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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Blocking me in, in a half-empty car park. Why?

42 replies

hungryduck · 02/09/2025 19:51

Sitting in the leisure centre car park waiting for teen DS to finish training. Car park is half empty. There are 2 spaces to the left of me, 3 to the right of me and loads in the rows behind. Only the row immediately in front of the entrance is full. (Yes, I know I need a diagram but I'm in the car with no paper/pen to hand)

Another parent has rocked up and parked in front of me, completely ignoring the multiple empty spaces and completely blocking me in.

Why? Just why? Why would you do that?

No, I'm not going to confront as there's no point until the finish training and we're leaving, at which point the other parent will be leaving too. I just don't understand the mentality of parking stopping like that.

OP posts:
wanttokickoffbutcant · 02/09/2025 21:25

hungryduck · 02/09/2025 20:43

Obligatory diagram:

Ah so they had to be direct access to entrance/path so little prince/ess didn't have to walk ten more steps to the car....

Coconutter24 · 02/09/2025 21:27

hungryduck · 02/09/2025 20:55

Yes, I could have if needed. But not really the point. It was just really weird parking from the person.

Show quote history

This is such a non issue after seeing the diagram, parent is picking up child not expecting to be in car park long so rather than park in a bay they have pulled up near the path for their child to jump straight in the car. Did they see you in the car?

B1anche · 02/09/2025 21:36

I would have started filming them on my phone and sniggering to myself just to provoke a reaction from them.

GoodVibesOnly21 · 02/09/2025 21:49

I would have put my headlights on full beam. #childish 🤣

MathsMum3 · 02/09/2025 21:59

Simply because the driver is lazy. They could see they wouldn't be blocking someone (you) in by parking there, and it was closest point to access the leisure centre, so why bother to spend an extra 30 seconds parking in an actual designated slot? That's what car ownership does to some people - makes them forget they have legs.

Original poster
hungryduck · 02/09/2025 22:15

Coconutter24 · 02/09/2025 21:27

This is such a non issue after seeing the diagram, parent is picking up child not expecting to be in car park long so rather than park in a bay they have pulled up near the path for their child to jump straight in the car. Did they see you in the car?

Show quote history

I've already said it's a non-issue. I wasn't inconvenienced - they left before me, and if they hadn't I would have asked them to move. The reason for posting is because I can't understand the mentality behind parking like that in an empty carpark.

OP posts:
Coconutter24 · 02/09/2025 22:31

hungryduck · 02/09/2025 22:15

I've already said it's a non-issue. I wasn't inconvenienced - they left before me, and if they hadn't I would have asked them to move. The reason for posting is because I can't understand the mentality behind parking like that in an empty carpark.

Show quote history

You asked a question of ‘why?’ So I answered and just explained a possible reason for them parking like that….

Ruby1985 · 02/09/2025 22:32

hungryduck · 02/09/2025 20:54

Why? They were there to pick up their son, same as me, (they actually left a good 2 mins before me) so didn't actually inconvenience me at all. Had my son come out first, I'd have asked them to move but I didn't end up needing to.

I've only posted because I thought it was really weird.

Show quote history

Are you being serious?! Seems you are quite weird for taking the time to draw it all out and vent on here!! You say you didn’t end up needing to tell them to move and you didn’t tell them to move, so what are you after !

Ruby1985 · 02/09/2025 22:33

hungryduck · 02/09/2025 20:55

Yes, I could have if needed. But not really the point. It was just really weird parking from the person.

Show quote history

Just find a hobby, it will really help!

Original poster
hungryduck · 02/09/2025 23:03

Geesh! Some posters really don't understand the purpose of chat sites like MN do they!

OP posts:
Fionasapples · 02/09/2025 23:06

SimoneHere · 02/09/2025 20:47

I’m sorry to say, but if you are experiencing that with “the majority of drivers” the chances are that it is you, not them.

Show quote history

I was thinking the same. I've been driving for 40 years and I have very rarely seen scenarios like this.

Negroany · 02/09/2025 23:09

MerryGrimaceShake · 02/09/2025 20:01

They did this because they are far more important than you.

I passed my driving test about 2 months ago and it’s the first thing I noticed when driving fresh from the instructors car. The majority of drivers will cut you off on a Dual carriageway as you re passing them because they are more important. They will dangerously overtake you on a blind corner of a slim country road because they are more important. They will cut across you on roundabouts because they are more Important. And they will abandon their car wherever the fuck they like, usually blocking someone in or in a disabled/parent space (or on a zebra crossing like I saw last week!!!) because they are more important.

I drive most days and I can count on one hand the times I’ve driven so far where someone hasn’t done something dangerous or totally fucking cunty that could directly impact me.

Hmm....this doesn't happen to me. You seem to be the common denominator of this sort of behaviour.....

Ellmau · 02/09/2025 23:14

If they recognised you maybe they thought you were the start of a queue?

Saz12 · 03/09/2025 00:04

I imagine they're desperate to beat you to be the first out of the car park... car park etiquette / competition is a really noticeable thing among some parents at DC put of school activities!
its v bizarre how many of DC sports have (non blue badge) parents who will park in the disabled spots to be as close to door as possible, but don't actually get out the car anyway. EG a team of 8 DC will have all 5 disabled spots taken up with people collecting DC.

Osirus · 03/09/2025 00:13

SimoneHere · 02/09/2025 20:47

I’m sorry to say, but if you are experiencing that with “the majority of drivers” the chances are that it is you, not them.

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The examples this poster has given quite clearly tells you it’s NOT her.

Osirus · 03/09/2025 00:14

hungryduck · 02/09/2025 20:55

Yes, I could have if needed. But not really the point. It was just really weird parking from the person.

Show quote history

It’s weird parking but you weren’t blocked in.

MerryGrimaceShake · 03/09/2025 08:10

SimoneHere · 02/09/2025 20:47

I’m sorry to say, but if you are experiencing that with “the majority of drivers” the chances are that it is you, not them.

Show quote history

Ticks off the bingo card

Not sure how a vehicle swinging out in front of me into the passing lane or another cutting across three lanes on a roundabout in front of multiple other drivers is my fault but you do you 🤷🏻‍♀️

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