Why do people who can't back into parking spaces...

[[DHT]Osiris]

I do not understand this obsession with backing into parking spaces anyway.

I get into work early, so in the parking garage there's a lot less cars whipping around in the AM than in the afternoon... far easier and faster to pull out than screw around backing up. To add to that, I've got two vehicles, one's a very large (to me) truck that's a pain to move around in a parking garage as it is (bonus: i have no depth perception), the other is a Camaro with a C pillar that's like 30 degrees of vision so I cannot see shit behind me to the left/right if I'm trying to back out.

For general parking lots I usually park in the distance and 'pull through' to a forward-exit position, then just hoof it to wherever I'm going. I can handle the extra steps.

EDIT: Oh, and a caveat, if I'm in the AM and a vehicle is behind me, I'll pull forward into a spot opposite of where I back into, let them (all) pass, then back up. No sense everyone waiting on my gigantic ass to move around in a space the size of my living room.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Empty parking lot is a no brainier: you don't even have to back into a space, just drive into one facing out. Nothing like leaving work and not even having to check your mirrors. Living for the weekend and all that.

Full parking lots, backing into a space should be a shortcut to a summary execution.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I like to think of these kind of people as being yet to be introduced to the Path Of Least Resistance. I see so many cases each day of people doing things the hard way as if there weren't another way. Then again without people like them I'd have to die on a battlefield somewhere.

 

[WelshBloke]

Full parking lots, backing into a space should be a shortcut to a summary execution.

But if you can actually drive it doesn't take anymore time. Plus its easier to reverse into a tight spot as the car will turn tighter going backwards.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

But if you can actually drive it doesn't take anymore time. Plus its easier to reverse into a tight spot as the car will turn tighter going backwards.

I think everyone's experience on the road, bad drivers included, is that no one else knows how to drive. Ergo, no one should back into a spot.

QED

 

[OccamsToothbrush]

Backing into a parking space is like brain surgery or defusing bombs. The best way to learn is through trial and error, just jump in and eventually you pick up the knack.

 

[WelshBloke]

In the US, minimum width standards of parking spaces usually range from 8.5 to 9.0 feet...

In the United Kingdom, the recommended standard Parking bay size is 2.4 metres (7.9 ft) wide...

And that is why big trucks suck here!

 

[IronWing]

We're a big boned people.

 

[dainthomas]

I pulled into work yesterday while some lady was in the process of backing in. Parked, gather my bag, finished listening to a song on the radio, and was on my way in the door while she was still maneuvering. Legend has it she's still there now.

That's all you need to know.

My gf can't back in or parallel park to save her life. And she drives a tiny Sportage.

 

[BudAshes]

 

[ElFenix]

the safest thing to do, at least in my opinion is back into or proceed to through a parking spot and park into the one in front of, to safely drive out.

people who do this in angled lots need to be dragged out of their cars and beaten.

 

[WelshBloke]

That should be an automatic driving ban. That person cannot safely control a car.

 

[feralkid]

People that are walking the parking lots usually feel entitled to walk just behind you as you are pulling out with not a care in the world.

That's because they are entitled to do that. Just the way the world works.

It's your requirement as a driver to be aware of your surroundings and use appropriate caution.

Try running one of them over sometime and see how the law responds to your behavior.

 

[trungma]

I was parked in parking lot a bus station that was completely empty. Some guy decides to back into the spot next to me and almost hit my car. I yelled at the guy and told him that there are a ton of free spaces, why they hell would you back in right beside me. It wasn't as if I was close to the entrance anyways. Maybe I over reacted.

 

[balloonshark]

Why would anyone with a $30,000+ vehicle want to park within 2 feet of some random stranger who may have children in a a $1000 POS vehicle? Go to the end of the parking lot away from everyone and park under a light. Or get a handicap sticker for the best roomy spots up front.

 

[BoomerD]

The technique was a lot easier to learn back when cars had real bumpers.

hell yes...back up till you hear glass...or smell shit.

 

[Spacehead]

There's a town not to far from where i live that changed all street parking into angled, must back in parking. Is that popular in other places? It's the only town around here that does this.
I don't go through there often but when they first changed it sometimes i'd see people parallel park across the lines or cross into the oncoming lane so they could park headfirst into a spot.

 

[ElFenix]

There's a town not to far from where i live that changed all street parking into angled, must back in parking. Is that popular in other places? It's the only town around here that does this.
I don't go through there often but when they first changed it sometimes i'd see people parallel park across the lines or cross into the oncoming lane so they could park headfirst into a spot.

Austin did it in places. If done correctly it's safer and faster than head first angled parking.

 

[eelw]

Whenever I see YAReverseParkingT here, I always wonder what is with Americans hating to reverse park?

 

[sdifox]

Whenever I see YAReverseParkingT here, I always wonder what is with Americans hating to reverse park?

Me, me, me culture

 

[IronWing]

Austin did it in places. If done correctly it's safer and faster than head first angled parking.

The city is trying it out in a few places here. It is supposed to be safer in areas where there are lots of bicyclists. Watching bicyclists zip behind cars backing into the spots, I remain skeptical.

 

[purbeast0]

This is basically the reason why I made this thread almost 2 years ago:

https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...parking-spots-become-the-new-hotness.2544856/

It's only gotten worse too. Everyone thinks they need to do it and know how to do it, and it wastes so much time.

 

[WelshBloke]

*Sigh*

Firstly its easier to back in if you're in a tight car park, the car doesn't need room to swing round when your going backwards. Just turn away from the space and drive past it till your back wheel is just past the space then just reverse in.
Its safer to go out of a space nose first, you can see any hoons driving too fast down the lanes before they crash into you. Backing out you need to trust in them seeing you and stopping because if theres a tall vehicle parked next to you arent going to see them!

So safer and quicker. What's not to like?

Of course if you're parked somewhere that you'll need to get into the boot you arent going to want to reverse in.

 

[GrumpyMan]

That's because they are entitled to do that. Just the way the world works.

It's your requirement as a driver to be aware of your surroundings and use appropriate caution.

Try running one of them over sometime and see how the law responds to your behavior.

You are correct, so from an insurance point of view I'm backing in every single time

 

[GrumpyMan]

No problem, see

people who do this in angled lots need to be dragged out of their cars and beaten.

No problem, see you at Walmart. But with angled parking, I wouldn't do this. Walmart has only straight on parking, so no problem.