Safety risk when parallel parking and neighbors plant flowers/shrubs right next to the street

[Anonymous]

I hope I'm explaining this right--I live in a rowhouse on Capitol Hill, so that might give you an idea of the type of neighborhood I mean. My street has sidewalks, and in between the sidewalks and the street itself, there are rectangles of grass that are a few feet wide and several feet long. In between the grassy rectangles there are paved areas, so ostensibly you would walk on the paved areas from the sidewalk to the street or to your car. Parking in my neighborhood can be tight, so when you see an open spot you are happy to squeeze in.

A few of my neighbors are avid gardeners, and they use the grassy rectangles near their homes to plant flowers, shrubs, etc. (This is not part of their property.) In some cases they even put up little "fences" to keep dogs out of the area. The problem is that I often end up having to park directly in front of these gardens, and there is literally no place to stand that would enable me to get my baby out of the backseat and walk safely to the paved area of the sidewalk. My street is quite busy but not very wide, so I really hate to stand in the street and walk around the car while holding my kid.

I know that what my neighbors are doing is common practice in my neighborhood, and I know that it makes the street look really nice. But it really, truly is a safety risk, especially when they plant larger shrubs or put up little fences. It's also really annoying even if you don't have a baby with you--I've had to wade through wet knee-high plants in a work suit on more than one occasion. Is there a solution? (Ideally one that doesn't involve me alienating my very nice neighbors?)

[Anonymous]

I think you need to reevaluate your definition of "safety risk", or you are going to have a couple of very scary decades.

[Anonymous]

I think you should just step in the garden and be as careful as you can not to crush any flowers. THere is usually enough space to step in between them. If it's inevitable....oh well....you tried your best and what else where you supposed to do?

[Anonymous]

Wow, when I first read the topic I thought you were going to say that you were worried criminals hide behind the plant. Are you serious!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I think you should pick another parking spot. You have no right to tell your neighbors what to plant in their tree boxes, sorry.

If you want a safe private parking spot, put one in your backyard or rent a dedicated spot. Street parking is first come first serve.

[Anonymous]

I think you should pick another parking spot. You have no right to tell your neighbors what to plant in their tree boxes, sorry.

See, this is what happened when DCUM went global and exploded in readership about a year ago. Idiots from Lenexa, KS who know not what they speak decide they can leave the Expectant Moms forum and chime in on topics like this.

Lady. There is not "another parking spot."

[Anonymous]

It is sometimes necessary to retrieve children from the street side. Yes, it should be avoided whenever possible, but you'll need to get comfortable doing this quickly and without sticking too far out for too long. You mentioned a baby, so I think this is just something you'll learn to coordinate as you go along a bit farther.

I've also done some pretty acrobatic seat-climbing to avoid this. Motherhood involves a lot of inconvenience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should pick another parking spot. You have no right to tell your neighbors what to plant in their tree boxes, sorry.

If you want a safe private parking spot, put one in your backyard or rent a dedicated spot. Street parking is first come first serve.

It's not their property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to reevaluate your definition of "safety risk", or you are going to have a couple of very scary decades.

OP here. I can see why you'd say this without knowing me or where I live, but trust me when I tell you I'm not usually uptight about stuff like this. But I live on a one-way street that is a main thoroughfare and has parking along both sides, and there really is very little room to stand in the street. A few months ago my neighbor actually had his passenger side door clipped by someone driving too close.

If they just planted flowers it would be fine, but when they put up a little barrier or start with actual shrubs and bushes, it gets very difficult. In one case the guy has these tall plants (yucca, maybe?) with long sharp pointy leaves sticking out up to about chest height. Even when it's just flowers they are often knee-high and thick, and I can't see where my feet are while holding 30 pounds of squirming toddler. (I say "baby" by force of habit, but he's almost 18 months.)

I think it's fine to beautify the neighborhood, but this is a bit out of control.

[Anonymous]

don't pick this battle... seriously, there are probably other spots, what makes the 10 feet in front of the mini garden always open? if it bothers you circle for another 5 minutes. youll piss of this couple for a really dumb reason. also it will make you sound like an idiot who cant hack it in the city.

[Anonymous]

While it's not their property, they are responsible for taking care of it. Dc regulates what you can or can't have in the tree box and, in some areas, encourages attractive plantings. If you think that a neighbor is breaking those regulations, report them if it means that much to you. I think plants up to 18 inches high (except for trees, of course) are allowed. I don't think there are any regulations with regard to density.

FWIW, I only have grass in mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is sometimes necessary to retrieve children from the street side. Yes, it should be avoided whenever possible, but you'll need to get comfortable doing this quickly and without sticking too far out for too long. You mentioned a baby, so I think this is just something you'll learn to coordinate as you go along a bit farther.

I've also done some pretty acrobatic seat-climbing to avoid this. Motherhood involves a lot of inconvenience.

OP here. It's not about convenience. My kid is almost 30 pounds and sits rear-facing in a Britax convertible in the center position--I'd have to be in Cirque de Soleil to get him out through the front seat.

[Anonymous]

It might be time to move to the burbs. Seriously, I'm not being snarky.

[Anonymous]

I agree that motherhood often involves inconvenience. I also agree that the 'burbs might be inevitable for OP. I know it's a bad word here, but really.

I would not report a neighbor. I have heard of someone reporting a neighbor, who became furious and really dug deep to get the instigator back. While it was over the top, it worked, and the first neighbor is truly wishing she never started trouble. Really, you think you know who you are dealing with, and you really don't. It got really ugly in ways the first neighbor could have never predicted in a million years. You may want to stay in this neighborhood forever, but reporting a neighbor is NO way to do that.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP

I hear you. I used to live on the Hill but now live in NW. As far as I am concerned, the only safety risk is for the plants themselves. If I have to step on them, so be it. I try not to, but that's the risk the gardener makes when planting delicate (or thorny!) things near the curb.

But I would not ask a neighbor to refrain from gardening. It really does beautify the neighborhoods; I'd rather see the plants (even yuccas) than broken glass and dog poop.