AIBU for taking a parking space when another driver claimed it?

[Chemite12]

Something happened this evening when I took the kids out.
I was driving into a car park and there wasn’t much space. As I turned in, a small car in front of me was reversing out of a bay, so I stopped and waited.

There was a Range Rover Velar off to the side, but it wasn’t clear whether he was waiting for that same space or just passing through. He didn’t have his indicator on at first, and he wasn’t positioned directly behind the reversing car like I was.

As soon as the small car finished reversing out, I drove straight into the bay because I had been waiting directly behind it. After I parked, the Range Rover driver got out and came to my window saying he had been waiting for that space. I told him I genuinely didn’t know he was waiting because he was at the front/side of the reversing car, not behind it like I was.

He asked me to move my car, but I said no because I had already parked. He then left and went to park somewhere else.

It was only when he walked up to my car that I realised he’s a popular Instagram comedian. After he left, my son mentioned he was wearing those Ray Ban Meta Smart glasses that can record. I don’t know if he was recording or not, but that’s what happened.

Am I in the wrong?

You were in the wrong. My friend has some Meta sunglasses, I find them slightly intrusive but was amazed at the clarity of them.

Really? It is quite common that people indicate if they're waiting for a space.

Having said that,OP it sounds like you saw him and it did occur to you that he might be waiting.

It would have been courteous to stop for a minute and give him chance to take the space.

You knew he was there and weren't 100% sure if he was waiting, so you should have just been patient and checked.

Really? That’s the whole point of them, to indicate where you intend to go.

whaaaaat???

YANBU. He should have been indicating.

As for asking you to move once you had parked, what an entitled arsehole!

He should’ve had his indicator on.

If you didn’t kick off at him, then he’s way less likely to put anything on social media. He was probably doing it on purpose and trying to get a reaction for his content.

Indicators not always used where I live either.

this.

They aren't always used anywhere but why wouldnt you use them if you want to make it clear that you're waiting for the space?

The position if where he was parked is an indicator (!!) of his intentions, and the op admits she considered this.

I accidentally did this once. I could tell the car park was busy and it I didn’t find a space pretty quickly I would miss a class I had already paid for. I thought I was so lucky until a woman explained to me she had been waiting for it. She was clearly really surprised when I apologised and moved but I would have felt terrible all day if I had just walked off. I have no ability to shake off a negative interaction with a stranger even if I am in the right - which I definitely wasn’t.

Yeah he should have been using his indicators! That’s what they are there for 🤦🏻‍♀️

I hope these glasses are banned. Why do we need to be constantly recorded?!

I'm now getting Range Rover ads in my feed. Im def not their target demographic.

When I am the leaving car in this situation I ensure I leave so that the person who was waiting first has the clear run in to the vacated park. Hate park snatchers.

This.

She says it wasn't clear what his intentions were but that aside the point that indicating is a sensible choice is indisputable, I dont see how anyone could argue otherwise

Of course not everyone does it, that doesn't alter the fact that it's a good idea

You didn't realise. Aye right!

Car parks tend to have bays? so because the little car left the bay it doesn’t mean the size of the bay changes

Not using Instagram, but 'following' people - taking your opinions from others reduces the value of them.

Note to self - make sure I use my indicators in the car park as just waiting is not clear enough.

This.
The purpose of indicators are to indicate your intention to other drivers. So many people seem to forget they exist and expect everyone to be mind readers. If a car is pulled to the side in a car park, it’s often to drop someone off or a quick collection. This driver should’ve had their indicator on AND be in reverse to display their reverse lights if they wanted other drivers to know their intentions 🤷🏼‍♀️

There was a Range Rover Velar off to the side, but it wasn’t clear whether he was waiting for that same space or just passing through

So, the other car was there before you and you recognised the possibility thst he was waiting for the space.
The right thing to do was simply wait a few seconds after the car pulled out of the space to see if he had been waiting or passing through! A few seconds. So, yabu in my book.

Lol, what??!

He should have used his indicators, I’d have probably done the same as you tbh, but it’s very hard to tell without having been there.

Have you posted this on Reddit as well because there’s an identical post?

Sorry op but the reason I think you’re asking is that you knew/ guessed . Saying that while I think it was right of him to tell you, I don’t think it was right of him to ask you to move and as others had said had ye have had an argument he’d have put it on sm