An outside space or garden for the children to play in, and a space you can call your own to park the car – these are top of any wish list for people looking to either purchase or rent a property these days.
A study put together by Kent Council asked residents in housing developments about how satisfied they were with the parking on their housing development. 75 per cent claimed that parking was a contentious issue that needed addressing.
The importance of a parking spot is so intense that it can add up to 15 per cent to the value of your home, particularly in built up city centres. Some developers are so in tune to the importance of the parking space that they will sell the space as a completely separate entity to the property, creating a demand with its own burgeoning economy. In some particularly expensive areas, a car parking space can go for up to £100,000.
Parking Rage
The emotions aroused by parking cannot be denied – there is a sense of entitlement and ownership about the right to park your car (or cars) on or near your home, and anyone who inadvertently takes a parking space that ‘belongs’ to someone else is lining themselves up for abuse.
Unfortunately for those who do not have the privilege of an officially allocated spot, which is controlled by parking management, those emotions can start to seep into every part of your day.
This parking rage is a symptom of living in an urban environment in which every one is grappling to find their space. It can be defined as the uncontrolled anger by drivers and car owners who are trying to park, or are trying to protect their own God given parking spot, or have been cut up by someone who pinched your spot from under your nose.
A daily battle
If you are living in an area with limited parking, your day can start of with the resentment that you know you are going to have to give up your hard fought for parking space when you head off to work. It doesn’t feel any better when, the moment you pull out, another car that was sat idling close by pulls straight into your newly vacated spot.
As you approach your workplace, you know there is a daily battle for spaces in the work car park, as there are simply not enough spaces for you all. Not knowing if you are going to be able to park creates that pain in the pit of your stomach that you know is stress related, and that sits with you all day at work.
As the day comes to an end, the knowledge that you’re probably going to have to circle your neighbourhood for somewhere to park for half an hour starts to play on your mind, and follows you on your journey home. As you complete your third circuit, you manage to squeeze into a spot two streets away. Thanking the parking gods, you lock your doors, and walk the two blocks back to your house in the pouring rain carrying heavy bags of shopping, only to arrive home dripping wet just as the car that was parked right outside your front door is driving off, leaving a lovely big space!
Don’t let parking issues affect your physical health.
You might not be able to solve your parking issues, but you can learn to change your mindset and attitude around parking, in a bid to reduce the anxiety you create each and every day.
The key is to step back and gain some perspective on your parking dilemma, placing in as part of the bigger picture. Not being able to park your car won’t kill you, but the stress and anxiety you create around it will. You must keep that in mind when you start to feel those stress levels rising.
