Really shaken up. Did I do anything wrong here?

[seventymodules]

For past two years I have done the school run, I park on a street near the school. There is a detached house with a driveway and a patch of grass next to the driveway. I park in front of the patch of grass, not blocking the driveway whatsoever.

Once I drop my child at school I get collected by my workmate (we are cleaners so have company car) and then work till 3 until I have to return for school run and car.

This morning as I was getting out of the car the lady in the house came charging out, she said 'can you stop parking your car in front of my house?' I said 'it's a public road' and she said 'you park out here 5 days a week, if you refuse to move it I should make you aware that I will be cutting my grass today and any damage to your car is not my responsibility' said with a sarcastic smile on her face, she then walked back into the house shaking her head.

I've left the car but worried now she is going to damage it.

Am I being unreasonable parking it there? It's a public road and not on her property at all.

@Malvoglia

But the residents didn't buy the street. It's like going to your local park and being outraged by someone else's children using the equipment.

No it's not, it's like teenagers standing on the baby swings every single time you go to the park.

[quote Thiscantreallybehappening]**@MiddleParking

Apologies, I got the wrong end of the stick there. However, I do feel that would be a rude response to the scenario. The woman could well have work commitments and why shouldn't she cut her lawn when she wants to.[/quote]
OP has work commitments. Why shouldn’t she park wherever she’s allowed to?

People do this at my house, and it is really irritating. It's not illegal and I don't complain, but I really don't like looking out of my window at someone else's car. The often park really close to my drive making access on and off my drive difficult and it's a narrow road so it makes it hard for other road users.

Many things aren't illegal but they are inconsiderate.

I think it's fine if you don't mind taking the risk it'll get damaged by a stone when mowing or something.

I'd still park on the road and try to alternate different parts of the road. She sounds horrible though - just wants a clear view of guess from her home, but it's a public way so you have every right to park there

No it's not, it's like teenagers standing on the baby swings every single time you go to the park.

How? Baby swings aren’t for teenagers nor for standing on. This parking space is for anyone who needs to park in to do so.

[quote SquirtleSquad]@MiddleParking it wouldn't invalidate your insurance unless she starts parking on the road instead of the drive most of the time. She could just move her car to that space at 7.30am until after the school run if she's so inclined and it wouldn't invalidate anything.[/quote]
It would only validate insurance if the car owner had stated the car would be on a drive or garaged - and as far as I recall its only "overnight" tjat they ask about.

We live on a street that is residents only parking

Which is not the situation.

OP just park there. If you don't, someone else will. What's the difference to her whether it's five different cars one day each per week or one car five days per week

No it wouldn't. The OP is parking there because she gets picked up from there, she leaves her car there all day. Other people will drop the kids off at school then drive their car away. Big difference.

It's not a car park! It's a road, for driving on, not inconveniencing others when they can't drive on both sides of the road.

I also expect the OP is parking so close to the house owners driveway that it's difficult to get in & off her driveway. Which might mean she is parking illegally if she's not allowing enough space

@Doris86

I’d be buying a road legal old banger, and leaving it parked there for months.

Thereby depriving yourself totally of the space? If cutting off your nose to spite your face floats your boat, by all means crack on.

She doesn’t want to look at your car all day long.

I don't get the people who can't bear to look at a car. Why is she looking at it all day long? What's the difference, a view of a car or a view of a road? OP is your car blocking a view of something spectacular? Venice, Grand Canyon, Sydney Opera House, that kind of thing?

but I really don't like looking out of my window at someone else's car.

That’s all this boils down to and it’s absolutely ridiculous.

Ignore this woman. She’d rather you didn’t park there but it’s a public road so you are entitled to park there. Very weird that she’s be so bothered. We all know people like her unfortunately. 😬🤪

@MiddleParking

No it's not, it's like teenagers standing on the baby swings every single time you go to the park.

How? Baby swings aren’t for teenagers nor for standing on. This parking space is for anyone who needs to park in to do so.

The road is for driving on, not turning into a car park all day, every day.

@bitheby

This just happened to me: got off a train with three bags on my shoulders and the heavens opened. I ducked into a covered alley to a pub garden and two people - presumably customers but possibly staff - yelled at me that it wasn't a shelter.

I turned around to ask what harm I was doing and they said it was for customers only and it was a fire exit. I said if there's a fire, I'll move. After a minute or two the shower passed and I moved on.

It made me think of you.

Evolutionarily, we are a territorial species so I'm sure these attitudes are deep rooted and primordial and won't be easily shifted.

I am shocked, @bitheby - how very dare you stand there wearing out their roof !!

What sort of jobsworth yells at someone sheltering from the rain, and causing no obstruction or other issue.

"the eyesore of cars"

Crikey this is an eye opener. I had no idea that anyone would be bothered by another person parking in a public place near their house Madness.

The road is for driving on, not turning into a car park all day, every day.

You’re also allowed to park on roads, as long as there are no restrictions.

@MiddleParking

OP has work commitments. Why shouldn’t she park wherever she’s allowed to?

This isn't inconveniencing OP though, is it. However, the woman can't cut her grass when she wants to. Also, we don't know the whole story there could be other reasons, maybe getting on and off the drive is awkward. We do know that OP has parked there for the last 2 years, Mon-Fri 9am - 3pm and we do know that the woman wanted to cut her grass today and probably didn't because of OP.

I think it is all about what we perceive to be reasonable. The woman clearly knew when she bought her house that she was in a school catchment area and she probably factored in parking around school times and maybe some other parking but I don't think she could have foreseen that someone would use the outside of her house like a personal, reserved parking spot so regularly. If, however, she had been near a train station you could argue that she should have foreseen that scenario.

No one has said OP can't legally do it but it is all about respect, consideration and awareness and imo I think OP could/should rotate where she parks.

Something I meant to say in my earlier post, but forgot (I blame my age) is that, whilst I understand why some people might get annoyed by someone else (legally) parking outside their house, or might not like looking at some one else’s car all day, and whilst annoyance doesn’t have to be logical, rational or reasonable, people are in control of their own reactions.

If the other person isn’t doing anything illegal or inconsiderate, is it really worth all the stress in staying annoyed by them? It’s a milder version of the saying that hating someone is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. The only person you harm is yourself, so isn’t it better to take some deep breaths, and find something more positive to do/think about?

@KaleSlayer

The road is for driving on, not turning into a car park all day, every day.

You’re also allowed to park on roads, as long as there are no restrictions.

It’s just ludicrous isn’t it? As if we’re not allowed to stop and get out of our cars unless we’re parked on our own drives or in a designated car park.

The road is for driving on, not turning into a car park
gold star for the hyperbole. Thankfully the rules according to AlmostSummer21 are just in your mental head and not the real world or the vast majority of residential streets would be fucked. Hope you never ever park anywhere other than a driveway or car park or you’ll need to arrest yourself

@Michaelangelo467

It might be legal but you’re taking the piss.

This

It might be legal but you’re taking the piss.

How?

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken
That’s all this boils down to and it’s absolutely ridiculous.

No, it isn't the woman can't cut her grass when OP is parked there.