Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use (a bit of) free parking slot to sit in car and eat

212 replies

HungryPerson · 16/01/2023 14:14

Genuinely don't know if IABU or not 😆

I have several appointments today so I'm somewhat rushing around, with a couple of gaps. I drove to one appointment (in town centre, no dedicated parking for the place I'm going to) and parked in a town centre car park. The car park has a number of spaces that are free for one hour, so I used one of those.

My appointment only took ten minutes so I took the opportunity to go and buy a sandwich, went back to my car and sat there to eat it. So as not to drip feed, I'm pregnant and hungry! Don't know if that matters. It's also freezing, so although there was a bench outside, I didn't want to sit there.

While eating a woman knocked on my window. I opened the door and she asked me to move. I looked around and there were no more free spaces, and she was waiting for mine. I apologised (bc British 😆) and said I'd be done in a minute.

She then said "absolutely ridiculous." I said, "pardon?" and she ranted at me for a minute or two, the gist being that I'm selfish and entitled. I didn't say anything, just gave her a look and shut the door on her, and then I left. I was sitting in the car for maybe ten minutes max.

Altogether I only used the space for 25 minutes ish. And if I'd sat on the bench to eat I still would have been occupying the space. But I'm questioning myself now!

Was I unreasonable?

OP posts:
KateBalesCardi · 16/01/2023 15:55

She was a twat OP, they're everywhere! Don't give it any more headspace, you did nothing wrong.

Crumpleton · 16/01/2023 15:57

She didn't take into account that you could have paid for all day parking via a parking app, so no ticket on show, and decided you wanted a break away from work so sat in your car to eat your lunch.

BinauralBeats · 16/01/2023 15:57

Next time sit in the passenger seat!

hellosunshineagainxxx · 16/01/2023 15:58

Id have not moved 🤣

DismantledKing · 16/01/2023 15:58

CatJumperTwat · 16/01/2023 15:40

I wouldn't have done it because it's selfish. But I wouldn't ask someone doing it to move because I know they have every right to be there.

Selfish?!

Crumpleton · 16/01/2023 16:00

Ah just reread..
They were dedicated 1 hour only spaces.
Still doesn't mean you had to move.

Sotellmethisandnomore · 16/01/2023 16:01

The neck of her!

Firstawake · 16/01/2023 16:02

I would have moved..... I mean i would have left my car and walked off!!

TerraNostra · 16/01/2023 16:06

The woman was forgetting that parking places are simply places where cars need to be when they are not moving. The location of the driver is irrelevant if she is doing something that can't be done while driving. There were many possible reasons why your car was not moving.

You could have:

  1. Needed to leave the car while you did something outside it
  2. Needed to stop driving to eat food
  3. Needed to stop driving to take a call
  4. Needed to stop driving for a rest as you were tured
  5. Needed to stop in order to pick up a passenger
Harrysmummy246 · 16/01/2023 16:06

YABU for apologising and moving.....

WonderingWanda · 16/01/2023 16:09

What on earth is going on? Why are all of you moving to the passenger seat if you are sat in the car? I have never had a problem with this, people normally mouth 'are you leaving' and if I'm not I will shake my head. That woman was ridiculous I know what I might have said in response to her telling me to move my car!!

daisyjgrey · 16/01/2023 16:09

I am doing exactly that right now. I started work at 7.30pm yesterday and have just got to the drs surgery where I have a blood test at 4.45.

If anyone tries to move me I will eat them as well.

Denise82 · 16/01/2023 16:09

I'd have moved if it wasn't for the fact she was rude after you said you would only be a minute, after she said that I'd have stayed happily eating my sandwich until I'd been there for 59 mins 🤣 Stay toxic folks

Emmamoo89 · 16/01/2023 16:11

YADNBU. silly cow. I would of just ignored her

TrollMunter · 16/01/2023 16:11

WhereIsMumHiding3 · 16/01/2023 14:40

Genius!!

Show quote history

It really is.

UsingChangeofName · 16/01/2023 16:21

If she's had a rant and been rude to me, I'd have really been tempted to take the rest of the hour, in truth. Either finished sarnie then got out, locked the car and walked round the block, or just sat there and read or played on my phone.

I'm generally quite a kind person, but don't react well to being told I can't do something there is absolutely no reason that I shouldn't be doing, and I don't respond well to people being rude to me. Giving someone something they want due to them being rude and potentially intimidating just proves to them behaving like that gets them what they want.

Sparklingbrook · 16/01/2023 16:24

I have to do a lot of sitting in car parks, I always do what PPs do and sit in the passenger seat or the back, when it's busy and there's people driving round the car park people are going to assume you might be leaving the space if you sit in the driver's seat.
More room for eating without the sterring wheel in the way too.

Genevieva · 16/01/2023 16:26

I probably would have said that I was sitting in my car between appointments because it was a cold day, but I still needed the parking.

JauntyJinty · 16/01/2023 16:27

CatJumperTwat · 16/01/2023 15:40

I wouldn't have done it because it's selfish. But I wouldn't ask someone doing it to move because I know they have every right to be there.

Why is it selfish? Is the other womans need of the space greater than OPs? ould it be selfish if she'd eaten the sandwich elsewhere, or is it being in the car that makes it selfish?

GraceandMolly · 16/01/2023 16:28

Not in million years would I have moved. Enjoy your sandwich in whatever car park you want.

Leadbridge · 16/01/2023 16:45

YANBU at all.

It is completely irrelevant what you were doing whilst your car was parked.

She was rude and incredibly entitled. Her need to park does not trump your need to park - and you got there first so...you got to park.

SpareHeirOverThere · 16/01/2023 16:52

You were unreasonable to move.

There is no 'both sides' on this one.

It's a parking space. You were parked. What you are doing or where you are doing it do not impact your right to park there for the allowed hour.

SeaToSki · 16/01/2023 16:55

I like the idea of sitting in the back or passenger seat if you arent leaving the car right away (which you shouldnt have to) as it helps people who are driving around and hunting for a space - ooo look someone is in that car, I wonder if they are leaving...hover for a bit...no they arent and drive on looking for another spot. So its a kind thing to do, but clearly not necessary

Megifer · 16/01/2023 17:04

I'd have told her to piss off tbh but appreciate that might be a bit controversial. Maybe gesture vaguely at the other empty spaces or just say "ok thanks for the feedback" and then sit there for the full hour looking at funny cat videos on YouTube or even just staring out the windscreen 😂

I definitely wouldn't have moved!!

Objectionhearsayspeculation · 16/01/2023 17:11

This happened to DH once when I had an appointment and he was waiting for me. He was really upset and wondered if he was wrong, I asked him why he rolled the window down when he could see the person was going to give off, he looked at me in amazement then said "but I had to, it'd be rude not to." No, it's rude to interrupt someone parked perfectly legally minding their own business happily eating their lunch. Mind you I'm one of those people who won't open the door if I don't want to even if the person can see me so probably don't go by me.