Man Gets Sick and Tired of Someone Using His Bicycle Parking Space, So He Locks the Violating Bicycle with an Industrial-Strength Chain, Rendering It Unusable

Some people treat a bicycle parking space like it is public property, even when it is clearly not. In this story, one commuter in Japan got fed up after a stranger kept using the spot he was paying for, and the situation quickly turned into a petty battle over access, notes, and a very heavy chain.

The Reddit user behind the story said the unwanted bike kept showing up in his designated space, forcing him to park farther away and walk an extra 20 minutes. After a polite note failed, he decided to make the intruding bicycle unusable, and that is where things got interesting.

Now the question is whether the response was fair, or just the kind of revenge that keeps escalating.

Finding a place to park a bicycle in Japan is hard. And it is expensive.

Hao Pan (not the actual photo)

OP starts his story: He lives in Japan and uses a bicycle for commuting.

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Since so many people use bicycles, it is hard to find a parking spot. OP has one with a monthly payment.

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But their parking spot soon became violated...

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And it was happening frequently.

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The violator was always using OP’s spot.

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A polite note was the first move.

So OP left a kind note.

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The reply was not kind at all.

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And OP got angry.

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That is when he decided to make the point in a much harsher way.

This also feels like a neighbor’s dog getting rehomed after the pet policy got enforced.

So he went out and bought the thickest and strongest chain he could find.

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The tables have turned—the intruder started leaving notes...

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OP decided to let him simmer for a couple of days.

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Reddit thought the chain move was pretty satisfying.

That's gotta hurt.

Baptista Ime James (not the actual photo)

The Redditors liked the idea.

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And suggested that OP prolong the cooking period...

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But OP should watch his bike...

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If you think this is just too much fuss about a simple bicycle parking spot, you need to understand the traffic conditions in Japan. The railway network dominates passenger transit in Japan.

However, many Japanese rely on bicycles to get to the nearest train station for their daily commute. Bicycles are particularly popular among housewives and students commuting to school or running daily errands, in addition to office employees on the go.

Some Redditors had interesting suggestions to help him cover his tracks...

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OP should also get reimbursed for the spot.

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A good way to avoid re-revenge.

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OP posted an update:

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The most popular two-wheeler category among Japanese cyclists is the so-called mamachari. This is a general utility bicycle, often equipped with a basket and up to two child seats.

Thus, a bicycle is important because it’s not merely a recreational vehicle for the Japanese. They need it to navigate crowded cities with congested traffic.

And that is how a parking dispute turned into a full-on standoff.

Before you decide who should pay, read about friends overstepping a parking limit and arguing over splitting the fine.