Backing into parking spots

[tvguy]

That’s only ever about security being able to read your plate with a camera scanner, with front plates no longer being a thing in most states.

*Yes, you also shouldn’t back in in lots with one-way aisles and angles parking, though perhaps because that would be common sense, I’ve never seen a “don’t back in” sign needed in those.

I guess that would impact public owned garages. But they don't use license plate scanners in privately owned parking lots and garages and that is where I have seen the "Do Not Back" in signs.

 

[Robber Baron]

Is this the norm now? I was in a parking garage watching several people making multiple attempts to back into parking spots. I just don't get it. It is so much more work trying to do this without hitting cars on the other side. Yes, you can pull right out when you leave. But this seems like more effort than just pulling straight in and backing straight out of the spot, carefully.

With all the big trucks and suv's on the road, it sucks when you pull straight into a parking spot and can't see a thing on either side while trying to back out. It doesn't help that people fly thru parking lots like they are on the road.

When I was working I drove a huge truck, always had a Yukon XL, so I could pretty much see over anything when when backing out. Since retiring I have had smaller suv's, right now a Terrain. I usually back that in so it makes it easier to back out.

I'm good at backing in and I'm not doing the 8 point back in, so I'm not bothering anyone.

 

[tvguy]

With all the big trucks and suv's on the road, it sucks when you pull straight into a parking spot and can't see a thing on either side while trying to back out. It doesn't help that people fly thru parking lots like they are on the road.

When I was working I drove a huge truck, always had a Yukon XL, so I could pretty much see over anything when when backing out. Since retiring I have had smaller suv's, right now a Terrain. I usually back that in so it makes it easier to back out.

I'm good at backing in and I'm not doing the 8 point back in, so I'm not bothering anyone.

I drove Suburbans for 33 years, I am well aware. Went to San Francisco and the parking garage had to park it in a special section set aside for limos.

 

[dez1978]

I drive a Yukon XL. I almost always back in whenever possible because it's easier to back into a place than to back out of one. I can't explain why, but it is. I will say that oftentimes at work someone will park ridiculously close to me and if I were backing out it would make it much more difficult to back out of the spot without hitting the corner of their car. When pulling out forward, that isn't an issue. But also 360 cameras make it incredibly easy to do, and it really only takes me about 10 seconds longer to back in than to park front in. If you are in such a hurry that you can't wait 10 seconds for someone to park, thats a you problem.

 

[Dan Murphy]

With all the big trucks and suv's on the road, it sucks when you pull straight into a parking spot and can't see a thing on either side while trying to back out. It doesn't help that people fly thru parking lots like they are on the road.

When I was working I drove a huge truck, always had a Yukon XL, so I could pretty much see over anything when when backing out. Since retiring I have had smaller suv's, right now a Terrain. I usually back that in so it makes it easier to back out.

I'm good at backing in and I'm not doing the 8 point back in, so I'm not bothering anyone.

Yes, the gigantic SUV's, which are basically a huge pickup with a third row of seats, and the huge pickups themselves, would best be parked in an out lot for big trucks. More often now than in the past as they keep making them bigger, driving up/down an aisle while looking for a spot, is like playing a game of dodgem,, swerving around the jumbos sticking into the aisle.

And then the folks who back into a diagonal spot, a gymnastic maneuver in itself, so often drive the wrong way in the one way aisles when they leave. Crazy times.

 

[dez1978]

No one has mention trying to back OUT of a tight spot... another thing that being able to pull out is better.

I feel like theres room for a "Thats what she said" joke here.

It is becoming the norm in So Cal, everywhere. I only back in at concerts or arena events. WHat pains me are the massive trucks backed in and then you can't exit your car because of their side mirrors. Or the twenty minutes it takes for people to back in. DRIVES ME NUTS!

My mirrors and side boards fold in/up when I lock the car.

Yep.... wife just found out that you can't use a gas can to put gas in her Ford fiesta

Whaaaat??? Why?

 

[tvguy]

Yes, the gigantic SUV's, which are basically a huge pickup with a third row of seats, and the huge pickups themselves, would best be parked in an out lot for big trucks. More often now than in the past as they keep making them bigger, driving up/down an aisle while looking for a spot, is like playing a game of dodgem,, swerving around the jumbos sticking into the aisle.

And then the folks who back into a diagonal spot, a gymnastic maneuver in itself, so often drive the wrong way in the one way aisles when they leave. Crazy times.

Two issues here with parking are tied to government regulation. First is more COMPACT parking spots are being required at a time when fewer people are driving compact cars. Second is requirements for landscaping in existing parking lots that reduces how many parking spots there are.
I traded in a 219 inch long Suburban on a 201.8 inch long Flex, but fitting that Flex in a parking spot can be a challenge in a parking structure. Funny thing is, Allstate used to offer a discount for compact cars. They defined a compact car as anything less than 200 inches long. My mom's Buick Apollo (Buick's version of the Chevy Nova) was too long at 201 inches.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If you are in such a hurry that you can't wait 10 seconds for someone to park, thats a you problem.

I don't think that's a fair comment. I think yes there are people who are in a rush when they don't have to be, they are the same people who can tailgate you all the way only to end up at the same light as you lol.

Sometimes, and I do mean sometimes, you have cars coming in both directions and/or you're on a main pathway and then someone decides to back into a spot. It's a situation that may not take much time for you (although I know we're all just exaggerating that really it only takes 10 seconds longer because to be fair I don't think many of us have actually timed ourselves on the regular to see how long it takes us to park the point you're trying to say and others is subjectively it doesn't take all that much longer) but it can cause a ripple congestion factor.

Backing in isn't really an issue, but I think situationally speaking there are times where it's best not to and if someone is deciding to not care about their surroundings and do it anyways well that is often the situation you'll see people complaining about.

Even though most people said in Costco it doesn't make sense to do it I'm going to use their parking lot to give a better visual.

Here's the closest Costco that we go to. I marked the main pathway into the parking lot that people use to get to the other side of the parking lot. Both directions I marked are problematic for someone to decide to back into a spot. It would cause congestion problems and it would be an issue there not about someone not being able to take 10 seconds but because the condition of the area it's not conducive to do so. And again I'm only using Costco's parking lot, despite that people said they wouldn't back into spots there (I agree you need access to your trunk more) and Costco's parking spaces are wider anyhow but it's just to illustrate what I was talking about


The same can be said for our mall, when it's really busy and people are just trying to find a spot any spot that backing in has a tendency to create problems.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I used to be anti-backing-in until I got a vehicle with a rear camera. Now I'll back in if I don't have anyone behind me.

 

[kdonnel]

The real issue at Costco is the Costco Pedestrian Kill Zone!



I have seen the paramedics tending to a hit pedestrian twice in my Costco customer career.