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Original poster

Note on car : what happens now?

121 replies

mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 15:12

I work for a university, as is common there are significant problems with parking. When I can't get a space onsite, I usually park outside SILs house which is 20 minutes walk away. However I found a side street 5 minutes closer today.
I came back today (short day) to find this note on my car.

No phone number and no one around, didn't fancy knocking on doors.
I wasn't parked on double yellows, in a disabled bay or blocked anyone in. I was admittedly quite a way on the pavement. Obviously will not park there again and will go to SILs from now on.

What's the worst that can happen here? Parking fine? Thanks.

Note on car : what happens now?
OP posts:
Toottooot · 21/11/2023 15:32

Good on the note writer.

Wahwoo · 21/11/2023 15:35

I’m glad it’s made you reconsider. Normally I just seethe at selfish idiots who do this, but now I might start writing stroppy notes.

I can’t be bothered to go into detail, but it makes my life really, really difficult when people do this.

sixteenfurryfeet · 21/11/2023 15:35

It is safer for your parked vehicle to be causing a slight obstruction in the road than it is for pedestrians to have to walk into the road to get round your car because you've blocked the pavement.

Original poster
mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 15:35

sixteenfurryfeet · 21/11/2023 15:35

It is safer for your parked vehicle to be causing a slight obstruction in the road than it is for pedestrians to have to walk into the road to get round your car because you've blocked the pavement.

I realise this now.

OP posts:
Shade17 · 21/11/2023 15:36

Absolutely nothing will happen. Probably worth being mindful in the future though of how much pavement you obstruct.

Original poster
mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 15:37

Wahwoo · 21/11/2023 15:35

I’m glad it’s made you reconsider. Normally I just seethe at selfish idiots who do this, but now I might start writing stroppy notes.

I can’t be bothered to go into detail, but it makes my life really, really difficult when people do this.

Well yes it's definitely made me reconsider. I'm quite soft and didn't mean to endanger anyone.
To pp who said it's all very well saying you don't do it again. I genuinely won't! Things like this worry me.
I am definitely not the only uni staff member who parks up that road but never again.

OP posts:
mugofstew · 21/11/2023 15:38

mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 15:18

Probably not room for a pram or wheelchair to pass. It isn't a main road.

As someone who has had a double pushchair and also supported someone who needed a wheelchair I think it is fairly obvious what the problem was.
The pavement is for pedestrians not a parking space.
I imagine that they have reported you to the police and or council. I doubt anything will happen to you.

ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 21/11/2023 15:39

BlueGlassOfDoom · 21/11/2023 15:30

Such selfish behaviour - the only thing you seem bothered about is your own convenience and what might happen to you now, not how you might already have inconvenienced or endangered others, probably more people than the one brave enough to leave the note!

I am sick of seeing my disabled son and his (also disabled) partner have to risk walking into the road because of this type of parking - and sometimes walking on side roads is more dangerous, as motorists use them as rat-runs.

Indeed I agree. It is one of those many unnecessary barriers for people who have accessibility issues. One that need not be a barrier if it wasn't for inconsiderate people. And anyone saying they realise now, should have realised years ago because its clearly been an issue for years so nobody has any excuse to pretend they've never considered it. If they were disabled they certainly would have to. I'm very sorry your son and his partner have to put up with this. I have a child with disabilities myself and I certainly don't appreciate it either.

Melodyy · 21/11/2023 15:39

The person who left the note described you very well.

Loverofoxbowlakes · 21/11/2023 15:39

mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 15:18

Probably not room for a pram or wheelchair to pass. It isn't a main road.

Dick move op. Really.

With a uni parking permit I'd also be expecting a rap on the knuckles from work too op, at my place that would be quite a bollocking for such a dick move.

Hanlonsamazer · 21/11/2023 15:40

mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 15:18

Probably not room for a pram or wheelchair to pass. It isn't a main road.

inconsiderate is an understatement. Are you this selfish in other aspects of your life?

Hanlonsamazer · 21/11/2023 15:41

mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 15:37

Well yes it's definitely made me reconsider. I'm quite soft and didn't mean to endanger anyone.
To pp who said it's all very well saying you don't do it again. I genuinely won't! Things like this worry me.
I am definitely not the only uni staff member who parks up that road but never again.

Show quote history

What you mean to say is that you didn't think of anyone else apart from yourself. So fucking inconsiderate.

Fink · 21/11/2023 15:44

You're not in London, are you? In London, it's illegal to park on the pavement except where there are signs saying you can. Some councils enforce it more than others. Outside of London, the Highway Code says you should not rather than must not, so it's not illegal, just inconsiderate.

Singleandproud · 21/11/2023 15:48

Theyve probably reported you to Facebook on a parking shame page

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 21/11/2023 15:52

Unfortunately nothing will happen. The police don’t really give a shit about wheelchair or pushchair users who have to endanger themselves to get past cars blocking the pavement.

I’m glad it’s made you realise how inconsiderate it is.

Reallybadidea · 21/11/2023 15:56

Good on you for taking on board the comments about it being inconsiderate ♥️

One of the most shocking posts I've ever seen on MN was someone admitting that they cared more about preventing their car getting damaged than a stranger's life.

BarbaraofSeville · 21/11/2023 15:59

If you felt you had to park on the pavement so you weren't blocking the road, that's probably an indicator that it's not really a safe place to park.

blackfluffycat · 21/11/2023 16:01

Singleandproud · 21/11/2023 15:48

Theyve probably reported you to Facebook on a parking shame page

Was going to say this.

LeRougeEtLeNoir · 21/11/2023 16:03

Well it’s very good for you to listen to posters and realise parking in the pavement wasn’t a good idea.

But really?!? You really hadn’t realised and understood the issue with parking on the pavement before? Not until you got scared to be reported to the police/your university.

Im sorry but that’s shit and whoever wrote that note was right.

From a wheelchair user…..

randomuser2020 · 21/11/2023 16:09

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

Original poster
mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 16:11

Ha well there's nothing like Mumsnet to make you feel like a shit human being. Probably deserved ...so thank you.
I'm not a selfish person ...far from it (read my recent threads if you fancy a bit of light reading).

I'm genuinely very sorry for the people who are wheelchair users or double buggy uses and have been inconvenienced and endangered by awful parking. Sometimes people who aren't in that situation don't realise until they see a different perspective.
I hope I don't get a warning from my work as I'm relatively new in the job and the parking problem is well known. But I'd probably deserve it any way. Total error of judgement and dick move on my part.

Never again!

OP posts:
TeamSleep · 21/11/2023 16:15

I am so surprised there is anyone who doesn’t realise that parking on a pavement is inconsiderate. Glad you do now OP.

TheJabberwocky · 21/11/2023 16:17

mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 16:11

Ha well there's nothing like Mumsnet to make you feel like a shit human being. Probably deserved ...so thank you.
I'm not a selfish person ...far from it (read my recent threads if you fancy a bit of light reading).

I'm genuinely very sorry for the people who are wheelchair users or double buggy uses and have been inconvenienced and endangered by awful parking. Sometimes people who aren't in that situation don't realise until they see a different perspective.
I hope I don't get a warning from my work as I'm relatively new in the job and the parking problem is well known. But I'd probably deserve it any way. Total error of judgement and dick move on my part.

Never again!

We all make mistakes, you’ve made one and now you know you won’t do it again. Well done for recognising that. Some people will use this as an excuse to pile on you, so I’d leave this thread to be honest, you won’t gain anything more from it. X

Flopsythebunny · 21/11/2023 16:19

mrlistersgelfbride · 21/11/2023 15:15

The council I guess?

Show quote history

If you were parked on the pavement outside and causing an obstruction to pedestrians, it's a police matter, not council.
Don't park so selfishly again. Wheelchair users, pushchairs and blind people really struggle when you do this

LeRougeEtLeNoir · 21/11/2023 16:20

Sometimes people who aren't in that situation don't realise until they see a different perspective.

That’s totally right unfortunately. Fir most people, whether it’s about leaving space for wheelchair users to understanding that disabled people aren’t lazy etc…. most people don’t realise until it happens to them.

Just now, it’s even true for GP who have always though people with ME/CFS were basically making it up - until they got hit with LC (or saw colleagues affected by it) and then realised how shit those conditions are.

Maybe it’s just being human.
But it sure would help a lot if people were more open to listen to other people experiences and to believe them. Even if it means a small inconvenience to them.