parking.....

[PaulaSB12]

An excellent point. It's also a matter of being able to get out of your driver's side door next to another driver's side door without dinging someone else's car because you backed in badly (or someone else dinging your passenger door because you didn't leave enough room on that side for them to enter their car)

We're also dealing with the DIS phenomenon which I've mentioned before. This board is populated with people who can back into a parking spot perfectly, do it in 5 seconds or less, and don't really care if someone has to wait for them to do it. However, to paraphrase myself:

I don't see how getting out of the driver's door without touching another car has anything to do with how you park. You have to avoid that any way. As for backing in most of the times I do this in a supermarket car park when there isn't anyone around if there is no car waiting what is the problem? I get in with one or two moves, if I am not happy about spacing between me and the side cars I wait until the way is clear before moving the car to get in the right position.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Where I work there is a large parking garage. I have NEVER seen anyone back in in the same amount of time (or even close) as someone who pulls in. Yet, people hold up others while doing so. I have followed many people in who decide to back in. Even if they do it in one pull up, pull back, I can still pull straight in, get out of my car with my purse and lunch and lock my door and be walking before they even get their car in their spot. It is never faster to back in. I just think it's rude to block people from going by while backing into a spot. Turning into a spot front end first doesn't block other drivers.

I never back in and I've been driving for 35 years and have never hit anyone or anything.

Same here. Most people I've seen who back in are those wanting to make a quick getaway once they've completed whatever task they've set out to do (work, shopping, etc).

While I have pulled through in parking lots so I'm facing out (mostly at work), when it comes to a full lot and spots that are difficult to find, I'll park nose-in out of consideration for those behind me who are also looking for a parking spot.

I'm one of those guys that will let some one make the left turn in front of me, because I truly do have consideration for other people, and see no harm in delaying the line behind me for a few seconds, in order to save the person making the left turn, what could be a matter of minutes, waiting on the line behind me


Hmmm who are these people that don't allow themselves enough time to deal with every day common delays, the same people who think that everyone else should rush and do things as quickly as possible, even if it increases the risk of an accident.

This alone speaks volumes about the self-centered attitude of the person, who thinks nothing of expecting other people to take on increased risk of harm, just to save themselves a few seonds..

You feel I'm self-centered and I feel you're self-centered and we each have our reasons for why we feel that way. We'll have to agree to disagree.

But I will say this: In addition to personally deciding how a group of people behind you will spend those few seconds, as well as impacting the normal flow of traffic (traffic ALWAYS clears dispite your "act of charity"), you're not doing that one person making a left any favors. In fact, you're putting them at risk while not taking on any responsibility of that risk yourself.

IMO, It's a totally selfish act so the "good samaritan" can feel good about themselves.

Because DH is a PO, I am privvy to many stories about accidents where the person making the left got plowed into by an unseen car because the "good samaritan" holding up a line of traffic told him/her to go. Not only does this person you're "doing your good deed for" have to experience the accident, they also have to pay the deductible, perhaps go to the hospital, and probably be ticketed for making a turn before traffic was clear.

Just because someone tells me to go doesn't mean I have to take those chances. I guarantee that I can (and have) outwait ANY "good samaritan" trying to do me a "good deed" any day. I'm well aware of traffic rules and am not about to risk my life, my driving record, my insurance rates, my car, or the static I'd get from my DH because I should have known better just so someone else can feel good about themselves because they let me go first.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I don't see how getting out of the driver's door without touching another car has anything to do with how you park. You have to avoid that any way. As for backing in most of the times I do this in a supermarket car park when there isn't anyone around if there is no car waiting what is the problem? I get in with one or two moves, if I am not happy about spacing between me and the side cars I wait until the way is clear before moving the car to get in the right position.

There is never any problem because you're being considerate about what you do. The issue that most of us "anti-backers" have is with those who feel the world should wait until they've gotten themselves comfortable.

I have no problem with what other people do unless and until it impacts me. Dispite all the sniping on this thread, if I see someone backing into a parking space I'll choose another aisle to find my parking spot. Like other posters have said, I'll likely be out of my car and walking into the store by the time they've gotten themselves fully parked. I go with the flow. I don't impact or inconvenience others around me if I can help it.

It seems you don't, either. Which is great. Unfortunately, your consideration of others around you isn't the common behavior I've seen in real life. So yes, the majority of the people who back into parking spaces irk me.

 

[aprilgail2]

I do at the train station and so do most people. It's easier at night to pull straight out when there are more people walking. Do we need to wait for each other, yep. But it's usually not an issue unless you get that one person that needs to pull forward and straighten it out half a dozen times.

At the train station here the signs all state "head in parking only" you are not allowed to back in. My brothers apartment complex has the same policy. To many cars are hit by drivers backing into spaces needlessly!

 

[tlbwriter]

This thread is ridicuous and I don't remember which posters said it---I'm not going to go back and look for the posts now--but yes, backing out of a spot and being "off" by 6 inches as to where you think you would've ended up can make a huge difference. People typically walk in parking lots, yes? Hello! What if someone was standing in those 6 inches that you didn't think you were going to hit!

Oh, please. As if I would back out if there was a person within 6 inches of where I thought I would be. Is that how you drive? If so, no wonder you're so concerned about people walking in parking lots.

 

[MICKEY88]

You feel I'm self-centered and I feel you're self-centered and we each have our reasons for why we feel that way. We'll have to agree to disagree.

1.But I will say this: In addition to personally deciding how a group of people behind you will spend those few seconds, as well as impacting the normal flow of traffic (traffic ALWAYS clears dispite your "act of charity"), you're not doing that one person making a left any favors. In fact, you're putting them at risk while not taking on any responsibility of that risk yourself.

2.IMO, It's a totally selfish act so the "good samaritan" can feel good about themselves.

3.Because DH is a PO, I am privvy to many stories about accidents where the person making the left got plowed into by an unseen car because the "good samaritan" holding up a line of traffic told him/her to go. Not only does this person you're "doing your good deed for" have to experience the accident, they also have to pay the deductible, perhaps go to the hospital, and probably be ticketed for making a turn before traffic was clear.

4.Just because someone tells me to go doesn't mean I have to take those chances. I guarantee that I can (and have) outwait ANY "good samaritan" trying to do me a "good deed" any day. I'm well aware of traffic rules and am not about to risk my life, my driving record, my insurance rates, my car, or the static I'd get from my DH because I should have known better just so someone else can feel good about themselves because they let me go first.

1. the traffic also clears when I do commit such a random act of kindness, I only do so at 4 way stops, or 2 way stops where safe to do soI don't stop the flow of traffic.

2, it is just that your opinion, not fact, I go thru this world trying to leave it a little better than I found it, that involves random acts of kindness, if more people did that, rather thaan being in such a hurry traffic accidents would decline.

3. see answer 1, at a 4 way stop there is no danger since there is no room fr a car to go around me

more importantly, you've already discounted, your DH's advice/knowledge, by basically saying he is wrong when it comes to parking, therefore, it's hardly makes sense to use him to back your claims..

4.I'm well aware of the traffice LAWS, and at least in the states I drive in, there is nothing illegal about allowing someone the courtesy of making a left turn, at a 4 way stop , or 2 way stop for that matter nor is there anything illegal about making that turn safely.

wouldn't you get static from your DH if you were in an accident backing out of a parking space..

the saddest thing of all this, is that you choose to classify random acts of kindness as something bad

 

[MICKEY88]

I have no problem with what other people do unless and until it impacts me. Dispite all the sniping on this thread, if I see someone backing into a parking space I'll choose another aisle to find my parking spot. Like other posters have said, I'll likely be out of my car and walking into the store by the time they've gotten themselves fully parked. I go with the flow. I don't impact or inconvenience others around me if I can help it.

.

so does this mean you go out around that car, rather than patiently waiting..

if so, that in and of itself increases the chance of an accident,

 

[pioneer89]

I want to suggest to the people who think they're not good enough or comfortable enough to back into a spot or parallel park to go to an empty school or church parking lot and practice.

Not because I want people to back into parking spots, I don't really care if you nose in or back in. I'm willing to bet you folks who think you're not skilled enough at driving to do this will find out you actually are skilled enough, you're just not practiced enough.

I tend to back in most of the time. Because of the different way vehicles handle when they are 'rear steered', I find it much easier to back into a spot accurately. For the same reason people need to back into tight parallel parking spots, precise positioning of a vehicle in tight spots is easier with rear steering than it is with front.

There you have it, I don't back in because I think I'm the Mario Andretti of parking, I do it because I know I do a worse job going nose-in. Especially in tight spots or narrow aisles.

Maybe another reason I do it (and many men do it) is because when I'm going shopping, I'm not at all interested in getting to the store quicker, I'm much more interested in leaving the store quickly.

 

[Carly_Roach]

1. the traffic also clears when I do commit such a random act of kindness, I only do so at 4 way stops, or 2 way stops where safe to do soI don't stop the flow of traffic.

2, it is just that your opinion, not fact, I go thru this world trying to leave it a little better than I found it, that involves random acts of kindness, if more people did that, rather thaan being in such a hurry traffic accidents would decline.

3. see answer 1, at a 4 way stop there is no danger since there is no room fr a car to go around me

more importantly, you've already discounted, your DH's advice/knowledge, by basically saying he is wrong when it comes to parking, therefore, it's hardly makes sense to use him to back your claims..

4.I'm well aware of the traffice LAWS, and at least in the states I drive in, there is nothing illegal about allowing someone the courtesy of making a left turn, at a 4 way stop , or 2 way stop for that matter nor is there anything illegal about making that turn safely.

wouldn't you get static from your DH if you were in an accident backing out of a parking space..

the saddest thing of all this, is that you choose to classify random acts of kindness as something bad

Taking it from the bottom up:

No, I do not classify random acts of kindness to be something bad. I classify doing something that creates a problem for the 10 people behind me just so I can "be kind" to the one person in front of me as being an egotistical person who needs validation from others so I can feel good about myself. It's something I try very hard not to do.

I would get static from my DH if I were in any accident and it was my fault. So would anyone other married person. So far in my life I've NEVER had an accident backing out of a parking space and I don't anticipate that changing any time soon.

I don't know about the laws in your state, but in Michigan at a 4-way stop the car going straight has the right-of-way. If I'm turning left and the **** across from me won't go straight, I will (and have) wait until hell freezes over before I accept his "gesture" for me to go ahead. Yeah, it really pisses off the "good samaritan" like you wouldn't believe and I've had more than my fair share of "friendly waves" turn into "one fingered salutes" from those so-called good samaritans because I didn't make my turn when they told me to. But I know the laws and just because someone tells me it's OK to break them doesn't mean I'm going to do so.

And finally, I discount DH's advice/knowledge about backing into grocery store parking spaces because I have over 30 years experience doing the shopping and parking in grocery store parking lots. He is wrong when it comes to parking at a grocery store, and he's paid several times when he backs in and has difficulty when others park too close after we've gone in and he has to carry all the groceries back to the trunk. But he'll continue to keep backing in, I'll continue to keep my mouth shut when that action bites him, and I'll continue to pull in when I drive to the store.

And DH and I will continue to stay away from this particular conversation because we've decided that it's more important to us to be happy in our relationship rather than trying to get the other person to say, "You're right". On internet bulletin boards, however, all bets are off and I'm free to express myself without worrying about damaging my marriage.

Having said that, this thread has now reached my limit of over 100 posts and, as expected, it's down to a few people sniping and snarking at each other. But I needed to set the record straight and assert that at no time have I EVER considered random acts of kindness to be a bad thing. We simply disagree at what's considered a random act of kindess and what's considered a control mechanism.

Adieu mon ami!

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

we could always have a "Greg and Marcia" driving competition between you two.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I never back into a parking spot. I don't begrudge people who do, but it can be kind of annoying if you don't realize what they're doing at first and you go to turn into the spot.

I just don't put that much thought into parking my car. It's just a place to leave it while I shop, eat, etc. Then again, my car isn't difficult to navigate, it's not hard to see when backing up, and it's not "my baby" like cars seem to be to many people.

 

[Cinderella94]

Oh, please. As if I would back out if there was a person within 6 inches of where I thought I would be. Is that how you drive? If so, no wonder you're so concerned about people walking in parking lots.

Of course it's not. Wouldn't anyone rather have a bigger field of vision as they're about to leave a spot (so they would have had to back it in)? You will have a bigger field of vision if you are FACING where your car is going.

Not that either should ever happen, but would you (general you) rather hit a parked car, or a PERSON?

Regardless of what you choose to do, the argument that "I don't have to know EXACTLY where the back of my car is" is ridiculous. Don't you feel a little ridiculous just typing it?

 

[mrodgers]

....and it's not "my baby" like cars seem to be to many people.

But for most, it is the 2nd most expensive thing they own and even for many, it is the most expensive thing they own. Most people would just rather not have the most expensive or 2nd most expensive thing they own damaged.

 

[MICKEY88]

Taking it from the bottom up:

1.No, I do not classify random acts of kindness to be something bad. I classify doing something that creates a problem for the 10 people behind me just so I can "be kind" to the one person in front of me as being an egotistical person who needs validation from others so I can feel good about myself. It's something I try very hard not to do.

2. I would get static from my DH if I were in any accident and it was my fault. So would anyone other married person. So far in my life I've NEVER had an accident backing out of a parking space and I don't anticipate that changing any time soon.

3.I don't know about the laws in your state, but in Michigan at a 4-way stop the car going straight has the right-of-way. If I'm turning left and the **** across from me won't go straight, I will (and have) wait until hell freezes over before I accept his "gesture" for me to go ahead. Yeah, it really pisses off the "good samaritan" like you wouldn't believe and I've had more than my fair share of "friendly waves" turn into "one fingered salutes" from those so-called good samaritans because I didn't make my turn when they told me to. But I know the laws and just because someone tells me it's OK to break them doesn't mean I'm going to do so.

And finally, I discount DH's advice/knowledge about backing into grocery store parking spaces because I have over 30 years experience doing the shopping and parking in grocery store parking lots. He is wrong when it comes to parking at a grocery store, and he's paid several times when he backs in and has difficulty when others park too close after we've gone in and he has to carry all the groceries back to the trunk. But he'll continue to keep backing in, I'll continue to keep my mouth shut when that action bites him, and I'll continue to pull in when I drive to the store.

And DH and I will continue to stay away from this particular conversation because we've decided that it's more important to us to be happy in our relationship rather than trying to get the other person to say, "You're right". On internet bulletin boards, however, all bets are off and I'm free to express myself without worrying about damaging my marriage.

Having said that, this thread has now reached my limit of over 100 posts and, as expected, it's down to a few people sniping and snarking at each other. But I needed to set the record straight and assert that at no time have I EVER considered random acts of kindness to be a bad thing. We simply disagree at what's considered a random act of kindess and what's considered a control mechanism.

Adieu mon ami!

1. a few second delay is a problem..???

2. I've had a few cases where My spouse was in an accident and all I asked was if she was OK, there was no static whatsoever, so again it is inaccurate to say so would any other married person.

3. the law states who has right of way, there is no law against someone yileding the right of way and someone accepting,
as for the parking lot scenario, once again, your point is based on convenience, your husbands from what you have told us, is based on safety, so how can he be wrong just because it's more difficult to put groceries in the car..

there is no need for cursing , , so much more could be said about what really is controlling behaviour, but I learned a long time ago to never waste my time nor energy debating with someone who has to resort to cursing, and name calling...

have a great day

 

[Liberty Belle]

But for most, it is the 2nd most expensive thing they own and even for many, it is the most expensive thing they own. Most people would just rather not have the most expensive or 2nd most expensive thing they own damaged.

I understand that thinking. I just don't really feel that way. I mean, I don't want my car damaged, for sure, but if it gets a little ding or something, I don't really care.

 

[hereyago]

I only back in if I go pick DD up from school in the parking lot and here's why: we have an official pick up turn around lane. then we have the parking lot. I don't mess with the turn around lane, because people like to park from the edge with their suvs and it makes for a tight fit if there are 2 cars on either side to get a car to go through the middle.

So I back up into a space in the parking lot: because 1) people drive through there like it's the autobahn and I want to see them coming 2) even if I back in, there are idiots who are too lazy with their lazy kids to park in a spot, so they make an unofficial pick up lane, blocking cars in the parking lot. I like to have my front facing out so they can see they will have to move.

 

[tlbwriter]

Not that either should ever happen, but would you (general you) rather hit a parked car, or a PERSON?

I've never hit a person, nor come close, so that's not a decision I ever make.

Regardless of what you choose to do, the argument that "I don't have to know EXACTLY where the back of my car is" is ridiculous. Don't you feel a little ridiculous just typing it?

Not in the slightest, because you clearly don't have a clue what I'm trying to say. I didn't say I don't need to know where the back of my car is. I said I don't have to have perfect aim, and it's okay to miss my target by a few inches. The fact that I expected to land on X and actually landed 6 inches away from X doesn't mean I'm going to hit a person, because if there was a person within several feet of X, I wouldn't have aimed for X.

Also, nice way to have a rational discussion.

 

[mrodgers]

I understand that thinking. I just don't really feel that way. I mean, I don't want my car damaged, for sure, but if it gets a little ding or something, I don't really care.

Little ding turns to premature rust and the necessary bodywork later on in its life that I don't care to do or to pay a lot of money for someone else to do. You can disregard obviously if you drive American cars because they are usually done mechanically way before you have to worry about rust, but those of us who drive Japanese cars, we like them due to the fact you don't have to work on them mechanically for 200,000+ miles and don't want to have to put all the work into bodywork prematurely well before that 200,000+ miles because some idiot dinged up the car in a parking lot compromising the bond between the primer coat and the sheetmetal 10 years earlier.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Little ding turns to premature rust and the necessary bodywork later on in its life that I don't care to do or to pay a lot of money for someone else to do. You can disregard obviously if you drive American cars because they are usually done mechanically way before you have to worry about rust, but those of us who drive Japanese cars, we like them due to the fact you don't have to work on them mechanically for 200,000+ miles and don't want to have to put all the work into bodywork prematurely well before that 200,000+ miles because some idiot dinged up the car in a parking lot compromising the bond between the primer coat and the sheetmetal 10 years earlier.

Our Volvo died at about 275,000. I really miss that car.

It's just not that important for me for my car to look perfect. I don't think anyone whose car is "their baby" is wrong - it's just not me.

 

[Anne MN]

I back in by personal vehicle (old suburban & newer suburban) I park in the back row and what is behind me is a fence. I call how my truck turns very wide- like turning a battleship I can't park in tight spaces, so I walk.

and at work- we are required to back the vehicles- and all HAVE to be online- we also have some who will guide us backing up- those are the rules of the motor pool