Driveway Etiquette???!?!?!? Hmmmmmm...

[Bob Slydell]

Maybe it's a suburban thing, but we always park in each other's driveways when visiting each other, picking up kids, etc. I live on a cul-de-sac, so parking in the street would potentially block cars from being able to get around the circle to their house.

 

[lulugirl]

Maybe it's a suburban thing, but we always park in each other's driveways when visiting each other, picking up kids, etc. I live on a cul-de-sac, so parking in the street would potentially block cars from being able to get around the circle to their house.

Yea, I think you're right, it depends on where you live.
Our HOA frowns upon street parking, so we try and get as many cars in our driveway that will fit!

 

[Anewman]

I can't imagine it being rude if the person is coming to your house. Wow. Most of the people I've known with driveways, though, have no street parking.

I've got a driveway vent, though. We have a parking area beside our house and the neighbor's house that will fit 4 cars. New neighbors just moved in last week and they've been pulling in so only 3 will fit, which leaves DH to have to park in front of our house. That's not really a parking spot, though, because we live in an alley. People have to slow down to a crawl to get past his car.

I hate starting off on the wrong foot with these people, but I guess we're going to have to say something.

Is it a shared driveway??

Whos property is it on?

 

[Beth76]

We always park in other people's driveways when visiting or picking up/dropping off. I never knew some people thought this was taboo. And yes, we have street parking too.

 

[rt2dz]

I don't care if anyone parks in my driveway or not; some do, some don't.

Sometimes I park in others driveways, sometimes not. Depends on the street, the available parking, how long I plan to be there (just grabbing my child, probably would, but hanging out for coffee too, no), time of day, how busy the street is, if I'd be blocking garbage pick-up, etc, etc.

What drives me nuts is one my neighbors will have a ton of people over and the first place they park is in front of my house, not the house the are going to. And if were not home, in my driveway!! So I get to walk down the street, in the dark, by myself, with 3 sleeping children. It drives me batty!!

 

[mickeyboat]

I would never think to park out in the street when there was a perfectly good driveway available unless I thought I was going to block someone in. I had no idea, like Beth, that it is taboo to park in someone's driveway. I thought that is what they were for.

Denae

 

[tw1nsmom]

Color me confused . I thought that was what driveways were for.

 

[jgmklmhem]

I have always parked in the driveway to pick-up/drop off my kids for something. My parents always did as well. I don't get where the rudness is coming from. I mean no I would not pull down a long drive way that goes behind someones home, but a normal one that leads to a sidewalk for the front door I see no problem. Pulling in someones garage I see as rude but a driveway for 10 minutes to drop a kid off....I just don't see it.

 

[Zandy595]

Wow, I never knew it was considered rude to park in someone else's driveway. I live in a suburban neighborhood where it's kind of considered rude to park in the street. There isn't enough room for two cars to pass each other if there's a car parked on the street. I have always parked in other people's driveways to pick up DS and when kids are picked up at my house parents always park in mine. Heck the exterminator parks in my driveway when he comes to spray the exterior of my house. The only person who ever parks on the street is the UPS guy.

 

[Nancy]

I've always pulled into driveways when picking up my kids unless there isn't room for me. Heck my across the street neighbor uses my driveway to pull into so he go back straight into his driveway.

I get more upset when people park in front of my house and block my drivway cause they don't pull up far enough.

 

[pittypat]

I wish my neighbors' guests WOULD park in their driveway! Instead they park on the street, but just opposite MY driveway and it is almost impossible for me to get out. I, too, have never heard of it being rude to park in someone's driveway. However, when I do, I always try to ask the host if I'll be blocking anyone by parking there.

 

[ziggystardust]

I will never - unless specifically told to - park in someones drive way.

I've seen it done a lot and I always find it rather odd, that people will "make themselves at home" like that. It happened at my exBf's house a lot and it always caused problems b/c someone was always blocking him in or out of the driveway.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

we only use MIL and my parents driveways, never anyone else.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Wow, this thread is really gotten some interesting responses.

Keep them coming!! I wonder if "Emily Post' has any rules on driveways!! LOL!

 

[monarchsfan16]

I guess we can file this under "learn something new everyday"

We park in driveways here. That's what they're made for. Of course out in the sticks our driveways are big enough to be parking lots anyway. The only time I park on the street is if I'm visiting my friends that live in the city. They have tiny driveways. When people come to my house everyone parks in my driveway. The overflow cars end up in my next door neighbor's driveway (relax, it's my aunt and uncle, and it's a pull in area at the end of their driveway, which isn't even visible from their house). Quite frankly we hate it when people have to park their cars on our street; the road is curvy and hilly and you can come up on parked cars VERY quickly You wouldn't want to park on the street though. A lot of the driveways are almost half a mile long

 

[slo]

Just when I thought we have talked about it all, here on The DIS, another topic comes up that totally intriques me.


I gotta say, I have read every response (which I normally don't do) and it truly amazes me how people feel either way (it amazes me, because I have never thought about this topic before).


Personally, for me, all people are welcome to park in my driveway. If someone would park on the street, I would immediately tell them they could have parked in the driveway. To me, this is what a driveway is for In my opinion, if you are welcome to come in my house, you are welcome to park in my driveway (just don't drive on the lawn on the way out )


(this is not a flame to anyone that feels the other way - it is just my opinion)

 

[Becky2005]

I guess I would be a rude one too, I would never think to not park in the driveway, although I don't usually do that at birthday parties.

Mostly because I don't want to get blocked in & I don't know who is coming to stay a bit & who is just dropping off.

However, people pull in our driveway all the time to pick up/drop off their kids (or my kids for that matter). I have never thought twice about it.

Hmmm...guess I've been rude and didn't even realize it, especially in the winter time now -- the poor kids would be having to walk over snowdrifts if I let them out on the side of the road.

 

[LadyBears]

Add me to the list of parking in the driveways. That is what they are for.
Safety & convenience. I do try to park in such a way that I won't be blocking anyone in. From my experiences with Girl Scouts, hockey, friends of my DD & even when I was little & my parents were driving - everyone always parks in the driveway.

Someone mentioned neighbors friends parking in their driveway - I never thought to park in someone elses driveway - that is rude! If I came home to my neighbors friends parked in my driveway, I wouldn't park down the street, I would call the cops to have them towed.

 

[disykat]

Another vote for "of course I park in the driveway - that's what it's for!" I do try to be careful not to block anyone in that might be leaving, but it never occured to me people wouldn't allow people who are visiting their home to use the driveway.

Around here everyone uses the driveway - the pizza guy, the mail carrier, everyone. People are more likely to park on the street if they are staying a while - so they don't block anyone in. Drop offs always use the driveway.

 

[DMRick]

I never thought of not parking in a driveway, and if I didn't already have an RV, a truck and my car, I'm sure others would park in my driveway when visiting..and I would think nothing of it. This is very interesting.