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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To bump this car out of the way?

392 replies

GenericUsername404 · 05/07/2021 15:09

Every Monday I need to get my van out to pick up my dc from school and take them to their club. Other days I use my car but on Mondays it’s kayaking so I need the van until a place in the kayak storage becomes available. My van is 20year old and very bashed.

Every Monday at 2.30 a brand new Volvo parks directly opposite my drive, in front of my neighbours dropped kerb. When they park here I can get my car out but not my van meaning my dc cannot go to their club which I have already paid for. I know they are inside the house opposite, I knock on the door but they don’t answer but then when I’m attempting to manoeuvre my van out I see them peeping out of the window. I put a note through the door a couple of weeks ago asking them not to do it after they still wouldn’t open the door. They put a note back through mine saying they were parking in front of their dropped kerb, they were entitled to and many others on the road did the same. This is true but I am the only house on my side of the street so no one else has anyone else opposite. I’ve also put a sign on my gate saying please do not park opposite

Having again had to carefully get the car out and not be able to get my kids to their club I’m thinking next week I’ll just bump it. I’m pretty sure I could get out with a couple of touches to their car but it would probably leave dents.

I’ve tried calling the police to say I’m blocked in but by the time they arrived neighbours friend had moved their car and when the police knocked they hid again 🙄

Btw I know I’m unreasonable and I almost certainly won’t do it. I’m just bloody pissed off.

OP posts:
MovingtoOz1Day · 05/07/2021 15:11

Is there more to this than you've said. I can understand them wanting to park legally where they want, when they want but can't understand why they just can't move briefly to allow you to get out

GreenCrayon · 05/07/2021 15:11

Would it not be possible to park your van in front of your drive before their car arrives?

SophiesMummySaid · 05/07/2021 15:11

How annoying. Can you park your van in front of your own dropped kerb before they arrive?

Slub · 05/07/2021 15:12

I know it's a faff but could you not just get your van and park it in the road before 2.30 on a Monday?

ScottishNewbie · 05/07/2021 15:13

Surely you would get into trouble? They would just say they saw you do it?

bigbeatmanifesto · 05/07/2021 15:14

As with others I'd leave my van out before the Volvo arrives.

MorningNinja · 05/07/2021 15:14

Why didn't you just pull the van out before they arrived today?

They sound very unreasonable btw.

SophiesMummySaid · 05/07/2021 15:14

They aren’t parked ‘legally’ over a dropped kerb blocking your exit from your drive are they ? Did the police follow up with them? Can you go through 101?

Rillington · 05/07/2021 15:14

Get your van out before they arrive. You can't dictate where other people park. You've been cheeky asking them.

DancesWithTortoises · 05/07/2021 15:15

Park your van on the road.

GabriellaMontez · 05/07/2021 15:15

Can't you reverse your van in?

sayanythingelse · 05/07/2021 15:15

I feel your pain. Our street is quite narrow so if anyone parks perfectly legally on the other side of the road, I can't get my car off the drive.
They're being dicks by refusing to let you out though. I'd just move the van off the drive earlier in the day. It's not worth bumping their car as it will just put your insurance up if they claim.

Also, can I come kayaking? Grin

AnUnoriginalUsername · 05/07/2021 15:16

If you do it very slowly you probably won't dent their car 🤷‍♀️

NameChangeAgain2 · 05/07/2021 15:17

Just park your van over your own dropped curb on Mondays. In fact do it all the time and block your neighbours in, see how they like it.

DoctorStrangeness · 05/07/2021 15:18

@AnUnoriginalUsername

If you do it very slowly you probably won't dent their car 🤷‍♀️
I don't think OPs speed would create more space....
MovingtoOz1Day · 05/07/2021 15:18

@SophiesMummySaid

They aren’t parked ‘legally’ over a dropped kerb blocking your exit from your drive are they ? Did the police follow up with them? Can you go through 101?
It's their dropped kerb though, not sure the police will do anything about that and it's not their fault OP has a big van.

Yes they are being dicks for not moving when asked but you can't dictate that they cannot park there ever - which is why I asked is there more to it as I can't imagine my neighbours being such dicks

spaceghett0 · 05/07/2021 15:20

Can you reverse into your drive so that it's easier to manoeuvre out?

FuckUcuntychops · 05/07/2021 15:21

As far as I’m aware it’s illegal to park across a dropped curb even if it’s your own.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 05/07/2021 15:21

I can completely understand your frustrations! They’re being dicks not to move when they see you attempting to get out.

Agree with others to park your van across your driveway before they get there.

ChainJane · 05/07/2021 15:45

@FuckUcuntychops

As far as I’m aware it’s illegal to park across a dropped curb even if it’s your own.
This is correct - you cannot park in front of your own dropped kerb.

I mean, if a traffic warden comes along, they're not going to know the car has the "permission" of the owner, even if they were able to give it.

Blossomtoes · 05/07/2021 15:48

Get the van out on Monday mornings before the Volvo shows up.

warmfluffytowels · 05/07/2021 15:52

I would take photos of them parked across the dropped kerb (which is illegal) and make sure you include the numberplate. Then, ring the police about it and keep reporting every time.

The police will get sick of the calls and should go round and speak to them.

ForeverSausages · 05/07/2021 15:52

You can park in front of your own driveway. Dropped kerbs for driveways have not been dropped for wheelchair access and it's therefore not an obstruction.

www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/parking.html

Please correct me if wrong though 😊.

warmfluffytowels · 05/07/2021 15:57

@ForeverSausages

You can park in front of your own driveway. Dropped kerbs for driveways have not been dropped for wheelchair access and it's therefore not an obstruction.

www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/parking.html

Please correct me if wrong though 😊.

The link you posted disagrees with you, lol.

It says:

DO NOT stop or park

  • in front of an entrance to a property.
ForeverSausages · 05/07/2021 16:02

Hahaha but that has nothing to do with dropped kerbs? It's quite obvious what they mean by that. I'm currently parked on the road in front of an entrance to a property (no driveway or dropped kerb). I can't find anything that says you can't park in front of a driveway dropped kerb with the permission of the owner of the driveway. The police would only enforce it if it's causing an obstruction to the person who owns the driveway (as in they can't get their vehicle on or off their drive).