Sydneysider's ‘entitled' parking move ignites feud

News.com.au

08-05-2025

We all know how difficult it can be to find parking in the Inner City, especially when many residents don't have parking spaces on their properties.
Now, one person has ignited a fierce debate over the lengths they went to in order to nab a spot on a busy street.
They have since been labelled as 'taking the p**s' after their sneaky attempt to reserve a parking spot went viral online.
In a photo shared by a fellow Sydneysider on Reddit, a parking space in front of a row of terraces has been cordoned off by a fluorescent orange traffic cone.
The poster claims that it was in a restricted residential parking zone in the city's Inner East, and some internet sleuths identified it as Forbes Street in Darlinghurst.
In restricted residential parking zones, on-street parking is reserved for residents and their guests, usually with time limits for those without permits.
'Don't want to start an argument'
As someone with a resident parking permit, the poster was understandably frustrated and considered their options in dealing with the situation.
'Are they taking the p**s reserving a street spot for themselves?' they asked the r/sydney community.
They noted that there was no construction around the orange marker, so they wondered if they could take matters into their own hands and just remove it themselves, as it looked temporary, but admitted they were 'a bit too scared' that the person who placed the cone could retaliate.
'Would reporting it to the council do anything? I don't want to start an argument,' they added.
Sydney council responds
A City of Sydney spokesperson told news.com.au, 'Reserving parking spaces, or placing items on a roadway to reserve a space, is not permitted within the City of Sydney for private parking purposes'.
They stated that applications need to be submitted to and approved by the City of Sydney to temporarily reserve a space for construction, events or film shoots.
'If a member of the public has concerns about potential illegal use of a space(s) and alerts the City, Rangers are called to investigate,' the spokesperson explained.
They said the council has not received any recent complaints about the use of a parking space on that part of Forbes Street but will now investigate the matter.
'Classic, selfish, entitled'
After calling it 'classic, selfish, entitled Sydney' behaviour, the post's author asked the group for their opinion on the situation, with some taking a more lighthearted approach than others.
'I reckon you could get it lodged quite high in that tree on the right,' joked one.
Another shared, 'Remove it, park there and then put a note on it saying thanks for reserving a spot for me'.
Locals suggest reporting to council
However, others provided more practical solutions.
'Use the Snap Send Solve app to notify your local council,' said one. 'They will have someone come and remove the bollard'.
Multiple reports from Sydney locals confirm that councils respond to complaints about cones being used to reserve parking, which supports the City of Sydney's comments.
'It's a traffic hazard,' claimed another. 'Needs to be removed for safety'.
'I hate this,' quipped another, while someone else suggested a 'Karen' likely put it there.
Others show sympathy
However, other commenters suggested that the original poster could give the person the benefit of the doubt.
'If it's a one-off, then they probably just needed the space to unload something big,' one person wrote.
'I have some sympathy as it can be very difficult to arrange movers and work in the inner city suburbs,' someone else added.
'You never know what someone is going through,' yet another reply read.
It comes after another driver's similarly 'entitled' parking act divided Sydney locals last year.
A fed-up resident shared a photo of several traffic cones set up along the kerb of a street in Leichardt, in the Inner West of Sydney.
They said they had been set up for 'months' and didn't look 'renovation-related'.
The Inner West Council prohibits this behaviour and penalties range from $330 to $660.