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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School parking

140 replies

Tameonefirst · 04/03/2016 22:40

Received a text from dcs school tonight asking parents not to park on the roads around the school as neighbours are complaining that they can't park on the road outside their houses. AIBU to think that A: they don't own the road and as long as people are parked properly not blocking drives there's nothing to complain about, B: they bought a house next to a school, surely they knew this was going to happen, and C: the school should have explained point A to the complainer? Thank you

OP posts:
SelfishParker · 02/12/2017 10:00

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AnneBiscuit · 02/12/2017 13:42

ZOMBIE

Iprefercoffeetotea · 02/12/2017 14:06

I live near a school. It's not a problem when people park sensibly.

However, parents often park on corners, across driveways, opposite driveways, on pavements, on grass verges and in turning areas.

Yes we knew the school was there when we bought the house but we didn't realise how many CFs there were.

However, the local traffic wardens are reasonably active and I have seen them ticketing people, which does seem to have had an impact.

It's a bit annoying where I live because it's a cul-de-sac which runs parallel to a big loop of a road which goes on for about a mile. If people park along that road they are never more than half a mile away but they are too lazy, and try to park in stupid places on our road and others close by.

However, you're right - if you want to guarantee parking outside your house you need a garage/driveway - or residents' permits. You don't own the road outside your house.

JonSnowsWife · 02/12/2017 14:12

DS goes to a school OOC in a village and I can see why they've moaned complained. At school run time it's packed and because its a village, you end up in a queuing system where the ones going towards the school, end up making the ones coming out the village going to work etc wait whilst we all pass or vice versa. But I do get your point B too.

DSs school has been there for around 80years, whilst the houses are about 20 years younger. It always slightly baffles me that some who have clearly been there since time immemorial act suprised when school run time happens.
That being said though. We did have letters out when the coach that takes the children swimming every week literally had no where to move, not park, he just couldn't get past the lines of cars (waiting half an hour before pickup) to get back TO the school without playing a game of car Jenga.

I don't think they can ban you completely, can you check with the local authority what their position is and then reply in kind to the school?

gingerh4ir · 02/12/2017 14:14

zombie, I know but it is a huge problem. I feel for people living near DC's school. utter chaos. But then the LA built a new primary for 600 pupils. No safe parking nearby. Lots of parents who work have no other choice than to do the school run by car. Often, it is largely poor planning. If there is a huge primary, it surely is to be expected that a number of parents have to park somewhere when doing the school run.I'd love to walk but I would have to give up work. What are we supposed to do? Hmm

FrancisCrawford · 02/12/2017 17:03

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missadasmith · 02/12/2017 18:39

800m is not that short if you are very much pressed for time and have to be in the office shortly after drop off. I certainly would not be able to make it to my job on time.

8misskitty8 · 02/12/2017 22:47

missadasmith We're I live the catchment area is tiny and parents drive to the school. Instead of walking. Sometimes from the next street and they are not pressed for time. They block drives for 20/30 mins, so not just a quick drop off.
Last week a selfish parent blocked my neighbours drive from 8.30am to 4.30pm despite spaces being available to park on the street.

In reply to OP the residents are probably fed up of inconsiderate drivers. It won't just be about the parking, it will likely also be due to speeding and verbal abuse from 'parents' as that also happens in our street.

FrancisCrawford · 02/12/2017 23:33

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baritonehome · 03/12/2017 07:40

it is mind boggling to think people get into their car to drive such a short distance. Or that a brief walk is too much hassle for them.

I can only assume you don't work (at least not during office hours with a lengthy commute)

JonSnowsWife · 03/12/2017 08:46

It is mind boggling to think people get into their car to drive such a short distance. Or that a brief walk is too much hassle for them.

Francis a lot of people go straight on to work though. At one job I had I had to be there for 8am. I didn't drive, and had to go on public transport. The earliest breakfast club opened at the time was 7:30am. I'd have still have been late.

Thankfully I had good ol' grandma to help look after the DCs before the breakfast clubs opened and grandma was 'freed' for the day, this helped me get to my job in time but it's not options available to everyone.

Basecamp21 · 03/12/2017 09:10

The problem is not inconsiderate parents nor inconsiderate residents. The problem is blaming each other and not being the people who could help to sort this out.

Over the last few decades people have had to go out to work and by school age most children have two working parents and have to be dropped at school by one on the way to work. Most people living in neighbouring properties will also have to drive and have at least 1 car per household.

At the same time due to increased safety requirements cars have got bigger and most notably wider.

Schools have also become obsessed with having children collected from the school so parents have to park rather than drop off in many places.

All these and more changes in society are causing multiple problems in all sorts of areas with parking.

The people responsible for monitoring and helping organise things to enable society to run smoothly have done absolutely sod all. The state local authorities schools police all of them have seen this developing over many years and do nothing to try and find workable solutions that involve compromise on all sides.

Most people - if they are honest - do not need access to their driveways for the 10/15 mins each time of school runs and should be mature and responsible enough to recognise that parents absolutely need to park and drop their children off and could make reasonable adjustments to enable this aspect of society to function smoothly. However some local residents will need access at this time and parents should be mature and responsible enough to recognise and respect this to enable this aspect of society to function smoothly.

Schools could have inovative solutions such as staggered start times - older years startingfinishing a bit later so parents can drop younger children - older siblings can wait in the playground. Those with just older ones would be arriving later. Schools should recognise their role in enabling this aspect of society to function smoothly.

Police and local authorities should be mature and recognise their role in enabling this aspect of society to run smoothly and bring the various groups together to find workable local solutions not just berating, punishing and lecturing.

Or we could all just carry on being frustrated and name calling.......... that would be so much better......

ForalltheSaints · 03/12/2017 09:27

Neighbours are reasonable in my opinion. As is the person reminding everyone how short a walk 800 yards or metres is.

GinDaddy · 03/12/2017 11:18

@basecamp21

Best post I've read on this subject, and the only one offering workable solutions that reflect the changes in people working (both parents etc).

To the posters saying "the school has been there since 1859" or whatever, please read basecamp's post. With two parents working, and some needing to drive on to work, the desire to drop off and then commute is clear. Years ago in the 1950s, mum would have walked the children to school, dad may have taken the motorcar to place of work. Fewer cars anyway, hence no parking issues.

There are some ludicrously inconsiderate people out there anyway - "I'll just be five mins" is code for "I have just found this space, I need to drop off my DC. There is no time for me to find another. You will just have to accept you will be inconvenienced while I do this; my rights trump yours right now."

FrancisCrawford · 04/12/2017 23:11

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missadasmith · 05/12/2017 07:15

I’ve been working for over 30 years, with an hours commute by public transport each way and starting between 7 and 8.

if you start your commute at 7 or 8, then surely you don't do the school run at 8:30 which this thread is about. And don't tell me you take the kids to the breakfast club at 7. I bet there ain't one starting that early Confused

tempuser123 · 05/12/2017 08:02

And of course, 800 metres is the maximum distance to walk. Many will have an even shorter walk.

As its a radius of 800 metres that is unlikely to be the maximum distance to walk as that distance is 'as the crow flies' rather than walking routes.

FrancisCrawford · 05/12/2017 08:13

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Ansumpasty · 05/12/2017 08:42

I can see both sides; I am that annoying parent who has to park half on the pavement outside someone's house but I cringe when I'm doing it and would feel the need to apologise if the home owner is there.

It is carnage at my son's school as there are 2 schools on the same little residential street and no parking for either school. I do feel for the residents and we almost bought a house on the street recently and decided not to because of the traffic issue as I know it would piss me off.
I can see it being an absolute ball ache during those 2 half hour peak times during the day but I'm guessing most are at work during at least one of them and I expect that those who are having visitors or who have two cars during those times should probably park over their driveway to save the space. Shitty but comes with the territory of living in a highly sought after school area.

gingerh4ir · 05/12/2017 08:46

I am posting about the impact of selfish parking by lazy parents who cannot be bothered to walk for a few minutes

I think this is very rude. Lots of parents drive to school for all kinds of reasons. it's not lazyness but a necessity for lots of them.

I drive as I have a severely disabled child and have a long commute to work. Lazy fecker me. Caring, being up several times at night, working all week and having the audacity to drive to school Shock

tempuser123 · 05/12/2017 12:05

It is still a very short distance to walk.

800 metres radius from the school could easily mean twice that (each way) or more in terms of walking distance. Not far for a fit adult, but not so easy for young children.

FWIW we always walk the 650 metres to school, and no-one who lives between us and the school drives.

FrancisCrawford · 05/12/2017 12:34

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Ceto · 05/12/2017 12:45

800m is not that short if you are very much pressed for time and have to be in the office shortly after drop off. I certainly would not be able to make it to my job on time.

You obviously would if you left a bit earlier.

QuiQuaiQuod · 05/12/2017 12:54

No I dont own my road but I have no choice where we live as its a COUNCIL house and it was this or the streets. some people dont.

and wheres elf and safety these days when schools are getting morte and more overrun?

But I pay part of my rent for the use of my driveway and dropped kerb.

lazy entitled prats who blatantly flaunt thr ules : highway code- do NOT obstruct the entrance to a property and are just arseholes with it, especailly blocking DISABLED entrance.

too lazy to walk a bit more.

and quite rightly residents have a right to protest. we are sick and tired EVERY FUCKING DAY having to come out and ask/tell people to move away from our dropped kerb driveways. its anti social and against the highway code rules.

and apart from that what kind of example are your kids learning from you? its okay to be an arsehole and disrespect rules etc.

entitles twats, unfortunatley its always the same ones too. most parents are not too bad.

QuiQuaiQuod · 05/12/2017 12:57

Most people - if they are honest - do not need access to their driveways for the 10/15 mins each time of school runs and should be mature and responsible enough to recognise that parents absolutely need to park and drop their children off and could make reasonable adjustments

FFS are you for real? IT IS AN OFFENCE TO OBSTRUCT A PROPERTY.

READ YOUR BLOODY ROAD RULES.

even if a resident is out is not a bloody excuse.to