Neighbour complained about DD’s parking

[soupofthedays]

We live in a cul de sac. Our driveway (red) can fit 2 cars, but since DD just got her driving licence, we now have 3 cars. Every house, except for the 2 at the end, has its own driveway. Our neighbour (green) parks her car on the pavement in front of her house. The neighbour across the street doesn’t own a car, so DD (pink) has started parking there. Our other neighbour (yellow) has asked if DD could park somewhere else, presumably on the road across from the cul de sac, because it’s causing her some trouble. She mentioned that she can still get in and out of her driveway, but she has to pull out, reverse, and then drive through. She can’t just swing around DD’s car as the neighbour (green) parks on the opposite side. She won’t ask the other neighbour to move as she’s always parked there. DD is reluctant to park on the other road because she wouldn’t be able to see her car from our house. I can see both sides really. Are we being unreasonable by saying no as she’s not actually blocking the driveway, or should we have DD park somewhere else?

Sorry about the terrible diagram!

We have a driveway but lots don't here and some often choose to park opposite our drive, which means a lot of maneuvering for us as if we reverse straight out we would hit them, but we can't swing around as the drive is too small. All irrelevant but i guess similar to neighbour in your situation. It would literally never cross my mind to ask them to park elsewhere. It's legal. It's not blocking anyone in. I'd feel really entitled and a bit of a tit saying "its a bit annoying please dont park within a meter radius of my drive". I'd be tempted for harmony to try and avoid parking there but I'd say along the lines of "when she can she will but it might not always be easy as she wants to be able to see her car". It'll save a drama but they're being a bit ridiculous here and should just reverse and a bit, it's not really a hardship is it!

It’s pink house you have to feel for. They’ve got no drive and no car, but now have one plonked outside their house whilst DD trains binoculars on it.

From a Londoner’s perspective it all seems a bit absurd: parking is at premium here, if you can park legally and you’re not blocking anyone then you park. What’s most convenient for someone is not relevant. All the driveways round here have cars parked on both sides.

Some people do pave over their front garden though if they want to park 3 cars. Is that an option?

He neighbour should be able to get out with ease, not with ‘effort’ 🙄

Also agree with @Aluna , make your driveway bigger .

If “yellow” struggles to get out of their driveway then they simply should NOT be driving! OP DD is doing nothing wrong, she is not physically obstructing direct access to anyone’s driveway is she?!?! And “green” is being an awkward fuckwit by not parking on their own driveway.

I’ve had at least three people correct me about the end two houses not having driveways. Can it stop now please?

I’d take no heed of the neighbour and certainly wouldn’t want to park my car in another street.

it’s a public road and as long as she is parked legally, yellow would have to suck it up for me.

Plus under her insurance is she covered as on the street or street away from home?

I wouldn’t park my car on a different street, the neighbour is welcome to park it elsewhere if she wants. What if the new place she parks it has a problem with it being outside their house, will she move it to an even further street?

Can you get your driveway widened?

First, I think that legal and considerate of neighbors are two different things.

How inconsiderate it is depends on how narrow that section of street is, how close to the driveways the cars are, and how careful they are to park right against the curb. I'd start by empathizing with the neighbor's frustration and looking critically at all the options to ease it. Is there room for your DD to park further from pink's driveway now that it's been brought to her attention? Even a half metre can make a difference. If street width is the big issue is there room for your DD and green neighbor to park tightly end to end on one side if they coordinate and leave each other space? Is there space for your DD to park nose-in on the curb between you and your neighbor at the apex of the street even if that means slightly blocking your own drive?

If none of those are possible then I think a low-effort neighborly thing you could do is for your family to commit to using your two car driveway first-come-first-serve so that you're always making full use of your driveway and only adding a car to the street when all three drivers in your house are home.

Green car should park on their own drive.
Do you get on with neighbours without cars? Perhaps DD could use their drive for a small fee? Obviously with the agreement that she will move if they need to use their drive for anything.

Green car doesn’t have a drive

They have got too many cars. We all - as a country - have too many cars. We share one car between the household and more could do the same if they were prepared to be more considered and plan ahead.

The problem with parking further away is that the problem is shifted to another street who shouldn’t have to suffer additional cars. The best solution is to block their own drive or use some of the front garden to extend their drive. Also consider trains, buses, walking and lift shares. Honestly the number of people on my street who pile their kids into the car to drive two minutes to school is honestly ridiculous! It probably takes longer to get everyone in, than just start the 5 minute walk. obviously no idea where the op lives but the reality is probably that the daughter can share her parents car or plans alternative arrangements. It’s a nightmare being a neighbour to someone who can afford endless cars but not able to afford a house to match the capacity.

But unless it’s double yellows or close to junc. She’s allowed to if she pays road tax

There’s no way most people I know could share a car. We certainly couldn’t.

Torn but I think at the end of the day, DD can park where she likes within reason and it’s hardly a massive inconvenience for the neighbour to adapt to it, it’s not blocking the neighbour.

What If it was the neighbour-with-no-car, would the issue still be the same?

Its not really going to change your upset neighbours opinion though.

it is a bit nippy to have someone own multiple cars in a small area though - but in your case no one’s actually really losing out.

our neighbour kicks off if I park in front of her house. She’s been told 😂 (she doesn’t even own a car) It’s public parking and free for all. I just can’t get that wound up about parking wars 😂

What will DD do if the neighbour decides to park their car there as it is too tricky to deal with the manoeuvring?

You don't park 2 cars on both sides of the road. It's blocking access for emergency vehicles, but also make it difficult for everyone else to manoeuvre.
It's not only on your DD though, however gets there first can park either side, the one who gets there later has to park somewhere else.

You can spot who is from a city from these posts 🤣 As a Londoner if it’s legal then I’m parking there. I was considerate when I first got my licence (28 years ago) but where I live it’s pointless; if I don’t park there “to be considerate” then someone else will.
@soupofthedays your DD is doing nothing wrong and the driver who struggles to get out of her drive needs more lessons.

It's not exactly arduous to have to reverse a little bit to get round something. If they can't do it maybe a few more lessons would help.

I actually agree with this.

I can see both posts of view. The neighbours are asking for a bit of consideration and your DD wants to park on her own street. I think she should move her car slightly or block one of your cars in on your drive.

Although her saying she wants to be able to see it is a bit odd. Does she sit in her bedroom window and watch it for 24 hours? If someone is going to break into it or damage it - it can happen anywhere.

I think everyone saying park somewhere is insane. She’s not blocking a drive, she’s not parked somewhere she shouldn’t like yellow lines. As long as the gap between the two cars is wide enough for emergency services, I don’t see an issue. It add what, like 30 seconds on to your neighbours time to reverse before pulling out.

Why does your daughter need to see her car? It's a car, not a Goya.