My street comprises of four separate groups of either four or five houses, with 17 houses in all. Some have 'out front' parking, and others (like us) have a single separate garage.
The two groups of houses that have 'out front' parking all have spaces for two cars; one even has three spaces, and all did originally have integral garages that have now been converted into additional rooms.
Three of the houses to the front of ours, other than the nearest one with the white car, have two cars each, and they are literally stuffed into their parking spaces. These are small houses, originally designed for one car plus maybe a space for a visitor or tradesman.
The rest of the access space is very small, and a tradesman's van or delivery van soon blocks any residual space. If anyone wants to leave whilst a builders' vehicle is there, then a whole lengthy procedure has to take place. It may seem quite comical watching from up here, but for those involved it isn't!
Houses No's 1 to 5 all have double parking spaces in front, and as they all have just one car each they often let their free space for a very healthy sum to day visitors. We also have one private 'communal' space that is used on a 'first come first served' basis for friends or visitors.
Basically there are too many cars in our tiny street. Of course I can't really complain because we do need a car ourselves. But at least we only have one. We've had a recent influx of 'newcomers' who all seem to have several cars, and have visitors who all arrive in their own cars. Occasionally it's like one huge car park.
But we should all be surrendering our cars as they will be unnecessary in a 15 minute city context! So, problem solved! Although quite how all the tradesmen will cope on foot and bicycle will be interesting.
ReplyDeleteI need my car, mostly for driving down to France. Our home there is miles from anywhere, so a car is essential.
DeleteI don't think that there's a single front garden left in our Street as every front of house has been paved over for the purpose of car parking. I've watched all the front gardens slowly vanish over the last 10 yrs. I believe that your house price would increase with front of house parking space. And so in the end the whole Street followed the trend.
ReplyDeleteMy previous home here had no parking space, and I was permanently searching for a free space somewhere; often miles away. Now having a garage, it has changed my life. I can understand those off-road spaces making a huge difference to sale value.
DeleteIt looks messy with all those cars crammed in, but what else are they to do? they each must have their own car to get to and from work or shopping or elsewhere and probably can't manage with just one car. Our flats here are spaced further apart, with dedicated spaces for visitor parking that gets used instead by people with cars, we also have rows of garages behind the blocks of flats that are used by some for their cars and by others as storage spaces if they don't have cars but have too much stuff that just doesn't fit in these tiny flats, most of which are one bedroom and mine doesn't even have a linen closet! I think several others also don't, hence the garage/storage for seasonal changes.
ReplyDeleteIt's a universal problem. Best to be a minimalist with just one car (if necessary).
DeleteCars everywhere, fact of life. I have never driven so it doesn't affect me.We have 2 residents car parks at my flats.Plenty of space at the moment, even when workmen are here.Most residents are elderly and don't drve anymore.But I've noticed there are more cars parked on the street now.We have 2 bus stops , one going to town and one coming from town to the hospital.Its ideal.
ReplyDeleteSince I bought my most recent car back in Sept' 22, I have put just 300 miles on the clock. I don't use it much, and it's hidden from sight.
DeleteSince moving into town from our rural home we have noticed the same issue here. We are fortunate to have off-street parking on our drive but across the tram tracks we regularly watch car parking bingo going on each day.
ReplyDeleteHaving your own parking space is a blessing, but some seem to abuse it by stuffing as many as possible into tiny spaces.
DeleteCar parking can be a huge problem in cities. Parking outside one's home is to be treasured but not always possible. Modern cars are so big, too - tall, wide, long - the old multi-storey car parks are very challenging.
ReplyDeleteMy son has a big car, with no off-road parking. He can usually find a 'residents' parking space on the roadside, but often finds bits of his car missing or scratched.
DeleteSometimes I have thought that it would be great if most cars were owned communally. If you needed a car you'd just jump into the first one you saw and drive off. Coming back you'd jump in a different car. There are far too many cars just sitting around doing nothing. My plan would see a significant reduction in numbers.
ReplyDeleteMy own car is only used once a week. Crazy really!
DeleteThe eternal problem, especially up here where many cottages along the road sides (there is only one road through the Dale) were built long before cars were even a twinkle in the eye. A few years ago we stayed at a lovely hotel in Southwold but finding somewhere to leave the car during holiday season was difficult.
ReplyDeleteThe fashion for big lumpy 4 by 4's doesn't help either.
DeleteYou're so lucky to have your own parking. It's so nice to live out of town now and have plenty of parking right outside the house.
ReplyDeleteCars are such a necessity but such a nuisance too. We all have scooters or motorbikes too. You go everywhere and park anywhere
It makes such a difference having a garage in the centre of town. I used to spend ages looking for somewhere to park.
DeleteAt one time, we had three cars, and only two of us. I bought a garage parking space from a neighbor recently.
ReplyDeleteWe've never really had more than one car. My wife hasn't even driven the new one yet, I think she's frightened of it.
DeleteI can understand the appeal of converting a garage space to living space. City living has many advantages but parking is not one of them. My city living friends also experience lots of small dings/bigger bumps/damage to their cars, due to parking difficulties.
ReplyDeleteSpace is a problem everywhere, both in and outside the house. Too many people, too many cars, not enough space.
DeleteIn the 20 plus years I have lived here more and more gardens have been turned into drives. All the houses have garages too, tnhough some have been converted into additional living space. I also think that 'adult' offspring seem to have cars from earlier ages these days and live at home for longer so some houses have 3 or 4 cars which are parked on drives and the road. I must confess though, that when I moved to this house one of the reasons I bought it was because it has a garage and a drive. Even back then I was finding it increasingly difficult to park on the street anywhere near my former home and with shopping, kids etc and leaving for and getting home from work in the dark during the winter months having to park far from the house was less and less attractive.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. When you live in town the last thing you want to be doing all the time is looking for a parking space. My life changed completely when I had a garage.
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ReplyDeleteMust confess that my garage is known as "the last chance saloon". It's half full of items on their way out to the rubbish bins. The car is parked behind the garage - which has never had a car in it!