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?

@Flowers500 ok Hun. Psycho neightbour from Hell. Would hate you to actually experience the real world

I think they are pissed off with you assuming that the drive is for your sole use and have therefore told their mates not to worry about blocking you in!

I agree with this. I can see why you're annoyed by being blocked in but tbh taking off the tyre caps really isn't an acceptable thing to do.

Just put the fucking caps back on.

You threw them in the bushes didn't you?

The car owners won't notice they're missing and their safety will be compromised. If they're killed in an accident you'll then be free to park your bloody car where you want!

@ThursdayWeld no actually I think the idiots are the ones breaking the law blocking me in parking on the road constantly preventing others from getting on the road regardless whether it's from my flat or on the actual street

You are not the only person living in the building! If you want your own driveway buy a house or a flat with a demised parking space!! The occupants of the other flats and their guests are entitled to use the driveway (unless the lease specifies otherwise) but you are preventing them from doing this by assuming sole use. As a result you are getting blocked in. It’s really not that complicated

[quote JackieakaBritney]@Flowers500 ok Hun. Psycho neightbour from Hell. Would hate you to actually experience the real world
[/quote]
Sorry I feel bad now for saying psycho when it’s clear you actually have issues

Why did you take the tyre caps off? What were you hoping to achieve?

@JackieakaBritney the thing is, taking their tyre cap will either do nothing (in which case what is the point), or increase their risk of a blowout (which is dangerous). So it is either totally pointless or a crazy over-reaction, depending on what you are hoping happens.

Tip a milkshake over the car or something. Or squeezy honey on the windscreen. Will make you feel much better, and won’t risk lives.

because whether the other occupants have their own car is not the issue.
the point is that those occupants have as much right to use the space as you do, and they can delegate that use to their visitors.
obviously you should not be blocked in, but what you have done is wrong.
have you tried contacting the police or council, parking control.
why don't you park on the road, across the dropped kerb.
maybe your neighbours downstairs are annoyed at you taking sole possession of a shared asset.

@mybrainhertz

Tyre caps help to maintain tyre pressures. Did anyone even read the links?

Tyre pressure keeps the tyre inflated. That's kind of important and is a safety feature.

Calm Down Boris.

Tyre caps do very little. They keep the dust & debris away from the valve making it easier to get a good connection when inflating a tyre. If your valve goes, a tyre dust cap is going to do fuck all to stop you losing tyre pressure. Not having a tyre cap doesn't cause a tyre to lose pressure.

No one else is using the frigging driveway! Is it that hard to understand? I have had my car parked here for 4 years!! No one else in the building owns a car!

If someone else owned a car here I would compromise! But they don't and just block me in every fucking day regardless. If I came home from being out and someone was on parked in the drive then i would park on the street in a space like a normal person. Instead I have to ask permission everytime I want to leave my own property in the car and I am tired of it.

It's not on and tbh you lot know it.

So, when you took the tyre caps off, for which you are obviously so proud of yourself, what were you planning to do then? Apart from create a "PARKING THREAD!" on Mumsnet?

I’ve been driving for nearly 40 years and in all honesty most of my cars have lost caps at some point in fact I’ve probably bought cars with no caps.
Quite frankly I think your all a bit hysterical about the missing caps. Guess what I’ve driven at 70 on motorways with no caps and still not killed anyone
If it were me op I’d be phoning the police to get the cars removed if the sticky labels on the windscreen didn’t work.
Other than that I’d be tempted to sit in my car and honk my horn until someone came out.
If your neighbours are pissed off at you for using the space then surely they have had ample opportunities to say to you if you have had to ask them to move the cars of friends / visitors.
I think your getting a hard time.
I would also be chapping the door at random times during the night to get access to my car.

mybrainhertz you're very excitable. And wrong.

Nope, not wrong, read the links.

Wake up @LatteLoverLovesLattes. Tyre caps are a back up.

I’d be going to the 24 hour Asda now unless of course your in England( where the shops shut at 4 on a Sunday) misses the point entirely

@JackieakaBritney

No one else is using the frigging driveway! Is it that hard to understand? I have had my car parked here for 4 years!! No one else in the building owns a car!

If someone else owned a car here I would compromise! But they don't and just block me in every fucking day regardless. If I came home from being out and someone was on parked in the drive then i would park on the street in a space like a normal person. Instead I have to ask permission everytime I want to leave my own property in the car and I am tired of it.

It's not on and tbh you lot know it.

No one is using the driveway because you have assumed sole use! You have clearly pissed your neighbours off with this and they have found a way to wreak their revenge!

YOU DON’T OWN THE DRIVEWAY! Your Neighbours are entitled to use it for their guests as much as you are entitled to use it for your own car. They can’t use the driveway as you are always on it so they are doing the next best thing! If you park in the street they can use the driveway and maybe in 4 years you can review!

I’m not sure why you went for the tyre caps though?

I wouldn’t notice if mine were missing as it’s not something I look at. So you won’t be annoying them.

It’s a pointless gesture.

I'm surprised you're old enough to have a driver's licence.

@JackieakaBritney

Taking the caps off won't achieve anything, if you still have them, just put them back on. Taking them off won't kill anyone, but neither will it stop them parking like cockwombles.

I don't think your DH's tone helped much!

I would put a note through each door. ' You/your guests, are parking inconsiderately & illegally. In future I will be calling the police to have any car blocking me in towed away'.

.

mybrainhertz I did. Are you sure you did?

www.oponeo.co.uk/blog/valve-stems-the-role-of-tyre-valve-caps

I must say, from this thread, I wonder what your other interactions with your neighbours are like.

Nobody should be interfering with someone else's tyres.