To expect other drivers to be considerate enough to leave me room to get my baby in the car when they park?

[VRBennett83]

So this morning I went to the baby group I attend every Thursday, had a lovely time, then did a spot of shopping at the local shops before returning to my parked car, only to find a man driving a white van had parked so close to my passenger side that I couldn't get my four month old baby in! I had to climb into the back seat from the other side, whilst lifting the car seat with my little heavy lump in it. I even left the car at a slight angle just in case someone did park next to me, so I would have enough room, but he parked so close I could hardly get it open!

The man returns to his white van whilst I am putting my shopping away. I then start putting my pram down, and he starts inching his bonnet closer and closer to my bum, as he clearly thinks I am inconveniencing HIM and getting in HIS way! I make a point standing up and asking him if I am indeed in his way. He winds down the passenger side window and asks me if I have a problem. I point out that yes, I do. I told him he parked so close to my car that I had to struggle with my baby in through the wrong side of the car. Then what? Ah, yes, he gives ME the abuse! First he tells me I parked there after him. Erm, no mate. I parked up about two hours ago and parked in this space which was clear either side. He goes ranting on at me, I simply repeat that he had parked so chuffin close to my car I had to struggle with my baby and he tells me "Well I am in a van, you t**t". No, seriously. He appeared to believe that his having a wider vehicle meant that he had to give no consideration to how much room he leaves either side for others. He then told me that I shouldn't take it out on him if I had had a bad day. I promptly point out that I had had a lovely day until he came into my life.

I am so proud of myself for not swearing at him mind you.

Is it me or should people give me the same courtesy I give them? I never park in a space if I think it is too close to another car. What if that person was disabled and needed help getting into their car? Or what if, heaven forbid, that person had a baby and needed room to get that baby in the car? The amount of room he left me I wouldn't have got my dog in there! Is it also me being unreasonable to expect strangers to be polite to each other, apologise if they cause offence in some way and treat others as they wish to be treated?

Rant over :)

[Saidar]

I have questions!

a) Were you both parked within the white lines?

B) Does the following sentence mean you were stood in front of his car blocking his exit from the space in which he was parked?

"I then start putting my pram down, and he starts inching his bonnet closer and closer to my bum"

[CloudsAndTrees]

I don't think you have any reason to have a problem with van man.

Take it up with the shop whose car park you were in if they provide tiny spaces or they don't have parent and child wider spaces.

I wouldn't feel the need to apologise to you for the fact they you have a baby and I'd parked within the lines of a parking space.

[littlewhitebag]

If he has parked within the lines then i don't see what the issue is. You don't have special rights just because you have a baby. Sometimes it is a bit of a squeeze. You can't expect people to park in car parks leaving a space between each car. That is madness.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

If you parked your car at an angle, does that mean you were not actually parked within the parking bay?

Because I hate it when people park half over the next bay so no one can park next to them.

[IsThatTrue]

I've had to put DS in from the wrong side, I've also had to dump his seat (and him) I'm the boot and reverse out to be able to open the door wide enough to get his seat in. It never even occurred to me to be angry at the people who parked next to me. Shit happens and you deal with it I think YABU

[LittleBearPad]

How would he have known you had a baby with you? Do you expect people to look for a car seat/isofix base when parking.

Spaces in most car parks are too small these days. If you anticipate a problem park on the end of a row.

[CrapBag]

He was rude and I do try and extend some common courtesy when parking but I do find that I am in the minority. I doubt it occurred to him to check if the car next to him had a baby that needed to get in it, people don't generally bother to think about these things when parking.

However parking spaces do tend to be fairly small these days when there are so many people with unnecessarily big vehicles.

This does not mean that he was not a massive twat though for his attitude. I'm guessing that he parked so close you couldn't open the door on that side at all, even if you didn't have a baby to get in? That's the problem that I am finding a lot these days. I am slim and can squeeze through spaces, anyone bigger than me (a size 10) would not be able to squeeze about so much, but people don't care.

[Squitten]

If he was in the lines then YABU

[Sirzy]

What tantrums said.

And also why did you purposely stop him being able to get out of a space?

[1Veryhungrycaterpillar]

I'm confused

[nemno]

As the others, YABU if he was within his white lines.

[LittleBearPad]

I don't understand the logistics.

If he prevented you opening your passenger side door it would suggest he was parked next to you.

Why would his bonnet be heading towards your bum though.



BTW YABU

[1Veryhungrycaterpillar]

I'm being so dopey, how can he be parked to the side of you then have his bonnet up your bum, go easy on me I'm sleep deprived

[1Veryhungrycaterpillar]

X post

[littlewhitebag]

I assume OP was at her boot folding the pram. He was reversing out and turning into where she was standing.

[OwlinaTree]

YAbu if he was parked in a space. Do you think everybody thinks about whether or not someone might be able to get in the passenger side every time they park? Do you? Honestly?

[LittleBearPad]

Then he'd have been doing a pretty tight turn and could have taken a wider angle. It doesn't make sense.

Alternatively OP was being obstructive because she was pissed off and standing to the side of her boot in his way.

[landofsoapandglory]

How did he open his van door to get in, if you couldn't open your car door to get your baby in?

How was he supposed to know you had a baby with you? Were you parked in the lines?

When I pull in to a car parking space, usually a disabled one, I never look into the car(s) adjacent to me to see if they may have a baby/child seat in them!

YABVU!

[Bearbehind]

How big is your arse if it got in the way of him pulling his van out?!

[Lambsie]

I think one of them must have pulled in and the other must have reversed in so passenger sides were next to each other.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Yabu if he was in the lines.

[crumblepie]

if he was parked within the white lines then yabu , you should of parked in the parent/child spaces they provide everywhere .