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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Parking difficulties

11 replies

completelybananas · 20/05/2024 22:48

Just a rant really. I live on a terraced road, on a hill. The opposite side of the road to me is on a slant, when you park there your car is leaning sideways at a noticeable angle, and you can't open the doors on the pavement side because they hit the pavement. I have a neurological condition that makes mobility a struggle for me at times, my core is very weak a lot of the time, as are my arms and legs. I find it really hard to get out of the car when I have to open the driver door uphill and get out at that angle, and I have previously had to ask people to help me get out. I am also a lone parent to 2 children under 6, and it makes it extremely hard for me to get the children in and out the car through only one side, at a difficult incline. My side of the road is pretty flat.
My neighbours often see me struggling with getting from the house to the car and vice versa, yet they still continue to dump their cars outside my house (they are a young couple with no kids, and when I say dump I mean they throw it in at any old angle, in the middle of a space that would be big enough for 2 cars, when their side of the road is completely clear) leaving me to park outside their house instead and spend the next 20+ minutes trying to get myself and 2 children out the car and across the road. I've made passing comments to them about how much I struggle with it, not wanting to be demanding about them leaving the space outside my house free when it's a public road and legal for them to do so, but would it make me an a-hole to ask?
The rest of the street all park outside their own homes with no quibble whatsoever (everyone keeps their cars confined to in front of their own homes as far as possible and we have very few non-resident cars here), it's just this one couple that will just throw their cars wherever there's the biggest space, and it's usually outside my house because I work long hours and get back the latest, and I'm really starting to feel stressed about the daily physical battle to simply be able to get myself and my kids into the car. I am considering asking the council if they can put any sort of disabled or permit bay on the flat side of the road for me, but I expect it would be a big hassle and in the unlikely event they approved it I'd probably have to pay for it, which I simply can't afford. I rely heavily on my car too, which means I'm in and out of it multiple times a day and it's becoming very physically difficult for me. I just don't know what to do, and moving isn't an option either.

OP posts:
User79853257976 · 20/05/2024 23:10

I would apply and in the meantime if you see the couple you could explain your difficulties and ask if they would mind leaving that space free.

Fidgety31 · 20/05/2024 23:12

Apply for a Blue Badge and then request a disabled bay be painted outside your house .
someone near me has had the same done

Stripeysocks1981 · 20/05/2024 23:14

If you’re disabled and it affects your mobility, you’ll get a parking space and a blue badge.
does it really take 20 mins (!!) to get yourself and the kids out of the car? I’m baffled at this!

NoSquirrels · 20/05/2024 23:15

Apply for the disabled space.

Be explicit with your neighbours. Put a note through everyone’s door if you like - then there’s no singling out the terrible neighbours and you get the social pressure effect of the whole street judging anyone who parks there…

CatamaranViper · 20/05/2024 23:16

The problem is, while of course you can ask, they may simply not care.

They're obviously parking there to protect their car and see it as their best solution and possibly think you're over-egging your struggles.

So while you can say something (shy bairns get nowt!), prepare for them to say no or say yes and not actually do anything differently.

Apply to the council and save up if needs be. Sadly you can't always rely on others to be accommodating or helpful when technically they aren't doing anything wrong. I'm sorry it's a shite situation for you.

rwa818 · 20/05/2024 23:22

I do sympathise but it's also not their problem and if they didn't park outside your house someone else could?
I think you really need to get a disabled space sorted out, or really can you move house somewhere with a drive? Doesn't sound like you're living in the best place if it really takes you 20 minutes to get out of the car?!

Genauso · 21/05/2024 02:29

There's a neighbour on our street that does the same. Their family won't park any of their four cars outside their house or anywhere on their side of the street if they can help it. First preference is the other side of the street outside someone else's house. Extra points if they are all parked one after the other. So annoying!

HollaHolla · 21/05/2024 02:37

Two things- apply for a blue badge, and hopefully you'll get it. You can then apply for the council to paint you a disabled bay on the road.
Also - you say you have real problems with weakness in your arms and legs. Are you ok to drive? You should maybe also look at applying for PIP (I've just been through the assessment for it, and it is grim, but I got it; I have significant spinal nerve damage). Then, if you can't manage driving, it would help with paying for taxis/Ubers.

yumyumyumy · 21/05/2024 02:41

Apply for a blue badge like others suggest. Should you be driving if your core is that weak? Sounds like a safety issue.

drusth · 21/05/2024 03:10

You wouldn’t have to pay for the disabled bay. Definitely apply.

VeraForever · 21/05/2024 06:27

Firstly, I would check with your GP to make sure that you are safe to drive with your condition..

Certainly apply for a blue badge and apply for a parking bay if you're in need of it.

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