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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Strange parking with diagram!

134 replies

PonkyPonky · 25/04/2023 16:39

So I am prepared to be told I’m in the wrong here but be aware I have so far done nothing or said nothing! I’ve attached a diagram, I live at number 1. Bloke who lives at number 5 works an early shift so gets home when the whole road is totally clear of parked cars, chooses to park directly outside my house. When I get home, he is always parked there despite there being loads of space directly outside his house. I can’t think of any sensible reason why he would do this unless it’s because he’s scared of parallel parking and the space directly outside my house is on one end of the row. Although the other end of the row of cars is closer to his house. WIBU to put a polite note on his car asking him to choose a space closer to his house when there is space? It’s really bloody annoying to come home with a boot full of food shopping and see that’s he’s there again and I struggle up the road from the space outside his bloody house! But yes it’s a public road and we can all do whatever we want essentially as no one has any right to park anywhere in particular but it’s just inconsiderate and irritating. This only started about 6 months ago for some unknown reason. Before that, I think he just parked by his own house

Strange parking with diagram!
OP posts:
Heronwatcher · 26/04/2023 11:51

Yes YABU. Unless you have a designated space then this is perfectly fine and he can park outside your house. Surely it can’t be much further to walk for you anyway? We have a pair of residents on our street who try to reserve the space outside their own house, they even put traffic cones there and it drives everyone insane. If it’s that important to you then I’m afraid you need to try to get somewhere with a drive. Or a trolley.

TheOrigRights · 26/04/2023 11:56

It looks like he's parking at the front of the row, where the double yellow lines give him a guide as to how far forward to park and also means no one will park in front of him, possibly wedging him in a tight spot.
Most people like to park in front of their own home so it is unusual.

I wouldn't leave a note, just talk to him if it bothers you.

TrishTrix · 26/04/2023 12:17

You bought a house with on street parking. You have no right to the space outside your house.

If you raised this issue with me I'd think you were very entitled.

I always park at the end of a bay if I can to reduce the risk of someone dinging my car.

LucifersLight · 26/04/2023 12:22

Of course he is doing nothing wrong legally but he is being very inconsiderate. Once in a blue moon wouldn’t bother me, but if every day then I would act.

I bet he tried it outside number 6 and got “asked” to not do so (unless he didn’t try outside number 6 due to not wanting conflict with someone living closer to him).

If it was me in your shoes? I’d make sure there was a constant supply of broken glass, tacks and nails on the road outside my house. If he gets a flat tyre by driving on things that’s his look out. I’d maybe egg it periodically too. In the old days people used to put superglue in car locks - that probably wouldn’t work nowadays.

Or you could try and get a dropped kerb and a drive outside your house like number 7? In which case he’ll park outside number 2. He is a knob though, he should be the one getting his own drive or moving house.

polkadotdalmation · 26/04/2023 12:31

YABU, But I totally agree with you

TooOldForThisNonsense · 26/04/2023 12:38

Annoying but not much you can do other than start parking there when you can or outside his house at other times.

kitsuneghost · 26/04/2023 12:49

What is behind 6? Is it more street parking
If so I suspect he doesn't want to end up blocked into a really tight space so parking in front of the double yellows prevents that

SchoolShenanigans · 26/04/2023 12:53

I'm sorry if someone has already asked, but could it be so he can guarantee access to his boot?

Whatever the reason, I think most people would find this annoying. I know I would. Sadly, I don't think saying something will have the effect you want, I think it will probably annoy him.

Ducksinthebath · 26/04/2023 13:06

In his mind is he just trying to be considerate by avoiding getting boxed in such that it would necessitate waking someone up at an ungodly hour to get unboxed?

Iamnotalemming · 26/04/2023 13:19

Don't leave a note on his car, it's so passive aggressive!! I've been on the receiving end of that type of note (when parking legally and reasonably!) and it put me in a rage.

Original poster
PonkyPonky · 26/04/2023 13:26

Ok I’ve been told! Yes I know he’s not doing anything illegal and therefore I have no ‘right’ to say anything. But what happened to just being considerate? I always try and park considerately of my neighbours and so does everyone else except him. I’d love a drive but we don’t have the 5m at the front of the house or I would do it. Yes a house with a drive would also be a solution but we live in a very expensive area and had to sacrifice that just to be able to live. I guess I’ll just have to put up with it because legal or not you apparently don’t have to be considerate anymore.

OP posts:
Inthesamesinkingboat · 26/04/2023 13:42

You say what he is doing is inconsiderate? How exactly? By filling up from where the yellow lines end he is ensuring the maximum number of cars can fit in the space- if he were to just pull up and leave his car then someone might be left having to squeeze in or only having a half car space at the end

DancingQueen2019 · 26/04/2023 13:46

I think he is trying to be considerate by parking somewhere where he can just leave quickly in the early morning, for both not being blocked in and having to wake neighbours or shimmy back and forth out of a space and be noisy.

Fwiw I don't have a driveway and often have to walk from my car to my house, with food shop days taking several trips back and forth from the car. It is what it is

AnonymousFemale2023 · 26/04/2023 13:51

He is being considerate imo. Why do people believe they should park directly in front of their house?! We all pay road tax and can park where we like 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
PonkyPonky · 26/04/2023 13:53

The cars are facing the other way so if he was doing this then he would be at the other end of the row of cars… incidentally right by his house

OP posts:
Heronwatcher · 26/04/2023 13:53

@LucifersLight you’re not serious? The man is doing nothing wrong? Plus what if someone else wants to park there, like, I don’t know, the OP!!! And all your nails and glass would get spread into everyone else’s spaces too, and probably puncture the OPs car tyre unless she goes out with a broom every time she wants to drive herself and then re-scatters the glass and nails when she gets back 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP I think what you haven’t understood is that for many people, as long as they can park somewhere nearby they don’t really care. On many expensive streets I’ve lived in in London you’re lucky if you can park within 3 roads of your house (there’s a scene in Catastrophe where they walk out in an emergency and have no idea where the car is!). If your neighbour is used to this, or he’s been blocked in multiple times, then he’s not even being inconsiderate- you’ve just assumed this.

MyDogHumpsThings · 26/04/2023 13:54

Just as it’s not illegal but mildly breaking social rules to park directly in front of someone else’s house, neither is it illegal for you to put a polite and (hopefully) non passive-aggressive note on his car.

As long as you steer clear of any wording that suggests you feel entitled to that space, or that he is not entitled to use it, and you don’t actually ask him to park elsewhere, I don’t see a problem.

Neuronamechange · 26/04/2023 13:55

YABU. It’s non allocated parking. I’d assume they were parking that way to avoid waking/disturbing others. For the same reason we’ll put our car on the street rather than our drive if it’s an unsociable hour.

Tealsofa · 26/04/2023 14:05

So when you leave your house in your car, do you ALWAYS park in a carpark? or do you park on the road, outside other peoples homes?

sofamarathon · 26/04/2023 16:20

Annoying but tough

Just accept this and get on with your life as it's minor

Strawberrydelight78 · 26/04/2023 18:14

Have you had a ring doorbell installed or something similar? He might be thinking if his car is damaged it will be recorded. But he should get his own if that's the case.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 26/04/2023 19:12

LucifersLight · 26/04/2023 12:22

Of course he is doing nothing wrong legally but he is being very inconsiderate. Once in a blue moon wouldn’t bother me, but if every day then I would act.

I bet he tried it outside number 6 and got “asked” to not do so (unless he didn’t try outside number 6 due to not wanting conflict with someone living closer to him).

If it was me in your shoes? I’d make sure there was a constant supply of broken glass, tacks and nails on the road outside my house. If he gets a flat tyre by driving on things that’s his look out. I’d maybe egg it periodically too. In the old days people used to put superglue in car locks - that probably wouldn’t work nowadays.

Or you could try and get a dropped kerb and a drive outside your house like number 7? In which case he’ll park outside number 2. He is a knob though, he should be the one getting his own drive or moving house.

Wtf?

Egging someone’s car for parking legally if annoyingly on a road?

Scattering debris on the road that could damage not just to his car but other people’s? How could the OP park there if she did that? Not to mention it could damage the cars/bicycles of other innocent people or harm dogs’ paws etc. what an insane suggestion

Original poster
PonkyPonky · 26/04/2023 20:07

TooOldForThisNonsense · 26/04/2023 19:12

Wtf?

Egging someone’s car for parking legally if annoyingly on a road?

Scattering debris on the road that could damage not just to his car but other people’s? How could the OP park there if she did that? Not to mention it could damage the cars/bicycles of other innocent people or harm dogs’ paws etc. what an insane suggestion

Show quote history

🤣 don’t worry I’m not going to do this! I think (hope) it was a joke anyway! God I hope it was a joke and there aren’t actually people out there willing to do this!

OP posts:
Original poster
PonkyPonky · 26/04/2023 20:09

Strawberrydelight78 · 26/04/2023 18:14

Have you had a ring doorbell installed or something similar? He might be thinking if his car is damaged it will be recorded. But he should get his own if that's the case.

Yes we do have a ring doorbell! I hadn’t thought of that

OP posts:
Original poster
PonkyPonky · 26/04/2023 20:13

I get what you’re saying but this isn’t even remotely like living in London. It’s not really a mad fight for parking. Most houses in the village have drive ways but we are on the one road that doesn’t. If it was a scramble for parking then it would be totally different, you would live by ‘first come first served’ rules. This isn’t that and it is only annoying and yes a first world problem. But it’s still annoying to see his car there every single day without fail when for the previous 2 years of us living here, he didn’t do that.

OP posts:
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