A parking one...

[mrsflanders23]

So I live in a street of mainly terraces. I'm one of few houses that has a drive (I'm an end terrace). There is green space across the road though with no houses so there is generally enough parking for everyone iykwim.

I don't use the drive a lot recently, I have quite a big car and the drive is narrow so I find it more effort to park up there sometimes (a bit of laziness on my part). If I can park on the road I will. I used to have a smaller car and used the drive a lot more.

I guess people on the street have noticed that I'm not using the drive as much and I've had a spate of people parking across my drive... I've not said anything so far as I don't want to fall out with anyone but there have been occasions where I haven't been able to get a parking space near my house and then haven't been able to park up my drive as it's been parked over. I've then had to park further up the street... but hey ho.

Issue is- I'm heavily pregnant, baby due in a matter of weeks. The people parking over my drive thing has started to annoy me a little recently as I'm thinking with a baby I will more than likely want to use my drive if I can park at the front of my house.

I've had various complications and this week I've been at hospital nearly every day. Feeling a bit flustered and stressed. Approached my house in car to see neighbour park 3/4 of way over my drive. No drama, space at front of my house I suppose.

As I got out of my car said neighbour approached me, and told me, didn't ask, but told me, that they now have two cars and would be parking "like this from now on" (gesturing to the way his car was parked over my drive). And that "you know where we are if you want us to move".

I was in such a stress and fluster that I just said "okay" and hurried into my house.

Thing is, I don't want to have to go and knock on doors and ask people to move when I have a newborn baby. I want to be able to use my drive, or not use my drive, or do whatever I like with my drive, which is one of the reasons I bought the house.

If I choose, or choose not to use it, surely that is my choice?

AIBU?

Would I be unreasonable to go speak to neighbour and tell them no?

Oh and I've never parked at the front of this neighbours house or anything like that so it's no kind of weird retaliation from them. I either park in front of my house if available, or across the road where there are no houses.

I don't park outside anyones house. I park outside my own house or across the road. I don't have a four car drive.

Simple solution.

Park across your own drive, always. You might
not own the space on the road but people shouldn't block access to driveways so neighbours are in the wrong there.

Anyone who blocks it go and ask them to move every time until they get the message.

My driveway is also narrow, a van parked on the road next door blocks our view of the road and it's a busy road so it's very tricky to reverse it in, or out unless there's no traffic passing. There's not a lot of space to manoeuvre because there is a wall either side so a lot of care and attention is needed. I often leave it on the road across our driveway then go out and reverse it in once it's quietened down in the evening.

If you keep knocking on his door asking to move the car surely he'll get frustrated at moving it and eventually find somewhere else to park?

Alternatively ask for help with with shopping etc from the car if you can't park on your drive. Again he'll probably end up feeling frustrated and will park elsewhere

Categorically, regardless of whether OP is parking on her drive or not, others shouldn’t be parking across her driveway without her permission.

These are the facts, although I think most people can see how his has escalated, especially if people have done it for a while and OP has never said something.

OP has just recently said she can’t park across her driveway as it is too narrow. However, clearly others are managing it. So perhaps it’s worth doing that whenever you can. Or is it the case your new case is an absolutely ginormous one?

The situation has arisen now, so you need to do something about it or put up with it. People are not mind readers and some clearly think you’re okay with what’s happening. You need to put them right.

Are you going to put up a sign? Are you going to speak to the people who you can identify who are doing it? Are you going to park on the driveway? Mixture of all 3?

Yes, you’re right that you should always have access to your driveway to do whatever you like with it. That also applies if you’ve parked on the road. A dropped kerb ir vehicle crossover as it’s correctly known as, isn’t somewhere for anyone else to park unless you’ve given them permission, even if you’ve parked 6 cars on the road. Obviously that would be pretty selfish, but people do it and still shouldn’t have anyone parking over their crossover.

Whats your next steps?

All you need to do is a) park across your own drive, and b) ask him not to in a way that makes it sound like you're doing him a favour. Just explain that you're going park across there as you've realised you're taking up an extra space in the street that he can use for his second car, so you'll make sure you don't do that anymore by parking across your own drive instead. Make sure to add that you will need access to the drive fairly frequently, so in order to not keep bothering him by knocking and asking him to move his car, you'll just park there yourself and free up the space you've been taking up for him.

It's how you phrase it, go in with the angle that you're doing him not one, but two favours. That should solve your problem, from what you've said your neighbours don't sound unreasonable.

Fucking hell. Are some people just stupid or can't be arsed to RTFT?

OP YANBU. Go around tomorrow and politely but firmly TELL your rude neighbour that you will need access to your drive at all times, and do not want the inconvenience of having to get out and ask them to move when you are heavily pregnant or have a to leave newborn in the car alone whilst you do so. It's your drive to use as and when you please.
They wouldn't be telling you how they were planning on inconveniencing you if you were a single bloke living next door. They see a lone pregnant woman and feel they can take the piss. I know it's hard to stand up for yourself when feeling vulnerable, but nip it in the bud now.
From what you said you work in law enforcement? Make sure you make this clear to them.

You need to :
a)stop being selfish
b)park on your drive
c) get a car you can actually manage to drive

I'd like to see some of the people who are jumping on me manage to navigate their vehicle up what is essentially a 2 meter wide channel between two buildings for a considerable distance.

Isn't isn't just navigating around or between a wall.

@maryberryslayers yes they know what I do for a job but I'd never throw my job around as that's extremely wrong.

But I did think to myself, if I wasn't a woman on my own I doubt that they would just "tell" me what they were doing, rather than ask me if it was okay.

They are two men btw. And he was already parked there.

@mrsflanders23 some people are contrary as fuck on this app for no reason at all. Of course YANBU. He has no right to unilaterally tell you he'll be parking across your drive from now on. None at all. I can see he took you by surprise, but you really need to go round and tell him access to your drive needs to be kept clear, and that you really don't want to fall out about it.

I don't think you're unreasonable to park outside your home on the road like everyone else. Some might think you're selfish because you have a drive but you did pay for it! It's there for when you can't get a spot to save you walking too far. Most people's drives aren't handy. You can't open your doors properly or walk passed your car easily.

You need to let your neighbour know. Personally I'd probably wait till until you're next blocked out. Huff n puff a bit and let them know it's a nuisance and actually you think you want it clear all the time. It's your right, but I think the fact that you're pregnant will ease things a bit.

@ChiefWiggumsBoy I'm actually waiting for someone here to tell me that I shouldn't have had a fourth child if I didn't have a big enough drive to get the required size car up

That's how I feel the attitude had been here this evening.

I don't think anyone is understanding just how narrow the drive is- I know most peoples drives aren't "handy".

My drive is so narrow that even Flat Stanley couldn't get out of the car... It only opens up wide enough to open doors right at the end.

Oh and I can drive thanks for all the people that have suggested I can't! I drive as part of my job- that isn't the issue.

Just go next door and ask for them not to block your driveway. If you work in law informant you know the law is on your side .

Well you've caused this by not using your drive, you choose instead to take up a space that could be used by somebody else. Start using your own drive, that is what it's for!

So you've no excuse then, you just can't be arsed because it takes too long in your opinion - just use your own drive ffs, problem solved

have you read the thread or are people actually this nasty?!

My drive is just over 2 meters wide, between two buildings. My car is just over 2 meters wide.

I'm heavily pregnant which is making navigating the drive difficult rn.

@MissMaple82 seriously?!? How about my neighbours who got rid of their own driveway in order to have an extension, park somewhere else and not across MY drive? I paid more for my house because it has a drive.

I am not using it frequently atm for various legitimate reasons. I still want access to it when I want access to it. Weather it's for myself, visitors, deliveries, whatever.

There is ample parking on the street, it's rare there is an issue! I'm not taking anyones space for the last time.

Whether you park in the street or not your neighbours are being dicks for blocking your driveway.

YANBU

It is illegal to park over any dropped curb regardless of if anyone is parked there or not.

No OP it’s not illegal to park across your own dropped kerb 😂

If someone blocked you in and stopped you getting on to the highway they could be asked to move it. If they’d blocked the drive to stop you getting on to your drive not illegal

@pinkstripeycat the wording in the Highway Code covers all dropped kerbs. It doesn't matter who it belongs to or if it's your own. So yes, technically it is an offence but I don't want to keep going over it.

Really common misconception that it isn't an offence to block your own driveway or dropped kerb. Yes you're unlikely to be reported but it is still an offence as such.

@mrsflanders23 I'd like to see some of the people who are jumping on me manage to navigate their vehicle up what is essentially a 2 meter wide channel between two buildings for a considerable distance.

Isn't isn't just navigating around or between a wall.

Well I’d manage it… maybe you should get a smaller car 🤣

@hesma changing my car was a necessity as I will have four children soon and need to fit 3 car seats in. I have no choice in that.

Surely if you start using your drive, the neighbours will stop blocking it? Presumably they're parking like they are because they've seen your drive is always empty??

@Hesma my car is just over 2 meters wide and the drive is just over 2 meters wide. As I've learned on this thread my drive wouldn't even pass the requirements for classification as a driveway these days.

It's tight but if you think you'd do it no issues heavily pregnant than good for you.

Everyone seems to be missing the point that there is 99.9% of the time ample parking on the street so I'm not taking away from anyone else by parking my car on the road.