30 minute parallel parking attempt becomes viral hit

[Liberal_in_LA]

one of the filmers offered to help, slapping his head in frustration. lol

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22339001

Hapless attempt at parallel parking in Belfast is internet hit

A video of an unfortunate woman trying to park her car in a Belfast street has become an internet sensation.

It shows a driver taking about 30 minutes and several attempts to reverse her car into a space between two vehicles on Fitzroy Avenue in the Holyland area of south Belfast.

The 30-minute attempt at parking was filmed by a group of students living in the street, and has been viewed more than 700,000 times online.

[Warpy]

1. I sympathize

The first time I ever tried to parallel park a car, I had just driven up to Boston with everything I owned in the world in said car, a typical 1950s tank.

It didn't take me 30 minutes, but it might have taken me a good 5. However, I didn't hit anybody and I was very close to the curb when I finished, so I was happy with it.

[petronius]

7. I feel that person's pain - I'm a pretty good driver (as all Californians are from

birth, since we invented driving, the freeway, the flyover, and the mega-scale parking lot ), but I am a shitty parallel parker - a consequence of growing up with those mega-sized lots. I have Boston relatives who I swear can move a car straight sideways into a car-sized slot, on either side of the street, but I still sweat when I remember one particular left-side parking attempt that I essayed on a San Francisco hill one evening...

[WorseBeforeBetter]

11. I am the Queen of Parallel Parking...

but left-side on a San Fran hill, yeah, that sounds a bit daunting, particularly if driving a stick!

[longship]

2. Up next, viral 24 hour video of paint drying... nt

[Earth_First]

6. +1 nt

[laundry_queen]

24. Oh I don't know about that

I think it was worth it for the accents.

That said - I don't understand this at ALL. I'm one of those lucky ones that had no issues with parallel parking - ever. Got a 'perfect!' comment on my driver's test. And for years I lived in areas where parallel parking is pretty rare, but recently I had an appointment downtown. I have a rather long mini-van (Chev Uplander extended) and there was this itty bitty spot - I was a bit concerned as it had been years since I had to parallel park and I had never tried with my van...and the spot was really small. But it was either that or walk 20 minutes as it was the only spot for miles...so I attempted it. Got it on the first try, exactly right, less than an inch from the curb, perfectly straight. I was pretty proud. My driver training instructor said it was just one of those things that you're either born with it or you aren't.

[Cha]

33. I wasn't going to watch it but you had me had "accents"! Their laughter was

infectious and I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

Thanks, laundry queen.

[ananda]

3. I so relate.

I must be the worst parallel parker on the planet, or at least I've always thought so.
I'm not much good at any kind of parking, really, but parallel really gets me.

I'm better than I used to be, though... but not by that much.

[DevonRex]

10. You can do it. Find the instructions online.

Follow them to the letter during a time that isn't busy. You get it once it's like riding a bike.

[johnp3907]

4. Coulda been me.

I couldn't even parallel park on my drivers test. I just kept going back and forth until the cop told me to stop and do my 3 point turn. I passed. Then I bought a Chevette and it wasn't an issue anymore.

[LeftInTX]

5. I've never parallel parked

I'm 56 years old. They tried to teach me in drivers ed. I've tried a few times, but never succeeded.

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. it's something you have to practice when there is no pressure (no other car waiting to pass)

Simply park next the car directly in front of the spot, then back up slowly while turning the steering wheel towards the curb.

[eissa]

8. Day 5

Lol! Ok, the commentary may not have been very nice, but that was funny. Loved the ending!

[randome]

18. It would have made a great drinking game. In fact, it sounds like it was!

[DevonRex]

9. Oh thank god

It wasn't me. I can do it now no problem. But 13 months ago? Nope.

[Fumesucker]

12. Abandon Ship! ... The fookin Seagulls are laughing!

<wiping tears>

[RiffRandell]

13. That is fucking hysterical!

This is what came to my mind:

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it.

W. C. Fields

[DevonRex]

14. Can't stop laughing. More like perpendicular parking!!!

OMG!!!

[MisterP]

15. I was once behind someone who for 5 minutes just made little 60-degree arc-segments--a crescent

shape with the convex end toward the gas pump

just back and forth, back and forth

[octothorpe]

16. That's totally meeee (but not like really)

I never did get that down. I wasn't even tested on it.

[Th1onein]

17. I've hit three cars, a truck, a pole and a shopping cart, trying to back up in parking lots.

Some people are just not good at spatial things. I'm one on of them. People HATE to ride in my truck with me.

[randome]

19. I'm teaching both daughters to drive.

I should show them this as a means to get them to relax. Because at their most incompetent, they will never be this bad!

Plus it IS just fucking hilarious!

[nolabear]

21. Man, I was really pulling for her after a while!

Little schmucks watching...but I couldn't help but laugh and cheer and wanted to yell out instructions too. I won't post spoilers about how it turns out, but

[HipChick]

22. I understood every word they said too..

[JaneyVee]

25. Probably an AMerican having a hard time with the steering wheel on the opposite side.

[Buzz Clik]

26. "Day 5" "Day 6"

"Sean, go offer to park it for her. Go on!"

"Even the pigeons are looking at her."

[Cha]

35. I must have a perverse sense of humor.. I laughed just as hard

as the Belfast Boys who were fooking priceless! Actually, they were the ones who were so Funny! "I love her!"

[Buzz Clik]

42. I totally agree.

Without the audio and those guys so thoroughly amused, this would have been a very boring video.

[HappyMe]

43. I agree.

This was one of the funniest things I have seen in quite awhile.

I was laughing just as hard as the Belfast guys.

[Zorra]

27. I have pretty much managed to avoid living anywhere where parallel parking

was necessary.

When I went to areas where parallel parking was necessary, I would drive around until I found a place to park that did not require parallel parking.

Walking a mile or two is much easier, and less time consuming, than parallel parking for me.

[A HERETIC I AM]

28. Here lady, try this;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=9691316

[cherokeeprogressive]

29. Hey My Friend... I forgot to tell you the other day how much I enjoyed your video.

I was at work and watched it on my cell phone. Cool vid!

Hope all is well with you!

[BainsBane]

40. I think we can all be thankful

That no jurisdiction is likely to give her a trucking license.

[olddots]

30. You ain't seen nuttin yet

99% of Boomers can't afford the new cars that have robotic parking programs .

[MoonchildCA]

31. I have to say, I'm a bit offended...

By them yelling, "Woman driver! Woman driver!"

I'm a "woman driver" and an excellent parallel parker, thank you very much. I've met plenty of guys that are much worse at it.

[laundry_queen]

37. Yeah that bothered me too

read my post upthread - I've always been an excellent parallel parker - in any vehicle and with minimal practice.

I was also offended by them calling women walking down the street 'heifers'. Disgusting behavior, really. It's sad this is 'typical' behavior for male students.

[Coyotl]

32. This has to be a put-on

Noone could be that lame

[NBachers]

34. San Francisco driver with a stick-shift car

One time I squeezed my 1 ton work van into a little space on crowded Geary Street. Just zipped right in. Two guys behind me pulled up and said, "Smooth like Butter! We thought we were going to be stuck behind you." I got a big thumbs up.

I taught my son to drive and park, and he tells me tales of going out with his friends and displaying his parallel parking skills.

I admit I'm cheating a bit more these days, and using the hand-brake method to start from a dead stop on steep hills, though.

[Cha]

36. Thanks Liberal_in_LA!

If laughter is the best medicine.. I just got a whole truckload full of it!

[MaineLinePhilly]

38. HILARIOUS

I showed this to my mom and even she said it must be a woman driver. Stereotypes have some truth in them. I can't believe that went on for 30 minutes!!!

[BainsBane]

39. I was behind someone like that the other day

She was blocking a lane of traffic to park. It was busy traffic, not quiet like in the video. I had stopped behind her, giving her plenty of room to get tn the space but she just sat there blocking traffic. I finally was able to move into the next lane to get around her, then she crises to park. Somehow he didn't think she could park with mea good 20 feet behind the space she was to get in. You live in a city, either lean to parallel park or confine yourself to parking lots.

I love the cheering section in the video. Hilarious.

[kickysnana]

41. Parking lot redo in our Sr apartment building last fall..

Those who were not out parallel parking were in the community room laughing and pointing.