Parking

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You know in mall or busy grocery store parking lots - what is it about finding the absolute closest parking spot, even if it means driving up and down the rows for a half-hour? And oh, if somebody's going to leave a "close" parking space, its always ok to stop and wait, no matter how many people are behind you. I mean, isn't that kind of ridiculously lazy? "I'm looking for a good spot" - ?

And then there are those who park right in the fire lane - right next to the entrance, the one that screams "NO PARKING ANYTIME." Are they special?

And backing into a space - why? A couple just moved into my building and they both always back their cars (suvs actually) into the parking spaces in front of the building. Just stepped outside and noticed their visitor has parked the same way. Is there some advantage to doing this?

Maybe your parking habits telegraph your driving habits. I dunno. Does anybody else notice this stuff?

:smoke:

on edit - this certainly isn't directed toward or about anyone whose medical condition would justify a particular behavior.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. That drives me absolutely bananas.

I park where I can and then walk the distance. Really irks me when it is someone a lot younger than I am (I am 54) and they are too damn lazy but probably boast about their workouts at the health club.

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. I'm younger, but...

I have arthritis in my feet that really troubles me sometimes. I do not brag about workouts.

Although I'm not super picky about it, I do like to try to get as close as I can since I do not have a handicap tag for the car.

Everyone's situation is different.
FSC

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. yes, your situation IS different.

But I know people of the kind I describe.

[teach1st]

3. I'm a backer...

I agree with your rant about "close parkers."

I'm a "backer inner" at home and at my school. I do it because of habit - I'm always in a hurry to leave, I guess. The road I park off of at school is crowded when I leave, but nobody's on it when I arrive, so it's easier to back in when I get there than back out into traffic.

[-..__...]

5. A couple of answers.

In parking lots; I don't even bother looking for spots nearest the mall or store entrance... matter of fact, I go out of my way to avoid them.
Think where most of the foot and vehicular traffic is going to be?

By parking further back in the lot, it simplifies getting in and out of my spot. When I don't back in, I pull through to the spot in front.

I get a kick out of the drivers who loiter close to the front waiting for a spot to open up.

Backing in? It's really the safest way. The driver has more visibility
and reaction time when pulling out of their spot.

With any large vehicle (like an SUV), there's less visibility out the side when backing out rather than pulling out forwards. I'm willing to bet most parking lot fender benders, or pedestrian accidents, involve drivers backing out.

I'm just the opposite... I don't understand why people don't back in. "Telegraphing" driving habits? Park-forward-inners are probably worse drivers than us backer-uppers. :D

On edit: And oh, if somebody's going to leave a "close" parking space, its always ok to stop and wait, no matter how many people are behind you. I mean, isn't that kind of ridiculously lazy? "I'm looking for a good spot" - ?

What about the people who deliberately take their time pulling out from their parking space?

What I mean is... you're in front of the parking queue. You spot people who have just loaded up their trunk, get into their car, see you (and other drivers), waiting for the spot, and they just sit there... and sit there... and sit there. I could understand if there was a quick parking lot blow-job involved, but what are the chances of that happening? :D

[Kat45]

7. They've done surveillance/studies that showed that people

took much longer to pull out of their parking space when somebody is waiting for the space. They guessed it was a "power" type of thing. :shrug:

[TrogL]

6. I tend to park far away unless I'm unloading a lot of stuff

especially in shopping malls. That way people don't bump my van with their doors or shopping carts.

If I need to park really close (eg. to unload my music gear), I'll talk to security and get their permission to park close. Sometimes they'll tell me to pull right up on the sidewalk.