It's a school parking thread...!

[Drivingqueen123]

Have NCd as this may out me - area at least!

We lived on a narrow street with two schools on it. One halfway down, one at the end.

There have been ongoing issues at drop off and pick up times. There's been one minor accident outside our house, and my neighbours have witnessed lots of verbal abuse by parents. The school sent a letter out to apologise for bad language from parents.

I'll stress now, I have no problem with the absolute majority of parents, who apologise if they block us in or hold us up. The school have tried all manner to stop parents parking and driving dangerously - police, traffic enforcement, newsletters.

Our Councillor has just knocked on to ask if we would be happy to support a one way system, to try and move traffic along.

AIBU that I said it was the parents poor driving and parking that consistently causes this issue (when they have access to a car park literally 20 seconds away) and why should we be impacted further by it. The Councillor seemed shocked I didn't agree, and said she would be organising a petition and was sure everyone else would support it.

[dodobookends]

Speaking from experience, if your local councillors have come up with a 'bright idea' they will go right ahead and do whatever they damn well please irrespective of what anyone says, because They Know What's Best For You and woe betide anybody who disagrees with them!

[Drivingqueen123]

I'm assuming that's what will happen, but it makes me angry that selfish drivers are essentially being let off and we have to deal with the consequences

[TimeOfGlass]

I suppose it depends how much the one way system would inconvenience you vs how much the current school traffic inconveniences you.

[Drivingqueen123]

arf you're being constructive and probably EXACTLY what I need!

It drives me bonkers and I think this placating of drivers has pissed me off.

I will try and come up with a bright idea - basically need to give my head a decent wobble!

[Drivingqueen123]

I did ask whether they'd consider it just during school hours, but that got a definite no.

[Creampastry]

Could parents get free parking for 20 minutes in the car park at drop off and collection times?

[coffeeisnectar]

I'd suggest an alternative - a road closure between certain hours, forcing parents to use the car park and walk their precious offspring the five minutes down the road.

Obviously residents and anyone who is disabled/has a disabled child would be exempt.

At our previous house I had to navigate a one-way system past the local primary school and it certainly didn't make it easier for anyone as there were still cars backed up down the street and as it was my only way out I ended up having to leave far too early to take DD2 to school just to ensure we arrived on time meaning we ended up very early every day. However as we parked two streets from her school and walked the rest of the way, it was fine.

[wintersdawn]

Our village has separate junior and infant schools and there is a voluntary one way system that the schools have established between them to keep the traffic moving and in fairness 99% of parents follow it.

It doesn't however stop the ones who park opposite the disable spot or over the drives straight outside the school gate because the space 5m up the road is just to much for them.

[JerryFerry]

No danger of being outed as this shit goes on outside every school on the planet. Parents need to grow up and abide by the rules. But they won't...

[Janecc]

Unfortunately you've chosen your home on a street with schools. More and more parents now drive their children to school. A one way system on a narrow street would be less chaotic and is relatively common these days on roads, adjacent to schools, which were never designed to accommodate such a large volume of traffic. I would support the motion and buy some cones to put on the road outside your driveway.

[wasonthelist]

YANBU. At the last (of many) meetings during which the Head implored us all (once again) to park considerately, I was nearly mown down by a fellow parent with a phone glued to her ear, having parked exactly where the Head has asked (about a million times) us not to.

A lot of people seem to think it applies to everyone else.

O/T maybe, but I am highly confused about how another fellow parent and serial parking offender has managed to have Italian registration plates (what most people call license plates these days) on her car for the last three years at least.

[TitaniumSpider]

Arf the OP perhaps needs to live on a road with one of

[Drivingqueen123]

By bollards...are we talking penguin bollards?!

I think we would just have to put up with it. I've just spoken to my (lovely) neighbour who isn't a fan of it. He suggested residents only parking, but I think that is too far. We bought a house here, we knew there were schools etc!

I'm going to email the councillor and suggested time limits or something different.

Just to be clear, the 100 space car park is 18 steps from the school. 18!!

[SoupDragon]

and buy some cones to put on the road outside your driveway.

That would be illegal.

[MadSprocker]

Our school has started texting all the parents with the offending car reg plates, we are waiting to see if it works.

[Drivingqueen123]

Also, we don't have drives. It's on street parking and you can only fit one car down at a time. It's a JOY.

[SoupDragon]

The one way system makes sense on a narrow road but it won't help with parking, just congestion.

The only thing that would help with parking is resident permits or double yellow lines, both of which only work if they are enforced.

[SoupDragon]

It's on street parking and you can only fit one car down at a time

A one way system makes pretty sense from that point of view.

[SoupDragon]

Perfect sense. Ffs.

[Drivingqueen123]

Thing is, if they used the car park they wouldn't have to drive down or road at all. Our road is only involved through the sheer laziness