Using bins to block a parking space
Discussion
TL:DR: Someone blocking car parking spaces with bins, gets upset when I move the bins and park there. What makes them think it's OK?
Tight residential street in SW London, near a parade of shops. Always short of parking. Roads have residents parking, but only in force 12:00-13:00 Mon-Fri - to stop day-users parking for the nearby station.
Today go down to the shops, and see a parking space blocked by a couple of bins. Not a disabled space, nor any other kid of marking.
This kind of thing really pisses me off - why does this particular person believe they have any more right to the space outside their house than anyone else along the street? Why does their need trump that of someone who wants to go to the shops? Why do they get to decide that it's OK for them to park there, but not anyone else?
So I get out, move the bins on the pavement, and park in the space.
As soon as I get out, a pleasant Middle-aged Gentleman approaches me. Conversation goes approximately:
ME-G: "Why did you move the bins?"
Brickwall: "Because I wanted to park here"
ME-G: "How long will you be staying?"
Brickwall: [looking at the parking restriction sign] "I don't know. Until I'm done shopping, I guess."
ME-G: "Did you have to park here? It's so difficult to find a space."
Brickwall: [looking up and down the row of parked cars in the street]: "You're right, it is difficult. Looks like I did. Will there be anything else? I should really go and do my shopping."
it was all very amicable, and he made no attempt to berate me, attack me, etc. The guy clearly knew he's got no right to 'bag' the space with his bins.
But it made me think - was I being unreasonable? Should I just have found another space on another street?
I know I know, cool story bro etc.
Tight residential street in SW London, near a parade of shops. Always short of parking. Roads have residents parking, but only in force 12:00-13:00 Mon-Fri - to stop day-users parking for the nearby station.
Today go down to the shops, and see a parking space blocked by a couple of bins. Not a disabled space, nor any other kid of marking.
This kind of thing really pisses me off - why does this particular person believe they have any more right to the space outside their house than anyone else along the street? Why does their need trump that of someone who wants to go to the shops? Why do they get to decide that it's OK for them to park there, but not anyone else?
So I get out, move the bins on the pavement, and park in the space.
As soon as I get out, a pleasant Middle-aged Gentleman approaches me. Conversation goes approximately:
ME-G: "Why did you move the bins?"
Brickwall: "Because I wanted to park here"
ME-G: "How long will you be staying?"
Brickwall: [looking at the parking restriction sign] "I don't know. Until I'm done shopping, I guess."
ME-G: "Did you have to park here? It's so difficult to find a space."
Brickwall: [looking up and down the row of parked cars in the street]: "You're right, it is difficult. Looks like I did. Will there be anything else? I should really go and do my shopping."
it was all very amicable, and he made no attempt to berate me, attack me, etc. The guy clearly knew he's got no right to 'bag' the space with his bins.
But it made me think - was I being unreasonable? Should I just have found another space on another street?
I know I know, cool story bro etc.
DanL said:
Seems reasonable to assume he had a friend coming over and had saved them a space - hence the curiosity about when you’d be leaving.
No harm no foul in my eyes. He’s been a bit cheeky, but you resolved it to your satisfaction, and if he hadn’t done what he did you’d have probably had to park somewhere else anyway. ;-)
Agree - I can see the issue from his side.No harm no foul in my eyes. He’s been a bit cheeky, but you resolved it to your satisfaction, and if he hadn’t done what he did you’d have probably had to park somewhere else anyway. ;-)
Though he didn't say 'I have a delivery/elderly visitor', which in hindsight makes me suspicious that perhaps this was a pure convenience play.
Lots of people I know have the same issue on their street, and no-one does this bin thing. Those that are genuinely disabled have managed to get a disabled space painted.
mwstewart said:
This behaviour is becoming more frequent in London. It started with reserving a space for removal lorries, but within the last year two people on my street do it save a space near their house and I've started to notice it more regularly on other streets. I think it's disgusting but CBA with a confrontation about it - it's typical London.
This isn't the first time I've seen it either. I've also noticed a couple of instances with people trying it on with teeny traffic cones. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff