To think this is ridiculous? (Parking thread)

[12frogsincoats]

Just here for a rant about an extremely trivial issue here, sorry!

We live on a steep hill that also happens to be in the town centre so parking is difficult due to people parking here to nip into town/go to work, and due to how steep it is (it's very steep) it's not as easy to squeeze your car into a tiny gap.

There is a couple with a group up son who live right at the bottom of the street who have 3 identical Ford Fiestas. Now, although that is quite strange in itself, it is not the issue. The issue is that every time one of them goes out, one of the others will move their car to the spot they vacate. It is the same spot at all times, and it is outside OUR HOUSE, which is at the top of the street, as it's the only place to park that is on the flat. In our entire 4 years of living here we have NEVER seen that spot empty or occupied by any car other than one of their myriad fiestas.

Now, to make it clear, I am fully aware that we do not own the pavement just because it's outside our home. I want to stress that, as I know people will comment this. So I suppose I have no right to complain really, but (maybe irrationally) it REALLY gets on my tits!

None of them can ever go out separately, and if one is left home alone they can't take the car out as there is no one to reserve the space outside OUR HOUSE for them!

AIBU to wish they'd bloody give up and just take the bargain for a parking spot every time they go out like every other car owner on the street does?!

God I don't know how you've stayed sane for 4 years slight exaggeration. That would drive me batshit. Id have to do the things others have suggested, hiring skip etc.

Just out of interest though are there no parking limits in the city centre? Not from the uk so unsure how it works.

Yes I’d definitely get something outside your house. Your car, a wheelie bin , anything.

You definitely need to break their habit with this. There's been some good suggestions already on this thread. Best and cheapest way to do it is be ready immediately to put your car in that space before they have chance to when one of them moves.

Still not getting the problem with parking on a hill. I had to do a parallel park on my test on a steep hill. It's the same manoeuvre as on the flat.

@DaughterX it sounds like your handbrake needs adjusting. Always leave your car in gear on a hill.

I can see your frustration. Nothing illegal or even really immoral, just a stupid thing for them to live their lives over.

@ExclamationPerfume

Still not getting the problem with parking on a hill. I had to do a parallel park on my test on a steep hill. It's the same manoeuvre as on the flat.

@DaughterX it sounds like your handbrake needs adjusting. Always leave your car in gear on a hill.

How is this relevant?

@ExclamationPerfume guess you're just an exceptional driver! It's the same as when you stop at traffic lights, it's harder to set off on an upward steep hill than on the flat because theres more chance of stalling, you have to control the clutch and accelerator better. When parallel parking on a hill you have to control the clutch, accelerator and brake perfectly so you dont go too fast into the other cars as your car will want to roll down the hill faster than if you were on a flat. And it's harder to move backwards up a hill because you need to balance your clutch and accelerator in reverse and that's harder. How any driver doesn't understand that is beyond me.

OP you need to sit at the window waiting for them to move their car and get in before they move another into the space. Its the only way to end their madness!

OP you need to sit at the window waiting for them to move their car and get in before they move another into the space. Its the only way to end their madness!

Yes this! I can't believe the thought has never occurred to them in 4 years, I'm too petty to have waited this long!

Yes, get the kerb dropped if you possibly can.

Where do you park?

I get it. I’d be aggravated by this too. It’s really self-serving and greedy of them to guard the spot so jealously while never allowing you the chance to park outside your house.
There’s nothing you can do. How frustrating.

I don't get it. Draw a fucking diagram like any normal person will you

There are 3 parked cars. One outside your house. When the one outside your house moves they move another into its space thus freeing up a space on the hill?

Why?

YANBU. This would get to me too. Totally understanding there is no right to the space outside your house but never, ever even having the chance to park there because they’re so pedantic.

Also totally understand about the steep hill parking. So easy to roll a little if you drive a manual car. Sometimes just a tad is enough to bump a car behind so I can understand that. I usually never have a problem but once, in my 35 years of driving, I did park on a really, really steep hill and my car started to roll back. Like another poster. I had to have someone come and pull up the brand - plus we turned the wheel so the tires hit the pavement and left it in gear - all to stop rolling back. Not an old car by any means but a big, heavy 4x4.

Do you have a car, op?

I'd make it a point of principle to create an opportunity to nip there before they do. I'd be hovering with keys in hand, ready to beat them to the space.
If I didn't have a car, I'd be co-opting friends and neighbours into helping out. It's the principle.

Surely if the hill is too steep to comfortably parallel park when going uphill, you just go past the space then control the car using the brake rather than struggling to hold the bite as you go uphill?

Anyway. Yes OP you have no grounds to be annoyed but I would be too. And I say that as someone who owns a fiesta when both my mum and sister own fiestas too! (Different models, mind). They’re just great cars

Rewind ...

They have 3 cars, so when they move from ‘your’ space and replace it with another - where is the other coming from ? The steep bit ??

Where are your wheels bins in all of this ?
You need to get your sh*t together and be on permanent standby with another person so the moment they move someone stands in the way while you get parked there.

This CF cycle needs breaking - pain before the gain !

Also - who has 3 identical cars in one household ?!

Monsters.

Glass on the road 😂

@Pobblebonk the OP stated it was difficult to park as it's a steep hill. Is that okay with you?

I think the issue is, for those not understanding, that that is the best and easiest space to get into on the street and these people have it reserved permanently with their three cars. Very odd behaviour!

Yes, please wait at your window with your car keys at the ready. In fact, drag out a chair and take a flask of tea and a blanket (and your car keys), sit down and wai on the pavement. Then move your car into the space as soon as it has been vacated.

More importantly, do it today and update us!!

I’ll be very disappointed if the diagram (when it arrives) does not include the incredibly steep hill.

OP, can you leave something offensive on the pavement outside your house that might put them off parking there? A fake dog turd directly where they have to step? Used drug paraphernalia? A rabid dog?

Get a dropped curb then you can genuinely stop them parking there.

I'm so glad people understand, I was worried I was just being incredibly petty!

Believe me I have been determined to eventually be able to slip into their spot while they are swapping but it's so difficult to make it to my car in time when I see them gearing up to swap! One of them will position Fiesta 1 to slip into the space as soon as Fiesta 2 leaves to avoid anyone else being able to get in there in the 30 seconds or so it would take to swap otherwise!

To the PP who asked where I park...I will park literally anywhere I can fit my car, even if it's several streets over. Every other car owner on the street has to do the same apart from one house that has a disabled parking space outside their home and even they often find random people parked there, with or without a blue badge. I'm a relatively new driver and find it difficult squeezing into a tiny space on a hill since even just rolling forwards or backwards a tiny bit can mean hitting someone else's car.

I think I may have to try the birdseed idea And a diagram will come later, but don't expect much as I have very poor drawing skills!

@myhobbyisouting

I don't get it. Draw a fucking diagram like any normal person will you

There are 3 parked cars. One outside your house. When the one outside your house moves they move another into its space thus freeing up a space on the hill?

Why?

Come on, is it really beyond you to think about what three cars parked by the side of a road look like without a plan? Your guess as to the neighbour's motivation is probably as good as OP's.