Street Parking on terrace house streets

[lemonsorbet]

My mate lives on a street with terrace houses, so no one has their own parking, and everyone has to street park, although no parking permits so anyone can park.

Last time I went to see her, I got my car boxed in, as someone had parked about 1cm away from the back of my car, and another person about 5cm away from the front. not even a 1000 point turn would get me out (!) so I had to wait hours until someone came and moved one of the other cars.

Is it illegal to do this? I contemplated calling the police, but wasn't sure if it was actually illegal, and there probably wasn't alot they could do. Any suggestions if it happens again?

[spaced]

as much as it is annoying, everyone pays road toax so everyone is entitled to park on a public road (where there are no restrictions).

If the cars have blocked you and are not blocking exits or the pavement then there is nothing you can do as they are not commitig an offence The police have more serious matters to deal with than boxed in cars.

My suggestion is to leave yourself a large gap from either the car in front or behind so if anyone parks up close, you have space to move. Alternatively park on the next road.

[happyskyper]

A good lesson Ive learnt very recently (through causing otherwise a very avoidable accident and entirely through fault of my own) regarding parking is as follows:

Always park your car so that when you return you will be able to just jump in and drive off.

...So reverse park it at Tescos and once youve turn the car the way you want to be facing once youve been to see your friend and reverse parked it leave it at least half a yard behind your front bumper and the car in front.. should this car leave and be replaced by another then there is more room for them to get into and in turn they would probably through coignitive behaviour leave you plenty of space to get out without even giving it a thought...

Happy

[lemonsorbet]

I'm rubbish at reverse parking so had left a huge space between both the car infront and behind, but alas both cars had moved on and others were now parked, leaving my car boxed in!

I don't mind the street parking thing, because it's the only practical thing to do in terraced streets, but it just annoys me that some people have no common sense to check that when they park that everyone else can still get out!!

Wouldn't blocking someone in be classified as causing an obstruction?? If someone blocked a police car in, I'm sure the police would do something other than sit and wait?!?!

[Gef]

Cars have bumpers - use them!

[Toureman]

Sorry but no modern cars have bumpers they just have thin plastic shrouds that get easily damaged at the front and rear.

[happyskyper]

And they are costly things to replace

[Panic Button]

If someone boxed me in I would round up a few strong arms and bounce their car away until I could get out.

[rojam]

I have a trolley jack in the back of my car, I'd have got out by moving one of them. :)

[SlackAlice]

I've only got an old car, so I don't care about my bumpers! Strangely enough everyone else must realise this and I don't get 'boxed' in!