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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why are people such twats when it comes to parking???

42 replies

icecreamheaven · 14/01/2025 21:43

Arghhh!!!! Just a moan!!!

I'll start off by saying I know this woman has every right to park here and "technically" she's doing nothing wrong, but why can't she (or people) just be more considerate of others as well???

I've just bought my first house and moved in a couple of weeks ago. It's a semi with a driveway. Unfortunately the drive is in awful condition, I can't even get my car on it due to extreme potholes etc. I'm in the process of having it fixed (work already started) but there's been a delay due to the snow/icy weather last weekend. It should hopefully be finished in the next couple of weeks. I only have the 1 car btw.

My next door neighbours (not attached) have 2 vehicles and choose to park on the road even though they have a perfectly good drive that they could use. The man parks his van on the road blocking their drive and the woman parks her car on the curb outside my house. The issue is that she parks in the middle of the curb so that I can't get on either side, between the 2 of them blocking my drive or behind her because I'd end up blocking next doors drive (the house I'm attached to) so I have to park down the road instead.

I've noticed on a few occasions she's parked behind me and when I've gone out she's then moved her car back to the middle so I can't get on. What I don't understand is that I've already met them, spoken to them and they seemed really nice but she's clearly trying to make a point for some bizarre reason??? All I can think is that the house was empty for 2 years before I moved in so clearly their use to parking wherever they want. I even spoke to her the other day as I left the house and pointed out that I was having the driveway fixed and she said "oh yes sorry I've only been parking there because of the icy weather as I didn't want to get stuck on the drive". It hasn't been icy for 3 days and she's still doing it and has done the same thing tonight (pulled her car forward after I've gone out so I've had to park down the road again)

I had enough (having to carry shopping bags down the street tonight) so went and knocked on to politely ask her to pull forward so I could get on but they ignored the door. Is there any need for people to be like this???

OP posts:
Original poster
icecreamheaven · 14/01/2025 21:45

Just to add, once my driveway is fixed I will obviously be using that. The difference is she has a choice to park on her driveway or the road as where I don't!

OP posts:
Youcunnyfunt · 14/01/2025 21:51

You know the rules, diagram required!

Is your drive not on a dropped curb? If it’s not dropped, it’s not really a drive.

EVHead · 14/01/2025 21:54

Diagram or it didn’t happen.

ForkMeImToast · 14/01/2025 21:55

We have neighbours like that too 😅 One once replied to me on the neighbourhood WhatsApp group saying that he purposely parks across two spaces (right in front of my house, five doors down from his) so no one else can park in front of him as he is fed up of people on our road parking really badly and selfishly 😂 I think he realised just how insane he sounded though as he stopped doing that straight after.

Some people are just arseholes.

Original poster
icecreamheaven · 14/01/2025 21:55

@Youcunnyfunt I do apologise, let me see if I can get something drawn up!

Yes my drive is on a dropped curb. The problem is their drive and my drive are right next to each other (alongside both houses) so because he parks his van across their drive and she parks in the middle of the curb I can't squeeze on between them. I can't get on behind her because I'd up blocking next doors drive (the chap I'm attached to)

OP posts:
Flatandhappy · 14/01/2025 22:01

Maybe knock on their door and ask nicely if she can park either a bit further or back as you would like to be able to park outside your house until your drive is fixed? A much better use of your time and more likely to get a result than drawing diagrams for the entertainment of bored Mumsnetters 😁

Original poster
icecreamheaven · 14/01/2025 22:05

@Flatandhappy I did mention in my OP that I knocked on tonight to ask nicely but they ignored the door.

OP posts:
Spectre8 · 14/01/2025 22:06

Typical petty neighbours. 🙄

FrangipaniBlue · 14/01/2025 22:06

Flatandhappy · 14/01/2025 22:01

Maybe knock on their door and ask nicely if she can park either a bit further or back as you would like to be able to park outside your house until your drive is fixed? A much better use of your time and more likely to get a result than drawing diagrams for the entertainment of bored Mumsnetters 😁

It's right there in the OP........

MissPeaches · 14/01/2025 22:19

icecreamheaven · 14/01/2025 22:05

@Flatandhappy I did mention in my OP that I knocked on tonight to ask nicely but they ignored the door.

Why are you assuming they "ignored the door"? Maybe they didn't hear it, or they were in the shower, taking a nap, on an important work call, or any other one of the million explanations that are more likely than your previously perfectly pleasant neighbor hiding from you over a parking issue.

Try again at the door, multiple times if you have to, and politely ask her to pull up a bit more so you can fit into the spot. Don't leave a note or any of the other passive-aggressive options that will be suggested on here. Some people just thrive on conflict.

JohnofWessex · 14/01/2025 22:25

Car Brain, and Van is worse.

Who thinks they have the right to plonk a shed in the road in front of their house

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 14/01/2025 22:26

Omg yanbu - my neighbour does this, parks a LONG saloon car in the middle of the space that can accommodate two cars

Bloody selfish!

MaggieFS · 14/01/2025 22:40

I don't think this applies in this case given it's a regular occurrence but it reminds of when DC1 first started at school...

I parked as described, not trying to be a twat, but because I reasoned it was kindest for the two driveway owners - that they could enter and exit at a lesser angle than a full 90 degree sharp turn around my car if I was parked fully at the end of the dropped kerb and it would give them better visibility too. WELL another school mum full on shouted at me in the street. What a drama. There was a load more spaces at the next driveway and beyond. She would only have had to walk a further three seconds.

Perhaps I was twat!

Original poster
icecreamheaven · 14/01/2025 22:54

Terrible terrible diagram I know (I can't draw) but hopefully that helps!

Why are people such twats when it comes to parking???
OP posts:
Original poster
icecreamheaven · 14/01/2025 22:55

Obviously the curb is a lot smaller than how I've drawn it on the diagram 😂 so there isn't enough space for me to squeeze in between the 2 of them across to park across my drive or park behind her otherwise I'd block the other neighbours drive!

OP posts:
genesis92 · 14/01/2025 22:58

They'll be the same kind of people that park in parent and child spaces at supermarkets, despite not having children with them.

I would very very tempted just to ask them outright why they are doing this. It's pathetic

LionRumpus · 14/01/2025 22:58

If she's hogging a short curb, YADNBU.

No way would I not share a curb equally with my neighbour. That would be really rude.

ShirkingFromHome95 · 14/01/2025 23:02

They sadly have every right to park there but they're being inconsiderate pricks. I had a neighbour doing this a few years ago and I'll admit I did once borrow one of the pickups from work and drag their car about six feet out of the way to make space for me to park - put a chain around the axle. I did it in the middle of the night and denied all knowledge lol. They had no idea it was me as I parked the pickup in the next road and the Golf GTI I had at the time defo wouldn't have been able to tow their 4x4. 😂

EconomyClassRockstar · 14/01/2025 23:04

I'd suck it up until you have your drive finished, for the sake of neighbour relations but I feel your pain! The people across the road from us ALWAYS park on our side instead of theirs and we live on a street where we all have drives big enough for all our cars so, technically, none of us need to park on the road. But, every single day, one of their cars is parked right at the end of our drive leaving it hard for us to see out as we reverse. I've mentioned it to them but they genuinely don't understand what the problem is because they are all on the drive at nighttime (you're not allowed to park on the street at night in our town).

Original poster
icecreamheaven · 14/01/2025 23:22

@EconomyClassRockstar sounds incredibly frustrating! I definitely won't fall out with them over it, I just can't believe how selfish and inconsiderate some people can be at times!

OP posts:
JohnRedding · 14/01/2025 23:26

Lack of awareness of others / selfishness

Priority is get the car parked to suit themselves

The rest is secondary neighbors etc .

JudgeJ · 14/01/2025 23:28

LionRumpus · 14/01/2025 22:58

If she's hogging a short curb, YADNBU.

No way would I not share a curb equally with my neighbour. That would be really rude.

She isn't hogging a short curb at all, maybe she's hogging a short kerb though.
Do you know anyone who has a big vehicle they don't use, an old Land Rover is useful, to park outside your house, or even outside their house! They may get the message.

FreezingJane · 14/01/2025 23:37

I'd knock the door again and just ask if she wouldn't mind pulling forward a bit so you can get your car on, as you've got heavy bags to unload.

Make a point of it. CF.

2chocolateoranges · 14/01/2025 23:42

Can you not park in between the car and the van so that you block your driveway?

or park in front of their house?

Original poster
icecreamheaven · 14/01/2025 23:48

@2chocolateoranges unfortunately not, I've already tried and it's too tight. I nearly hit his van when I tried to park inbetween them.

Our driveways run alongside eachother. I can't park in front of their drive because he parks his van there.

OP posts:
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