Aibu whose in the wrong double parking

[AutisticMumOf2]

Just got a new car, bigger than my old car. I struggled to reverse off my drive in my old car as my neighbours park directly opposite my driveway (no dropped curb but it's obvious they are in the way.)
Decided last night while getting used to said car to park on the road outside my drive, all good neighbours weren't home and I assumed they would have common sense to not double park and just park along slightly.
No... they double parked directly opposite mine. Cars were still getting through okay.

Just had a very angry woman screaming at me saying I am blocking the road. I told her I parked there first and that it was the neighbours who have double parked and to knock on their door to move which she just screamed at me.

Am I wrong for parking outside my house when their car wasn't there? They also have a drive but don't use it!

You shouldn’t be a) parking on the pavement or b) blocking a dropped kerb (even if it’s yours)

your parking was illegal and your neighbours wasn’t

You haven't seen it happen ,that doesn't mean it didn't happen. I've witnessed it many times at the back of the local primary school which is on a residential road. I've witnessed cars almost hitting children several times at the end of the school day.

I care. Where I live the pavement parking by car and van drivers has resulted in crushed, wobbly, and raised paving stones. In addition, in many instances, the kerb stones are chipped and also wobbly making them extra dangerous if you step on them crossing the road. And when (if) the paving stones do get repaired I'm paying for that thorough my council tax.

If it's not a dropped kerb, it's a paved front garden not a driveway.

Different areas have different rules about parking half on pavement.

There needs to be at least enough space for a fire engine (or bin lorry) to get through, not just a car.

Your neighbours can park across from your paved front garden as long as they are not blocking the road and are not on a bend that blocks visibility.

If you struggled with your previous car, why did you buy a bigger one?

Can't you apply for a dropped kerb or park further down the road so you are not oposite neighbour's preferred spot?

I've had it 24 hours; I'm still getting used to it! Fair enough it was months! God I've gone back from keyless to key drive and even that's throwing me off lol ill be fine after a week. I did used to park my old one on the road at times too so it's not different neighbours should be used to it.

I've just spoken to the neighbours opposite and was told to fuck off after saying if i am already parked could they park over and ill do the same if they are parked first so that was fun!

Exactly. This leads to falls which can be fatal for the elderly. Car drivers think of no one but themselves.

Wtf is a legal driveway? We have two driveways and no curbs whatsoever because we're out in the countryside so nobody does!

Needed a bigger one for motability needs, it's been adapted. It was not my choice it was the only car that worked for me. I prefer smaller cars but sadly no longer an option!

Her parking wasn't illegal. She doesn't have a dropped kerb, as has been mentioned many many times in the thread. Parking on the pavement is antisocial but, in most places, not illegal.

I think you are as bad as each other. You do NOT park on the pavement, and they shouldn't have double parked opposite you.

Learn to reverse into your drive and stop causing a dangerous obstruction to pedestrians.

The woman shouldn't have screamed at you as you didn't cause the obstruction to cars but I would have been bloody annoyed if I'd been walking along.

I can't reverse onto my drive as I wouldn't be able to get out on the driver's side.

Why?

Blind person?

That must be a very specific set-up. For most people the shape of the car and width is not so different that if you park in a certain direction you will find it difficult to get out.

In 99% of cases, people should reverse in and drive out (the same applies to car parks though it can be a bit difficult unloading a lot of shopping bags into the boot if it's against a wall so you need to leave room)

It's a driveway that can't be blocked by a parked car.
If there's no dropped kerb, someone can park on the road and block you from getting your car out.
If there is a dropped kerb it's illegal to block it.

OP, O would go ahead with applying for a disabled space outside your house. It would save all your aggravation. It sounds if the people across the road won’t compromise so why should you.

This. There's no justification for parking on pavements unless it's a really narrow road and is the norm on one side as I know it can be in some housing estates.

And what you think is enough space for a buggy or wheelchair might not be. What about double buggies or mobility scooters?

Yes that's my plan. Will ring the council in the morning and see if they'll do it I fit all the criteria for one and would happily pay the £200 for a quiet life. Neighbours clearly aren't going to be helpful. I miss my old neighbours lol.

It's illegal for us to park on a pavement but doesn't sound like @AutisticMumOf2 is in Scotland.

All motability scooters around here drive on the road. You see the OAPs regularly zooming around lol.

Yes I've seen that so many times. I have no idea what's taught by instructors these days and why so many drivers think pavements are for them!

Also when there are roadworks there are loads of signs on the pavements. I have moved a couple out of the way on occasion to make sure there's room for people to get through.

I’m not sure a disabled bays would help here would it? Do you think your neighbours would still park opposite you OP if you had a disabled bay outside your house?

The woman screaming at you was out of order, but you do not have a drive. A tarmacked front garden is not a drive unless there is a dropped kerb and it is illegal and unsafe to drive across the pavement where there isn't a dropped kerb.

Double-parked does not mean parking on both sides of a road. Double parking means parking immediately next to someone already parked such that they can't leave their parking space and blocking the flow of traffic. Parking on both sides of a road is fine so long as the gap is big enough for a fire-engine. If there's enough room for a car to slip through but not enough space for a fire engine you are endangering lives.

You were reasonable to park where you did, unless there is a local byelaw against pavement parking. Your neighbour was unreasonable to subsequently cause a nuisance by parking without sufficient gap, but you are unreasonable to own a car at all when you seem to know so little about safe parking.

The rule is actually reverse on your driveway if you can. It’s guidance only.

Probably closed in the morning. Have a look at the website though as it’s all handled online here, I’m guessing most councils will be the same. Also, be aware that if your neighbours have a Blue Badge they will be able to park in the nice disabled bay.