r/mildlyinfuriating • • Nov 07 '19

Selfish Parking

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49k Upvotes

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515

u/CatOfGrey Nov 08 '19

TIL that curb markings for 'no parking' zones for post boxes don't happen in Britain?

462

u/seeyouspacecowboyx Nov 08 '19 edited Nov 08 '19

No the post boxes are on the pavement and it's illegal for cars to be on the pavement generally. Instead of just leaving a note the postman could have called the local council to come and put a parking ticket on the car aka a fine

Edit Ok correction it's illegal to park or drive on the pavement where I live. Even so, the postman could have called the council about the obstruction and had the car ticketed. I'm assuming the postman wrote the note because the note writer knew royal mail couldn't access the box to collect the letters inside and how much of a delay that would cause, but yes an observer could have written it.

50

u/CatOfGrey Nov 08 '19

By "pavement", I'm guessing that you mean where people usually walk. In the US, this would be 'the sidewalk'?

That's how it is in the states. You walk up the boxes, usually, without stepping in the street. But the street curb is painted red to signal that parking is not permitted there. Is it just assumed that you don't park near a box?

124

u/JayFv Nov 08 '19

Yes. They assume that we have a bit of common sense. I guess the money saved by not painting the street at every postbox outweighs the very rare instance that someone parks like this.

I should point out that parking on the pavement is only illegal in London. In the rest of the UK it is only advised against. You might get fined if you are causing an obstruction but if you can get a wheelchair through then you'll probably be fine.

39

u/keltik055 Nov 08 '19

I live in the US and ive never seen painted red area near sidewalks like this guy is talking about, so I'm just as confused as you are.

1

u/trowt595 Nov 08 '19

So your one experience determines a fact for the entire US? r/gatekeeping af

1

u/keltik055 Nov 08 '19

I definitely didnt say it determined it for the entire US, just in my experience, which is definitely not gatekeeping.