To expect other drivers to be considerate enough to leave me room to get my baby in the car when they park?

[VRBennett83]

So this morning I went to the baby group I attend every Thursday, had a lovely time, then did a spot of shopping at the local shops before returning to my parked car, only to find a man driving a white van had parked so close to my passenger side that I couldn't get my four month old baby in! I had to climb into the back seat from the other side, whilst lifting the car seat with my little heavy lump in it. I even left the car at a slight angle just in case someone did park next to me, so I would have enough room, but he parked so close I could hardly get it open!

The man returns to his white van whilst I am putting my shopping away. I then start putting my pram down, and he starts inching his bonnet closer and closer to my bum, as he clearly thinks I am inconveniencing HIM and getting in HIS way! I make a point standing up and asking him if I am indeed in his way. He winds down the passenger side window and asks me if I have a problem. I point out that yes, I do. I told him he parked so close to my car that I had to struggle with my baby in through the wrong side of the car. Then what? Ah, yes, he gives ME the abuse! First he tells me I parked there after him. Erm, no mate. I parked up about two hours ago and parked in this space which was clear either side. He goes ranting on at me, I simply repeat that he had parked so chuffin close to my car I had to struggle with my baby and he tells me "Well I am in a van, you t**t". No, seriously. He appeared to believe that his having a wider vehicle meant that he had to give no consideration to how much room he leaves either side for others. He then told me that I shouldn't take it out on him if I had had a bad day. I promptly point out that I had had a lovely day until he came into my life.

I am so proud of myself for not swearing at him mind you.

Is it me or should people give me the same courtesy I give them? I never park in a space if I think it is too close to another car. What if that person was disabled and needed help getting into their car? Or what if, heaven forbid, that person had a baby and needed room to get that baby in the car? The amount of room he left me I wouldn't have got my dog in there! Is it also me being unreasonable to expect strangers to be polite to each other, apologise if they cause offence in some way and treat others as they wish to be treated?

Rant over :)

How on earth did you come up with that one golden?

The OP was forced to park like a year because she knew there were so many inconsiderate drivers in that car park?

I'm a pretty good driver and don't find it hard to park big cars, small cars and vans SoupDragon

Neither do I. However, I do find it tough to break the basic physical laws which apply to size of vehicle and space of parking bay. Are you saying you can?

No, because she anticipated people parking incompetently with no consideration for someone with a baby in the past, I would imagine. This man parked arrived and parked afterwards so he shouldn't have parked so close to her. He's obviously an idiot if he did this and called her a 'twat' for his mistake!

It is rather amusing that Goldenbear thinks it perfectly acceptable fr the OP to park badly but not the van driver.

Almost as amusing as the fact that this was, apparently, the OPs first post.

Oh for crying at loud.

She parked at an angle. She began the chain of inconsiderate parking that led to this catastrophe.

So, maybe the van driver was anticipating her selfish parking

Right. So it is OK to be an incompetent parker if you are anticipating other incompetent parkers.

So you are saying Goldenbear that you would park dead centre of a parking space regardless of where the cars either side were parked?

I also assume you would be parked dead straight too, regardless of the angle you need to use to park.

You must take AAAAGES to park. But at least you're precise.

I don't need to break any 'physical laws' to ensure I don't park a van incredibly badly, like the man described by the OP.

Apparently so Soup. Or more accurately its ok to park however you like if you have children but everyone else should make sure they park exactly how parents want irrespective of if this means they cant get out of their vehicle.

Yes soup if you drive into a car park and think there may be other inconsiderate people you may park like a selfish twat.
But. Only if you have a baby. And a car seat.

Otherwise you have to check every single vehicle and only park next to a car that has no car seats. And you must park so the person with the car seat can open both doors fully, regardless of whether you cannot get out and have to crawl through your boot to exit.

Apparently.

He didn't park badly. He was in his space. He would not have been fined for parking as he did.

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golden can you possibly explain how the can driver was parked "incredibly badly"?

I'm intrigued as to how you can see in other people's cars before you've actually parked. And once I've parked there's no way that I would get back in my car and move to another spot because I'd spotted a baby seat that may or may not have a baby returning to the car before me. And then what if it happened again? And again? I'd lose the will to live.

Considerate parking doesn't extend to imagining who might need to get in the car next to us. Why stop at car seats? Am I supposed to move my car if I see empty Krispy Kreme donut boxes in the next car because it might belong to a large person who needs a lot of room to get in? What about if I see a pack of incontinence pads? Should I move because they might belong to an old person who needs more room than most to manoeuvre in and out? Parking in the middle of the space is the best you can do. Parking at an angle is inconsiderate to others. users.

So, lets imagine a van 18 inches narrower than the bay. You would be able to park it centrally with 9 inches of free space on either side and still get out of the door?

Try having twins and two car seats to get in... I've had to put them in through the boot before. However, if he's within the lines then yabu why should he check to see if you have an isofix base. Plus reversing vans is actually tricky.

Well, inspector Clouseau, the OP is not me. My youngest is 2 years 2mths, we are just in a minority of considerate people, it seems.

Did anyone say you were the OP?

FGS why do you care so much!

golden if your idea of considerate is to park however you want just in case an inconsiderate person is around, then that is what you are.

Thankfully you are a minority.

fanny if you cant see something like this when you pull alongside it I think you need a trip to specsavers

Admittedly not all are this obvious and if I got out of the car and then saw a child seat I wouldn't be arsed to get back in and move it. But if I did see evidence of a child in the back I'd reverse out and pick another space and only because I'm quite selfish and don't want my car bashed.

No I'm not saying that Littlebearpad, in saying if I arrived at a space after someone, I'd judge the gap and park so it allowed the same space on either side. I certainly wouldn't block access for someone with a baby- i'd be an inconsiderate twit if I did that!

Not so obvious with privacy glass though although some godawful 'little princess on board' sticker may give it away but I see where you're coming from.

OP, should you ever come back, park on the end of a row.

And once again. Was it not inconsiderate to park at an angle?
Is it inconsiderate to block someone from actually getting their vehicle out because you are pissed off?

Is it really inconsiderate to park a van in a parking space within the white lines?

But this might mean you're actually way over to the left or right of the space based on where the existing cars are. When they leave you could still look massively inconsiderate.

I see your point janey, that's a big seat! and I'd probably see more if I drove a bigger car. Sitting in my Yaris, I can't see above most other cars' door handles let alone through the windows!