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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To park on my drive out of pettiness?

227 replies

BadClown · 03/02/2023 21:51

Next door neighbour has recently started getting large amounts of parcels delivered. They have their own drive, and there’s loads of on street parking, but they’ve started parking on my drive to unload their van. I don’t usually park on my drive during the day, but it’s really bugging me that they haven’t asked, and keep parking on my drive, blocking my garage, without asking for permission. Last week I tried to pull onto the drive after the school run and they were there unloading the van. They smiled and said they’d only be a few more minutes, and then got back to work. It was obvious I wasn’t pleased, but I was blocking the road so had to drive around the block and by the time I returned they’d gone again. I’m not comfortable with confrontation, so I’ve started parking on my own drive, literally just to block them from doing it. Am I just being petty? Should I let them park there since I don’t really need to use it during the day?

OP posts:
Littlechickenhead · 04/02/2023 09:46

Why not make them a cup of tea and some sandwiches while you’re about it?

ReneBumsWombats · 04/02/2023 09:46

RealBecca · 04/02/2023 09:41

OP hates confrontation and is taking an action she wouldnt normally take because to make a point, so yes it is confrontational. It wouldnt be confrontational if she was parking there out of genuine convenience. hope that helps clarify.

Show quote history

Neighbour will simply see OP's car on her own driveway, whatever her reason. How will OP's thoughts about it affect neighbour's perception?

How can it ever be confrontational to put your car on your own drive???

NotAnotherBathBomb · 04/02/2023 09:55

BadClown · 03/02/2023 22:18

I know I’m allowed to park there, my question is if it’s being petty if I choose to? I don’t usually use the drive during the day, and only want to because they’re using it without my permission?

No you're not, HTH

HeavenIsAHalfpipe · 04/02/2023 09:56

@BadClown I clicked on YABU, because people who park on the road when they have got their own driveway really piss me off. Why do you park on the road when you've got a driveway? Confused Maybe the neighbour does stuff on your driveway because she is pissed off with you parking on the road all the time. (Your 'explanation' at 22.01 yesterday just sounds like an excuse.)

And if your answer is 'because it makes life easier for me to stay on the road, as I find it difficult to get in and out of my driveway, and it's quicker for me to just take off etc etc,' why do your needs and desires trump everyone else's? People parking all over the road is a hazard, and a bloody nuisance! It makes it so hard for others to get in and out of THEIR driveways. (Even if it IS perfectly legal.) 🙄

WhoNeedsSleepNotISaidMyBody · 04/02/2023 09:56

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 04/02/2023 01:24

Same here.

I found out that next door was cutting across the lower half of my driveway to save themselves moving their multiple cars in and out.

I now park on the lower half of my drive.

Show quote history

But why?

Why do you care that they drove across the bottom of your drive? It's not like they were driving through your back garden.

SinnerBoy · 04/02/2023 09:56

How can it ever be confrontational to put your car on your own drive???

In the world of normal people, never; but in the realm of CFs, it could be: "How the fuck am I supposed to unload my van now, bitch>?!"

I think that you should get into the habit of parking on your own drive, or get a bollard, as suggested. You should probably tell them that you don't want them to park on your drive, being prepared to walk away, if they are nasty about it.

If they do get nasty, go inside and call the Police immediately.

buffydavis · 04/02/2023 09:57

Just park on your fucking drive! It's your drive. Park there!

OhClunge · 04/02/2023 09:58

WhoNeedsSleepNotISaidMyBody · 04/02/2023 09:56

But why?

Why do you care that they drove across the bottom of your drive? It's not like they were driving through your back garden.

Show quote history

At a wild guess I'd say because it's not theirs to use and it's rude

HeavenIsAHalfpipe · 04/02/2023 09:58

SinnerBoy · 04/02/2023 09:56

How can it ever be confrontational to put your car on your own drive???

In the world of normal people, never; but in the realm of CFs, it could be: "How the fuck am I supposed to unload my van now, bitch>?!"

I think that you should get into the habit of parking on your own drive, or get a bollard, as suggested. You should probably tell them that you don't want them to park on your drive, being prepared to walk away, if they are nasty about it.

If they do get nasty, go inside and call the Police immediately.

Exactly this. ^ This is such an odd thread. Imagine starting a thread asking 'AIBU to park on my OWN driveway? Lest it pisses of my neighbour...' Confused

milkyaqua · 04/02/2023 10:04

Ooh, my neighbour is pissing me off by parking on my drive, and using it as a loading bay.... Dare I park on my own drive?!

It's just bizarre.

TheLastDreamOfTheOak · 04/02/2023 10:06

Tbh if I wasn't using my drive and didn't need to, it wouldn't especially bother me if our neighbours were parking on it for a short time to unload stuff. As long as they moved after the delivery.
It's a bit rude they didn't ask but it wouldn't be a huge deal to me if I wasn't inconvenienced by it.

Scotty12 · 04/02/2023 10:09

You could get a bollard so no-one can park on your drive regardless of whether you are parked there. They are trespassing. It sounds like they are acting like bullies. Don’t stand for it.

Original poster
BadClown · 04/02/2023 10:09

@RealBecca exactly! Most people are saying I’m being crazy for not parking there, but I’d only be doing it to block them, not because I actually want to park there?

@FortheBeautyoftheEarth theres loads of street parking at the back which is easier to access (front is a one way street) and there’s so much space it doesn’t inconvenience anyone. Most of the street does it like this :)

OP posts:
SinnerBoy · 04/02/2023 10:14

TheLastDreamOfTheOak · Today 10:06

Tbh if I wasn't using my drive and didn't need to, it wouldn't especially bother me if our neighbours were parking on it for a short time to unload stuff.

Yes, but the thing is, they haven't asked and make her wait to get onto her own drive, at their convenience and she's alone and intimidated by them.

Fundays12 · 04/02/2023 10:15

It's not petty it's your property. I wouldn't like this either as it's rude. Just park there your car is safer on your drive anyway plus it you told your insurance you have a drive to park on and your car is hit on the street were you do actually park it they may not uphold any claim.

CrazyCorgi · 04/02/2023 10:19

Just park on the drive. Save confrontation. Or get some of those cones that lock when they’re up and put them on your driveway.

brillianthopefulness · 04/02/2023 10:19

Options -

  1. Park on it sometimes but enough so it's unpredictable and they don't know when you'll be there so can't guarantee a space.
  1. Tell them you'll be needing to park there from now on.
  1. Put a gate at the bottom of your drive and possibly fence it off.
  1. Place some heavy pots on the drive - though obviously this will be a nuisance if you want to park there.
  1. Invite friends to park out there regularly.
  1. Rent out your drive as parking.
  1. Ask neighbours if they'd like to rent out your driveway?
  1. Do nothing...
Mothership4two · 04/02/2023 10:20

I agree with you @WhoNeedsSleepNotISaidMyBody if it has zero impact on your life why go out of your way to be difficult especially with your next door neighbours? There's enough problems in the world without trying to get up someone's nose for no reason other than your's is slightly out of joint

I am not talking about OP's situation

Datafan55 · 04/02/2023 10:24

I wouldn't block them in if you come home and they're on it.... That could be seen as approval.

CousinKrispy · 04/02/2023 10:29

Surely your insurance company would prefer you always park on your drive when at home. Your car is still more vulnerable to damage by passing motorists or others when parked on the street.

Just park on your drive, can't believe you even need to debate this.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 04/02/2023 10:30

but I’d only be doing it to block them, not because I actually want to park there?

So what is your post actually about? Just don't park on your own drive, stop moaning about it and park around the back.

Laiste · 04/02/2023 10:32

So what'cha gonna do OP?

Patineur · 04/02/2023 10:34

BadClown · 04/02/2023 10:09

@RealBecca exactly! Most people are saying I’m being crazy for not parking there, but I’d only be doing it to block them, not because I actually want to park there?

@FortheBeautyoftheEarth theres loads of street parking at the back which is easier to access (front is a one way street) and there’s so much space it doesn’t inconvenience anyone. Most of the street does it like this :)

What does it matter that you would only be doing it to block them? Wanting to stop your neighbours parking on your property is 100% reasonable, and if this is the only way to achieve it then that is reasonable. The chances are that you would only have to do it for a relatively short time till their delivery people get the message that that driveway is not available. Your alternative is to put something like heavy planters across the entrance to your drive, or a retractable bollard, but that may be more than you need.

Wibblewibble1 · 04/02/2023 10:36

BadClown · 03/02/2023 22:18

I know I’m allowed to park there, my question is if it’s being petty if I choose to? I don’t usually use the drive during the day, and only want to because they’re using it without my permission?

Not petty at all, just using your own drive to stop cf’s

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 04/02/2023 10:39

Who fucking cares if it's being petty?!

Do you really expend energy thinking about what neighbours you don't even like might be thinking about you? If you don't have the stones to ask them not to, then yes, just park on your own drive.

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