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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To stand on road to stop parents parking illegally

259 replies

ChimneyPot · 26/09/2022 15:52

Parking at our primary school has been hazardous for years. There is a crossing guard on the main road at the school gates but not on a side road lots of kids have to cross. Parents park on the double yellow lines at the junction of the side road blocking lines of site for pedestrians and cars trying to turn in and out. This often results in the road getting blocked and cars reversing back on to main road.
School sends repeated communication to parents without impact and has asked local authority for bollards and this is under consideration but hasn’t happened yet.

I used to collect my DC from the gate because of the risks but DC wants to be more independent and meet me further away.

I started asking parents not to park and the junction but have been largely ignored so I have started standing on the edge of the road to prevent people parking and this has been effective.
Today someone I know signalled to me to move but I smiled and shook my head and they had to park a few metres down the street . They are not happy with me.

AIBU to block the road?

To stand on road to stop parents parking illegally
OP posts:
inheritanceshiteagain · 27/09/2022 19:38

Good thinking. I'd also inform the police. we lost our lollipop lady to retirement and she hasnt been replaced, so parking has got 10 times worse because parents daren't send their kids along as the main road is very busy. We often get cars parked right on the corners.

Missingpop · 27/09/2022 19:39

You get out there cause mayhem & get yourself arrested for causing a public nuisance of yourself etc who gives a shit you’ll get labelled the looney with the invisible lollypop stick I’ll look out for you in the nationals

Ahbisto · 27/09/2022 19:43

As much as I admire your dedication to the cause I’d be cringing for you playing lollipop lady like that.

Angelinflipflops · 27/09/2022 20:22

Cringe? I'd be applauding

eastegg · 27/09/2022 20:33

TheOriginalEmu · 27/09/2022 04:16

As a disabled driver that would do my head in. As long as the area doesn’t have the lines on the pavement I am allowed to park on double yellow lines.

Then all you would need to do would be to have your blue badge at the ready, and I’m sure the OP would get out of the way for you.

So far from it ‘doing your head in’, it would help you by stopping an able bodied person from parking there and making it harder for you.

eastegg · 27/09/2022 20:36

eastegg · 27/09/2022 20:33

Then all you would need to do would be to have your blue badge at the ready, and I’m sure the OP would get out of the way for you.

So far from it ‘doing your head in’, it would help you by stopping an able bodied person from parking there and making it harder for you.

Show quote history

Although I’m not sure you are actually allowed to park at junctions like this one. But if you are, my above post applies.

Justbefair · 27/09/2022 20:51

Unfortunately it's rife everywhere, the ones who sit in their pjs in car right outside on double yellows, lazy parents who cba to park a bit further away. Very entitled, rude and dangerous, I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw it! Traffic wardens should be out in full force at those times, they would make a fortune and teach them a lesson.

CelestiaNoctis · 27/09/2022 21:20

I think this is a problem at literally all schools tbh. You have hundreds of students who all need collecting at the exact same time. It's a recipe for disaster but what solution can there be without upsetting local residents even more.

Thatboymum · 27/09/2022 21:21

Our school resorted to having traffic wardens come after the lollipop man got hit and killed Infront of kids it’s worked absolutely superb and they stopped having to come and then would do random visits to keep us all on our toes so nobody would risk it they would also take pics of the cars and put it on the school fb page which caused mass shame to repeat offenders it done the job . However with the new term and new p1 parents not all knowing about this it starts back every year and they need to repeat it again

eastegg · 27/09/2022 21:34

Thatboymum · 27/09/2022 21:21

Our school resorted to having traffic wardens come after the lollipop man got hit and killed Infront of kids it’s worked absolutely superb and they stopped having to come and then would do random visits to keep us all on our toes so nobody would risk it they would also take pics of the cars and put it on the school fb page which caused mass shame to repeat offenders it done the job . However with the new term and new p1 parents not all knowing about this it starts back every year and they need to repeat it again

😲

oosha · 27/09/2022 22:06

Are you a police officer? No? Then quite frankly who do you think you are, mind you own business.

Toastoftheton · 27/09/2022 22:08

I'm just going to say well done to you! You sound like my sort of person. Polite but firm and absolutely in the right. Many other parents will be grateful I bet.

Angelinflipflops · 27/09/2022 22:10

Celestia noctis - a problem in 'literally all schools'? I don't think so. You do know there are plenty of people who don't drive kids to school?

eastegg · 27/09/2022 22:21

oosha · 27/09/2022 22:06

Are you a police officer? No? Then quite frankly who do you think you are, mind you own business.

Why would she need to be a police officer to stand on a double yellow line?

Have you read the thread? Some children have been hurt as a direct consequence of the sort of parking OP is trying to prevent.

If she stopped a child from being hurt, would you still say she should mind her own business?

These are not rhetorical questions btw, I’d quite like you to answer them thanks.

Pollypocket81 · 27/09/2022 22:22

Perhaps find some local parking inspectors in the streets during the say and tell them where they can fill their quota and get bonuses by coming to the school at drop off time. They will be grateful and after several tickets people will be less inclined to park there.

Mangogogogo · 27/09/2022 22:27

one of my favourite moments is when someone at our school tried to park illegally, rammed over a bollard which then broke and got stuck to the bottom of his car and his car got stuck. Everyone just stood staring at him. It was fantastic

fastandthecurious1 · 27/09/2022 22:35

As a parent who has just recently joined the school run mayhem 3weeks ago it's a bloody minefield.... three streets around our school is a 'safe haven , zone so zero cars morning and afternoon pick up for you get fined.

I understand the safety and logic however it just means the next three streets are jam packed. As someone who drops off just before work or picks up straight after it it's hard to be safe /fully considerate and please everyone without being massively late.

I don't park over drives or anything of course but it's so time sensitive!

fastandthecurious1 · 27/09/2022 22:37

Oh and we aren't in walking distance to the school we picked (not the most local) or I would bloody loved us to leave the cars at home!!

AdobeWanKenobi · 27/09/2022 23:08

As someone who drops off just before work or picks up straight after it it's hard to be safe /fully considerate and please everyone without being massively late.

Then leave earlier. It’s not difficult.

EL8888 · 27/09/2022 23:11

AdobeWanKenobi · 27/09/2022 23:08

As someone who drops off just before work or picks up straight after it it's hard to be safe /fully considerate and please everyone without being massively late.

Then leave earlier. It’s not difficult.

Cringe. You’re in a rush so you don’t need to be safe or considerate?! Imagine if everyone else did that

But yeah get up earlier and set off earlier

eastegg · 27/09/2022 23:13

fastandthecurious1 · 27/09/2022 22:35

As a parent who has just recently joined the school run mayhem 3weeks ago it's a bloody minefield.... three streets around our school is a 'safe haven , zone so zero cars morning and afternoon pick up for you get fined.

I understand the safety and logic however it just means the next three streets are jam packed. As someone who drops off just before work or picks up straight after it it's hard to be safe /fully considerate and please everyone without being massively late.

I don't park over drives or anything of course but it's so time sensitive!

If you’re in such a rush at normal school drop off time, is there a breakfast club you can use? I mean obviously no-one wants to have to pay the extra, but sometimes it’s necessary in order to get to work on time.

In fact, the whole dashing from school drop off at what, 8.45ish, to get to work has often baffled me. Unless work is very close, or it’s a job you don’t have to start til about 10, it’s not going to work is it. Appreciate there are lots of different types of jobs though, but for me and DH when we were both woth there was no question of not using the BC and traffic is nowhere near the same at 7.30.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 27/09/2022 23:15

I think you are brilliant! Please come to the school near me!

eastegg · 27/09/2022 23:17

Oh and I’m a bit worried fast about how you find it hard to be both safe and not massively late. You need to sort that out.

Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 28/09/2022 00:05

I applaud you, OP, and hope you don't get too much grief from the lazy/ self-entitled, selfish junction-parking brigade.
Have you spoken to the head teacher/ school staff about this issue? Maybe they'd be interested in signing up to something like modeshiftstars.org/education/ and/or creating a School Travel Plan that emphasises more active travel for everyone.

There are local authorities and schools all over the country that have managed to change how parents behave - eg in Barnsley they ask parents to sign up to a 'Parking Charter': www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/children-families-and-education/schools-and-learning/school-travel/safe-and-active-travel-initiatives-for-schools/

In London lots of schools have introduced a policy of asking all parents to ensure their children walk or scoot or cycle for at least 5-10 mins on their way into school each morning (as this exercise is good for their physical and mental health) so if they must drive, then they must park or drop them off further away from the school.

Sustrans have also been promoting the idea of 'Park and Stride' - they recommend identifying a convenient, large car park that 's at least 5 mins walk away (eg a supermarket or church or similar) and telling parents to use that.

There is loads of funding available to schools who want to create more storage for bikes and scooters, there's training available, there are organisations who can come in and help in various ways...

Another option is to use more positive reinforcement - for example giving out stickers or badges to pupils who take part in the active travel scheme, and then rewarding them in some way - treats, free things, special events etc. This could well result in increased "pester power" from the children themselves towards their lazy/late parents.

Person18885 · 28/09/2022 01:59

when your kid gets bullied for this blame yourself