Parking blot

Parking is becoming a real issue in the UK

Finding a space for my Chevy was sometimes a challenge

I wasn’t at all surprised to read in a survey by car leasing firm OSV that parking causes 76% of rifts with neighbours in the UK.
 
Of a survey of 1005 people:
 

• 20% had put up their own private parking sign
• 5% had painted their house number in the space
• 9% had blocked the space with a bike or similar to save the space for when they got home
• 5% installed CCTV so they could monitor neighbours movements, and gather evidence should their car be damaged
• 3% used an extra car to block the space
• 1% had installed a lockable fold down post

 
I’ve had a few rifts with neighbours who’ve regularly blocked my drive, or taken the big space rather than an available small one for their supermini when they knew I had a 1941 Chevrolet.
 
When I worked for a housing association, the neighbourhood officers reported that parking arguments were one of the main causes of anti-social behaviour. If someone drives home from work, steaming after a bad day, their stress level multiplies many times if they can’t park.
 
I’ve even known a few people move because this happened regularly, and off-street parking now makes a house more attractive to buyers.
 
Of course the situation is getting worse as every member of a family old enough to drive will want their own car. And what will happen when everyone needs not only a parking space, but access to their electric vehicle charging point?
 
OSV is suggesting that councils invest in neighbourhood parking schemes. Personally, I believe that lack of parking spaces will become a another good reason simply not to own or even lease a car. I can easily see a future where we just go online and order an autonomous car to pitch up when we need one. And, much as I love driving, there are days when I wish I could do that now.

For more about OSV click here