Does parking on kerb damage suspension?

NewBe

Moved to a house on a narrow cul-de-sac, so parking on the road is very tight for passing cars. Ours does not have a driveway.

Only safe option seems to be parking halfway on kerb. Neighbour has a dropped kerb which can be used to get on the kerb. Other option is to leave it on roadside and risk any minor scrapes.

Will parking halfway for long periods do any damage to the suspension?

HappyMJ

Parking on the kerb may not be allowed in your area. It will not do any damage to the car...but if a parking enforcement officer comes by it may damage your pocket.

colino

Using a drop kerb to get on and off the pavement isn't going to do your car any harm, but certainly will mess up the soft pavement and eventually the services underneath.

NewBe

HappyMJ wrote: »

Parking on the kerb may not be allowed in your area. It will not do any damage to the car...but if a parking enforcement officer comes by it may damage your pocket.

Any enforcement officer with common sense - long shot - would understand why it was parked on the kerb. Also, the other cul-de-sac's in the area with more cars use the kerb.

Iceweasel

NewBe wrote: »

Any enforcement officer with common sense - long shot - would understand why it was parked on the kerb. Also, the other cul-de-sac's in the area with more cars use the kerb.

My experience tells me that 99.99% of enforcement orificers do not possess or use common sense - they have no need of it.

They blindly follow the rules.

One day one will happen along your cul-de-sac and hit gold.

TrickyWicky

Iceweasel wrote: »

My experience tells me that 99.99% of enforcement orificers do not possess or use common sense - they have no need of it.

I use to be one of those enforcement officers you're slating and actually, common sense was always used. Many of us would simply walk past something and let it be if there was a good reason for it.

Kerb parking is usually strictly enforce because the county councils are fed up of people damaging the street furniture. Having a car is a privilege not a right in the eyes of the state but having a pavement to walk on is pretty much a right in developed areas.

You think officers just go out to wind people up and follow rules to the letter. It isn't like that. Sure they do have to issue tickets but if there is a genuine reason for a vehicle being somewhere it shouldn't be many will simply leave it alone.

scheming_gypsy

Do traffic wardens go down residential cul-de-sacs?

Iceweasel

TrickyWicky wrote: »

I use to be one of those enforcement officers you're slating and actually, common sense was always used. Many of us would simply walk past something and let it be if there was a good reason for it.

Kerb parking is usually strictly enforce because the county councils are fed up of people damaging the street furniture. Having a car is a privilege not a right in the eyes of the state but having a pavement to walk on is pretty much a right in developed areas.

You think officers just go out to wind people up and follow rules to the letter. It isn't like that. Sure they do have to issue tickets but if there is a genuine reason for a vehicle being somewhere it shouldn't be many will simply leave it alone.

I would love to believe that what you say is true for each and every enforcement officer and I'm sure that you and your colleagues did/still do an excellent job.

However I have on several occasions received the 'jobsworth spiel' of "It's out of my hands and I just go by the rules."

I've even had uniformed Police Officers instruct me to park in a position that I would consider tantamount to causing an obstruction, rather than encroach on the pavement even a small amount.

I take your point about damaging the street furniture though.

JACKHANDYMAN

Parking on the kerb, will cause no damage to your vehicle unless you mount the kerb harshly! In the long term scrubbing of your tyres may occur or excessive wear of suspension/steering joints on the mounted side! But remember you can be prosecuted for restricting a public pathway!

TrickyWicky

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Do traffic wardens go down residential cul-de-sacs?

Yes if there is a reason to - like a turning space surrounded by yellow lines, residential parking, limited waiting, or disabled bays.

Iceweasel wrote: »

I would love to believe that what you say is true for each and every enforcement officer and I'm sure that you and your colleagues did/still do an excellent job.

To be honest, most of my former colleagues were lazy slackers who would skiive at every opportunity. It wasn't uncommon for some of them to extend their 10 minute tea break to an hour.. sometimes three.

They got caught and sacked eventually too

Iceweasel wrote: »

However I have on several occasions received the 'jobsworth spiel' of "It's out of my hands and I just go by the rules."

There are always a few out there who work like that. I can't deny this as it is the truth. Then you have the "rules are rules" mob who will issue a pcn for the most ridiculous issues.

Iceweasel wrote: »

I've even had uniformed Police Officers instruct me to park in a position that I would consider tantamount to causing an obstruction, rather than encroach on the pavement even a small amount.

The fuzz are known for doing that. If you're really lucky they won't even tell the council that they instructed the driver to leave it there and then it will get a PCN for the privilege.

andygb

colino wrote: »

Using a drop kerb to get on and off the pavement isn't going to do your car any harm, but certainly will mess up the soft pavement and eventually the services underneath.

As one of our naughty neighbours found out a couple of years ago. He was building a patio, so loaded up the Landcruiser with slabs, and then parked half on the road half on the pavement. I went past later in the day to find Southern Water attending quite an impressive leak.:D