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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be so cross that so many people seem to think its ok to block the pavement!

39 replies

memoo · 15/12/2009 12:45

Why is it that some people think its ok to bloke the pavement so that people with prams, wheelchairs etc can't get past and end up having to walk in the road?

3 times this morning I had to push my pram out into the road to get past idiots who had blocked the way. One was a motorbike parked across the pavement, one man had decided that the pavement would be a really good idea to set up his work bench and was doing something with window frames and another numpty had parked his car so far up the pavement that even twiggy wouldn't have been able to squeeze past!

My anger my be disproportionate to the crime but this is started to wind me up so much!!!

Seriously, how can people think this is ok?

OP posts:
elsiepiddock · 15/12/2009 12:50

I'm with you - we get this outside our school and it drives me nuts.

There are always 5 or 6 cars that completely block the pavement. Always parked there by big fat women who can't be bothered to walk a few metres to the playground.

Heqet · 15/12/2009 12:51

Because they don't think about other people.

They don't park, think "oh good, this way the disabled and / or those with prams Shall Not Pass"

Sadly, I bet that it doesn't cross their mind at all. They don't want to block the road.

Thing is, they park their car and GET OUT OF IT! Then they are pedestrians are they never inconvenienced by badly parked cars?

And now of course I am reminded of my favourite rant .... people WALKING BEHIND A REVERSING CAR in a supermarket car park!!! grr. you are going to YOUR car, therefore you are a driver yourself! You know what the little white lights and the fact that the big shiney thing is moving means, right?!!

My car is clearly moving backwards so you think it is a good idea to walk 6 inches behind my MOVING vehicle it's a good job I am expecting such fuckwittery or you might be roadkill!

Kaloki · 15/12/2009 12:51

You sound like me and my partner a minute ago! Walking back from the shops we had to squeeze past a load of vans and lorries parked up on the pavement (on a road with double yellow lines)

pumpkineater82 · 15/12/2009 12:52

YANBU

To block a pedestrian right of way is selfish and tosserish. I never push my DD in the road, I ALWAYS insist on the other person moving the obstruction.
And this has involved me knocking on doors to find drivers.
Failing that a quick call to the council brings a traffic warden down sharpish (easy money for them).

IMoveTheStarsForNoOne · 15/12/2009 12:55

Heqet - I am with you on that one! There's a particularly badly lit car park at our local shop, and people continually walk inches behind my car (when it's totally dark, and while wearing black/dark colours )

~shakes head~

Makes me think of the Darwin Awards

sunburntats · 15/12/2009 12:55

ahhh yes, its the same at the school gates, when a group of mothers gather around and block the only exit/entrance to gossip or what ever, so that not one can get in or out of the playground.

Also in supermarkets, when people park their trollies diagonally across the isle while they look at the cheeses, so that no one can get passed.

Drives me fucking insane.

Original poster
memoo · 15/12/2009 12:55

I am considering attaching some sort of sharp implement to the side of my pram that 'accidently' scratches the offending vehicles as I pass!

OP posts:
OhChristmasTEEOhChristmasTEE · 15/12/2009 12:56

People don't seem to park on the pavement here. But they do stop dead in the middle of the pavement while walking to have a long chat with someone they just ran into.

Can you move just 1 foot to your left or right so your not right in the middle and I get my pram through without having to yell 'EXCUSE ME!!' And I do always seem to have to yell!

Original poster
memoo · 15/12/2009 12:58

Sadly I think its true that mos people just don't actually consider others

OP posts:
Original poster
memoo · 15/12/2009 12:59

Ohchristmastree, can't you just run your pram into the back of them [evil grin]

OP posts:
ChristieF · 15/12/2009 12:59

It is actually illegal for a vehicle to park on the pavement. We have had a campaign near us lately and people have been given sixty pound fines.

IMoveTheStarsForNoOne · 15/12/2009 13:00

WHY are people so fecking oblivious in supermarkets?! Waitrose seems to be the worst for this here. Was there the other day and had to say 'excuse me' about 17 times in 5 mins. Is screaming child heading towards you not enough of an indication someone might be heading your way?

argh, you've started me off now..

Original poster
memoo · 15/12/2009 13:00

heqet, bet you just feel like carrying on and running them over, they wouldn't do it again would they! [double evil grin]

OP posts:
Original poster
memoo · 15/12/2009 13:01

i said excuse me to a woman in the supermarket the other day as she was blocking the isle with her trolly and she actually tutted at me!!!!!

OP posts:
IMoveTheStarsForNoOne · 15/12/2009 13:02

another one - why do people in HEOWGE 4x4s insist on parking 3" from the passenger side of my car, even though there is a massive car seat in clear view, meaning i have to put DS in the car via the boot.

My Dad told me to carry around labels to stick to the middle of their windscreen 'that'll teach 'em'

Heqet · 15/12/2009 13:02

I do actually! (feel like it, not do it)

See, I know I have to stop. But they chose to walk inches behind an already moving car and then they give me a Look!!!!!! Well. I could get out and shake them till their teeth rattle.

Why glare at ME? my car was already moving when THEY darted inches behind it! Numpties the lot of them!!

IMoveTheStarsForNoOne · 15/12/2009 13:03

...

Original poster
memoo · 15/12/2009 13:06

Imovethestars, I like your Dad!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
memoo · 15/12/2009 13:07

maybe you could write 'wankers' on the stickers too

OP posts:
OhChristmasTEEOhChristmasTEE · 15/12/2009 13:58

memoo I've considered it!

I actually almost had a head on collision with some poor woman who had one of those walking frames with the wheels? We were both trying to get around these two oblivious business woman types standing in the middle of the pavement from opposite directions. I just barely missed running the poor woman over.

I said 'Oh my, I am so sorry!'

And she replied 'That's okay dear. Not your fault' and glared at the two women!!

RainRainGoAway · 15/12/2009 14:03

I don't think it is illegal. I have a funny feeling it only is in London. There is a website for bristol with fuckwitted pavement parking.
bristolcars.blogspot.com/search/label/double-yellow-lines

It is really my bugbear and I think i bore folk rigid with complaining about it!
I am not very gentle when pushing my pram through the gap though.

upahill · 15/12/2009 14:09

It's not only pavements that people block. I couldn't get off a small (12 place) car park this morning because someone had parked across the feckin' entrance! I ask you.....?

Heqet · 15/12/2009 14:14

yup. this morning someone blocked me in. Apparently it was ok because they were only popping to the post office.

I begged to differ.

LastTrainToLapland · 15/12/2009 14:17

YANBU

Before I had dd, I was guilty of this. Sadly it never occured to me that I was blocking the pavement and I really didn't think of buggies, wheelchairs, elderly people being inconvenienced by me. Now I have been on the other side of the fence many many times, struggling with my buggy, and I make it a point to never park badly. Better the lesson learnt late than never, I suppose

OrmIrian · 15/12/2009 14:20

YANBU with the exception of window-frame man who probably didn't have anywhere else to do it.