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??

YANBU to stay in your space while you eat but it is considered polite to offer the waiting driver to sit in your passenger seat to pass the time.

Next time, eat a leisurely lunch and take twice as long and then get into your car. Your car will have been there much longer, but that's OK, right? As long as you aren't sitting in it! Or should we be hurrying back to our cars the second we finish what we came there to do because someone else might need our space? Do we have to plan the most efficient route to minimise the amount of time we take up a space?

The alternative is that people don't sit in their cars and eat a quick lunch; they sit down elsewhere and do it and probably take longer before then getting into and moving their cars. Which means that Little Miss Angry Parker actually has to wait longer for a space. But it's the principle, right?!

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

No it would be much better if she wasn't anywhere near the car, so people wouldn't presume she's leaving. You know, because generally that's what people thinn when someone leaves the shopping center, walks to their car and gets in the drivers seat.

But it's the principle, right?! grin

Yup, don't let people think you are leaving. Simple.

Oh so it's not selfish to actually take up the space then? It's to do with managing the expectations of other people? Which is it?

If somebody wants your space why don’t they just ask you if you will. E leaving instead of sitting watching you.

So if op is between clients where is she supposed to eat out on the street somewhere?

There you have it, OP. Just take loads more time before getting into your car next time to appease people who are so dense they can't tell that someone getting into their car and then sitting with the ignition off and starting to eat is not imminently leaving. We've cracked it!

Last time I was visiting someone in hospital I arrived before visiting time to make sure I got a space and ate my lunch in the car before I went in. Thinking about it I am actually more likely to sit in the car getting myself organised before than after a meeting. People get equally infuriated if you sit in your car for any length of time before leaving it.

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?

Even more reason to mind my own business. They might be sat in the car because they've had bad news and can't drive yet, because of mental health issues, or because of any bloody reason they choose as they got to the space first.

Oh so it's not selfish to actually take up the space then? It's to do with managing the expectations of other people? Which is it?

Eh? The car park has been provided by whichever facility you are using, not for people to sit and eat their lunch. If you are using the facility then you need the space, if you are not, then you do not need the space and you should leave. Again, simple.

But she is using the facility. Her car is parked in it. That's the definition of using a car park!

Flouncy, its been clearly stated by several posters that in this situation, they pull out of the space and stop somewhere for a short time to make a call or whatever. There's plenty of options for pulling over somewhere whilst remaining in the car, that aren't an option for actually parking up for several hours. I am not sure where a poster has suggested driving whilst eating/making phone calls?

So if op is between clients where is she supposed to eat out on the street somewhere?

Somewhere people aren't waiting for a space, while she is taking up a space she doesn't need.

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

Not a difficult concept, no, but an utterly ridiculous one.

I will often do the following before driving off - eat, drink, check emails, answer emails, ring colleagues, do paperwork etc.

And I've sat and cried in a car park more than once. Is that OK? Or would you prefer I drove off straight away in that scenario?

If I have paid for the space for 2 hours, what difference does it make it I sit in my car to do those things, or sit in a café or park bench?

If you've paid for the space, you can use it. For those saying 'park elsewhere to eat your lunch' Where? Where I live there's nowhere to park during the day, it's all residents zones.

I often sit with my laptop in the car. It's no one else's business.

She also said it was a public car park that presumably she has paid for. So why isn't she entitled to sit in her parked car there? Is she allowed to stand beside it? Within 10 feet? What about coming back and depositing something before leaving to do something else?

Where can I get a list of the things you're allowed to do when you park in a public car park?

Would you suggest she break the law by making phonecalls and eating whilst driving?

Or you know, she could just move. Usual MN jumping to the extremes 😂

And I've sat and cried in a car park more than once. Is that OK? Or would you prefer I drove off straight away in that scenario?

Yes

Mia, I have done all those things in my car too but I personally prefer to move off somewhere quieter than sit in a busy carpark to do it, especially the crying bit! If you don't want to move that is completely up to you and obviously you have every right to do so.

Some of us are simply pointing out that we don't because we find it good manners to not take up a space when there's other options.

The op stated it was a public car park so I'm assuming it's a council owned and operated so for what ever the op wants to do, not therefore for a specific site.

Where would she move to given parking spaces are in such high demand?

Look. If you're driving round a car park that's almost full, looking for a space, who doesn't stop if they see someone getting in their car, in the hope that they're coming out?
What would we like them to do if they're not going to be moving off? We'd like them to indicate that. So the empathetic thing to do if we're the one getting in/sitting in our car? Act like we'd like others to. Just let them know the space isn't going to be available. Simple.

And if we're in a car park that's absolutely jampacked full, how do we feel when we're stressed and someone's sitting in their car eating their sandwich or putting their makeup on? Frustrated?
So yes, if the car park is full with a queue outside, it'd be thoughtful to move if you have the option to eat your sandwich or put your makeup on elsewhere.

It's just consideration, and behaving to others as we'd like them to behave to us. That was instilled to me as a child, and I find it really odd that other people don't see life that way.