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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why people don’t use both lanes in the petrol station?

248 replies

Horcrux · 01/12/2019 17:05

Do people not realise that the hose reaches around to the other side so that you don’t have to wait to use the tank closest to your cap?
Or do people know this but have a reason for not doing it?
AIBU for parking on either side?

OP posts:
Arnoldthecat · 01/12/2019 18:21

Note that you can also hold the holster upside down in the tank filler if your stretching it over the other side,. These are the same people who wont use a bus lane when they can.

Soontobe60 · 01/12/2019 18:22

Because I’m not very tall and have very weak arthritic wrists I just can’t manoeuvre the hose on the far side. But I also don’t judge people who do manage it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Ginfordinner · 01/12/2019 18:23

You don't stretch it over. You pull slightly further forward when you park at the pump and bring the hose round the back!

You can't do that if there is a car at the pump in front of you.

Celebelly · 01/12/2019 18:25

@Ginfordinner You can at all the pumps I go to!

Ginfordinner · 01/12/2019 18:27

I tend to fill up at the local petrol station, and the pumps are too close together to be able to do that.

dementedpixie · 01/12/2019 18:29

My fuel pump symbol has a wee arrow pointing to the side the fuel cap is on. So on this car the fuel cap is on the left

To wonder why people don’t use both lanes in the petrol station?
JanaoftheJingle · 01/12/2019 18:30

There is a decent sized co op store at my local station, and plenty of parking. Most people still leave their car blocking the pump and then go and do what is apparently their weekly shop Angry while cars are queuing behind them.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 01/12/2019 18:31

I'm amused that an XC90 and a RR are being used as "proof" that the hose will always reach...

greenlavender · 01/12/2019 18:33

This again. It's so much easier to use the hose on the side of the tank. We're not all perfect & impatient.

RedPanda2 · 01/12/2019 18:34

Because I don't mind waiting

MyNewBearTotoro · 01/12/2019 18:35

I’m a fairly new driver and I genuinely didn’t know that the hose would reach the other side. Although I’ve only filled up 4 times and I purposefully go at quiet times when I won’t have to queue as I still feel a bit intimidated if I have an audience!

randomsabreuse · 01/12/2019 18:36

I've failed to get DH's (wide) car to line up a couple of times. Even the "extra long" hoses. I'm a bit pants at getting close enough other than garages I know or if I'm in the front pump - often I can't get far enough forwards on the back pumps to make it reach.

Stoopid fat barge of a car (Mondeo) but necessary for his job...

yellowallpaper · 01/12/2019 18:36

It's easier than wrestling with a long awkward hose (I'm v petite) and hoping it reaches. I'm rarely in that much of a hurry, but I have used it.

BlouseAndSkirt · 01/12/2019 18:37

All the people saying it reaches round, dragging it round etc, do you actually mean round the back of the car?

I pull the hose over the top.

It always reaches.

Somanysocks · 01/12/2019 18:42

Because its a free country (kind of) and I'll fill up how i like 😘

Doingitaloneandproud · 01/12/2019 18:43

Maybe some people just don't want too? Either way it won't affect you if you can use either side pump Hmm I do use whichever pump but if someone doesn't want to or can't I understand that, their car, their fuel, their choice Smile

damnthatanxiety · 01/12/2019 18:45

pinkstripeycat people often go into the shop to pay because they are buying a snack at the same time.

damnthatanxiety · 01/12/2019 18:45

BlouseAndSkirt I'm small. My 4x4 is huge. No way I can pull a hose over the top

Hurdygurdy24 · 01/12/2019 18:45

They reach both sides without scratching your vehicle if you park properly and aren’t stupid.

I have a Renault traffic van. If it reaches over that it will reach over pretty much any car on the road.

Anyway. Stupid people lining up free up spaces for the rest of is

pigsDOfly · 01/12/2019 18:47

I use the pump nearest to the tank because I find it hard enough to wrestle the thing out of the machine and into my car, so wouldn't have a hope in hell of dragging a heavy hose round the back of my car.

I sorry if that annoys anyone. But do feel free to sit in judgement on me for waiting until I can use a pump I'm comfortable with as I couldn't give a shit what anyone else thinks about how I fill up my car.

Practicalmagico · 01/12/2019 18:48

I don’t because it won’t reach round my car

Thestrangestthing · 01/12/2019 18:48

Na, I would rather sit and wait for the right side, than potentially make a right tit of myself trying to reach the hose round the car.

steff13 · 01/12/2019 18:48

When I need to fill up I never know which side the filling cap is on, because I don't know the car/van.

There's an arrow on the dashboard that shows where it is.

pigsDOfly · 01/12/2019 18:49

Oh, just seen I'm stupid as well as not as strong as some people.

GoGoLego · 01/12/2019 18:50

Yabu

I hate hate hate filling my car up with petrol. So the extra faff if stretching the hose is never going to happen. Apologies if you're stuck behind me but no just no

What does bug me is when just before you fill up and you've only just stopped . The car in front leaves buy instead of moving forward so another car can go in you just stay put

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