Inconsiderate Neighbours

[ChrissieS79]

One of the neighbours in our small street who evidently has some sort of car washing OCD, whatever the weather or temperature washes his three cars twice weekly.

But in the winter, presumably recognising it's cold and will freeze, reverses out of his drive onto the kerb to wash his cars where the water runs down the pavement and street away from his house turning the whole lot into an ice rink.

Eventually this morning when after yesterday’s washing DS1 fell of her bike on a the icy pavement I'd had enough.

I politely asked him to maybe wash his cars next to a drain to collect the water or maybe use less water (he leaves the hose running on the ground for the full hour it takes to wash the cars) to be told "it's a free country I'll do what I want"

Aaargh..... I could explode, f-ing raging, what an inconsiderate arsehole!

Next time he's out and it's freezing I've got a good mind to go and soak his bloody drive.

An adult can use enough water in a place that creates a frozen hazard, but a 4 year old can't ride her bike on the pavement and is at fault when she skids and stacks it on the ice created by the adult.

You're fucking kidding me right?

Only on MN, part 465
Only on MN would someone making a reasonable complaint about an inconsiderate neighbour be berated for being disablist and allowing her daughter to break the law.

This x 100. 🙁

is it normal to wash your (3) cars twice a week???

my car is lucky to get one a year!

That would really wind me up. We had a neighbour that did the same only he did use the drive, just let the water run across the road.

It's a bit pointless car cleaning multiple times a week in this weather IMO.

I thought you could ride a bike on a pavement if you could prove you were doing so for work or leisure, not sure which now.
It's not completely illegal there are exceptions.

As for the man, just chuck some sand down next time, tell him to fuck off it's a free country.

What Bejazzled said

Cheap cat litter (basics range or Lidl) works just as well and doesn't cost as much as 'proper' gritting salt - easier to find at this time of year too.

And who expects a 4yo to cycle on the road FFS

I'd be using my hose on his drive because, as he said, it's a free country

I'm more alarmed at the suggestion that it is KARMA that poor 4yo DD fell off her bike for having the sheer nerve to cycle on the pavement.

???????

What the fuck is that thought process?

I got some brilliant stuff from Aldi that melts ice almost instantly...it does leave a gooey mess though.

I keep it in my grit bin (I love my grit bin)

I bet you wonder why you bother posting sometimes op ? God almighty ignore the ott pc comments, of course they aren't offensive. Neighbour sounds like a right one. We all have them though. Maybe just keep the neighbours area of the pavement out of bounds until he eases off with the car washing !

Cat litter makes a real mess if you use it on snow/ice.

I actually laughed out loud at BR54. Karma on a 4 year old riding her bike on a pavement? Yes I'm sure the universe is concerned about that.

I didn't even know it was illegal to ride on the pavement, we have a lot of pedestrian/bike pavements so it would never occur to me to make my kids ride on the road. And like heck would I, I would rather a £500 fine over something happening to them.

Is it that cold that roads gave frozen today? I'm in the ne and it's cold but not that cold.

Oh my days. YANBU OP.

It's a 4 year old kid cycling, not Bradley Wiggins FFS

We regularly help ourselves to a small portion of the council gritter bins for use on the pavement. We're probably taking food from the mouths of starving orphans but we don't care.

Clumping cat litter makes a horrid mess

I can't even...

Do you know, it's normal to say 'I am a bit OCD' about xyz? It's also normal to say 'I am crazy about', 'I am mad about' etc without meaning to insult or denigrate mentally ill people. But I guess this is the site where you can't say moron (traditionally defined as someone with an IQ of 51-70) but you CAN say idiot (traditionally defined as someone with an IQ of 0-25). So actually idiot is more disablist than moron if you like to get all technical about it. But not on here.

OP, I would grit massively. Hope your DD is OK. For those saying 4 year olds should ride in the road with the cars, jesus christ....

Karma to a 4yo for riding her bike on the pavement? Jeez!

OP I second grit and salt everywhere, just after he's washed his car.

I think you are being perfectly reasonable - turning the street into an ice-rink is just ridiculous and thoughtless. My jaw dropped at the posters being pedantic about the definition of OCD in this context and criticising your young DD for cycling on the pavement.

What do your other neighbours think?

Have you contacted the council? This sounds like a massive hazard. Maybe you need better drainage?

i would be taking issue with the council over this tbh, the pavement is part of the highway and he is creating a hazard by doing this, excessive salt and grit could cause problems if it builds up too, damaging his property ? plain stupid,
if someone has an accident as a result he could be sued, in our area you can clear the pavement of ice and snow on the understanding that people should be aware when it is icy under foot but this idiot is creating a problem of his own making
it's a free country, yeah, to be a complete twunt

Yes throw down salt/sand/grit

If he complains just tell him it's a free country and you can do what you want

People like him will never change

It's -20 here today. No one washing anything outside in this weather. I hope his door seals freeze.