To put a sign up on driveway gates

[Lunafortheloveogod]

We live on the corner of a turn road small cul de sac, our drive way is almost at the corner but people visiting across the road (not even in the cul de sac to a house that has a 3 car drive that’s empty) park on the corner up on the pavement at our gates. Kerb is dropped, double gates are there and have been for years. At the moment the drives just dug up as we don’t have a car. But our actual gate is stupidly narrow and on steps. Shortly I’m going to have a double pram which I’ll either need to fold, leave on the Main Street and run in n out with a newborn and ds who won’t be one or load them up indoors and go out the drive way gate.. much simpler/safer and easier in the rain or with shopping.

Would I be mad to stick one of those don’t park here access required signs up on the gates when the time comes?

Hopefully by then we’ll have either resurfaced or chipped the drive space too.. making it look more driveway-ish. I know it’s not a car but its still our garden/gates and yes the fuckers have parked in front of the single gate before.

Not unreasonable at all

Yes put up private drive no parking sign.

Could you go round and see them or pop a note through the door? If they have parked there before as they thought the driveway was not being used and you didn’t mention it then they might think you are ok with it.

I thought it’d be fine, dp just thought it’d be mad with no car.. I’m like it’s my space lol.

@SimplyBeBlythe unfortunately I asked them not to park there while we were getting work done, builders deliveries etc work was only going to take two weeks, and they don’t live here so not an issue for home etc (Main Street part has lots of parking just more of a walk) and they told me no they’re not illegally parked.. like thank you I’ll ask if the builders can just unload on top of around your car. Don’t even know if the sign will help might with anyone else at least

We have two allocated and numbered parking spaces right next to our house and only one car. I get the real rage when people assume it's ok to just use our other space because we don't have a second car.

In fact I was politely vocal recently when someone suggested it should be a free for all space because we don't use it, she stormed off in a huff when I said that I had no problem with occasional use when they have visitors provided they knock and ask us first. We've paid for our spaces.

Put the sign up Op and don't give it a second thought.

Just crack on pushing the pram through,if it damages their car then that's their problem of they're going to be so rude.

Don't quote me but I was under the impression that you can legally park across a dropped kerb as long as you aren't blocking someone in. So if there is no car on the drive you can park there - it's not nice manners and it drives me mad when I my neighbours do it to me but it is legal (so I was told).
I think anyone who parks across your front is is going to do it anyway sign or no sign as they are just not courteous people.

My (lovely) neighbour put one up and she now has more people parking outside her house than I have...

I really don't think it will help if you've spoken to them politely and they have kept doing it even if it's causing issues for you.

Do you get on with that neighbour? Might be worth casually dropping into conversation that you will soon have a double buggy and that any cars parked in front of gates might get bashed so that they can mention it to their visitors.

The first time you notice a car after baby is here and you have double buggy chap tue door and ask them to move as you cant get through the gate without risking damaging their car.

YANBU but if your hope is that they'll leave the gate clear I think you're dreaming.

They've indicated that they're the "I know my rights" sort of person with the response to your short term request so a sign isn't going to cut it.

I'd try speaking to them again re: needing access for the pram. If they still say no then don't feel guilty if you accidently damage their car when squeezing past.

If they're on the pavement it doesn't sound like they are legally parked?

Whether there is a car on the drive or not, they shouldn't be parked over a dropped kerb - it's not illegal, but it can be classed as an obstruction. The dropped kerb isn't only up benefit the driveway owner it's to provide access to people who need it - wheelchair users, people with prams etc.

@Inertia.. they’re also parked pretty much on the blind corner too.. they’re just twats. Their toddler gets unloaded on to the road and let run while they get bags etc out the boot, that makes me sweat thinking about how fast some of the idiots fly round here.

I know I might not have much luck with them in particular, hopefully the others that copy them will. And yep it also blocks the part wheelchairs would go down off the kerb to cross the road, that’s how close we are to the actual corner it just continues without going back up from dropped.

If it's blocking wheelchair access, I'd take pictures and report them to your local council - the council might agree to put lines down across the dropped kerb bit to preserve wheelchair access

Next stranger idea by slightly over zealous DM, since they can’t legally block someone in if we finish the drive in time DF could park his “naice” car on it.. he only uses it on weekends or going out so would be there pretty much all the time.

DF’s works a dirty job so main car looks like it was found on a scrap heap, nice car isn’t any nicer than the average newish car so wouldn’t be a risk for theft etc any more than on their drive..

The dropped kerb isn't only up benefit the driveway owner it's to provide access to people who need it - wheelchair users, people with prams etc.

This actually depends on whether there is a pedestrian dropped kerb (the 3' wide or so ones) within a certain distance of the driveway dropped kerb. - can you tell I have had this issue myself.

I don't think you'll get anywhere with the sign.

Your best bet might be to contact whoever is responsible for parking in your area (I think it could be police or council, depending on where you live) and ask for either a parking warden or community police officer to pay a visit. Parking your dad's car there might work, because they can't block exit onto the highway.

Have you actually spoken to the homeowners, rather than the visitors? They might have more influence over their visitors. While I know that tit-for-tat is rarely helpful, if they didn't stop doing this after multiple reasonable requests, I'd be sorely tempted to wait until the homeowners had an empty drive and get your dad to block entry onto their drive using his works car (only works if they'd need to park a car on their drive though!)

There's a sign by a house near where I work that just says "Please No Parking" which seems to strike the right note because no one does. Sounds slightly less bossy than No Parking Please I think.