Not that I enjoy being a snitch, but this one guy repeatedly parks his white Infiniti ON the trail between Putnam St. and Beechwood. Today is the 3rd time I've encountered it in the past month, and since I was towing a trailer, getting past was a PITA.
Also, today, there was only one person around (a guy hitting golf balls), so I asked if it was his car (it was) and said "this is a trail, not a parking spot". In dream-land he might have said "thank you for letting me know, and let me move my car", but instead he started arguing about it and making excuses about how there was nowhere else to park, so I rode away.
Anyways, he certainly can't plead ignorance anymore, so I won't feel so guilty about calling it in if it happens again - except of course I can't find a number to do so.
311. Some jag parked at Social and Festival the other day and completely blocked the entrance to Rezenstein. Thanks for reminding me to report this as an issue because it's not the first time someone has parked illegally AND blocked the entrance.
I've been told to call 911 to report blocked lanes, etc., but I always feel a little weird about it, and feel I have to get the operator to calm down that it's not a "real" emergency.
You can also take a snapshot and upload it if it's a repeat violator.
Just call 911 and tell them it is a non-emergency. If you listen to the police/EMS radio feeds (they have streaming mp3s!) you'll hear the dispatchers call out tons of illegally parked car complaints for officers to check out.
i have had to call about people who used to block my driveway when i lived in bloomfield. I was usually told by 911 to call whatever police zone i was in, or you can call the parking authority at 412-560-PARK
i would also say (sadly) to say that they are blocking the trail/illegally parked and maybe not mention you are on a bike... i feel like they care less then.
could be wrong though. call 'em in!
Sorry. I should have been more specific. If they are blocking a public road/trail, call 911. Private driveways are less of a concern for the "public interest" (though I wish they would still tow these people).
Calling 911 would also get the violation in the system and if multiple people call it in, they won't have to dispatch police more than once. Calling the zone directly gets you squat, and it is unlikely more than one person is going to call in about a car blocking a driveway.
@ Salty, When I've had neighbors park in a way that is illegal and bothersom, I leaave a polite note not mentioning that better parking is KEY to being a good neighbor. I put a little drawing of a key below it.
You don't want the guy to have teh warm fuzzy feeling that his car will not be vandalized after talking with you.
Of course, I woudn't advocated ever actually harming his property. Just do him the public service of letting him know it COULD happen.
And, of course, if you physically brush his car as you ride by? Stuff happens.
@rsprake - when I used to go that way I'm not sure I can remember a day there *wasn't* a car (or 2) parked right there. although, it is in front of the chain so I thought it was a grey area - coming from Social, I never saw the no parking sign!
It definitely feels heavy-handed to call 911 but if that's the answer, that's what I'll do - thanks!
There are always cars parked there but there is usually enough room to get around. Lately people have been parking too close to the opening.
Seriously, vandalism is not the right way to get cars to park elsewhere. Likely effective, but not right.
"Y'know, parking your car here makes it very difficult for me to bike through here with my trailer attached. I didn't want to scratch your car. If you had parked in a different/legal spot, this would not be a problem for either of us."
There is a regular bike line parking violator at the corner of Wilkins and Dallas. I have emailed 311 numerous times. The first time, back in November when the bike lane went in, received a response that officers would be dispatched to ticket. Two subsequent email have received no response. I'm wondering if they simply aren't reading them anymore.
http://pittsburgh.mybikelane.com/plate/11291
Bike lane nothing - parking next to the yield sign has always been illegal. 3353.a.2.iv
Right now there's a dumpster in the bike lane, but I think it's 30 ft from the yield sign, or close to it. Amusingly, the StreetView shows a different vehicle, but probably the same owner.
Practically speaking, I just make sure I'm controlling that lane through the entire intersection, and then maybe use the bike lane wherever there isn't a car parked right next to it.
well, apparently the neighbor to my org (who is a passive aggressive jerk) called the cops on our pick up (which has a logo on it matching our front door) which was parked in front of his house on penn the other day.
cops came a towed it.
i guess there is a faded yellow no parking where it was, but people park here seriously all day.
we know it was neighbor man because we were told by the business across the street. we had a meeting in the back for an hour while it happned.
so: yes, if you call the cops witha plate number, they will come and tow the vehicle! all the way to the south hills!
^^^i should mention that he could have just come asked us to move it, since we were right here and he has our phone numbers. sigh.
wow, that sucks... south hills? i thought they towed cars under the 31sb?
fwiw, the golf ball guy was back this morning, and his car was parked near but not on or blocking the path. he looked at me and i shouted out a "thank you" and rode on... so maybe there is hope for humanity after all.
31sb lot has been closed for a year or so now. it gets towed to the lot of whatever company comes and gets it now.
Ok, Mr. Golfball was out again today. This time, he's parked (mostly) beside the trail - I mean, parallel to it, in the mud, maybe two wheels on the pavement. Definitely not where he should be parking but not really obstructing my passage either.
To make it more interesting, I had just passed a cop sitting at the other end of the trail in the parking lot - it would take 30 seconds to turn around and go tell the cop. So, what would you do?
If the path is not at all obstructed for me, I'd call it a victory and consider thanking the guy.
Take a picture next time.
A few years ago there was a guy who regularly parked blocking half the bikepath near 2nd avenue. When I saw him getting in his car one day, I told him he was blocking the bikepath. He replied it was no big deal to do so. I then told him every day when I saw his car on the path I was going to spit on his windshield.
He stopped.
I 311 report the car dealership on 5th on a weekly basis.
Hasn't seemed to have an impact. Guy still parks his SUVs on the sidewalk every..single...day.
Maybe call the Parking Authority? Don't they have the power to write parking tickets anywhere?
I don't know. The one time I rode past, it was some jerk cop that was standing there talking to him that cussed me out, so I assume he skirts the parking tickets, either by moving the cars when they roll up, or getting them dismissed after the fact? Maybe he pays them and writes em off as a business expense! Being a car dealer, could the cars not have valid plates and he avoids ticketing that way? I can't believe me and others have been reporting this one problem to 311 for the past 3 years, and not a damn thing has changed.
I thought you got an "opinion" straight from a cop about how seriously they take that situation.
Mick, that was basically the conclusion I came to (and fwiw as I said earlier, I did thank the guy the day before, when he was parked on the street.) As long as he doesnt go back to blocking the path - what the hell, there are better battles to fight.
btw, rsprake, I can see your spot from a window in my building, I did note someone parked in that exact spot around noon but can't recall if it was the same truck.
The same spot in East Liberty/Shadyside was occupied by a different (white) car today. Posted to mybikelane.
At you least you can get around that one Ian. 
