... to get cross about neighbour parking outside my house?

[CelestinaWarbeck]

Now, I'd like to make it crystal clear before I begin that I know I don't own the road outside my house and anyone can park there. But have an ongoing situation that's really getting on my tits.

I live in a road where everyone struggles with car parking. Each house has a drive and enough space on the road for one car, but most houses in the street have two or more cars, plus we get lots of people parking here for access to the nearby shops. So it's already a bit tense. Plus the road is really narrow, so manoeuvring is difficult.

I have just one car .

A family in my road has three cars, including one mahooooosive 8-seater that they use just once a week for family outings. Every Saturday night they park it outside someone else's house (yes, this week I've drawn the short straw) and leave it there FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK.

It's so bloody big that it makes getting in and out of my drive really difficult, so I end up parking outside someone else's house so that I don't get trapped in the drive.

I'm seriously tempted to park in my drive and bang into their rear end just to teach them a lesson (my car's beyond hope anyway).

Am I being reasonable or should I grow up and worry about something more important? And if I'm not BU, anyone have any ideas how I can politely indicate to this family that they might want to park their frigging Velociraptor in the FREE CAR PARK that's a three-minute walk away?

Grrrrrrr.

[scuzy]

why dont you park in the free car park 3 mins away and save yourself all this stress?

[Merlotmonster]

If it blocks your drive then you should have a polite word....

[pictish]

Ha ha Scuzy - touche!

[Merlotmonster]

Although, do you think the neighbours are thinking..she's got a drive that she doesnt use!

[CelestinaWarbeck]

Yes, I could, I know. But I use my car for the school run (two different schools in opposite directions) twice a day, and they don't use this car at all all week long. So if anyone's going to park in the car park I really think it should be them.

[FruitSaladIsNotPudding]

If it blocks your drive then YANBU, and you should ask them to desist. If it doesn't, then YABVU. And how often they use their car is irrelevant.

[JugsMcGee]

Well, no scuzy, if it's blocking OP's drive, why should SHE move to the carpark?

OP I'd ask them to move.

[CelestinaWarbeck]

Merlot, they're not actually blocking the drive - just making it impossible for me to park there IYKWIM. Or, impossible for me to park there without banging into their car.

Judging on responses so far maybe I'm BU though...

[worraliberty]

But a 3 minute walk twice a day won't kill you...school run or not?

[ChaoticAngeloftheUnderworld]

Keep parking in your driveway.

[CelestinaWarbeck]

Nobody else think that if you have a car you use once a week, you should at least park it outside your own bleeding house?

No?

Oh well, I'm BU I guess...

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Sorry, but YABU. I have this with my neighbour - he has about 7 cars, some in his drive, some in the road - sometimes it makes it really hard to reverse out my drive. However, he pays his road tax and is therefore entitled to park legally where he likes regardless of whether it inconveniences me or not.

[ChaoticAngeloftheUnderworld]

It's a matter of principle. Why should the OP park in a car park, no matter how close it is, when she has a driveway?

[PuppyMonkey]

It would piss me off. No harm having a quiet word pointing out that it makes it hard for you to use your drive. Say you are worried you might hit their car.

[ExitPursuedByaBear]

As someone who gets really wound up about these things, YANBU. But the voice of reason from others says you are. There are many more important things to worry about, but this would really, really get on my tits. I feel your pain.

[thestringcheeseincident]

Just tell them how hard it is for you to get in and out of your drive. Be kind about it and they might stop doing it.
Or otherwise learn to park a bit better.

[2tired2bewitty]

Parking on our road (narrow Victorian terrace, bit of a rat run) has long been a nightmare. Until last week when the council finally came and painted in the lines for the Controlled Parking Zone that starts on Saturday. I have never seen so much space in the street, all the people who park on our road and then walk to the station/shops have just melted away. So perhaps if parking more generally on your road is a problem you should have a word with your local council and see what could be done?

[chicletteeth]

Just park your car where they park theirs, when you know they'll wanting to park it. That way they have to put it elsewhere.
There is nothing else you can do about it really.
Presumably they pay their road tax like you and if it's public highway with no restrictions, then it's fair game

[lookbutdonttouch]

I cant park. Well i can but it takes ages and I would find it really irritating to not be able to get in and out of my drive because someone else with three cars, one of them akin to a truck, was in the way / blocking my view etc.

Perhaps you could wait until you knew they were home and then stage a very over the top attempt to get in or out of your drive, complete with horn honking and stalling etc and then stop half way and go to their house and explain you are stuck and would they kindly move their car before you hit it? And quickly given that you are on the way to the school / hospital / wherever. ......

[pictish]

Lol @ 'dies of irritation' ha ha!

Nowt you can do but have a friendly word OP. x

[scuzy]

to avoid a heart attack i would use the car park. less stressful. but i can see why you'd be pissed off if you cant get in and out of your driveway. be careful ... do you really want to start a parking war with your neighbours? i'm always afraid they would retaliate by damaging my car.

[clam]

I don't think YABU. It would piss me off too.
Have you sent DH tried to have a word about it?

[gapants]

You park your one car in your driveway non? Thus what is your problem exactly?

[mayorquimby]

yabu unless it's blocking your drive.

[queensusan]

Why not just make sure you park outside your house on a Saturday night and make sure they can't do it in future - maybe get your neighbours to do the same.