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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ooh! I have a question what merits a genuine parking diagram! The larks!

38 replies

SarahAndQuack · 14/05/2024 20:55

Yes, I may be too excited about this. It's actually not full of righteous indignation, but I'd still appreciate thoughts.

So, the context: I live in a small village, next door to the village school. Never had an issue. The school car park is tiny, so it's only for staff, and parents park on the street. Obviously, if I happen to be coming or going at drop off/pick up time, I know better than to expect to park outside my house and that is totally fine. I have a dropped kerb allowing access to a parking space by the side of my house. There is no shortage of on-street parking outside of school drop off/pick up times, but I do tend to have visitors park there, and I value having that access.

I don't get het up about people blocking the dropped kerb; a few parents have asked/apologised and I've always said don't worry, it's just a few minutes. This is especially true now as there are two sets of parents whose children have difficulties and need the car close so it's easiest to get them safely in; I don't have an issue with them parking over the dropped kerb. They are only there for a few minutes.

But, here's the thing. Recently, school have started putting traffic cones up outside the space running from the far end of the playground to the dropped kerb. I've heard from a parent on the PTA that this is because someone (not from the school, apparently?) complained about the school buses parking on the yellow zig-zag lines outside the school. The buses have always parked here, right by the gates, so children can get on and off with minimum fuss. TBH, I thought that was part of the purpose of those lines, but I am probably wrong! Now, the bus has to find a space, so school are reserving it with cones. They've been doing it for several days, and I'm finding each day the cones are closer and closer, and the last couple of days, if I'd wanted to cross the dropped kerb, I'd have had to move them. The cones stay out all the time, and I'm actually a bit annoyed.

I do love my DD's school and I am sure they're not being dicks for the sake of it, but I also don't want to end up in a situation where my gate constantly has traffic cones sitting in front of it!

AIBU? And indeed, WWYD?

Ooh! I have a question what merits a genuine parking diagram! The larks!
OP posts:
AmiShitsaline · 15/05/2024 11:24

They might be waiting on some official road markings for the bus. I would email the school and just say ‘not sure where to direct this but I just have a query about the cones for the school bus, is there a permanent solution being worked on for this? I am just finding it a bit of an issue at the moment as the cones are often placed in front of my driveway. Many thanks’

Keepthosenamesgoing · 15/05/2024 11:29

I suspect they are just being careless with the cones so.just a gentle reminder to whomever is putting them out ... hiya can you just pop them the other side of mu dropped kerb so I can still drive in. Thanks

Motnight · 15/05/2024 11:44

Hoppinggreen · 15/05/2024 10:31

10/10 for diagram.
1/10 for drama

Exactly Op is being far too reasonable!

rwa818 · 15/05/2024 11:51

Call the school and ask them not to block your driveway as you need access, maybe they haven't realised- but it needs nipping in the bud!

Bellaboo01 · 15/05/2024 11:53

SarahAndQuack · 14/05/2024 20:55

Yes, I may be too excited about this. It's actually not full of righteous indignation, but I'd still appreciate thoughts.

So, the context: I live in a small village, next door to the village school. Never had an issue. The school car park is tiny, so it's only for staff, and parents park on the street. Obviously, if I happen to be coming or going at drop off/pick up time, I know better than to expect to park outside my house and that is totally fine. I have a dropped kerb allowing access to a parking space by the side of my house. There is no shortage of on-street parking outside of school drop off/pick up times, but I do tend to have visitors park there, and I value having that access.

I don't get het up about people blocking the dropped kerb; a few parents have asked/apologised and I've always said don't worry, it's just a few minutes. This is especially true now as there are two sets of parents whose children have difficulties and need the car close so it's easiest to get them safely in; I don't have an issue with them parking over the dropped kerb. They are only there for a few minutes.

But, here's the thing. Recently, school have started putting traffic cones up outside the space running from the far end of the playground to the dropped kerb. I've heard from a parent on the PTA that this is because someone (not from the school, apparently?) complained about the school buses parking on the yellow zig-zag lines outside the school. The buses have always parked here, right by the gates, so children can get on and off with minimum fuss. TBH, I thought that was part of the purpose of those lines, but I am probably wrong! Now, the bus has to find a space, so school are reserving it with cones. They've been doing it for several days, and I'm finding each day the cones are closer and closer, and the last couple of days, if I'd wanted to cross the dropped kerb, I'd have had to move them. The cones stay out all the time, and I'm actually a bit annoyed.

I do love my DD's school and I am sure they're not being dicks for the sake of it, but I also don't want to end up in a situation where my gate constantly has traffic cones sitting in front of it!

AIBU? And indeed, WWYD?

If the cones arent over your 'dropped curb' then there is no issue.

If they keep getting nearer and nearer and ending up over your dropped curb, simply email the school and let them know that the cones that they have put out is stopping your access to your driveway. Or just move them - simple.

Their cones hold no legal rights.

AgathaMystery · 15/05/2024 11:57

came for the diagram, stayed for the drama - i feel let down. Can you make an anon hysterical phone call to the school at the very least?

WallaceinAnderland · 15/05/2024 12:10

The head teacher thought it was ok for a bus to park on zig zags and also thinks it's ok to put cones over a dropped kerb. I think the head needs a visit from the local PCSO to learn about parking rules.

LardoBurrows · 15/05/2024 12:39

I'd just move the cones away from my dropped kerb and dump them outside the school.

Londonrach1 · 15/05/2024 12:44

Talk to the school about this

FlickDrink · 15/05/2024 13:42

I don't understand why people are so weird!!! 😂😂😂Sorry OP!!! but I don't understand how you can go through life worrying so much. You are massively overthinking this and you are being really negative about how you view the school. Why are you assuming they will take your request badly? Why have you such a poor opinion of them?

CeffylCoch · 15/05/2024 13:47

Just move the cones?

JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit · 15/05/2024 14:09

I really like your diagram.

xILikeJamx · 15/05/2024 14:16

Abitorangelooking · 15/05/2024 09:45

School buses always park on the yellow zig zags at our school. I honestly thought their purpose was to reserve those spaces for the school buses to ensure the dc can get on safely and so they don’t need to cross a road.

The yellow zigzags denote no parking or waiting in the area. Generally it's at all times, but there may be signs indicating times when it's not in force.
Presumably to let kids cross the road without having to creep between parked cars to do so.

OP - if they're not taking the cones away again, why can't you just move the ones that are in your way?

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