‘You can’t block off a park like that’: Shoppers clash in chaotic car park showdown
- Replies 13
Parking dramas are nothing new.
Every now and then, an incident sparks widespread debate about what’s fair game and what’s simply unacceptable.
A recent confrontation at a bustling shopping centre has reignited discussions about parking etiquette, testing the patience of both drivers and pedestrians.
A shopper at Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre captured the moment two women attempted to hold a parking spot by standing in it.
The act sparked a heated exchange with frustrated drivers.
The short video, filmed earlier in the week, showed the women refusing to move as a driver confronted them.
‘You can’t block off a park like that,’ the driver said.
‘Well bad luck, we’re not moving,’ one of the women replied, standing her ground with her hands on her hips.
As the driver insisted they couldn’t reserve a space, his passenger cut in, shouting, ‘Get out of the f****** way.’
Another car, a red P-plater, approached and honked at the women while the people inside the first vehicle continued to demand they move.
‘This is insane,’ the passenger said before the clip abruptly ended.
A witness later claimed that despite the confrontation, the women succeeded in keeping the parking spot for their mother.
‘I was there,’ they wrote.
‘So what happened was there was (another lady) behind the red Kia and the two ladies were saving it for their mum.’
‘It went on for like 5-10 mins until the guy who is recording and the red car left them and the mum got the parking space.’
The footage divided opinion online, with many sharing their own frustrations over similar incidents in crowded parking lots.
‘This happened to me at Balmoral Beach,’ one person commented.
‘The lady stood in front of the parking saying she was reserving for a friend. We approached and beeped and told her she can’t do that until she moved and walked away with her fingers up.’
‘It’s crazy to think they’re that important that they think they can save a car spot at a busy car park,’ another said.
Others criticised the reaction from the people in the vehicle.
‘Men like this are absolute icks. Revolting. It’s a car park ffs, as if you wouldn’t just giggle and move on,’ one wrote.
Under NSW law, pedestrians can be fined for obstructing traffic, with penalties ranging from $72 to $2,200 if taken to court.
The debate over reserving public spaces has extended to beaches, with tensions rising over people using cabanas to claim prime spots.
Etiquette expert Anna Musson previously weighed in on the issue, stating that reserving a parking space without a vehicle ‘does not pass the pub test.’
‘The “first in, best dressed” rule applies here, just as it does for booths at the pub, views, seats at the cricket, the footy, and clothing sales! Remember, we’re all in the same situation, and a space will become available,’ she said.
However, she warned against escalating confrontations with those who attempt to hold spots.
‘Drive on, take a breath, and know they are having a worse day than you. Be the bigger person—your blood pressure and the example you set for your children will thank you.’
Watch the videos below to learn more.
In a previous story, similar parking behaviour sparked outrage among drivers and pedestrians alike.
The frustration over claimed parking spots continues to grow, leaving many questioning whether this issue is becoming more common.
Read on to see if it’s happening near you.
Parking struggles can bring out strong opinions, but is reserving a spot on foot crossing the line? Have you ever dealt with a similar situation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Every now and then, an incident sparks widespread debate about what’s fair game and what’s simply unacceptable.
A recent confrontation at a bustling shopping centre has reignited discussions about parking etiquette, testing the patience of both drivers and pedestrians.
A shopper at Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre captured the moment two women attempted to hold a parking spot by standing in it.
The act sparked a heated exchange with frustrated drivers.
The short video, filmed earlier in the week, showed the women refusing to move as a driver confronted them.
‘You can’t block off a park like that,’ the driver said.
‘Well bad luck, we’re not moving,’ one of the women replied, standing her ground with her hands on her hips.
As the driver insisted they couldn’t reserve a space, his passenger cut in, shouting, ‘Get out of the f****** way.’
Another car, a red P-plater, approached and honked at the women while the people inside the first vehicle continued to demand they move.
‘This is insane,’ the passenger said before the clip abruptly ended.
A witness later claimed that despite the confrontation, the women succeeded in keeping the parking spot for their mother.
‘I was there,’ they wrote.
‘So what happened was there was (another lady) behind the red Kia and the two ladies were saving it for their mum.’
‘It went on for like 5-10 mins until the guy who is recording and the red car left them and the mum got the parking space.’
The footage divided opinion online, with many sharing their own frustrations over similar incidents in crowded parking lots.
‘This happened to me at Balmoral Beach,’ one person commented.
‘The lady stood in front of the parking saying she was reserving for a friend. We approached and beeped and told her she can’t do that until she moved and walked away with her fingers up.’
‘It’s crazy to think they’re that important that they think they can save a car spot at a busy car park,’ another said.
Others criticised the reaction from the people in the vehicle.
‘Men like this are absolute icks. Revolting. It’s a car park ffs, as if you wouldn’t just giggle and move on,’ one wrote.
Under NSW law, pedestrians can be fined for obstructing traffic, with penalties ranging from $72 to $2,200 if taken to court.
The debate over reserving public spaces has extended to beaches, with tensions rising over people using cabanas to claim prime spots.
Etiquette expert Anna Musson previously weighed in on the issue, stating that reserving a parking space without a vehicle ‘does not pass the pub test.’
‘The “first in, best dressed” rule applies here, just as it does for booths at the pub, views, seats at the cricket, the footy, and clothing sales! Remember, we’re all in the same situation, and a space will become available,’ she said.
However, she warned against escalating confrontations with those who attempt to hold spots.
‘Drive on, take a breath, and know they are having a worse day than you. Be the bigger person—your blood pressure and the example you set for your children will thank you.’
Watch the videos below to learn more.
In a previous story, similar parking behaviour sparked outrage among drivers and pedestrians alike.
The frustration over claimed parking spots continues to grow, leaving many questioning whether this issue is becoming more common.
Read on to see if it’s happening near you.
Parking struggles can bring out strong opinions, but is reserving a spot on foot crossing the line? Have you ever dealt with a similar situation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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