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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to be enjoyed with this situation/driving/

39 replies

Varnas · 13/01/2020 10:44

I need to drive my DC to 2 different schools every morning. And most mornings there is a taxi mini van collecting a child from a house near us. He stops and waits for 1-2 minutes in the middle of the street blocking the flow in both directions. There are parking bays on both sides and usually there is enough space for him to park there but he just stops in the middle. I'm usually very calm driver and don't mind waiting but when doing school runs I literally don't have minutes to spare. I'm I unreasonable to expect whether the taxi to be parking in the bays or the child to be ready and wait outside on time? Just to clarify - the child have no visible mobility issues and I have no other option to get to our street.
Is it actually even allowed to stop like that?

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 13/01/2020 10:46

Speak to the parents of the child he's picking up and ask them to ask him to park appropriately. It can't just be you this is holding up...

Sparklingbrook · 13/01/2020 10:47

YANBU, but if the taxis where you live are anything like around here then they think they have different rules.

Whynosnowyet · 13/01/2020 10:47

This is what horns are for imo. Or email the company and complain..

Original poster
Varnas · 13/01/2020 10:51

Sorry for the typo - the title should be read " to be enoyed" 😊

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 13/01/2020 10:51

No, this isn't what horns are for. Horns are for alerting others in an situation such as a potential accident.

OP, I agree, either speak to the family being picked up, the taxi driver or the company. It may also be worth speaking to the council as it may be them arranging the taxi on a contract basis.

WaxOnFeckOff · 13/01/2020 10:52

I think you are looking for the word annoyed OP :)

Original poster
Varnas · 13/01/2020 10:55

Do you think I have reason to make a complaint to the company? The name is displayed on the van - it's private hire.

OP posts:
HolesinTheSoles · 13/01/2020 10:57

I'd approach the driver and ask him to move into a bay.

Original poster
Varnas · 13/01/2020 10:57

^^I think you are looking for the word annoyed OP smile
Yes, thanks 😁
You know the autocorrect has its own mind 😁😁😁

OP posts:
YesIReallyDoLikeRootBeer · 13/01/2020 11:09

Yes it's annoying, but since you know that most days they are there could you leave a few minutes earlier to avoid them?

pinkyredrose · 13/01/2020 11:11

Have you asked them not to park there?

Whynosnowyet · 13/01/2020 11:13

A company van was parking frankly like a twat (several from the same Co actually) dh emailed head office and they parked elsewhere...

TheFoxAndTheMole · 13/01/2020 11:16

I get confused about posts like this on here.

Why wouldn't you stick your handbrake on, go up to the driver's door and say "hey look mate, when you stop in the middle of the road you're holding me up for a couple of minutes every day which has a knock on effect through my day - would you mind pulling into one if these spaces while you're waiting? Ta!" And cheerily as you can muster walk back to your car and get ready to move?

WaxOnFeckOff · 13/01/2020 11:18

Yes, I think you have cause to call the company and ask them to have a word. The driver must be aware that cars are waiting. Family should be too but might be still getting ready and taxi might not always be at exactly the same time.

Original poster
Varnas · 13/01/2020 11:20

To ask who? 🙄 The mum is not responsible for the driver's actions. To talk to the driver I would need to get out of my car which I don't think is wise to do in the middle of the road.
Leaving early or taking different route would be complicated and I don't see why I need to change my routine just because someone thinks they can stop wherever they see fit.

OP posts:
TheReef · 13/01/2020 11:20

Ring the taxi firm and complain

TheFoxAndTheMole · 13/01/2020 11:23

Do you think I have reason to make a complaint to the company? The name is displayed on the van - it's private hire.

But why is this your go to idea instead of talking to the actual driver at the actual time of it happening?

Please don't say you're afraid of the confrontation. Unless the driver has given tiny good reason to be afraid of them that's very wet lettuce of you.

WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 13/01/2020 11:24

I would speak to the parent of the child being collected, the taxi driver them-self and the company they work for. Every time they do it.

Butchyrestingface · 13/01/2020 11:25

To ask who? 🙄 The mum is not responsible for the driver's actions. To talk to the driver I would need to get out of my car which I don't think is wise to do in the middle of the road.

Not sure why you’re eye rolling at posters.

No-one is saying the mum is responsible for the driver’s actions but she may be able to have a word with him and ask him nicely to park in a bay. Her being the customer (of sorts) may have an influence.

As for getting out of your car, hopefully you’d only have to do it once.

TheFoxAndTheMole · 13/01/2020 11:29

To talk to the driver I would need to get out of my car which I don't think is wise to do in the middle of the road.

You said they are blocking the flow of traffic in both directions. So why is it unwise for you to get out of your car?

And if it IS unwise, what's stopping you from pulling into one of the parking bays that you say are available, and then approaching them? Or walking over while leaving your car in your space for a moment.

cstaff · 13/01/2020 11:31

So you are not capable of getting out of your car to have a conversation which will probably fix the situation once and for all. The taxi driver probably doesn't ever realise that he is pissing you off every morning. One short civil conversation and all could be right in the world again but you are not prepared to do that. Whats the point ??

WaxOnFeckOff · 13/01/2020 11:33

I don't think there is any point speaking directly to the driver. He clearly already knows he's blocking the street and doesn't give a shit.

Original poster
Varnas · 13/01/2020 11:35

Apologies, I did not mean "eye rolling", I was thinking this emoticon is "confused".
About not getting out of the car - because that would mean that I'm also causing obstruction, would also cause more time waisting and I don't want to make a scene when not sure whether I'm in the wrong. That's why I first posted here.

OP posts:
Welshmaenad · 13/01/2020 11:37

More than likely this jobs arranged through the LEA transport division. Ring them and explain it's causing a problem and ask them to politely request that the driver does it block the road.

LakieLady · 13/01/2020 11:37

At least once a week, often more, we have to turn round in our narrow street and go the opposite way to the way we were facing, which is a longer way round.

Bin men, delivery drivers, racehorses being road walked, school bus for disabled child along the road and even a couple of escaped sheep once - it's annoying, but it's not the end of the world.

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