AIBU to park my van on the road?

[Vantopark]

My family and I live in a quiet village. DH and I have 2 cars between us which we park on the driveway. DH also has a separate work van which can’t fit on the drive, so he parks it down the road. He can’t park it directly outside our house because the road is narrow at this point and it would cause an obstruction. So he parks it legally on the road a bit further down where the road widens. It is not parked directly outside anyone’s house as there are no houses there, but it can be seen from some people’s windows at a distance. The parking is not at a premium, and there is always plenty of space left for other people to park there should they wish.

The other villagers seem to hate this. Their objection is based purely on the fact that they don’t like the look of it (it is sign-written). Not that it is obstruction anyone or using up valuable parking spaces (because it isn’t). They don’t have any objection to the other cars that are parked there. We’ve been asked repeatedly to move it, but as we haven’t obliged they are starting to get more aggressive, stopping me in the street to call me a ‘fucking selfish bitch’ etc. There are things I can see out of my windows that I would rather weren’t there, but I think that’s just village life isn’t it? There isn’t anywhere else that we can park the van in the village, anywhere else would be even closer to people’s houses.

YABU: yes you are a selfish bitch and the van shouldn’t be there

YANBU: You are legally entitled to park the van there, crack on and the neighbours need to get over it.

Any reason you cant park the van on your driveway to appease the neighbours?

Park the van on your drive and one of the cars on the road.

Jesus, some people just don't know they're born do they. Park your van as normal and start keeping a record of the abusive people.

Tell them to fuck off. Then get another taxed, tested shed of a van and park it outside their house for a year.

@Isitsticky @Tessasanderson
sorry I should have said. The van would take up to much room so if we parked it on the drive we’d have to park both cars in the village. Plus we have young children and I don’t really like the idea of walking them down the narrow country lane (no pavement) plus bags etc every time we go somewhere. Especially if it’s dark in winter going to and from nursery / school. It’s seems a rather extreme concession to make just because our neighbours don’t like the look of our van.

If you are parking the van in the same spot all the time, and if it being left there for days on end when not needed, then I think you are being unreasonable. Can't your DP park it well out of the way, even if your DP needs to walk a bit further to get to it?

However, I think it is unreasonable for the other villagers to use expletives when communicating their unhappiness about the situation. Why talk to you about it when it is your DP's decision where they parked 'their' van?

It’s already a fair walk away, and we chose that spot because it seemed the most considerate as it was the furthest away from houses and driveways.

People are insane about the road outside their house, or in this case, the road visible from their house.

And I think they are talking to me about it because I happen to be there, out walking the dog etc. I’m sure they would be going for DH as well if they came across him.

As long as it's parked legally, then crack on.

I only voted YABU because of the text within the YANBU. Firstly, it isn’t you parking the van, it is your husband’s van so why should anyone yell at you AND why curse. Horrid reactions if people to go that

what I can empathise with is the van parking issue. For me, I have someone who often visits my neighbour directly opposite to me. He blocks me being able to turn into my driveway and u have to do a 10 point manoeuvre just to get because the road is narrow, his van wife and my car long. We have a neighbour who’s so. Guns a gardening service. He used to park his van outside neighbours houses. Very unsightly. Blocks their view but also for us neighbours, makes it difficult to see traffic coming.

as it is legal, I have never mentioned it. Nor my husband. But both annoyed us very much.

people did say something to our neighbour and her son started parking in the lot of a nearby (10 minute walk) business I’m sure he paid them so gunk to do so but it did mean neighbours happy AND as the van had signage, people thought better about his company as opposed to thinking shitty way to park.

we also don’t live in a white van man type of area so many were not pleased with it being on our street. I know this won’t be a popular opinion but it is a real one and hopefully help you be more aware why people are bothered.

a compromise may improve relations with neighbours. Park further away and rotate where the van is parked. Better yet, if there is a nearby business with parking, coming to an arrangement with them may be useful. Or see what you can do to park van in your own property and your cars on the road

I wouldn’t want to look at a van directly out my window. They’re larger and higher than a car. If I were you I’d park the van on your drive and park the two cars on the street.

I wouldn't want to be looking at a van either. I wouldn't swear at you in the street but I would at home.

It’s very annoying when longer, high sided, wide vehicles are on the street because they do impede traffic, we have an issue here and it means cars cannot park as there isn’t enough parking as it is. We have a covenant in place which means legally vans cannot park overnight on our development. If it’s a company can it really should be parked at work or if self employed on your land.

People can see the van at a distance, so presumably it’s not impeding their immediate view or parked right outside their house where it would be blocking their light or similar?

Imo work vans should be parked at the place of work. If that is your house if he is self employed then I don't suppose you can do much about it.

I hate it though, my parents street is often cluttered with overflow from drives on the road or further up the road.

I think the council should bring in a street parking tax then I reckon everyone would find a better solution.

topping me in the street to call me a ‘fucking selfish bitch’ etc.

I would keep parking there. The sexist dickheads can piss off. It's your DH who parks his van there (legally and safely) but they call you a 'fucking selfish bitch'?

I would report them to the police for harassment.

I think we all get periodically annoyed about things our neighbours do, but what bothers me is our neighbours apparent inability to internalise these thoughts, given that we aren’t doing anything illegal.

We have looked into renting a parking space but nothing has come of it yet. With it being rural the options are a bit more limited. If we move the van I’m worried we’ll just end up pissing off a whole new set of neighbours. It would end up parked much closer to people’s houses if we did move it.

Quite a few of my neighbours have vans. They do what you do albeit on our road rather than further away. Doesn’t bother me in the slightest. And I say that as someone who really doesn’t get on with one of them but they mainly are respectful in that way.

I can see your point, however, there isn’t always a work premises. So an example of this is my DH works for a firm, there are 5 of them, each of them have a works van. But the business is operated essentially from the firms house as their job is field base. So if all the employees were to leave the vans at the workplace it would mean x5 vans, plus the company owners personal vehicles at their address which wouldn’t work since its a regular housing estate. I’m sure many smaller businesses/ trade people are the same.

Yes DH is self-employed. To be honest I’d happily pay a street parking tax if it got people off our backs. And if there really was a ‘better solution’ I’d go for that too. We are hoping to move house soonish (somewhere with a bigger driveway!) but obviously that isn’t a solution that can be organised overnight.

Legally your fine.

However I’m one of those people who think work vans should be stored at work not on public roads.

so while your not unreasonable by law of the land I find it annoying when work vans clutter up roads.

Next time ask them why it upsets them, so that you can look into it. They need to explain exactly why it shouldn't be there.

YANBU to park legally wherever you want and it sounds like you are being considerate in parking further up where it is wider etc.

It won't make for good feelings with your neighbours, but unless they articulate sensibly what the problem is, there is nothing you can do about it.

I would record all instances of harrasment from everyone, swearing and abuse etc.

Also, get a 24/7 dashcam front and rear as well, for protection.

My Gran had strongly held views that commercial vehicles shouldn't be kept in residential streets becuase they lower the tone. Not as much as calling you neighbours a ‘fucking selfish bitch’ though 🤣

I think I would rather live in a village that had a van parked legally than one where the villagers feel they can accost a woman and use that kind of language .