Oh dear, I’ve upset the neighbours. Another parking thread

[vagges]

I live in a cul de sac where everyone has their own driveways. Luckily, parking isn’t a problem as everyone uses their drives, and visitors do the same if there’s space, or sometimes they park on the street outside. Occasionally, we have delivery drivers or family members picking up or dropping someone off, which can block access, but it’s usually just for a few minutes. However, my neighbours daughter has this annoying habit of stopping in the middle of the cul de sac, blocking everyone’s access. It wouldn’t be a big deal if it was just a few minutes like everyone else, but she’s been known to stay there for 10-15 minutes. Her mum (my neighbour) has an empty driveway, so I really don’t get why she doesn’t just pull in and reverse out when she’s ready instead of sitting in the turning circle and making it difficult for everyone else. I’ve had to ask her a couple of times to move forward so I could get onto my drive, considering I’ve been waiting for her to move first. I can’t tell if she just pretends not to see people? It’s really strange.

Anyway, last night I came home, absolutely desperate for the toilet (sorry TMI), and there she was again. I pulled right up to her car, waited a few seconds, and ended up beeping the horn to let her know I was there. I have no idea how she didn’t see me because it was pitch black, my lights are bright, and the car isn’t super quiet either. I would have gotten out to talk to her, but I really needed to get inside. She finally got out of her car and said, “No need to beep, you just need to ask me to pull forward.” So I replied, “I don’t have time to ask you to move every time, why can’t you just pull onto the drive and wait?” She called me rude and got back in her car. I get that the beeping might have seemed aggressive, but that wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to get her attention so I could get inside and use the bloody toilet. I saw my neighbour (her mum) this morning, said hello, and she just looked at me and carried on. I guess I’ve pissed them both off.

AIBU or would this annoy you too? Would you get out every time to ask her to move? Was I rude?

Not a you issue. The neighbour’s daughter is at best stupid, and at worst stupid and downright rude.

You didn’t do anything wrong. But she clearly doesn’t think she did either, and she’s unlikely to change sadly. Such people very rarely do.

(I know what I’m talking about unfortunately, my neighbours are exactly the same. They’re sadly on the rude and stupid end of the spectrum.)

Next time she does it, call the police. She’s blocking a public road. If emergency access is needed by ambulance/fire brigade they certainly won’t be asking politely!

Fuck em

She's inconsiderate and selfish, you had far more patience with it all than I would of. She was embarrassed and deflected it on you. She's been lazy and caused lots of people and inconvenience not just you. Good for you.

I’d have tooted! Why have people become so inconsiderate?

if I was so desperate I would have left car behind hers while I rushed in.

I'd have flashed and tooted too as it clearly is something she does too often. She obviously knows it is inconvenient for others but is clearly a CF who is selfish too. Though I don't actually understand why she wouldn't pull in her Mum's driveway - surely that'd be easier?

I'd be killing them with kindness and cheery hellos and good mornings whenever I see them whilst at the same time continue to tell her to move and give her a toot when necessary. Hopefully she'll get the idea at some point!

The only rude person is the one blocking the access of people who happen to live near her mother, but have no interest in her … she’s a PITA and if her mum is ignoring you then maybe Knox at her door an ask if her child can park with courteousness to neighbours

If she's blocking it anyway, just leave your car behind hers and let her come looking for you.

Thank you did ask. That’s what the toot was !

You did nothing wrong. But for the sake of harmony I’d probably explain to the mother that you had an emergency and ask if she can have a word with the daughter to avoid it in future.

She might be annoyed but hopefully she's got the message now.

I had a similar issue the other day. The exit to our road is quite narrow. You can fit two cars across but it’s tight.

A car was idling a good distance from the curb just up from another parked car so I couldn’t squeeze round them. As their engine was running, I assumed they were in the car. I tried flashing my lights and then beeped (just a quick beep like you’d do at a green light and the car in front hasn’t noticed). It was raining so I wasn’t about to get out.

Anyway, a woman leaned out of the house to the left and held her finger up to me to indicate I should wait. Umm… No! Move your car! Didn’t have a choice but to wait but she was inside for several more minutes until she finally appeared, glaring at me whilst carrying a baby seat.

I totally get why she wouldn’t want to carry the baby far in the rain but I would have got the baby all strapped in and then moved the car to minimise blocking the road. Or at least been apologetic when it was clear I had blocked someone trying to use the road.

I think people are just entitled these days and think their need trumps everyone else’s. She doesn’t care that she’s inconveniencing you and is put out that you pointed out her selfishness.

I’d be so tempted to pull up behind her, lock up & saunter into my house so she’d have to come & get me when she wanted to move. What’s she doing sitting in her car for all that time, anyway? Is she waiting for her mum or what?

I'd beep and if she didn't move right away, park my car behind her and go take my time in the bathroom.

She's rude and disrespectful.

Next time block her in then ignore the door for at least 10 minutes

What's rude is carrying on blocking neighbours from getting to their own homes, time and time again.
You didn't do much wrong OP, and we all know what it's like to be busting!

She’s being weird and annoying, but I’m not sure what you think the police’s response is going to be to someone parking at the end of a cul de sac.

I would be knocking on mums door and sing that you have had enough of her daughter’s rude behaviour. Ask mum to tell the daughter to park on the drive and show consideration for everybody

and next time she is parked there I would just sit on the horn, each and every time until she gets the hint

Toot. Every time.

I used to own a house at the top of a culdesac and got to witness all sorts of snobbishness! Some families thought it was acceptable to park all there cars around blocking everyone else as you could go and knock on their door and ask. Yes that’s fine if you know which car belongs to which house!

I won’t ever be living in a culdesac again!

they are both pricks and you’ve not done anything wrong. Hopefully she’s not going to do it again but I would get some real joy from overly nice hellos and waves from now on to piss the little cunts off some more.

Obstructing a public highway is a criminal offence. If you’re unable to understand that it would impede fire brigade/paramedics/police getting to people in houses beyond the car then I really don’t know what else to say.

A horn is to alert other drives of your presence and that’s what you used it for.
Hopefully she may realise now that she’s inconveniencing people. Time will tell

How well do you know her mum @vagges