Where to park at Services (Motorway)

[starquake]

Sounds a wierd question to ask, but Motorhomes seemed all over at Rugby services this weekend. I parked in the caravan section (6.6m van so doesn't fit in a normal space without a metre overhang). The question is should I -> some motorhomers in regular car section picking overhanging grass areas, some in the coach area.

There seems to be no standard, but I wasn't "only" person to use caravan lane (as it's both wide enough and long enough to allow safe access to gas locker to turn on gas for a brew rather than going to starbucks at 5x the price lol).

So whats the forums view on parking etiquitte, should I use coach parking as a few were? I am coachbuilt... A Bailey 66-2.

 

[starquake]

Guilty as charged, sentencing will be made in due course

Funnily enough thats exactly why we stopped Sunday, also being exactly 50% of journey length and my co-driver driving back the vehcile we used to pickup the new MH in (as it was so off the beaten track we couldn't use a train). It'll be SO pleasent next time to not have a co-driver in a EV needing to stop to charge.

Interestingly for EV haters the 700 mi we done in the EV cost roughly same as 500 mi in the MH (public charging). EV is still MILES cheaper if we park at home, but public charging, I can take the MH for near same money.

 

[carolyn]

Some of the service stations are OK and I know I can park across 2 bays, I have a PVC and it’s 6.4 m , longer if the bikes are on the back but some now have an annoying kerb so you can’t. If in doubt I go to the caravan bays, perhaps bigtwin hasn’t noticed the annoying kerbs. Terribly sorry that we upset you by being so inconsiderate of others.

 

[GJH]

So whats the forums view on parking etiquitte, should I use coach parking as a few were? I am coachbuilt... A Bailey 66-2.

This was the answer (based on actually asking MSA operators) that I gave to a similar question a while ago.
It isn't a matter of etiquette but following the MSA terms of contract.
Note that none of the companies allow parking in the coach areas so going there is the surest way of receiving a parking charge notice if the company is in issuing tockets mode.

 

[bigtwin]

If they are long and the bays are narrow they would have difficulty getting in and out of a space with a vehicle either side, especially if they are numb nuts who park on the white line would make leaving impossible ar the roadways are also narrow

At 8.4m long I’m very familiar with the potential issues associated with parking in normal car park spaces. In comparison, the difficulties likely to be experienced by a PVC are somewhat less.

We endeavour only to park on end slots.

Ian

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[bigtwin]

Some of the service stations are OK and I know I can park across 2 bays, I have a PVC and it’s 6.4 m , longer if the bikes are on the back but some now have an annoying kerb so you can’t. If in doubt I go to the caravan bays, perhaps bigtwin hasn’t noticed the annoying kerbs. Terribly sorry that we upset you by being so inconsiderate of others.

Yes, there can be challenges for all sizes of vans but as the vans go up in size the opportunities go down.

Don’t worry, I’m not upset just puzzled that some drivers appear not to park in double spaces (or those with overhangs) when they’re available. They are, of course (and as I recognised in my initial response), entitled to park where they wish.

Ian

 

[Mr porky]

Hgv section evertime.

 

[the1andonly]

Hgv section everytime. (except Strens??? on the M5 post M50 Caravan parking 1st you come to and a sensible amount.
Only 6m long but PHGV and generaly towing.

 

[poppycamper]

Can over 3.5t PHGVs legitimately use the HGV parking?

Again just to clarify.... any vehicle over 3500kg is HGV .

 

[olley]

31' feet long and 9.4 tons I take up two car spaces sometimes other times it's caravan or lorry spaces, always find somewhere.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Artilleryman]

Only service area we use is on the M11 at Bishops Stortford - good sized caravan parking area - except it's been taken over by road contractors, so had to use HGV area. There again we are 11M & 5T, just I can't see the trailer when reversing - wide MH & narrow trailer.

 

[Nanniemate]

How long has there been parking wardens on motorway services,? IV never seen one. I thought it was all cameras. We always stop on the way to the tunnel and back, we just park anywhere actually, we are not that much longer than the car bays especially around the outside or the caravan part and if we can't get anywhere else will use the hgv but this is only a last resort as these guys are working for their living and have to stop, and they can't choose but as I say we have parked everywhere and never seen a sign of any warden.

They tend to use them when big events are on like football or concerts at Wembley as certain services will be favorite stopping places foe buses/coaches so the drivers have a break before heading into traffic delays giving them legal driving hours that are as long as possible.
Farthing corner services used to have them due to the high volume of vehicles heading for Dover.
Parking the long and short term appropriately so vehicles didn't get blocked in.
I have seen many vehicles blocked in by psv/hgv. And when asking driver to move it response 45 minutes driving hours break mate you shouldn't be parked in a coach/truck bay.

But the scariest one was when a woman from a caravan ran and stood alongside ot when an artic was pulling into truck bay

I don't get the need to use busy services.leave the motorway usually there's a stopping place not far from the entry and exit slip road or a nice pub/garden centre if I need a wee I will use them if quiet but often drive in see the chaos and leave in both the car and the van.

 

[Nigel P]

Sounds a wierd question to ask, but Motorhomes seemed all over at Rugby services this weekend. I parked in the caravan section (6.6m van so doesn't fit in a normal space without a metre overhang). The question is should I -> some motorhomers in regular car section picking overhanging grass areas, some in the coach area.

There seems to be no standard, but I wasn't "only" person to use caravan lane (as it's both wide enough and long enough to allow safe access to gas locker to turn on gas for a brew rather than going to starbucks at 5x the price lol).

So whats the forums view on parking etiquitte, should I use coach parking as a few were? I am coachbuilt... A Bailey 66-2.

Coach parking!
Usually there are only a handful of spaces for coaches, occasionally the more modern services have a stepped kerb design to allow the coaches to 'kneel' so the door opens onto that kerb allowing the passengers to get on and off more easily. The service areas tend to protect those coach spaces as they usually deliver 50+ paying customers. I do find it irritating when there are hundreds of empty car spaces that I cannot get my coach into yet find a car in each of the coach spaces as they tend to be nearer the facilities. When it is really busy there is inevitably some overlap of use but often it is just lazy, selfish behaviour. Unlike a car it is a bit trickier finding another spot for a 13 metre, 15T coach when you have 50 people breathing down your neck wanting to go for a pee!!

 

[poppycamper]

For what it is worth.. here is my view..
7 mtr PVC.. If I can get in car area I will look for a rear overhang and then my van is no larger than a normal van..if not two slots back to back.
Next stop is caravan area although as an ex tugger of a large twin axle van I know how frustrating it is to park what is essecially the same size as a 42t truck.
Next we have the HGV section..if that's all that is left then yes we park amongst the refrigeration units and farting belching cows.
and that leaves the coach parking area.... Which I would never park in... those guys are on a schedule with lots of passengers to get from A to B with adequate pee brakes..