This does unfortunately happen multiple times per day. Sometimes it’s smaller incidents where the tram driver can get out and collapse the car’s mirror. Other times the owner of the car comes out of a nearby house after the tram used its bell extensively (like today) and moves the car. And then there are times when police needs to get involved to tow the car which often takes upwards of 1 hour.
The truly infuriating part is that if the tram damages a poorly parked car, the transportation company will have to pay the damages. Poorly parked vehicles never get fined and the owners will only need to pay if the car ends up getting towed.
Why do we accept that drivers sabotage a city’s public transport infrastructure like this?
I know in Melbourne at least, trams collide with cars pretty frequently. For some reason people think it’s a good idea to u-turn when they’re approaching. The trams rarely seem to be damaged. It’s not fun for passengers though.
Maybe the next World Tram Championships should add an event: the Car Toss. That would help people visualise the consequences of leaving vehicles too close to tracks.