Are Our Victorian Streets Secretly an Obstacle Course? 🚗😅

[Lebanums]

Is it just me, or are some of the cars around East Dulwich now roughly the size of a modest one-bed flat?

Our lovely Victorian streets were designed for horses, carts and the occasional penny-farthing — not rolling apartment blocks on wheels. Earlier today someone tried to pass me while driving squarely down the middle of the road, seemingly too terrified to move over in case their wing mirror brushed a leaf. We ended up in a sort of slow-motion standoff that felt less “road sharing” and more “Wild West showdown”.

I completely understand wanting a safe, comfy car — but when the vehicle is wider than the street and both drivers need a deep breathing exercise just to squeeze past each other, it might be time to ask whether the car fits the postcode.

Maybe we need Victorian-era width limits reinstated… or complimentary tape measures issued with every CPZ permit? 😉

[Insuflo]

We don’t even need Victorian values. Many of theses monstrosities are made by Japanese companies but would never be sold in Japan because in Japan the dimensions of cars are strictly regulated due to their narrow street layout.

I grew up in terraced streets in the 1970s, playing football and even cricket among the then relatively few parked cars. To walk through ED and see every square inch of every street taken up by a parked car and not a child playing is like a Silent Spring.

[Jah Lush]

That'll be the Chelsea tractor then. Which first appeared on our streets as a Range Rover.

[malumbu]

Interesting.

Many of these monstrosities are also made in Germany and in Britain, and for the UK this is seen to be important for our international trade.  Some of the worst in America,  And more and more in China.

Many people drive them but never seem to post on threads such as this one.

[Pugwash]

My neighbour has one of these cars and I have never seen her with passengers or carrying goods. Can understand if they need to carry a wheelchair or small mobility scooter. Must admit I do not drive down certain roads as I know that there is insufficient room for 2 cars to pass.  

[Lebanums]

It just feels unnecessary.

I do laugh though — I’ll be pulling out of a space in my tiny car and a tank rolls up, indicator on, full of hope.

“Are you coming out?”

“Yes… but you’re absolutely not getting in.”

The optimism is admirable. The physics, less so.

[Sue]

1 hour ago, Lebanums said:

It just feels unnecessary.

I do laugh though — I’ll be pulling out of a space in my tiny car and a tank rolls up, indicator on, full of hope.

“Are you coming out?”

“Yes… but you’re absolutely not getting in.”

The optimism is admirable. The physics, less so.

They do often have very small turning circles (is that the correct term?)  though.

Many many moons ago I won a very long Volvo estate car.

It could get into a space not much longer than itself, which  was impressive!

[Lebanums]

4 hours ago, Sue said:

They do often have very small turning circles (is that the correct term?)  though.

Many many moons ago I won a very long Volvo estate car.

It could get into a space not much longer than itself, which  was impressive!

That takes skill!