Parking Garage Ettiquette.

[DawnCt1]

Now that I am driving to the hospital 3 times weekly for physical therapy, I park in a parking garage. Hospital visitors, office patients, etc use the parking garage. It is 8 stories high, and is served by two elevators. The biggest problem I encounter every time I use the garage are people who hold up a line of 10 cars because they see someone walking towards a car and they want a parking space on a lower floor! Sometimes people are just bringing something to their car and not leaving. Sometimes they are leaving but can't back out because the person who wants their space is blocking them in. There are usually spaces available on the roof but if you have to come back down, chances you will encounter someone leaving and get a space. Because of this ridiculous hunt for a lower level space, it takes me almost 20 minutes to park my car. Today, on the way down, someone was double parked "waiting for someone". Cars were driving up hill and there was no way to pass. I NEVER use my horn but that was ridiculous. There were 4 cars behind me. I beeped twice before the person moved. Who meets anyone inside a parking garage parked in the passage way?

 

[KarenC]

I agree with you Dawn. I often shop at a nearby mall with a parking structure. It's very rarely anywhere near full but people stop and wait on the lower level for a "premium" space rather than keep going where they'll find a nearly empty level just a few seconds later. Drives me nuts!!!

 

[candicenicole19]

I agree as well to a point. Some older people and people with a disibility can not walk that far. it may not seem like much but my Mom can would not park on the top floor because she could not stand that long to waot for the elevator to come up, then back down and then walk to the hospital. She is not in a wheel chair becuase she wants her mobility and with most places doing away with the benches she does the "unthinkable" a lot. I get angrey about it sometimes but you always have to remember that you are not in their shoes and do not understand what their reasoning behind it is!

 

[yeartolate]

I understandyour frustration, but I don't think there is anyway to control it.

 

[LadyZolt]

I agree as well to a point. Some older people and people with a disibility can not walk that far. it may not seem like much but my Mom can would not park on the top floor because she could not stand that long to waot for the elevator to come up, then back down and then walk to the hospital. She is not in a wheel chair becuase she wants her mobility and with most places doing away with the benches she does the "unthinkable" a lot. I get angrey about it sometimes but you always have to remember that you are not in their shoes and do not understand what their reasoning behind it is!

Actually, in most places your mom could qualify to get a "handicapped" parking permit. One does not have to be in a wheelchair, or even to have a handicap that is easily recognizeable to others. My sister has degenerative disk disease -- she looks fine and she's only in her 40's, but she cannot walk long distances and so she has a handicapped permit. Your mom should check into it in her area. The cool thing about them is that you put them on the rear-view mirror when you park, and take them off when you're ready to drive away. So no one really sees it when the car is parked at home, and your mom can even choose when to use it. If it's her regular grocery store, she can just park where she always does. If she can't find a good spot at the mall, though, she can use the handicapped permit. It's something to think about.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[AKL_Megs]

I hate the "waiters"... it's like, in the time you are waiting, you could have already parked and walked where you need to be!

 

[eclectics]

The one I use (also serving a hospital and medical office building) has a good system. Every spot is reserved for different uses. Some are reserved for hospital visitors, some for specific offices, and some (near the top) are for anyone. Nobody blocking the right of way because you can't park just anywhere, unless you go up top.

 

[korbbec]

Dawn- try this- as soon as you get in the garage, follow the exit signs- they will take you to the other side that the uninformed do not hit until they go to the roof and start back down. You will get a space quick, and on the lower level. This only works in garages where there are three rows and one side plus the middle goes up and the other side plus the middle goes down.

 

[candicenicole19]

Actually, in most places your mom could qualify to get a "handicapped" parking permit. One does not have to be in a wheelchair, or even to have a handicap that is easily recognizeable to others. My sister has degenerative disk disease -- she looks fine and she's only in her 40's, but she cannot walk long distances and so she has a handicapped permit. Your mom should check into it in her area. The cool thing about them is that you put them on the rear-view mirror when you park, and take them off when you're ready to drive away. So no one really sees it when the car is parked at home, and your mom can even choose when to use it. If it's her regular grocery store, she can just park where she always does. If she can't find a good spot at the mall, though, she can use the handicapped permit. It's something to think about.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

She has one but more often then not they are all filled. Usually, if I am with her I will drop her off at the door and go and park if there are no spaces or to save the spot for someone that does not have someone to drive her. At the mall, all the spots are always taken. She only gets out a few times a month so when she does, i try not to get at her to much but sometimes there is a need to park in a certian spot

 

[Allison]

I feel like I'm being stalked when I start walking towards my space and a car inches along beside me waiting to hunt down my spot.

 

[LadyZolt]

She has one but more often then not they are all filled. Usually, if I am with her I will drop her off at the door and go and park if there are no spaces or to save the spot for someone that does not have someone to drive her. At the mall, all the spots are always taken. She only gets out a few times a month so when she does, i try not to get at her to much but sometimes there is a need to park in a certian spot

Wow, that is a drag that those handicapped stalls are always full. Hmm. I guess you can try to go at "off" times, but I think you and your mom are doing the best you can given the parking situation. I hope that it will improve in the future, though.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[wheeler1]

Dawn- try this- as soon as you get in the garage, follow the exit signs- they will take you to the other side that the uninformed do not hit until they go to the roof and start back down. You will get a space quick, and on the lower level. This only works in garages where there are three rows and one side plus the middle goes up and the other side plus the middle goes down.

Just what I was thinking! My hubby taught me this trick after our daughter was born with some physical problems and i was driving to Mass General a couple times a week for several months. It really works!!!

Good luck...

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I feel like I'm being stalked when I start walking towards my space and a car inches along beside me waiting to hunt down my spot.

I like to mess with people doingthis and start to zig-zag between spaces like I can't find my car.

Dawn most people are too tied up in their own lives to worry about others. thats what horns are for so use it.Just a small tap will do and wave them to move over if they want to wait.

 

[MyGoofy26]

Dawn- try this- as soon as you get in the garage, follow the exit signs- they will take you to the other side that the uninformed do not hit until they go to the roof and start back down. You will get a space quick, and on the lower level. This only works in garages where there are three rows and one side plus the middle goes up and the other side plus the middle goes down.

That's what I always do when I take my aunt to her Doctors in Pittsburgh. . . people will sit and wait on EVERY level. . . if I can make it up a couple levels, I cut over and head down toward the exit and always end up lower level.

 

[DawnCt1]

I agree as well to a point. Some older people and people with a disibility can not walk that far. it may not seem like much but my Mom can would not park on the top floor because she could not stand that long to waot for the elevator to come up, then back down and then walk to the hospital. She is not in a wheel chair becuase she wants her mobility and with most places doing away with the benches she does the "unthinkable" a lot. I get angrey about it sometimes but you always have to remember that you are not in their shoes and do not understand what their reasoning behind it is!

The way the garage is structured, every floor is the same distance from the elevator. There are handicap spaces on every floor as well.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn- try this- as soon as you get in the garage, follow the exit signs- they will take you to the other side that the uninformed do not hit until they go to the roof and start back down. You will get a space quick, and on the lower level. This only works in garages where there are three rows and one side plus the middle goes up and the other side plus the middle goes down.

You can actually see some of those spots as you are circling up. When I get to the forth floor I often switch over to look but they are most often taken.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

My DH gets really impatient with "waiters." He'll start the car and just sit there until they get frustrated and start to drive off... then he puts the car in reverse. When the reverse lights go on, the other car will slam on the brakes and back up... then DH will put the car back in park and start over. He thinks it's really amusing to do this. Every once in a while, I even get a chuckle or two over it.

I do want to point out that he would never do this in someplace like a parking garage of a hospital!

 

[MsDisney23]

Dawn, that is frustratiing. I hope you are feeling better from your surgery!

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn, that is frustratiing. I hope you are feeling better from your surgery!

Thank you, I am getting more movement in my frozen shoulder. That is one thing I learned. A frozen shoulder is an autoimmune response. I didn't know that. I would like to be able to touch the top of my head. My hair is getting shorter and shorter because I can't blow dry it and it doesn's curl on its own in the dry winter air. I love heat and humidity! Now if I can get my hand back, I will be happy.

 

[mickeyboat]

Dawn - that is frustrating! Most of the time you are going to get a spot closer to the elevators if you go up another floor.

candi- does the hospital offer valet parking? Ours does, and handicapped people can leave their cars with the valet (free of charge) and walk right in to the front entrance. It's not really a fancy, rich person service, it is really for people who can't realistically manage getting into the hospital on their own.

Denae