-
01via Strauss Western
A walker next to a quaint English country cottage like the one in the story.
Recreated scenario included to enhance reader understanding.
-
I think the idea of a "right to roam," where everyone has the right to access historic routes, is a neat idea. It's a nod to the importance of that land to the public historically, which offers a stronger sense of community and a solemn reminder of the fact that "our" property that we own is really just a bit of land that we're borrowing for a short time. A duration that is very short when compared to the time that the bit of land has existed, and what it was used for, even just within the scope of recent human history.
Of course, when it comes, at least, to the very Euro-centric way that we view the world, there are much older records in places like the UK and the rest of Europe that have written records and often the actual physical remains of historic roads, routes, and public pathways dating back to (at least) the Roman Empire.
This is where the "right to roam" comes from. Historic paths crossing through private farmland and rural property. Their continued use is permitted by modern laws. This allows the public to access these areas despite them otherwise being across privately owned farmland and rural property. Giving everyone access to natural spaces that otherwise very few would ever see.
Can you imagine trying the same thing here in the United States?
While you sometimes get specific use-case scenarios where an easement may be issued for the public where the long-term use of public access has been established, it is far from being a widely understood and accepted "rule of thumb." And good luck trying to explain that to a rural landowner when, in their mind, you're trespassing on their private property.
Anyways, no matter how good a thing is, there are entitled people everywhere who will do something to ruin it.
This homeowner explains how she lives next to one of those old "right to roam" established routes in the UK which sees frequent visitors of all sorts. Walkers, runners, dog walkers, and other route users. Unfortunately, some of these cut right across her front garden
One particularly entitled repeat-offender even saw fit to use her driveway as a public parking space. Leaving her Fiat 500 parked right up in the homeowner's driveway while she went out for a walk. When confronted by the homeowner, she tried to give the excuse of "Well, I've parked here before, and it hasn't been an issue before."
"You can't use my driveway for free parking!"
I live in a small village in the UK about 6 miles outside of a mid-sized market town. There are public footpaths and bridleways right outside my house and, as such, we get a lot of dog walkers in the area. Particularly those who park up from the nearby town to walk their dogs.
My house is the last one before the large farm. Consequently, a lot of town folks park close by to walk their dogs, and I've got a constant problem of people walking across my front garden to cut across to the public footpath. It's extremely annoying people [are] constantly trespassing on my lawn just to save a few minutes. And it also sets my dogs off every time they see strangers invading their space.
However, that's only mildly infuriating compared to what I experienced today, just two hours ago. I'd just finished a ten-hour shift and I drove home, exhausted and ready for some downtime. However, as soon as I pulled into my driveway, I saw a random car I didn't recognise just parked outside my house. I just stared at it incredulously. Like, who is this random d-bag that thinks my driveway is public parking.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your outlook, the owner of the white Fiat 500 that was randomly blocking my driveway came walking up. I see a comically atypical woman with a Karen haircut and a White Spaniel come sauntering towards me from the public road. As I stepped out of my car, the She-Witch just clears her throat and shouts aggressively, "You need to move. I want to go home!"
I was just stunned by the audacity. Here is this random plastic-faced Karen shouting her frustrations at me when she was the one to use my driveway as free parking.
"Well, you're in my driveway so I don't know why you think you're entitled to block me from coming home. Or to use it for your convenience," I fired back. My tiredness had made me particularly ornery and I wasn't inclined to even indulge this random woman's entitlement.
-
02
via Oli WoodmanA Fiat 500, like the car in the story.
Provided to illustrate events of the source.
-
"Well I've parked here before and it hasn't been an issue before," she replies, as if that makes up for this. After a lot of back and forth arguing, it turns out this devil woman had used my driveway at least half a dozen times while I've been at work to walk her dog. I emphatically told her that if she uses it again, I'll be getting her stupid car towed. (Edit, just googled this because I wasn't aware of towing laws in teh UK since I've not had much cause to think about it. It's extremely difficult to get a vehicle towed and can only be done so with an order via the local council or police in extreme circumstances. Only abandoned vehicles get taken away realistically. Thank you to those commentors for pointing it out.)
And then I went inside my house while the banshee is still screaming at me that she needs to leave and I can't block her in.
I hadn't intended to do it immediately, but I went inside and got my two dogs on their leads and I took them for a walk. As I was heading down the main road towards the fields, she was still screaming her objections at me. "Well, you'll have to stay there while I walk my own dogs," I shouted back rudely along with some choice swear words. And I deliberately even longer to really wind her up and make her wait for me. The pooches enjoyed their trip and I even took them to the nearby river so they could enjoy the swim in the evening sun. About 90 minutes later, I eventually came back home and I finally backed out so Karen could leave. She took that opportunity to shout my ear off but personally I didn't listen to a word she said.
I'll be installing cameras soon and a ring doorbell camera and I'll monitor my driveway more closely from now on.
-
03 via Rhapsitasm12345
-
04 via Rhapsitasm12345
-
05 via Rhapsitasm12345
-
06 via Annie Spratt
A row of cars on a UK street.
Still frame for contextual reference.
-
07 via Rhapsitasm12345
-
08 via Super Straho
A car parked on a crowded street outside of a row of houses in the UK.
Photo is a representation of story scenes.
-
09 via Rhapsitasm12345
-
10 via Rhapsitasm12345
-
11 via Rhapsitasm12345
-
12 via Rhapsitasm12345
-
13 via Rhapsitasm12345
-
14 via Rhapsitasm12345
Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.