Aibu for removing tyre caps (PARKING THREAD!)

[JackieakaBritney]

Background, live in converted 3 flat house for 6 years odd, we are attic flat.

Been here since 2015, bought car 2017, previous neighbour had a defunct car on drive which he moved when he moved out late 2017

Since then I've parked my car on drive at least overnights, during day (pre Covid) was parked at my work, insurance detailed the same.

However since beginning of 2020 we have had two different neighbours move in on the middle floor flat and ground floor flat. Neither of the houses moved in with an existing car

Since the two flats have moved in, there has been an constant influx of visitors (particularly during lockdown) but also pretty much every weekend and these visitors decide to block me in, over a dropped curb. It's not the
Same car each time, it's a rotation of 4 or 5 different ones?

I ignored it to the best of my ability during lockdown as we weren't supposed to really go anywhere but then why is ok for them to block my car in?

Then when restrictions eased my husband put a note on one of the cars saying "illegal to park on dropped curb/driveway. Park somewhere else." This was ignored
The next time a car blocked me in by a visitors there was a note saying.

"If I've blocked you in call...."

Tonight I've come home and I'm blocked in again. Tbh I've kinda lost my rag and taken off two of the tyre aircaps. Aibu??

I am sick to death of worrying about asking neighbours To move their visitors cars during the last year especially when I might need it in an emergency etc and they have been asked for their friends/visotors not block me in previously?

I’m actually on your side here OP, thats properly out of order. If they have an issue with you having sole use of the shared space they need to come and talk to you like a grown up. Not get their visitors to block you in. You say they park from 7pm until 2pm, are you sure they dont live there? Thats not occasional visitor times.

Maybe drop a note through the door of each flat explaining how its a shared space for residents and visitors and see if you can come to a parking arrangement that suits all? From your photo, it looks like you could fit a car to the left on the hardstanding, leaving a further space on the drive for a second vehicle. The wall might need to be reconfigured though to allow access. Price it up, get a plan, make some suggestions.

For all you know, they might be secretly seething at your claiming of the space.

If that fails, stick a tow bar on your car, attach some javelins/spiky things/small cow to the back and reverse like hell.......

Oh and put the caps back on, thats just childish

YABU for removing caps (although I understand why you did).

Quite frankly, I would be calling the police and leaving a note to that effect on the cars. Every single time. The police may not come out, but at least the parkers know the score that way. Parking across a dropped curb is illegal (even if you do it to your own drive) and the police can fine them.

@HerMammy

I’m assuming the majority on this thread never check their tyre pressure or they’d know dust caps do not keep the air in?? Quite worrying the comments of causing an accident, criminal damage etc and in such self righteous attitudes which are completely wrong.

@HerMammy

dust caps prevent dust and other debris, such as small stones/spider webs getting pushed into the value mechanism when you check/top up your pressure, this then affects the valve seal and allows air to escape.

So while they don't keep air in, not using them can result in problems with escaping air. Incorrectly inflated tyres do have the potential to cause an accident.

Quite worrying any driver doesn't know this. Why do you think the dust caps are there?

Okay.....

stop taking off dust caps. it's what kids do for 'fun'.

Be a grown up.

If you have a residents' committee, call a meeting and discuss.

If you don't, write to the owner/management of the block flats- assume your flat is leasehold even if you own it - and say you want to discuss parking arrangements. They should write to the other residents.

The 'dropped kerb' is a bit meaningless - it's a driveway. No one should block anyone into their drive regardless of who uses it.

If you see who parks there, can you speak to them at the time?
Or go to the flat they are visiting and ask them to move their car (many times a day as you need to go out a lot :) )

@Jaxhog

YABU for removing caps (although I understand why you did).

Quite frankly, I would be calling the police and leaving a note to that effect on the cars. Every single time. The police may not come out, but at least the parkers know the score that way. Parking across a dropped curb is illegal (even if you do it to your own drive) and the police can fine them.

The police won’t come out any time. Someone drove into our (legally) parked car and drove off. There was no way of even reporting it without the other vehicle’s reg, let alone a visit from the constabulary.

Make a complaint to the council, they can have a white line drawn across it. You could also call 101 and a traffic officer may come, they can issues a PCN or traffic fine for parking across a dropped curb. Removing tyre caps not a good idea and will not solve your problem.

Your actions are wrong. You have a right to be annoyed and you could contact appropriate authorities about the car blocking you in by parking illegally (not allowed to park by dropped kerbs). But your actions could cause damage to their car- which you have no right to do. More importantly, if they are unaware that you have done this then they will not be aware that their tyres have been compromised. Problems with the tyre could lead to an accident- do you want to be responsible for that? What if it were a serious one and someone was seriously injured or, worse, died? Not the most likely thing, perhaps, but a possibility. Go and put them back on and find a more appropriate (and safe) way to solve your problems.

I spent a good decade driving around without any caps on my car when I had a banger as a youth. No ill came to me, the tyres or the car.

Obviously wasnt a great thing to do as now you are also in the wrong OP. But its really not the assasination attempt everyone is making it out to be.

Just report them to the police/council.

That's the only action that will resolve your issues.

Police or council
TBF I had parking issues for 13 years and at one point I had to walk away as I understood how people put bricks through windscreens after that. It was like banging my head off a brick wall - it wasn't that they didn't understand it was my parking space and not to use it/block me in, they just didn't care

OP, if you want to show them you are pissed off, a sledgehammer through the windscreen would probably do it.

It's sneakier to take the hub cap off, let some air out, and then put the cap back on so they think they have a puncture. I mean it's thoroughly irresponsible and heavens, I'm not recommending it, but it's preferable to a sledgehammer. Your main problem then would be that you'd be blocked in by someone with an apparent puncture.

I've only just looked at the photo. More than one car could fit on the drive. If you all agreed to remove the hedge, maybe 3 or 4 or even 5 could fit on there. Why don't you?

There is no H bar preventing parking or at least making it illegal.

Just park on the road if they are blocking you in. Problem solved.

I imagine that it is your attitude that is the problem here. It sounds like they are trying to teach you a lesson in good manners.

Life is short.

@SkiingIsHeaven

There is no H bar preventing parking or at least making it illegal.

Just park on the road if they are blocking you in. Problem solved.

I imagine that it is your attitude that is the problem here. It sounds like they are trying to teach you a lesson in good manners.

Life is short.

You don't need an H bar to prevent parking. If the kerb is legally dropped then it's a right of way to support access in itself. H bars (access protection markings) are advisory markings only.

So the absence of H bars in this case, doesn't mean the driveway is a free for all for people to park over.

But then again if people think like you? Then that's why the OP has the trouble they have.

@Ginuwine I would never block someone in. I'm not an inconsiderate idiot.

I think the neighbour's are teaching the OP a lesson.

They don't come across well.

I suppose you have to wonder why two unrelated households have taken the decision to allow their guests to do this.

Are they hanging up on the OP for a reason?

Ganging not hanging!

Can’t lie, this would really piss me off, I’d go and rage at the person once I’d found them, but removing caps is an utter dick move.

I would bet 99% of people on here saying it’s okay, would not accept their own driveway access being blocked

This!

@crowsfeet57

I would bet 99% of people on here saying it’s okay, would not accept their own driveway access being blocked

This!

Completely agree!

They just disagree as a tactic in order to infuriate the clearly upset OP, and goad them into further action.

Just park on the road if they are blocking you in. Problem solved.

You suggest she gives up her parking space so others can use it ? or maybe she parks on the road and the space remains empty but still blocked!

FWIW insurance policies do change depending on where you park- a personal drive, garage, or road.

@CyberGhost

OP: AIBU Mumsnet: Yes OP: SCREW ALL OF YOU HUNS I KNOW I AM RIGHT.

Why bother asking op?

Why do people post this nonsense when it's obvious that actually a substantial portion of people responding to the thread don't think she's BU?

@LadyMargaretBeauforte

Op, you are parked in such a way that it stops anyone else from getting on the drive. There appears to be a lot of unused space on the left hand side of the drive. Each flat is allocated a space in that drive. Just because they are not using them ,as no cars , does not mean they should not be left free for their visitors. You need to park more thoughtfully in that drive. That way you can all enter and exit appropriately. That car looks like it is parked there to make a point to you. They are clearly pissed at you! Removing the caps is appalling behaviour by you. If i owned one of those flats but had no car i would expect my space to be avail for my guest. You are hogging/blocking access to the drive by the way you park to deliberately prevent others from getting in. Park over the other side of the drive and turn your. car around to aid your exit and allow the other spaces to be used.

Put those caps back on now and go out and park your car properly, in a way that allows others to use their spaces. If you cannot turn around and navigate that drive you with your car, you should not be driving ! You are causing the issues here.

You have a very, very strange idea of the width of cars, @LadyMargaretBeauforte

@SkiingIsHeaven

There is no H bar preventing parking or at least making it illegal.

Just park on the road if they are blocking you in. Problem solved.

I imagine that it is your attitude that is the problem here. It sounds like they are trying to teach you a lesson in good manners.

Life is short.

It's still illegal to park across a dropped kerb on a driveway so as to block people ine.

Breaking the law is a dickhead way to try to teach anyone anything. And how is it bad manners to park in your own driveway when there's no-one else there?