Parking My Car

[chipmonster]

I want to get fit therefore use my bike for commuting to work.

If I cycled from home to work its 30 miles (its impossible for me to to do this distance).

I have started to put my bike on the bike rack on my car, drive into manchester and park my car on a public road and ride in (4 miles each way). Not comfortable where I park because its a residential area, eventhough no one uses that specific place where I park.

I was wondering if anyone wanted to rent a space (driveway etc)about 4 miles from Manchester City Centre so its worthwhile to ride in.

I work in Manchester City Centre (post code M4 1LE). Normally park from 7.45 am to about 4.30 pm

Thanks

 

[Maz]

I wonder if there's a supermarket car park where you could leave your car. One of the guys at my work does this. Drives to supermarket and rides from there.

 

[zimzum42]

Why are you not comfortable with parking there. Worried it's going to get robbed, or that someone will be pissed off that you're parking there?

Maybe you can leave it at a petrol station, slip a few quid to the guys there, and it'll be under CCTV

whenever I pass petrol stations there seem to be people who park there long term.....

 

[chipmonster]

The reason I am not comfortable is because I am worried that the local residents will get annoyed. I am parking outside someone house which is not fair to the local residents (however, where i park i been passing up and down for 3 years, never seen a car their and their is alot of parking either side).

A supermarket may be my next option which is about half a mile away from where I park. Its a massive Asda with a massive car park. I may have to try that and see if their are any signs up for clamping.

Its just that when I parked my car this morning, the residents were watching me. Made me a bit nervous !!!

 

[HLaB]

Sounds like you are being quite responsible. A colleague of mine has started using his bike a bit more often, he's in a similar situation to you I think he parks up in a Park & Ride site; I'll have to ask him the next time I see him.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Could you maybe try asking one or two of the residents where you are parking? Even if you could just strike up a conversation with someone out walking their dog it might help .. you could then say, "I hope people don't mind me parking here" and explain what you're doing.

Tbh, in a quiet area with not much traffic most people would think "what's he up to then?" but not that many would be likely to complain (I hope!!). And they'd be even less likely to complain if they know you as "that nice chipmonster who always says hello" rather than "that git who always parks outside our houses". Worth a shot ..

 

[domtyler]

Supermarkets would be the last place I would consider, they routinely hire these gangs of thugs to go round clamping cars and charging massive fees for their return.

I would approach one or two of the residents where you are currently parking, maybe with a bottle of wine under your arm as a bare-faced bribe generous token of appreciation.

 

[008]

Saw something in the news a while back about people renting out their driveways. Try the following links -

http://www.parkatmyhouse.com/

http://www.yourparkingspace.co.uk/

http://parklet.co.uk/

or just google 'driveway parking'.

I've not had any personal experience with these type of companies so can't comment on what they're like.

Alternatively, knock on a few doors and ask if anyone is interested in renting their driveways to you.

Hope this helps.

 

[mickle]

Am I missing something here? Just park in the damn street, you have as much right as the local curtain twitchers. What are they going to do? Look at you funny?

 

[chipmonster]

I have 3 choices:

1) Continue to park where I am and see what happens. Maybe talk to the local residence but not comfortable knocking on their door. Offer a bottle of wine etc

2) Park at Asda Harpurhey (which would be a 2 mile ride). Initially okay but maybe too short later.

3) Park at Sainsbury Heaton (5.8 miles). Distant seems okay etc.

I am probally going to park where I am and wait for any consequences and take it from their. If someone complains, I will start using the supermarket car parks or start knocking on a few doors.

The lady who was twitching her curtain looked a bit upset so I might park next door.

Am I missing something here? Just park in the damn street, you have as much right as the local curtain twitchers. What are they going to do? Look at you funny?

 

[mickle]

Chipmonster, ignore the dirty looks, park there, you are entitled to.

 

[swee'pea99]

One question no-one's asked: how busy is the parking where you're parking? In other words, are you actually denying any resident a space, or are there enough to spare?

If you're not actually putting anyone out, as such, my guess would be that the curtain-twitching is down to basic curiosity at your - let's face it, unusual - behaviour, and that you could entirely take the hex off the situation by - as Lazy Commuter says - simply introducing yourself to an old dear as she passes you on the pavement.

I wouldn't start waving bottles of wine around...a simply 'morning' should get things rolling. Most old dears are delighted to get a pleasant word from anyone. They'll probably engage you in conversation, tell you to park outside their house ('Haven't had a car since my Ron passed away, God bless him'), invite you in for a cup of tea, and let the local grapevine know you're not with Al Quaeda. And from then on, they'll keep an eye on your car while you're at work.

Of course, if parking's tight, the whole situation changes entirely.

 

[chipmonster]

I hope the local residents are as considerate as you but not may are?

I can remeber my next door neighbour, he would go mad if someone parked their even with me. However, he frequently parked outside my house but space was a bit tight their. Where I am parking now, their is plenty of space.

See what happens, I will keep you posted !!

Chipmonster, ignore the dirty looks, park there, you are entitled to.

 

[chipmonster]

Their is definately enough parking their and its on a really busy road, like a dual carriageway.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Just like swee'pea says ..

If the lady who was curtain twitching was elderly, she's probably either a) bored, nervous of the stranger outside who's probably checking out her house for a robbery or, more likely, c) both. She's possibly read too many scare stories in the press and so thinks you're going to knifecrime her or somesuch.

In that case, knocking on her door would probably freak her out, so it's best not to do that. Much better to do the cheery "good morning" to anyone you happen to see in the street, ESPECIALLY if they're elderly, 'cos just like swee'pea says, they LOVE to talk because sadly they often don't see anyone from one week to the next.

You then become "that nice young man who rides his bike to work". That sounds desperately cynical and manipulative, but it's not meant to: basic politeness will work wonders and you are getting yourself involved in their community.

There's quite a few elderly people I encounter on my trips to / from work who now "know" me and think I'm some kind of hero. Which is odd, 'cos in their generation EVERYONE used to walk or cycle miles to work.

As has been pointed out, you have a perfect right to park there, but I still think it's a good plan to stay on the right side of the residents: you then get a bit of security for free, rather than having your car reported as abandoned!!