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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I just lost it over parking

144 replies

tallinmanchester · 02/11/2020 16:29

I live near a post office and a woman just rudely parked outside my drive and was on her way into the post office when I shouted out the window that I'd like her to move her car.

Do you need access to the drive was her reply.

That's not the point, it's called being respectful and I said she should park down the road - literally loads of space like 20 yards further down (quiet residential road).

She got aggressive. I got aggressive. Words were had, she stormed off... I went outside but she obviously knew I wasn't letting it go and she came back and moved her car - together with name calling - which I returned.

Thing is, I don't know why it bothers me. I feel out of sorts at the moment with lockdown and my fuse is really short.

People parking in front of my drive are pissing me off.

But why do I feel off - is it because I'm stuck at home all day working and not getting out much?

OP posts:
chrislilleyswig · 02/11/2020 18:01

Well done OP. I'd have done the same. In fact I have done the same

No guilt on my part. The fuckers who think it's ok to park over a drive deserve it.

AliceMcK · 02/11/2020 18:08

Good on ya!

Get it at my house all the time. I’m near 2 schools, both bad. I got abused by a parent once after asking her not to park in front of my garage. I was in my car wanting to pull in with 2 young children in the car, she went absolutely nuts, I was selfish and should think about other peoples days 🤔 Hhhmmmm so I should just go find a parking space no where near my home just so she can block my garage to pick her kids up. What really pisses me off there is actually a car park next to the school owned by a church that parents can use and have been told by the school to use it. Even the poor priest who lets them use it has also been abused by parents when he asked them not to park on the grass 🤯

SkedaddIe · 02/11/2020 18:18

@m0therofdragons because having a dropped kerb by itself doesn't mean your property is special and it definitely doesn't mean you own the little bit of street in front of your house.

My mums house had a drive and a disabled bay in front of it because she actually needed special access. We requested the bay instead of single white or double yellow because we needed both the space and the drive.

Winesalot · 02/11/2020 18:20

It is always interesting to see just who is probably a CF Parker themselves on these threads.

yabu to start a thread on aibu if you are suffering from anxiety and struggling with lockdown! mmm.... No, parking across someone's dropped kerb is not legal in many instances, and most likely in this instance. Why would you expect to be able to do something like this that may cause people significant issues?

the80sweregreat · 02/11/2020 18:23

Dusty, that made me lol!
A coppers car breaking the law.. whatever next !

Winesalot · 02/11/2020 18:24

because having a dropped kerb by itself doesn't mean your property is special

Actually, it does in many places. It is not a legal park in my Borough and people will be ticketed for parking there from the start of the drop down. Maybe you should check the bye laws when you do this.

TheDowagerDuchessofMwwwahaha · 02/11/2020 18:26

It makes me feel claustrophobic when people park over my drive - never mind it’s illegal and disrespectful.

I think I’m less claustrophobic than have a fear of being trapped but I can’t give that a name!

PatriciaPerch · 02/11/2020 18:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Whammyyammy · 02/11/2020 18:27

Golden syrup squeezy bottle just added to my shopping list. What an excellent idea

ZebraSpotts · 02/11/2020 18:30

What a thing to get worked up about Hmm
If you didn't need access why get worked up about it? Did getting irrate make you feel better?
If I'd seen you do this, I'd have thought you made yourself look a bit if a tit tbh

FelicityPike · 02/11/2020 18:36

Good on you OP!!

SkedaddIe · 02/11/2020 18:38

@Winesalot

because having a dropped kerb by itself doesn't mean your property is special

Actually, it does in many places. It is not a legal park in my Borough and people will be ticketed for parking there from the start of the drop down. Maybe you should check the bye laws when you do this.

I agree but with the distinction that it is the bye laws that makes the dropped kerb special.

Blocking a vehicle accessing the public highway is an offence. Blocking a pedestrian dropped kerb is an offence. Blocking access to property that requires it is an offence.

In all the boroughs I've lived the authorities have (eventually) clarified where the law stands with use of single white or double yellow lines.

I do also leave my mobile number in windscreen. I'm not a CF and I don't want my car damaged.

Bluntness100 · 02/11/2020 18:38

Op do you have a dropped kerb? If you do she was breaking the law. If you do not she was not and was legally entitled to park there.

flaviaritt · 02/11/2020 18:40

It is not okay to block someone’s drive. You find somewhere else to park unless it is a genuine, once in a blue moon emergency. It’s not great to lose your temper over these things but at least she won’t be parking over your drive again.

SkedaddIe · 02/11/2020 18:40

@Bluntness100

Op do you have a dropped kerb? If you do she was breaking the law. If you do not she was not and was legally entitled to park there.
What law specifically?
donquixotedelamancha · 02/11/2020 18:40

I tend to think of that because I had horrible experience living in the U.K. that was similar.

Plan, I don't think that's similar at all to someone blocking your drive then being aggressive when asked not to. If anything you are more analogous to OP in being subject to unprovoked bullying.

Yes OP lost her rag but I think that's quite understandable.

Bluntness100 · 02/11/2020 18:41

The op doesn’t say she has a dropped kerb does she?

Allergictoironing · 02/11/2020 18:41

because having a dropped kerb by itself doesn't mean your property is special and it definitely doesn't mean you own the little bit of street in front of your house.

It may not mean she owns the road in front of her house, but it does mean anyone who parks there without her permission is in contravention of the highway code (rule 243).

Bluntness100 · 02/11/2020 18:45

What law specifically?

You’d have to google. Not sure why the name is important. I think from memory it’s named the dropped kerb parking law. It’s an offence to park across and obstruct but usually only enforced if a resident or business complains.

Mittens030869 · 02/11/2020 18:46

There are no excuses. I don't care what pathetic reason you would care to use - don't park on or block my drive you selfish CF.

^This. You park in areas where you’re not blocking a resident’s driveway and where it’s permitted to do so (i.e. where there is no yellow line). It really isn’t difficult to understand, even if it means you have to spend a few more minutes looking for an appropriate place.

CatkinToadflax · 02/11/2020 18:51

The other day DH and I were about to go out but we couldn’t because a DPD van was blocking our entire drive. It was bizarre - we live on a wide cul de sac and there’s plenty of space to park in front of every house without remotely blocking anyone in. He could have parked right outside the house (several houses away from us) he was delivering to. But no, he parked straight across our drive and then tootled off down to the road holding the delivery item. And then tootled back again, saw us standing there gaping at him, clambered back into the van and drive off!

I don’t blame you for shouting OP. Different situation but a few years ago I shouted at a woman in the supermarket car park because I was very obviously reversing into a space when she came belting up behind me and swung into the same space forwards! I was millimetres from hitting her! Anyway I shouted at her and she called me a fat arsed wench. Which was interesting really, because although I do have a reasonably generously proportioned derrière, I was still sitting behind the steering wheel so I can only hope she was guesstimating her choice of insult.

AnyOldPrion · 02/11/2020 18:52

Regardless of whether she was unreasonable to park there (she was) I can only offer the fact that in the first lockdown I completely lost the plot at someone in a shop. I’ve never, ever shouted like that at a stranger before. I think lots of people are on edge. Obviously it’s not ideal, but it happened and it’s not worth worrying about. Until you wrote your thread, I’d forgotten my own embarrassing experience. Hopefully you’ll think less about yours shortly. Chin up!

DanaScully53 · 02/11/2020 18:53

We got it all the time, even got them parking on our drive or turning round in it. Even came home one day to find a bloke moving my patio set so he could turn round to go out forwards! We have now put a drop down post at the bottom of the drive to stop all the idiots.

user2853684215 · 02/11/2020 18:53

because having a dropped kerb by itself doesn't mean your property is special and it definitely doesn't mean you own the little bit of street in front of your house

Maybe you should look at the Highway Code.

SkedaddIe · 02/11/2020 18:54

@user2853684215

because having a dropped kerb by itself doesn't mean your property is special and it definitely doesn't mean you own the little bit of street in front of your house

Maybe you should look at the Highway Code.

I think you need a re-read.