To leave a gap when parking

[BelleMarionette]

I got a note on my car this morning: 'You took up two spaces with your car.. so inconsiderate. RETAKE YOUR TEST'

I assume it was from yesterday, when I had to park on a residential street, because my work has stopped issuing parking permits to staff, as no capacity. Even if they were available, they are prohibitevely expensive at about £100/month.

It was an unrestricted street for parking, with plenty of spaces available. I parked leaving 2-3ft from the car next to me, to allow space for them to pull out. I have previously had abuse from a neighbour for parking 'too near' their car, even though there was a gap, so I am aware about leaving space, should drivers not be confident.

Aibu for leaving a gap when parking on the street? Obviously different if bay parking, and I would never take up two bays.

2-3ft is too much so YABU.

Are these marked out spaces?

YABU as that’s too much room.

I would never take up two bays.

but you did take up two spaces. It's not really different to bays at all.

I live on an unrestricted street and it's infuriating when people who don't live here park on the road. When it's just us residents we can all park nicely, have "our" spots and all our cars fit. One rogue parker is all it takes for, at least, two homes (typically more) to become seriously inconvenienced. I wouldn't go so far as to put a note on a car but I'd be cursing you to kingdom come and calling you some choice words

Not unreasonable at all. If it’s bays you need to be within the lines but on street it’s totally reasonable to allow plenty of space so you and adjacent cars can manoeuvre easily.

Yabu. If you can't park properly don't drive...

2-3ft is a massive gap.

3 feet is too much. Although the note sounds a bit OTT

If it's unrestricted anyone and everyone can park if they choose. No such thing as "your" spot.

i never understand how they know which car was there first? Many times I’ve learned well and come back to huge spaces in front or behind from other vehicles

That's why I wrote it as "our" spot not our spot.

People are creatures of habit

2-3 feet is too much, and much more space than you need for pulling out.

If you are parking in an area with limited parking, it is selfish to park in a way that reduces the overall number of cars that can fit.

2-3ft is a massive gap and it’s selfish if someone else then couldn’t park as a result. Not saying you should have been milimetres from the car in front but 1ft would have given enough room to manoeuvre out and hopefully still left space for someone else behind you.

Whaaaat? So weird. So just parking along the road with no actual spaces marked? How does the note writer know no other cars have parked or left since you parked, that YOURE the one at fault, unless they’re a curtain twitcher or something.
Also I never really think about how much space I’m leaving - need to get pushchair out etc, next car to come along might be a smart car or a Range Rover. So weird, since when was 1-2ft the only acceptable gap?

Way too big a gap, 1.5ft should be plenty. If you also have that behind you there's plenty of room to manoeuvre out. A bit annoying if a car comes and parks really close at either end but that could happen even if you had originally left 2-3ft anyway and one of the original cars had left.

2-3 feet is not a massive gap.

You lot are mad 🤣

YANBU OP.

You don't own the street and you don't have your own spot

I’d be so pissed off if someone parked in front of me and didn’t even leave 2ft!

3ft seems a bit excessive but looking at the street I'm in at the moment, most cars have about 2ft between them and it all looks pretty normal. Far more polite than someone getting blocked in.
Ignore the note. I once had one on my car saying it should be possible to fit three cars in the little section I was parked in. Which is true - and there were three cars there! I just assume the note was left by someone who was too crap at parking to work out how to get in the space. It's probably a similar situation in your case, or someone who thinks they own a particular bit of the street

3ft is OTT. And super frustrating to see when looking for a space.

Seems a massive gap to me, I'd leave a ft behind and a ft in front

Two Foot is 24 inches, two rulers. That’s nothing.

Three foot front and back may be a little bit greedy.

I would be annoyed but I wouldn’t leave a note.

We have similar where normally 3 cars can fit between the end of the road and the house next door, but, if someone sits in the middle then only 2 cars fit and it is annoying!

Urgh, this drives me mad at our nursery. If you don't want to parallel park into the middle spot or drive out of it then go around the corner (which is what I do), don't take up space for two cars because you want to park opposite the door but don't want to do a slightly trickier manoeuvre on a busy road.