice from peers about what happened and what could happen in the future and how to deal with this shiite, etc., etc. And here you just thought you were posting a rant, right? 

So far you're doing it all right .<---- if nothing else, I think you'll at least find that worth saying. LOL! We all get involved in confrontations and deal with asshats who think they own the world. Threads like this one help ALL of us *think* about what we could/would do, and that helps all of us (myself included!)!

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on February 15, 2017, 10:51:02 AM
Greetings ohh mighty pandy, i tend to agree with what she said. you both will be neighbours, its best to keep things cool with eachother if at all possible. or mend aany percieved misgivings by him if at all possible.
Aaron.
p.s. pandy will redo the purple fro smiley and pm the linkie to you soon.

YamazUkiAaronHonk! I wondered when I'd finally run into you, ol' friend.... damn...I'm looking old and need a facelift? Look forward to seeing it! /end threadjack

Quote from: pandy on February 15, 2017, 10:54:05 AM
...
I really DO think there are a LOT of good "problems" you posted about and discussion to be had: dealing with neighbors, in general; dealing with a neighbor who's grumpy about his/her "space," even if that space isn't really his/hers; dealing with landlords (getting your landlord's permission in advance was brilliant); dealing with grumpy neighbors who come out and show their grumpy world on us; dealing with others after a conflict centering on our beloved bikes; dealing with the frustration after we have encounters like this that make us want to split someone's head open; getting feedback, opinions, & advice from peers about what happened and what could happen in the future and how to deal with this shiite, etc., etc. And here you just thought you were posting a rant, right? 
...

Well, I didn't want to derail the thread topic too far with tangents lol. But you're right, those are all great topics for discussions. Since my original topic is more or less addressed, I guess anyone can feel free to post about anything tangentially related lol.

QC, you seem like a level headed fella.... as long as the neighbor is even remotely similar, I think you won't have any problems in the future.

I have an "apartment life" story: about 10 years ago I lived in a one bedroom upstairs apartment. There were 12 apartments in the building, with 3 walkways from the driveway that made a "Y" shape (so there were 4 apartment doors at each "Y"). In the winter, I would get up early for work and use my neighbors snow shovel (it sat outside his door) to clear the snow from all three Y's - just making a clear path out to the driveway that was plowed. Well, one afternoon I was getting home from work and my neighbor was watching out his window for me. He came outside and was PISSED that I had used his shovel - yelling, swearing, spit flying, everything. I apologized for using it without his permission, and said not to worry - it won't happen again. Come to find out, the neighbor on the other side heard the yelling and came outside. He said in front of the angry neighbor "Rich, I'll leave my shovel outside from now on. Feel free to use it when you like since the rest of us appreciate what you're doing."

Guess which neighbor had to shovel his own walkway?

To me the whole thing seems rather petty and avoidable. If it were me, I would have just apologized to the neighbor and explained why the bike was parked there. I imagine people are typically pretty reasonable -- especially if they're the ones creating a confrontation -- and would understand why the bike was parked there. With that having been said, however, I would not have been very happy if they continued to be inconsolable after the explanation.