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

[MsMarvel]

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??

Nope, it's bonkers, sorry. Next time get a donut too, OP I love parking threads

Wouldn't it MrsStrangerThing, people are so self obsorbed sometimes. Couldn't give a toss about the needs of others, as long as they are happy.

Yes, YABU. If there are no spaces and people are waiting for others to leave, then you should leave. It is a car park, not a restaurant.

And the car was parked. Theres no law to say you cant park and sit in the parked car.

didn't instantly get out of the car as there was make up to be put on.

Couldn't do your make up before you got to the car park no?

Ishine, honestly yes I do think that would be unreasonable of you if the carpark was full. But you say it wasn't so you weren't unreasonable at all, how odd of that woman!

The reason I say it is rude is that the shopping centre provide that parking for customers, they are potentially losing out on business if someone cannot get parked whilst you just sit there on your phone. However there were other spaces, therefore in this case, there was no problem.

Next time get a donut too, OP

Yes be more selfish, that's what the world needs.

@Sparklfairy
Sit in the passenger seat. No one ever expects you to move then

I can think of a few occasions when I was sat in a passenger seat and had people expect me to move. One woman even stuck her head in through the open window and shouted at me. I was about 15 at the time and obviously couldn’t drive! (Still can’t but obviously now I’m an adult I can’t expect people to just know that)

And I'm sure most of us have had situations where we are trying to find a space and someone gets in their car but doesn't leave right away etc. It's just that most of us don't get in a tizzy about it and just carry on 🤷🏻‍♀️ It wouldn't cross my mind to get in a flap about it.

I think YANBU OP, you weren’t ready to leave yet, and probably were still quicker than if you’d had to find somewhere else to sit and eat your food before going back to the car.

Thestrangestthing wasn't me putting make up on and for various reasons no there hadn't been time beforehand but the point was we had only just parked and we told them we were not leaving but still they persisted in trying to hound us out of the space.

There is no actual law that says you have to leave your car empty while it's in the car park, you know
You pay for a spot for your car. You and your car can stay there for as long as the maximum parking time is.

OP I do this too - I often have stuff to do when I get back to the car before leaving; I might even just be dropping shopping bags off before heading off somewhere else. You just need to indicate to whoever is waiting that you're not leaving.

It annoys me when a car park is clearly full and people sit in their cars not caring. Couldn't you move away from the car park and park up somewhere else not as busy?

Nope.

My old job was exactly the same OP, travelled around seeing clients. Used to love that little moment in the car after a client meeting where I'd eat some lunch or check my phone, ah bliss. Would barely notice anyone wanting my space and if they did they'd have to ask me so I could tell them I wasn't leaving, just tell them you've broken down next time, much easier!

I'm back in an office now and only get that kind of blissful isolation in the loo :-D

Sometimes you need to pay 30p to go into public toilets, do you sit there for 40 mins after using the toilet to get your moneys worth?

I'm yet to visit a public toilet where you pay by the hour.

Next time get a donut too, OP

Yes be more selfish, that's what the world needs.

The op was still using the space it was selfish of someone else to try to demand that she gives it up, consideration works both ways.

TheKitchen, I don't think said there is a law? Everyone has simply said the solution is to let others know you aren't leaving yet? A few of us have said we find it courteous to free up the space efficiently for the next user, but noone suggested the op was breaking any laws? Not sure where you got that from.

As a side note, be very cautious about your approach. Many years ago, a relative did that with groceries and then popped back in to the shop for a forgotten item and her car and shopping were gone when she came back out shortly after, obviously someone watched her load in all the groceries. Since then.I never do that, if I really need to put something in the car I move the car a good bit away in the hope to trick the thieves (I know it all sounds OTT btw, but to me its like leaving a handbag on display, just one of those 'no no's')

@Thestrangestthing
There’s no mention of carpark being full, even so it’s rude to try and hound somebody into moving, you don’t know why they’re in the car.

Neext time your driving around a hospital car park worried that your going to be late for you appointment, and see people eating in their cars, are you really going to think Well they have to eat or are you going to think they can move?. (Not saying op,s situation was in a hospital but we all lknow how hard it can be in a hospital car park.)

So for those who think it's U to eat a sandwich in the car when people are waiting, would it be ok to get out and eat the sandwich on a bench? Does it work like that? Or is the onus on all of us to get back and move our cars as soon as our "legitimate business" is concluded, and only undertake activities which can only be done when parked in that specific car park?

I’m currently ducking down in my seat as we are early for a GP apt and I don’t want to wake my son yet. The car park is full too.
In fairness I got here early because I know spaces are limited, but I’m avoiding all eye contact with the circling cars.

Yes as soon as you are in the drivers seat, move your car. It's not a difficult concept.

@JKScot4

Its rude to sit in a space you don't need while others can't find a space.

The op was still using the space it was selfish of someone else to try to demand that she gives it up, consideration works both ways.

No it really wasn't.

For those saying op is unreasonable, would you feel better if she ate her steakbake while standing outside her car for goodness sake.

A parked car is a parked car, she got there first and wasn't ready to leave.

I'm yet to visit a public toilet where you pay by the hour.

That's right, you can sit there for as long as you like. Do people do this too then?

Doing it just to piss people off its even worse and childish. People must have nothing better to do with their time

I reversed back into a space once and turned my engine off because an aggressive big-car-small-winky man wouldn't give me space to get out. He wanted my space but wouldn't budge.