Neighbor Etiquette Question

[joflier]

I''m looking for suggestions of how to handle this. My neighbor that lives directly across the street is a school bus driver, and he keeps the bus at his house - parked on the street, 24/7. I''m just really getting tired of opening up the curtains, and the only view I get from my living room window is this yellow bus! I just think it looks so tacky. That, and when I back out of my driveway to go towards town, I have to be cautious that I don''t hit the bus. It takes up about 1/3 of the street width. Mind you this isn''t a full size bus - it''s a smaller one. But still. Aside from it just looking ugly and being there ALL the time, I''m bugged because the bus lot where EVERYONE else parks their bus, is just down at the end of our block across the road!!! Why must they keep the bus in our street when it could just be parked in a designated place that''s only an 1/8th of mile down?
Also, in winter, we can''t be parked on the streets overnight, so I hear them start up the bus, around midnight, and move it into their driveway for the night. If I ever have company over, they also park in the road (I have a narrow drive), so then there''s very limited passage for other vehicles to even get through between the 2.
I dunno - maybe this is just dumb and me being too ticky tacky. What would you guys think or do? I''ve never spoken to these neighbors before, aside from a quick hello or wave. And I''d hate or 1st conversation to be "can you please lose the bus?"

 

[lyra]

I have no advice per se, because I''m not sure if there is a bylaw in your area against parking a commercial vehicle overnight on a residential street. However...we had the EXACT same issue a few years ago with our neighbour directly across the street. She was a schoolbus driver but parked the short bus on the street and in her driveway every single day! Nothing we could do though. All the neighbours hated it too. They moved, but she still does the same thing at her new house. It sucks.

 

[kenny]

We live in an R1 neighborhood.
One guy parked his HUGE boat on a trailer down the street.

Neighbors complained to the city and got a sign put us saying something like, No Parking of vehicles over X length.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

How annoying. Do you live in a newish housing development? Sometimes the title deeds will include a deed of conditions which effectively restricts what people may and may not do (stuff like keeping over a certain number of pets, what you can park and where etc). If you do have such a deed, you would at least know that you''re totally within your rights to ask him to lose the bus (not a phrase I''ve ever used before...).

Either way, I would make a polite but business like approach to him when he isn''t busy or with anyone he''d like to save face in front of or otherwise impress and just say calmly that you''d appreciate him using the area designated for bus parking as his bus is spoiling your enjoyment of your home.

Good luck.

 

[joflier]

It''s an older neighborhood, so I don''t know if there''s any covenants or rules about such things. There''s another guy down the street that drives semi and drives just the cab and parks it in the street when he''s home every other weekend. But it''s just a day or 2. And it''s not directly out my window. It''s just - no matter what, open a window, go out the door, sit in the yard, there it is. Yellow bus, everywhere I look!
I''m just poor with confrontation like that with people I don''t know. They seem nice, and I just don''t want to be the neighborhood jerk.

 

[kenny]

You want no bus and to not be a jerk. (as you put it)
You have created a no-win predicament for yourself.

You can't have it both ways.

Pick one:
1. stop letting the bus bother you
2. stop thinking that saying something means you are a jerk
3. be a jerk (as you put it) and speak up
4. do nothing and remain unhappy

Edit, that speaking up makes you a jerk is not an absolute truth that is out there like 2+2=4.
It is a believe you have adopted.
It is in your mind, so you can change what is in your mind.
(Obviously, there are nice ways and nasty ways to say the same thing to your neighbor.)

When our beliefs stop working for us it is time to modify them.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Is it one of those yellow school district buses? Call the school disctrict transportation center and ask their rules on not having their drivers park district buses outside the dispatch center.

 

[treefrog]

It sounds like there either aren''t any covenants or they are not enforced. I think MC has a good idea. But if you do that and the neighbors get a call saying a neighbor complained about it, they''d probably be able to guess which neighbor and could then be mad you didn''t say something to them and they had to receive a nasty call from the school/district. You could be in an equally bad place with the neighbor and I can''t imagine neighbor battles are any fun.

Personally, I''d be fuming inside. It is dangerous coming out of a driveway with an obstruction like that. I almost agree with Kenny, it''s a no-win situation.

Do they park on their side of the street or on your side?

The only obvious solution is to buy something larger and park it in front of your house!

I''d try MC''s suggestion.

Treefrog

 

[packrat]

I''d follow MC''s suggestion. Buses here are to be in the bus barn when they''re not being driven. The drivers don''t take them home. The only time I''ve ever seen buses parked elsewhere is when they''re being worked on, and that''s at a shop, not outside a house.

 

[somethingshiny]

I don''t have a suggestion but I can relate. When I open up my front curtains or door, I am greeted with staring at an old hunk of junk RV.

It really is irritating.

 

[Kaleigh]

I think I''d go MC''s way. Here they aren''t allowed to be parked on the street. They have to be parked in the disticts Bus lot.

Good luck that would annoy me too.

 

[stci]

I agree!!!!!

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 4/23/2010 2:49:49 PM
Author: MC
Is it one of those yellow school district buses? Call the school disctrict transportation center and ask their rules on not having their drivers park district buses outside the dispatch center.

I like this idea!

Honestly, if I was in this situation, I don''t think I''d feel comfortable contacting my neighbor. I''d contact the bus commpany/lot supervisor and see what he/she says and leave it at that.

 

[junebug17]

Oh, this would bother me a lot, I don't blame you a bit for being annoyed. I like MC's idea, but I'm wondering if he owns this bus himself? I find it odd he would park it at his home, I've never seen this before. Or you could contact your municipal building and see if he is violating any town ordinances by doing this.

eta: I meant to say that I find it strange he would park it at his house if he works for the school transportation system.

 

[Rachel9]

Yeah, I doubt they are allowed on the street, I would check with local school district.

 

[that_someone_special]

Every place I''ve lived boats, trailers.. and BUSES were not even allow to be parked in sight!!! It''s a huge pain, but makes the place look better.

I would call up his work...

 

[AprilBaby]

Agreed! Call the district and complain. They enforce it instead of you! As a taxpayer you have every right to see that those buses are well maintained and that means not taking a chance they will be hit on the street in front of your house

 

[laine]

It may not be owned by the district. When I was in school, the buses were all privately owned, usually by the driver. The bus I rode was always parked on a farm down the street.

 

[CasaBlanca]

Ditto MC!

This way ANYONE could have called it in. Neighbor has no clue it is you. WIN WIN!

Besides, The bus driver needs a new pair of sneakers and an umbrella. A little daily walk is good for the soul and his health. Your call just may end up adding years to his life! Woo HOO. Get that number and call now! (operators are standing by).


PS. If Laine is correct, then I would call the oh, what is it called? The people who handle street traffic and road safety/right of way etc. Just as you say you are not the only one with a blind spot as you pull out. That street wasn't designed to have a parked tank in it. Children can't be seen in front or behind. Ordinance must be on some book. Contact your councilmen/woman if it is privately owned. Have them help you.

 

[Steel]

Oh, just burn it down. That will teach them to be inconsiderate. I hate self entitled people.

Did I type that out loud? Darn. What I meant to say was:

Where is your community spirit? Live and let live. Then go on over there and burn it down.

 

[monarch64]

Just be glad it''s an actual working bus and not one that people have, ahem, converted into their dwelling.

I am moving in a week, but all year I''ve been wondering what can be done about the HORRIBLE clangity-clang-clang of the church bells across the street. Who do I notify? I''ve tried praying that they will stop but no one seems to be listening. My poor dog...the neighbors...ugh.

 

[joflier]

Date: 4/23/2010 7:17:02 PM
Author: Steal
Oh, just burn it down. That will teach them to be inconsiderate. I hate self entitled people.

Did I type that out loud? Darn. What I meant to say was:

Where is your community spirit? Live and let live. Then go on over there and burn it down.

HAHAHA!!!!

Brilliant - just brilliant! I'm all about keeping the peace in the hood......Anyone have a blowtorch I could borrow?

 

[joflier]

Date: 4/23/2010 6:49:48 PM
Author: CasaBlanca
Ditto MC!

This way ANYONE could have called it in. Neighbor has no clue it is you. WIN WIN!

Besides, The bus driver needs a new pair of sneakers and an umbrella. A little daily walk is good for the soul and his health. Your call just may end up adding years to his life! Woo HOO. Get that number and call now! (operators are standing by).


PS. If Laine is correct, then I would call the oh, what is it called? The people who handle street traffic and road safety/right of way etc. Just as you say you are not the only one with a blind spot as you pull out. That street wasn''t designed to have a parked tank in it. Children can''t be seen in front or behind. Ordinance must be on some book. Contact your councilmen/woman if it is privately owned. Have them help you.

See, that''s the thing. I''m really aiming for anonymity here......but there''s only me and 2 other neighbors on this 1/2 of the st. The rest of the houses are vacant. (and 1 of the 2 neighbors are family members of the bus driver)

 

[Cehrabehra]

I sympathize with it being an ugly view in your opinion and an irritating obstacle to avoid while you are driving - but it''s his house and his bus and at some point your rights end and his begin.

 

[DivaDiamond007]

Date: 4/23/2010 9:16:43 PM
Author: Cehrabehra
I sympathize with it being an ugly view in your opinion and an irritating obstacle to avoid while you are driving - but it''s his house and his bus and at some point your rights end and his begin.

I tend to agree with this, but also agree that it would annoy the heck out of me too. Unless there is some type of ordinance against it, or if he''s parking the bus there illegally there''s probably not anything that you can do about it since the street is most likely public property. I would call the bus garage/his employer first and then check with your municipality to check for ordinances.

 

[yssie]

Date: 4/23/2010 9:16:43 PM
Author: Cehrabehra
I sympathize with it being an ugly view in your opinion and an irritating obstacle to avoid while you are driving - but it's his house and his bus and at some point your rights end and his begin.

Ditto.


And I think the newer housing communities with rules about this, that, and the other are in general ridiculous, imposing, and unnecessary: friends of ours had to fight for weeks to be allowed to extend the back of their house because it could be seen by A) neighbours and B) glimpsed by people at the stop sign of an intersection.

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 4/23/2010 7:17:02 PM
Author: Steal
Oh, just burn it down. That will teach them to be inconsiderate. I hate self entitled people.

Did I type that out loud? Darn. What I meant to say was:

Where is your community spirit? Live and let live. Then go on over there and burn it down.

HI:

I was thinking the same. Yet there might be some ordinance against fire and smoke--not entitlement of course--but enviromental impact.

 

[CasaBlanca]

"See, that's the thing. I'm really aiming for anonymity here......but there's only me and 2 other neighbors on this 1/2 of the st. The rest of the houses are vacant. (and 1 of the 2 neighbors are family members of the bus driver)"

Hmmm...ok so the relatives are the others. Sticky.

You can still remain annon. When you call have a story prepared. You deliver pizza and have noticed that bus is ALWAYS In the street. You live two streets over but use the street to jog. Your kids ride bikes on that street but you worry they may dart out from the bus and get hurt. Are there yard service done in your area? You are a dispatcher with a delivery box business, What I am saying in conversation with whom ever you get to listen, YOU BECOME someone other than who you are. Yes it is a fib-but you just can't be totally forthcoming here. (I don't mean you become some one REAL in your neighborhood, I just mean make someone or some persona or alias to allude to your identity. Have a man call. A man with an accent? Ha.)

Are the vacant houses on the market? Could a real estate agent be complaining that the bus is unattractive to potential buyers. It's presence brings down the neighborhood? The end result is the same, MOVE THAT BUS! But you just have to be a tad creative in protecting your identity. Bad feelings with your neighbors is not fun.

Grin and bear it or become crafty! (deceitful but crafty, my mother would not be proud of my advice).

 

[PumpkinPie]

that sounds pretty frustrating! I''m not sure what I would do to be honest

 

[joflier]

Date: 4/23/2010 9:58:36 PM
Author: yssie

Date: 4/23/2010 9:16:43 PM
Author: Cehrabehra
I sympathize with it being an ugly view in your opinion and an irritating obstacle to avoid while you are driving - but it''s his house and his bus and at some point your rights end and his begin.

Ditto.


And I think the newer housing communities with rules about this, that, and the other are in general ridiculous, imposing, and unnecessary: friends of ours had to fight for weeks to be allowed to extend the back of their house because it could be seen by A) neighbours and B) glimpsed by people at the stop sign of an intersection.

It''s HIS house. But not his road. He has his own driveway that I imagine he can park just about whatever he''d like there. If I need to get my trailer out of the garage and out of the driveway, I honestly don''t think that I''ll be able to. I don''t take it out much, but I don''t think its HIS right to obstuct me getting things in and out of my own driveway. Sorry - it''s a neighborhood, not a pubilc parking lot. What if everyone parked their work vehicles out on the street? School buses, construction vans, cement mixers, tractors.......where do you draw the line? It could get a little crowded.