‘No parking…motor vehicles excepted’: Sydney motorist baffled by VERY confusing parking sign

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‘No parking…motor vehicles excepted’: Sydney motorist is left baffled by VERY confusing parking sign – so what do you think it means?

  • TikTok creator Marc McLachlan found the mixed message sign in Sydney
  • The hilarious video of his confusion has notched up more than 100,000 views 
  • Users have debated what it’s true meaning could be with little agreement
  • Northern Beaches Council revealed the signs went up as part of a crackdown

By Kevin Airs For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

It could be Sydney’s most confusing road sign yet and it’s set TikTok on fire as users debate what ‘no parking… motor vehicles excepted’ really means. 

Sydneysider Marc McLachlan found the notice next to clearly marked bays of car parking spaces alongside playing fields on a suburban street in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

He immediately shot a video of the sign, showing him looking at it while stunned into silent confusion as he tried to make sense of it.

His 30 second video has been seen more than 120,000 times and has sparked intense debate on its true meaning, with almost 1,000 comments on his clip.

Sydneysider Marc McLachlan found the notice next to clearly marked bays of car parking spaces

Is this Sydney’s most confusing roadsign yet? The notice in Sydney’s Northern Beaches has confused the internet. Sydneysider Marc McLachlan (pictured right) found the street sign next to clearly marked bays of car parking spaces

‘You captured the essence perfectly in this video, I felt every part of the confusion,’ wrote one user. 

‘Ummm, crystal clear,’ said another. ‘No parking but yes parking?’

Another joked: ‘Well, they’ve just disappointed the whole Amish community!’

However it’s believed the sign – understood to be next to John Fisher Park in North Curl Curl – actually refers to people leaving trailers at the site.

There have been long running problems at various location on the Northern Beaches with people using car spaces to leave boats and boat trailers on a long-term basis, infuriating locals.

Some trailers were even found to belong to owners in Queensland. 

Northern Beaches Council started installing the signs around the area as a trial in June 2018 before implementing them permanently in early 2019.  

‘Boat trailers parked on the side of the road are one of our most complained about issues,’ Mayor Michael Regan said at the time.

‘Residents are fed up with trailers and boats taking up most of the parking next to playgrounds, parks and fields and rarely being moved. 

‘In 2017, we received 329 complaints concerning boat trailers in Pittwater.’ 

After the signs started going up, the number of complaints halved, he said.

Previously councils could give owners 28 days to move a trailer.

‘But we were finding they would wait until the 28th day and then move a few spots down the street,’ said Mr Regan. ‘It was simply ineffective.’

NO PARKING – MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPTED SIGN…WHAT IT MEANS

The No Parking – Motor Vehicles Excepted sign prevents unpowered vehicles from parking in known problem areas where trailers, boats and caravans have been left blocking car park spaces for weeks and months at a time. The signs also prevent the dumping of un-roadworthy trailers which is a persistent issue for councils.