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

[shortbun]

Interesting thread. I've been wondering why my neighbors' friends all park on the street, taking up the spaces, instead of in their driveways that remain empty. Weird concept. Hmmmm.

 

[Micca]

In my sub-division street parking is not allowed, so if you're coming over, park in the driveway. When going to someone's house I would only park in the drive if I were loading/unloading, or staying just a few minutes. At a party I would always park on the street so as not to block the host when they have to go for more beer.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

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).

Yes this is what I was thinking! I've never really thought about it before! We've mostly lived in the country, it's been very recently that we've lived in a suburban neighborhood, and sometimes people park in our driveway and sometimes they don't. I never really thought about it or cared what they did.

If I'm dropping in to someone's house for a few minutes, to drop something off I pull up into the driveway. If I am staying, I park in the street, so they can get out if they need to.

 

[holbear]

I live in a community where SO many people park their own cars in the road rather then in their own driveways or garages. It drives me nuts. There are cars parked all over the place, making the road one lane wide. It is horrible when it snows. People leave their cars there until the snow thaws! Meanwhile, their driveways are empty.

I do pull into driveways, and anyone coming over here usually parks in the driveway as well. There is no room on the road.

 

[mtemm]

yep, this is definitely one of those threads that made me go, hmmmm??? really? people have thought about this before? and parking in a driveway is rude? that thought really threw me off. around here, you definitely park in someone's driveway if its possible. in fact, only a handful of people around here don't and it seems odd to me.

but then I started thinking about whether this was a regional thing or not, and started thinking about what it has been like in other areas of the country I've lived in. here in new england, at least where I have lived, most people have longish driveways, plenty of room and such. when I lived in southern california, the driveways were very short, and most people visiting would park in the street. (especially considerning no basements=using garages as storage, so homeowners parked in the driveway, not the garage, so rarely was there room, anyway). I wouldn't have thought it was rude for someone to park in my driveway even then, but it just would have been less expected.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

yep, this is definitely one of those threads that made me go, hmmmm??? really? people have thought about this before? and parking in a driveway is rude? .

It's one of those things that makes me think, "That's rude? What else have I been doing that people think are rude and not realized it?

I think this thread just proves that you can never assume people are intending to be rude when they do something that we think is strange.

 

[KimR]

I always park in driveways and other people park in ours - I had no idea it could be considered rude. I think it is much preferable to parking in the street which impedes traffic. Our HOA discourages street parking and it really is annoying trying to drive through the neighborhood with cars parked in the street.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

I remember when growing up the daycare provider we went to would freak out if anyone parked in her drive to pick up their kids. She was certain everyones car would leave an oil mark.

That is plain weird.

 

[rt2dz]

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.

That was me, and there is a problem there...Sometimes, it is the cops parked in my driveway. Yup, they work for county services, so it's many of their friends are cops, social services, firefighters, ems, etc. Makes me keep my mouth shut.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I expect my guests to park in my driveway. Isn't that the purpose of a driveway, to park cars there?

Yeah, what she said!

 

[Disney Doll]

Must be a regional thing. Around here, everybody parks in driveways, unless the driveway is oddly situated or something like that.

Is there a point to having a driveway if no one is supposed to go on it?

 

[clh2]

Just my 2 cents:

My DD was at a b-day party, and we used the driveway, the girls weren't quite ready yet, and we were the first parents to pick up. By the time the girls finished up, got their coats on etc, we were parked in and had to wait for about 8 girls to leave first.

My other thought is - especially if you lived on a busy street - I would always prefer to park on the street, making sure that DD would exit on the curb side of the vehicle. I don't like to back out onto streets that are very busy, sometimes if you aren't used to such busy traffic, it is hard to pull out of the driveway.

OK - I guess that is $.04 worth of comments.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

In HS I parked in the street if the family had lots of cars, otherwise I parked in the driveway. I right now we have 5 ft. snowpiles around. How are people supposed to get in and out of their cars? Get their kids out? Park in my driveway, that's what it's there for.

 

[DawnCt1]

I expect my guests to park in my driveway. Isn't that the purpose of a driveway, to park cars there?

Although my DSs have had friends that I have asked to park in the street if they have an oil leak.

 

[Skatermom23]

If I'm just picking someone up and I'll be in and out in 5 minutes or less, I use the driveway. But if I'm visiting, I park in the street, unless I'm told to use the driveway.

 

[sha_lyn]

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.

So guest in your home shouldn't act as if they are in your home? I just don't get it.
When I invite someone to my house I expect them to make themselves at home

My other thought is - especially if you lived on a busy street - I would always prefer to park on the street, making sure that DD would exit on the curb side of the vehicle. I don't like to back out onto streets that are very busy, sometimes if you aren't used to such busy traffic, it is hard to pull out of the driveway.

If someone parked on the street in front of my house, they would most likely get hit, and if the police saw it you would get ticketed.

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.

ITA

If I am visiting someones house (or my kid is) I am visting that ho7use, not the street. Therefore I don't get the ''it is rude" comments

 

[crzy4dsny]

If someone is coming to my house I want them to pull in the driveway because it is safer. I do not live on a busy street but it only takes one car passing to hit a kid.

 

[taylor1293]

I almost always park in the driveway. Isn't that the purpose of a driveway, to park there?

I can't imagine why this would bother anyone!

 

[Mickey Mouse Kid]

I've never even thuoght about not using someones driveway...
I just got my license, and when my mom would pick me up she would always pull into the driveway to pick me up. Their parents never said anything.

Right now we don't have a driveway so people have no choice but to pick their kids up in the street =O But I never have anyone over anyway.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Just my 2 cents:

My DD was at a b-day party, and we used the driveway, the girls weren't quite ready yet, and we were the first parents to pick up. By the time the girls finished up, got their coats on etc, we were parked in and had to wait for about 8 girls to leave first.

My other thought is - especially if you lived on a busy street - I would always prefer to park on the street, making sure that DD would exit on the curb side of the vehicle. I don't like to back out onto streets that are very busy, sometimes if you aren't used to such busy traffic, it is hard to pull out of the driveway.

OK - I guess that is $.04 worth of comments.

What if the curbside has big snowpiles? What if it's muddy?