Parking Issue - just curious

[AlisonH]

I am curious to discover if anyone else with a MB, and forced to park it on the street overnight rather than in a garage or on their own drive, also finds themselves blocked in regularly by other vehicles?

I've only had this car for about a month, and at first just put it down to one of those things that occasionally happens. It did sometimes when I had the old car, but now it seems to be happening more often in a month than it did over a whole year with the old car. I'm parking in exactly the same places as before and the MB is actually not quite as long as the old Sav was. It's also several different vehicles rather than perhaps only one or two thoughtless drivers involved.

Along the rows of parked cars I've noted gaps between most of up to two and a half yards, and yet reach mine and, regardless of how much space I've left between it and the next vehicle when parking, I'm lucky to discover a foot of space at either end when I want to use it, and normally much less. Twice now, I've found a vehicle backed up to the rear of mine and only millimetres off the tow hitch, and another vehicle about 6" away in the front - and that with over two yards of space in front of it! This despite leaving my blue disabled badge showing in the windscreen.

I haven't had any arguments or disputes with anyone, and am not a controversial, mouthy sort of person likely to offend anyone, but I am really beginning to wonder what on earth is going on? :lol:

 

[Blobcat]

It sounds as if you have Parisian neighbours ;-) The only think you can do is leave a bit more space between you and the car you park next to. The one benefit is that MB's have excellent steering lock so you should be able to get out of very tight spaces easily.

 

[Myros]

Alison, as you have a tow hitch

start using the french "touch-parking " method. They won't be so quick to box you in if you leave them a souvenir of their ignorance. Your TE will come off best every time, believe me.

 

[AlisonH]

:lol: I leave a reasonable amount of space between me and the next vehicle, although not more than is sensible, but today was the first time I've been able to drive the car for the last four days. Had one on the tow hitch and one 6" from the front since the snow fell but that's been gone all weekend! Same cars spent the whole of that jamming me in, and 6" on a steepish hill just isn't quite enough space to shuffle! In the same line of parked cars, not one other vehicle was blocked in!

 

[type49]

About time you started to use your towbar for something other than towing.

 

[AlisonH]

Like what? Mount one of those 'toilet seat dumpers' on it, and well filled with what the dogs leave on the back yard? :lol: I tell you, I am tempted! One rear end parker has already scraped mine on the bumper pulling out. If I start leaving marks on theirs, I reckon it'll be me getting the bills through the door, which I can do without.

 

[citroennut]

parking issues

hi alison,
try a poster in back window - 'driver is female and cannot manouvre in tight spaces' . therefore notice has been given if you use towbar, remember they are called bumpers for a reason!
cheers

 

[AlisonH]

pmsl :lol: - If I put the 'female' bit, then the buggers are likely to do it all the more around here, and just because so many are MCPs!

Tempted to put a sign in the rear stating 'Please leave sufficient space for wheelchair access', though! (I don't actually use one often, but that's the amount of space I'd appreciate!)

I just parked around the corner some ten minutes ago, and now see the next vehicle to park there has his front end over my tow hitch! Perhaps the owner is looking for an excuse to be late for work in the morning?

 

[3146bj]

Got a friend with a 4x4 or a tow truck who can hook up to them and take them for a short drive (a mile or 2)?

 

[BarryG]

Place a note under their windscreen wiper saying something like.

"Thank you for your courtesy in parking so close to a car displaying a disabled badge. Forcing the disabled person to find alternative means of transport. Have a nice day ! "

 

[Hibbo]

Place a note under their windscreen wiper saying something like.

"Thank you for your courtesy in parking so close to a car displaying a disabled badge. Forcing the disabled person to find alternative means of transport. Have a nice day ! "

Very good idea. I'm a big fan of being polite to the level of patronising; I always politefully remind <****> who park in disabled badges that "you've forgot to put your badge up mate".

 

[Parrot of Doom]

My solution would be to buy a trolley jack, lift the rears of the offending cars clear off the ground, and push the cars out of the way.

If I was feeling particularly evil, I'd push the back end around and into the road That'd confuse them!

 

[AlisonH]

It looks as if parking problems could be about to become worse than ever around here. The council have decided to paint extra double yellow lines around the village. I try to use the current ones and the bus stop to my advantage, when possible, choosing to park at the ends of such, so that at least one end of the car should have some clear space available. Well, that's the theory. In practice it makes little or no difference... I wonder where one can obtain booklets of parking tickets? Perhaps the Dept. Transport might even consider paying commission to volunteer traffic wardens? :lol:

What I really don't understand is why it is happening so often since I changed the car? Could it be that, being white, it is easier to see just how close one is when parking next to it, whereas the old one was bluey-grey, so perhaps not as visible?

 

[eric242340]

My solution would be to buy a trolley jack, lift the rears of the offending cars clear off the ground, and push the cars out of the way.

If I was feeling particularly evil, I'd push the back end around and into the road That'd confuse them!

Ive used soft wheel jacks here in china to teach people a lesson. When blocked in like this, I used four simple wheel jacks to lift the guys car and left it in the middle of the road (2 ocklock in the morning) should have seen the trafic jam the next morning. He got a 2000 dollar fine for illegal parking. And even worse he was shamed in the local papers for bad behaviour. They dont like to loose face. Now he parks his car on a different street to mine lol.

 

[BarryG]

Ive used soft wheel jacks here in china to teach people a lesson. When blocked in like this, I used four simple wheel jacks to lift the guys car and left it in the middle of the road (2 ocklock in the morning) should have seen the trafic jam the next morning. He got a 2000 dollar fine for illegal parking. And even worse he was shamed in the local papers for bad behaviour. They dont like to loose face. Now he parks his car on a different street to mine lol.

I like your style

 

[AlisonH]

Nice one. :lol:

Managed to park opposite the house earlier and in a huge space. Popped out to the post office a bit later and saw that the neighbour had parked in the gap I left, which was not quite central to his house. I was only gone ten minutes, but by the time I'd returned the neighbour had moved his car dead central to his house, leaving insufficient space either end for any other vehicle to park. At times like that I'd really like one of those trolley jacks!