I may well be BU regarding Neighbours parking.... what do you think?

[Blueberriesandbananas]

I know the MN rules regarding parking is to put a diagram on, but I won't as I'll probably out myself!

I moved into my house over ten years ago, the house has off road parking as there's a dropped kerb outside. However, after changing my car eight years ago I could no longer park on the drive as every time I did the car would 'bang on the bottom' as the drive is quite steep. you'd have thought I'd have had the sense to think about this before I bought the car.
Anyway, it wasn't a problem to park on the road instead as there was mostly only my car and ndn's parked on a large stretch of road (where you could probably park seven or eight cars) and part of this includes a lay by.
Ndn has always parked in the lay by (he doesn't have a drive) and I parked just on the straight bit of road, but not directly across my dropped kerb as I preferred to be able to see my car easily. (Kerb nearer to the side of my house more out of view).
Parking like this was all ok, but inevitably over the past few years, other neighbours have bought cars/moved in and the lay by where my ndn parked has been 'taken over' by others who don't go out often, thereby not giving ndn as much opportunity to park there now. Because of this, ndn (or his wife who uses the car for work) started to park their car in the spot I've been using for years.
No problem at all (I could just move a bit further down if ndn was there first). Now though, ndn's son has moved back home with his car and ndn now also comes home in a works van.

Again no problem with this, but, I've noticed over a period of time that if I happen to park where I did for a number of years, ndn and his wife or son often park right up my arse and up to the bonnet leaving me to have to do about 27 manoeuvres to try and get out, and they do that even if there is plenty of room for them to park a little bit further down.
Although, if the lay by is free, ndn's are happy to park there and don't attempt to box me in.
I've started to feel as if they're trying to 'intimidate me' into parking directly outside my dropped kerb so that they are left to have the 'better' parking spots.
I've noticed that if I 'move along' and park across my kerb 'out of their way' they don't park within an inch of my car.
The past couple of weeks though, if either the ndn, his wife and son can't manage to park all three of their vehicles outside our houses, they have taken to parking directly across my dropped kerb, leaving me to park further down the road with my car being out of sight.
This has really pissed me off, especially as they have three vehicles between them, against my one!
Although, I'm prepared to be told I am BU expecting to at least be able to park against my own dropped kerb, as I don't use the drive way.
Mind you, I do use it to turn in and may need to leave access for skips I sometimes have delivered.

What do you think? am I being precious or are my ndn's being intimidating CF's?

I don’t see why you wouldn’t just park across your own dropped kerb? Presumably your car is alarmed so why does it matter if you can’t see it as easily? We park at the front and our kitchen and living space is at the back, and it isn’t a problem. You don’t need to be able to see your car every second of the day. I can see why your NDN is annoyed.

Unless I'm misunderstanding something here please don't park across a dropped kerb in a pavement - they are needed by wheelchair users and others with mobility issues.

Yeah if parking is limited you need to start parking across your dropped kerb. Especially as from your neighbours point of view you have a drive you don't even use! I think that would annoy me.

It's so easy to get into the habit of parking in your spot, but really, it's just a road and people can park where they like. We have a parking space where we live and we can't see our car. It's just one of those things.

Ah good point by @Synecdoche. As long as you leave room, I would start parking part way across it.

Park across your own kerb

Of court technically you have the right to park anywhere, but I would park where nowhere else can to leave space for others...be considerate.

Would reversing your car on make it an option?

No diagram = YABU
You have a driveway but you don't use it = YABU

Why do you need to see your car?

@Synecdoche @loveulotslikejellytots The dropped kerb isn’t a public pavement, it’s for accessing the OP’s private drive which she chooses not to park on.

If parking is limited then OP should be using the drive, or at least the dropped kerb area at the bottom of the drive. It’s unfair to have your own space sitting empty while you take up public space that others have to share.

I can't reverse much onto the drive as its very steep and still affects the car. It's only ok for turning in really.
I can see people's points about not parking directly outside it, but on the other hand, is it fair for my ndn's to use that space if I'm out? ... meaning that I have to park down the road.

What I mean is, why can't the ndn park his work van further down?. especially as there are two other vehicles belonging to his household using the spaces up?

Either get a car which actually goes on your driveway or realise you can't always park your car on the public road in the parking spot you want.

It doesn't matter for how many years you've parked there or how many cars your household has in comparison to other households the road (if no restrictions) is a free for all for any taxed/ insured vehicle.

If you want the luxury of a parking space then the logical option is to use your empty driveway?!?

Can you not reverse your car onto the driveway?

Although nobody (yourself including) should Park over a dropped kerb.

You're very unreasonable, you have two different places you can park in and you're choosing to take up room where other people could park instead!

The crux of the matter is this: the road is a public highway and can be parked on by anyone providing there are no markings stating otherwise. You do not own any section or road or kerb.

The dropped kerb was put in to allow you vehicle access to he land you do own. However you do not own this section of kerb or any other. It is a courtesy provided by the people who do own it.

You can either choose to park your vehicle on your land (although your current car isn't compatible with this)
OR choose to park wherever there is a space on the public road.

The only way to ensure you can always park your car where you want to is park it on land which is yours.

Cactus I'd have to disagree I'm afraid - Highway Code 243 states clearly you shouldn't park over a dropped kerb in front of an entrance to a property.

It seems such a small thing but even if, as you say, the dropped kerb is not provided for the sole purpose of the disabled it can in the vast majority of locations (in my experience) make a huge difference to the ease of crossing roads and getting around.

OP could you offer the use of/rent your driveway to your neighbour to free up some space on the road?

You can't park or reverse on your drive but you can use it for turning? Surely if you can get on it to turn on it you can park on it?

Your neighbours choose to park on the public road where it's most convenient to them, the fact their chosen spot is also the most convenient for you is irrelevant. Not their fault you can't/won't use your driveway, this is very much a case of first come first served.

@widgetbeana
No they cant park over the dropped kerb entrance to her driveway.

However, in my opinion you are being VU to not park on your driveway and the expect others to leave spaces free (not including the drive entrance however)

There is a part under your car that will be what you can hear scraping on the drive. Pretty sure you cant see this from the front of your car so can you not just park there anyway? Or pay to have the drive re done so that you can park on it.

OP you say you only have one vehicle to your neighbour's three, but by parking along the kerb you are in effect using three spaces, because the other two places you could park (your driveway, or in front of your driveway) are not in theory available to other drivers. So you're taking up more of the available space than you need to and that may be what is annoying your neighbours.

They will know that you don't use the driveway, which I guess is why they think it's OK to park in front of it. And honestly, it kind of is, on the basis that, as a PP said, nobody owns more of the road than anyone else does.

Taking into account @Synecdoche's point about accessibility for wheelchairs and buggies, I think the simplest solution (though not the quickest or cheapest, sorry!) would be to make adjustments to your driveway so that you can park there easily. Problem solved in one fell swoop.

Either get a car which actually goes on your driveway or realise you can't always park your car on the public road in the parking spot you want.

Agree with this. You have no more right to park there than anyone else, even if your neighbour does have 3 cars to your one.

I would park over your dropped curb, how much time do you really spend watching your car out of the window?

You’re being ridiculously precious about wanting to see your car.

YABU for not using your own drive (not sure how you can use it to turn but not to park?) or the dropped kerb in front of your driveway.

You don’t own the road outside your house. Regardless of how long you’ve been parking there, there’s no obligation for your neighbours to leave it free for you. Unless it’s resident permit only, total strangers could park there if they chose to.

Thanks for the comments, I guess I'm being unreasonable, which is fair enough.
I can't turn the whole car on the drive way (a pp asked), I only reverse on to the path and a bit of the garden to turn.
I'll be back later!

Is everyone not reading the thread I have just read? She is not complaining about not being able to park in the same spot she is saying that if she parks there first then they deliberately box her in. If the neighbours get there first she doesn't have a problem. Yanbu OP to be frustrated that when you get there first they box you in. And neither of you should be parking across a dropped kerb even through it is your dropped kerb.

Just a quick one. I know I don't own the road and that people are under no obligation to leave space for me.

I think what I'm most annoyed about is the fact that I'm deliberately 'boxed in' if I don't park where the ndn's want me to. They had no problem with where I used to park, when they were in the lay by, until they were 'turfed out' of their favourite spot.

Thanks Nootka

She is not complaining about not being able to park in the same spot she is saying that if she parks there first then they deliberately box her in. If the neighbours get there first she doesn't have a problem.

That's a good point actually, OP could you speak to your neighbours and ask them to stop doing this? May make them feel awkward enough to stop.

Would it be an option to offer the use of your drive to the ndns for one of their cars, since you never use it? Then there’ll be one car fewer to contend with on the road when parking.

The problem is the neighbours parking across the dropped kerb to the OP's drive. They shouldn't be blocking it so tell them not to- just because you don't use it doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to use it if you change your mind. As for leaving it free for wheelchair users, then you can if want but don't have to seeing as it's dropped for access to your property not for public convenience.