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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to be rushed out of a car park?

603 replies

MsMarvel · 29/01/2020 12:30

Travel around for work, so regularly use public car parks to then work at client sites (hotels, bars etc) always arrive early so never have any issue getting spaces in busy car parks.

Because i work in a public area at a client site, when i get back to my car like to grab my lunch quickly and make some phonecalls before heading home (todays journey is a 2 hour drive home)

Im fed up of people trying to find spaces in car parks seeing me going into my car, amd sitting behind me waiting for me to leave! I normally end up feeling rushed and just leave, but today i decided to sit and eat the steak bake i bought on the way to the car. Woman sits behind me for like 5 mins, then goes past slowly peering into my car giving me proper evils. Should add, engine not on, so not sitting with idling engine.

Aibu to take some time before leaving a parking space??

OP posts:
fairlyplump · 30/01/2020 17:52

You could have let her know tho, just out of courtesy

EngiNerd · 30/01/2020 17:59

Agree with @Lockheart

A little bit of communication will go a long way and save everyone a headache. It's the courteous thing to do. They could be missing opportunities for other spaces while waiting for you. They have no idea how long you'll be. And you've got every right to sit there and take your time.

Oscarsdaddy · 30/01/2020 18:00

If you have paid for the parking space the. It’s yours to use until your prepayment ticket expires.

Eat, sleep, chat .....fill your boots

littlekerry8 · 30/01/2020 18:00

@RubyandMax as I said pull over any where , dont think I mentioned go to another car park ... it's a car park not a cafe! Just drive out to a less build up area and pull over if people trying to park in an area meant for parking bothers you this much

june2007 · 30/01/2020 18:03

I mentioned the hospirtal scenario after earlier this month driving round in circles not finding a spot. Hubby let me out So I got to my appointment in time. H drove round some more before finding a slightly dodgy spot. But then had difficulty finding me. Had I driven myself I would have been late so if people can move, yes they should have done. but if there were spaces available then there is less of a rush. And although what I was in hospital fro was potentially traumatic, I did not sit in my car as I knew others would want my spot.

skyblu · 30/01/2020 18:04

Not at all. Sitting in your car, eating your lunch at your leisure whilst people are waiting & queuing for a space is not MASSIVELY annoying at all.... Hmm

purplebunny2012 · 30/01/2020 18:06

If I'm not leaving, I try to indicate that by waving them on and shaking my head.
It would be nice if you could save them the wait for a space that's not coming available that soon

NoMoreUsernamesAnymore · 30/01/2020 18:06

If it's a car park you have paid to use then you can stay as long as you want so long as you've got time left. You are not being unreasonable.

If it's a free car park that's empty and someone just wants your space, then you're not being unreasonable. They are.

If, however, it's a free car park that is busy, with people struggling to find spaces, then yes, you are extremely unreasonable. The only way free services like this work is if people don't take the piss. Sitting and chatting or texting and taking your time to eat a steak bake is not on. Move your car.

JassyRadlett · 30/01/2020 18:07

Not at all. Sitting in your car, eating your lunch at your leisure whilst people are waiting & queuing for a space is not MASSIVELY annoying at all....

Eating her lunch and making her calls somewhere else, with her car parked for exactly the same amount of time, would make precisely what material difference?

NoseyBuggerMummy · 30/01/2020 18:07

Just because you're entitled to do something doesn't mean it isn't obnoxious. If you're in a hospital car park that gets very full of course it's good manners to go have your lunch somewhere else. Likewise a busy school car park or doctor's car park where there isn't alternative parking. It's just basic consideration. If it's a big shopping centre then having lunch is an appropriate thing to do there and is fine.

mrshousty · 30/01/2020 18:09

I would sit there for badness. Have sunglasses in the car. Stick them on and have a nap then you can watch them without them knowing 😂😂

Nearly47 · 30/01/2020 18:09

Sit on the passenger seat. People will leave you alone. YANBU. If a car park is full usually there aren't any free parking on the road. I do that when waiting for my kids activities.

JassyRadlett · 30/01/2020 18:11

If the car park is full you could do a nice thing and drive round the corner and eat your lunch.

I need to move to one of these places that has plentiful parking round the corner while the council car park is totally full. Sounds blissful.

kateoc8 · 30/01/2020 18:17

Well put. Have a biscuit!

RubyandMax · 30/01/2020 18:19

@littlekerry8 - but how would you know there was on street parking to be had elsewhere? Surely no one thinks "I need to eat my lunch before my next appointment and I have 30 minutes left on my parking, but I'll just leave and drive around this town in the hope that I might find a free space somewhere else" Hmm
If there was loads of free on street parking available nearby people wouldn't be waiting for spaces in a car park, would they?

lottiegarbanzo · 30/01/2020 18:34

Oh, new posters saying OP is BU, fab (if bemusing)!

Would any of you be willing to look through my post of 14:13:03 today and comment?

TheCherries littlekerry8 bmbonanza skyblu

Thank you! Smile

Mamabear144 · 30/01/2020 18:37

You could sit into the passenger seat to eat your lunch so it looks like you're waiting on somebody to come back to the car and then you won't be rushed

Fowles94 · 30/01/2020 18:39

YANBU we sit in the car to feed the baby and toddler sometimes if it's busy in the eateries so we can relax. It's your space until you are finished with it. They should be more organised and get there earlier.

SundayGirlB · 30/01/2020 18:45

It's one of my pet hates. I often try and breastfeed my son in the car after a trip to town as he's too distracted anywhere else. Have people peer in and get an eyeful - serves them right.

littlekerry8 · 30/01/2020 18:47

@RubyandMax how do you know there isn't on st parking ? Like I said people cant be upset that people want to park in a car park? 🙄 .... there is loads of on street parking near my local tesco but I still choose to park in car park 🙄 .. my point is is the car park is full be nice to others and move out of the space or dont be upset that people want to park.. In ..a .. car.. park

JassyRadlett · 30/01/2020 18:54

I am still totally bemused at the idea of people queuing up irately for a space in the council car park when there is plentiful unoccupied on-street parking nearby.

Where are these mythical places?

Livelovebehappy · 30/01/2020 18:54

YANBU. If you had your lunch first in the building, your car would still be parked up outside, but I’m sure people wouldn’t say that YABU in spending extra time in the building to have lunch. Whether you eat your lunch in the car, in the building, on a park bench is irrelevant. Your car is still taking the space up, so if you choose to eat in the car that’s your prerogative, and no one else’s business.

lottiegarbanzo · 30/01/2020 19:06

Indeed Jassy OP is talking about 'a public car park', not a shop or supermarket car park.

Why would anyone pay to park in a Council car park, when there's plentiful free on-street parking?

Why would anyone assume that OP, who doesn't live in this town but travels there occasioanlly for work, so may not know it well, can easily find this mythical free parking?

Lweji · 30/01/2020 19:20

dont be upset that people want to park.. In ..a .. car.. park

That works for you those already parked as those who want to park.
If no parking, then go park elsewhere.

Lweji · 30/01/2020 19:23

I'm thinking car parks should have mandatory enquiries as to the nature of your business there.
Only those worthy should be allowed to park.