Bad parking, I don't feel bad.

Scoobydoobywho · 2021-11-26T11:18:49+00:00

We live very close to a school, our 2ds go to this school. So thank God as of yet we don't have to tussle with finding a place to park. But it annoys the hell out of me that people think it's ok to park either a little bit over the drive or completely blocking it. How do they know I'm not going anywhere. So anyway I get back with ds5 and there is a car 2 feet over the dropped kerb. Luckily there were parking/traffic wardens out, so I spoke to one of the who came and had a look. Took down the car details and photos and gave them a ticket. The amount of times the school has to send out messages saying please park considerably is ridiculous. Is it wrong that I don't feel bad about it.

nettytree · 26/11/2021 11:26

You did the right thing. School parents at pickup time are complete arse holes when it comes to parking.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/11/2021 11:32

I don’t know why people think it’s ok to overhang a drive.

“Oh you can still get out”

You aren’t allowed to park there. Doesn’t matter if you think the person can still get out.

Upamountain43 · 26/11/2021 11:40

Ok - well most parents now drop the kids and shoot off to work so have little choice about taking the car - maybe we should ask why after years and years of this being an issue no one is tackling the key problems surrounding parking not just outside schools.

Personally i think if you did not need to go out and they were only just over the dropped kerb it was pretty mean spirited to involve a traffic warden.

If I lived close to a school I would have a sign outside saying I'm not going out please feel free to park over my drive and another one saying I need to get out today please leave clear.

If you can only be one thing in this life - be kind - you are actually in a position to try and help out this difficult situations.

Rosebel · 26/11/2021 11:43

YANBU. Thankfully I don't have to do school runs anymore but I used to park a couple of streets away (where there was lots of space) and walk the rest of the way. Stupid parking, people over drives, double parking, parking on double yellows, just to save them walking for less than 5 minutes.

starrynight87 · 26/11/2021 11:43

Nah, YANBU

DahliaMacNamara · 26/11/2021 11:45

@Upamountain43

Ok - well most parents now drop the kids and shoot off to work so have little choice about taking the car - maybe we should ask why after years and years of this being an issue no one is tackling the key problems surrounding parking not just outside schools.

Personally i think if you did not need to go out and they were only just over the dropped kerb it was pretty mean spirited to involve a traffic warden.

If I lived close to a school I would have a sign outside saying I'm not going out please feel free to park over my drive and another one saying I need to get out today please leave clear.

If you can only be one thing in this life - be kind - you are actually in a position to try and help out this difficult situations.

Make a pair of signs, and be sure to display them every day for dropping off and picking up times? Are you taking the piss?

Clymene · 26/11/2021 11:46

@Upamountain43

Ok - well most parents now drop the kids and shoot off to work so have little choice about taking the car - maybe we should ask why after years and years of this being an issue no one is tackling the key problems surrounding parking not just outside schools.

Personally i think if you did not need to go out and they were only just over the dropped kerb it was pretty mean spirited to involve a traffic warden.

If I lived close to a school I would have a sign outside saying I'm not going out please feel free to park over my drive and another one saying I need to get out today please leave clear.

If you can only be one thing in this life - be kind - you are actually in a position to try and help out this difficult situations.

Really,you'd go out twice a day to change a little sign that you think people would read?

Ok

WarmWinterSun · 26/11/2021 11:47

OP, I agree. I have a similar problem where I live. It's really dangerous when parents block my drive because it creates a bit of a bottle neck / traffic jam, with cars then having to be reversed and shifted with lots of little children walking in the same area. I worry that one day a child is going to get hurt. Unfortunately the traffic wardens don't get involved in my area, so parents know they'll get away with it unless they are confronted.

kitkatsky · 26/11/2021 11:47

YANBU. I live next door to a private school that my kids don't go to. The ridiculous parking often means I have to walk then on the road because we can't get past on the pavement. It drives me crazy

BackBackBack · 26/11/2021 11:49

@Upamountain43

Ok - well most parents now drop the kids and shoot off to work so have little choice about taking the car - maybe we should ask why after years and years of this being an issue no one is tackling the key problems surrounding parking not just outside schools.

Personally i think if you did not need to go out and they were only just over the dropped kerb it was pretty mean spirited to involve a traffic warden.

If I lived close to a school I would have a sign outside saying I'm not going out please feel free to park over my drive and another one saying I need to get out today please leave clear.

If you can only be one thing in this life - be kind - you are actually in a position to try and help out this difficult situations.

Eh? It's an offence to park over or across a dropped kerb - are you seriously lecturing OP about "being kind" when someone else has selfishly decided that the rules don't apply to them?

The origins of "be kind" came from Caroline Flack, in response to being completely eviscerated on social media - it was never intended to excuse bad behaviour or to stop people from voicing legitimate concerns or having difficult conversations. I am so sick and tired of seeing these words being twisted and rammed down people's throats, as a tool to excuse thoughtless and poor behaviour, and as a way to shut down legitimate questions and challenges. It's also particularly used against women, and the proponents of this version of "be kind" seem to think that one has to wander through life being a complete doormat for fear of upsetting someone.

NerrSnerr · 26/11/2021 11:50

@Upamountain43

Ok - well most parents now drop the kids and shoot off to work so have little choice about taking the car - maybe we should ask why after years and years of this being an issue no one is tackling the key problems surrounding parking not just outside schools.

Personally i think if you did not need to go out and they were only just over the dropped kerb it was pretty mean spirited to involve a traffic warden.

If I lived close to a school I would have a sign outside saying I'm not going out please feel free to park over my drive and another one saying I need to get out today please leave clear.

If you can only be one thing in this life - be kind - you are actually in a position to try and help out this difficult situations.

At our school the biggest problem is laziness. There is a decent sized, free car park about 3 minutes away from the school where they can walk straight to the school down a traffic free path. People don't park there and they park directly outside the school, usually on zigzags (or pull up and let their older children out by stopping on the pedestrian crossing).

Hospedia · 26/11/2021 11:52

well most parents now drop the kids and shoot off to work so have little choice about taking the car

Parents working is not a new thing and even when there is no choice about taking the car, there is a choice about whether or not to block someone's driveway or to cause other obstructions.

Lots of schools around here have road closures at drop off and pick up time so that people have no choice but to park further away, it reduces congestion is the surrounding streets too as the cars/parking spaces are spread over a wider area rather than concentrated into 2-3 streets.

MargaretThursday · 26/11/2021 11:52

Personally i think if you did not need to go out and they were only just over the dropped kerb it was pretty mean spirited to involve a traffic warden.

The point is that it's not just today, it'll be every day next week, and the week after etc.
We get this with our drive (not near a school, but other reasons why people park over it) and 2' over the dropped curve is significant, not only just. We have a road sign one side and 2' over the dropped curve the other side means we cannot get out at all.
If you've ever had to run up the road banging on doors to get someone to move their car because you have a child in the car who needs to get to A&E quickly, then I apologise, but if you haven't then you don't know what you're talking about.

If I lived close to a school I would have a sign outside saying I'm not going out please feel free to park over my drive and another one saying I need to get out today please leave clear.
Lol. You think people would take any notice of the second one? They'd get so used to parking there they'd probably genuinely never notice it was different, and if they did, they probably wouldn't care because:

They're only going to be quick
Well they have to pick their child up don't they. It's not their fault you want to go out.

Itslookinglikeabeautifulday · 26/11/2021 11:56

Exactly what BackBackBack said. Don't park over people's drives.

ScrambledSmegs · 26/11/2021 11:56

@Upamountain43

Ok - well most parents now drop the kids and shoot off to work so have little choice about taking the car - maybe we should ask why after years and years of this being an issue no one is tackling the key problems surrounding parking not just outside schools.

Personally i think if you did not need to go out and they were only just over the dropped kerb it was pretty mean spirited to involve a traffic warden.

If I lived close to a school I would have a sign outside saying I'm not going out please feel free to park over my drive and another one saying I need to get out today please leave clear.

If you can only be one thing in this life - be kind - you are actually in a position to try and help out this difficult situations.

you haven't thought this one through properly have you?

HarrietsChariot · 26/11/2021 11:58

All you did was help someone (the traffic warden) do their job. Nothing wrong with that.

KimDeals · 26/11/2021 12:00

Mean.

HeyMoana · 26/11/2021 12:00

Parking at school pick ups is a subject I cannot even get in to because it makes my eye twitch.

trevthecat · 26/11/2021 12:01

We live near a massive tourist attraction and this happens often. We report every time. Its infuriating that people think its OK.

Giveaschitt · 26/11/2021 12:03

well most parents now drop the kids and shoot off to work so have little choice about taking the car

As someone says up above, that's not a new thing. But if people have to 'shoot off to work' then they should make arrangements that factor in both getting their children to school on time and getting to work without parking illegally?! The excuse of 'well, I'm in a rush to get to work so I need to be able to park directly outside the school' is just lazy - pay for the breakfast club or a childminder, or arrange for them to go to school with a friend, or arrange with work for you to start slightly later.

wtdse · 26/11/2021 12:03

Like you we live walking distance from school and luckily don't have to battle with parking. But I think you've done right... I walk past houses and people are so downright selfish with parking. On double lines, over driveways and double parked etc.

Eminybob · 26/11/2021 12:05

You did the right thing - that person won’t do it again, and hopefully will have a moan to other parents who will then think twice about doing it.

analbumcover · 26/11/2021 12:05

@Upamountain43 IF you lived near a school I would almost guarantee that after day 3, your kind note wouldn't be so kind

gamerchick · 26/11/2021 12:05

Must admit I always loved it when the schools got the traffic wardens out for the school run. It was really funny to watch.

ThereIsNoSuchThingAsRoadTax · 26/11/2021 12:07

@Upamountain43

Ok - well most parents now drop the kids and shoot off to work so have little choice about taking the car - maybe we should ask why after years and years of this being an issue no one is tackling the key problems surrounding parking not just outside schools.

Personally i think if you did not need to go out and they were only just over the dropped kerb it was pretty mean spirited to involve a traffic warden.

If I lived close to a school I would have a sign outside saying I'm not going out please feel free to park over my drive and another one saying I need to get out today please leave clear.

If you can only be one thing in this life - be kind - you are actually in a position to try and help out this difficult situations.

How to say "I'm a parent who parks like an inconsiderate arsehole when I drop my kids off at school" without saying "I'm a parent who parks like an inconsiderate arsehole when I drop my kids off at school".