Parking Issue

CatFromHue

Hi, I have a parking problem that I was wondering what other people's opinion would be.

I live in a terrace and there are houses either side of my road. Say the road is 300m long, on the first 225/250m the houses on one side have parking in their driveways and there is alot of driveways on the other side. We've applied to put in a drive way but have been refused as there is seemingly ample parking on street. We cant park on the path as you get a ticket, which is fair enough. It does leave us having to park on the road though.

The road is big enough if the were no cars parked on it or cars are parked on just one side. Alot of people have moved in so now people have started to park on both sides of the road. This is only in my 75/50m I'm talking about now. When cars park on both sides of the road it becomes a single or three quarter lane in the middle of the road with cars having to wait at either end to pass through. I have to drive into this "single or three quarter lane" and try to find a spot in it or park at either end.

My problem is though that when I do and I find a spot to reverse into the car behind me pulls up blocking me from reversing or just making it more difficult. I have indicated to show that I'm pulling in. Another problem is that sometimes there are no spots in the middle and I have to pull in at the end. When I pull in I'm driving into the spot, again I will have indicated I'm pulling in. I usually pull in but would like to reverse back to the main parking line to maximise space and straighten up. When I pull in though the car behind tends to pull in behind me meaning that the cars waiting to go through the single/three quarter lane decide to have go at passing by us.

That leaves me causing a traffic jam on the road as the car behind me is blocking the road, it's half in and half out, and the cars on the other side have all pulled up meaning that the guy at the front who sees the problem can't reverse. Now with some patience the jam rights itself quickly but there are times when I would have people beeping me and getting very aggressive (an old lady gave me the finger once) for me to move. It's becoming a nightmare, last week I had a shouting match in the middle of the road with a guy who pulled in behind me. Today i had to do alot of deep breathing to contain myself. There are no double or single yellow lines on either side I should say, or on any section of my road.

What would you do in my situation? or who is in the right or wrong?

As I said already we can't park on the path and nor are we allowed to put in a drive way even though we have ample room to do so.

Anan1

Assuming you're indicating in good time, a few deep breaths is really all you can do. I had the same thing happen me today in Ranelagh, I don't think you're ever going to completely avoid it. What I find does help is to bring the car behind to a complete halt before your space, so that they have a bit of time to process the fact that you're about to reverse into that space.

alias no.9

Anan1 wrote: »

Assuming you're indicating in good time, a few deep breaths is really all you can do. I had the same thing happen me today in Ranelagh, I don't think you're ever going to completely avoid it. What I find does help is to bring the car behind to a complete halt before your space, so that they have a bit of time to process the fact that you're about to reverse into that space.

Good advice, indicator on, stop such that the driver behind has to come to a complete stop at least as far back as will give you plenty room to move forward and maneuver into the space.

corktina

indicate,stop before the space to make sure the guy behind you stops and then pull ahead to reverse in. If he doesnt get the idea, put on the hazzards.You can also in some circumastances indicate your intentions by the angle you pull up at (if you swing slightly to the right, the guy might get the idea that you intend to reverse to the left.)

MugMugs

corktina wrote: »

indicate,stop before the space to make sure the guy behind you stops and then pull ahead to reverse in. If he doesnt get the idea, put on the hazzards.You can also in some circumastances indicate your intentions by the angle you pull up at (if you swing slightly to the right, the guy might get the idea that you intend to reverse to the left.)

This whole thread is a massive coincidence.

I came into work this morning. Had a wee Mini cooper up the rear. Stopped before the space and signalled. Then as I moved forward to clear the space and reverse in, Little Miss Mini follows suit. She did it to me 3 times before I lost it and booted off to the other end !

Whats wrong with people!!!

OP, if you have the room to make a driveway, could you not just make a "self made" job. ie: park in your garden ?

Gumbo

i would appeal the planning decising to An Board Pleanala citing the other gardens with off strett car parking as precedant. (sp)

CatFromHue

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I'm not sure about the planning we've spent a lot of money on it already to no avail. The house is a listed building so this could be a reason why. My neighbours who also have to park on the road have applied and all have been refused.

When reversing into a spot and some one pulls up behind you that's pretty annoying but when driving into a spot and then someone pulls in behind you and gets abusive....well I think you know how that would make me feel! Especially after a long hard day at work.

I might try the whole stop before I drive into a spot and turn around to indicate by hand to the guy behind me what I'm doing. Usually if I have to drive into a spot it means I haven't been able to find a spot to reverse into and so will have driven up the road and turned to come back down. I would then indicate as that I'm pulling in to park in plenty of time i.e. 15-20m and I would be slowing down.