Backing into Parking Spots - What is the deal and why are so many more people doing it? (2 Viewers)

[ConstruxBoy]

I have to ask if this is happening anywhere else. I live in NC. Up until 6 months or so ago, I would estimate that maybe 5-7% of parking spots around my area had someone who backed into the spot. That made sense to me because it's a sub-optimal practice, IMO, and I wouldn't expect many people to do it.

But over the last 6 months or so that percentage has increased to 40-45% around me. Out of nowhere. At first I thought it was maybe a political thing, since a lot of the vehicles had Trump bumper stickers on them. But then I remembered that I live in NC. Anyway, a few weeks ago we went to dinner with our very left-leaning neighbors and they backed in. So scratch that theory.

Two questions:

1) Is anyone else noticing this in their area?
2) Does anyone have any idea why the practice has increased? I'm not much of a social media guy but is there some Tik Tok or Instagram thing that went viral exhorting the benefits of backing into a parking space?

TIA.

 

[Snoopy]

There is a train of thought that is is safer to get out of the parking spot that way. Personally, it doesn't offset the difficulty of the precision move from an unnatural position of backing in.

Personally, park the way you want, but don't tell everyone that backing in is the only acceptable method.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Unless it’s a big truck (I get that), it annoys the **** out of me. Particularly if it’s a busy parking lot and you’re holding up traffic to do your back and forth attempt to get into the space. What’s even better is since the person has to pull past the spot to back in, everyone else right behind them has to back up to give them room. You pull past the spot and I’m sweeping in to the spot right behind you……fight me.

 

[Terminalxylem]

It’s ubiquitous in Hawaii, though haven’t noticed any increase. I find it highly irritating.

Agree that the safety propaganda has probably been amplified on social media.

 

[urbanhack]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Unless it’s a big truck (I get that), it annoys the **** out of me. Particularly if it’s a busy parking lot and you’re holding up traffic to do your back and forth attempt to get into the space. What’s even better is since the person has to pull past the spot to back in, everyone else right behind them has to back up to give them room. You pull past the spot and I’m sweeping in to the spot right behind you……fight me.

We’re almost at the point we need separate parking for monster trucks/SUVs. Traditional spaces can’t accommodate the behemoths, which further slows the backing-in phenomenon.

 

[FiredMartz]

Its the millennials and Genz'ers using their backup cameras....was never a thing before the cameras....it's all about...look at me....I can back in and hold you up and look cool

 

[urbanhack]

Unless it’s a big truck (I get that), it annoys the **** out of me. Particularly if it’s a busy parking lot and you’re holding up traffic to do your back and forth attempt to get into the space. What’s even better is since the person has to pull past the spot to back in, everyone else right behind them has to back up to give them room. You pull past the spot and I’m sweeping in to the spot right behind you……fight me.

We’re almost at the point we need separate parking for monster trucks/SUVs. Traditional spaces can’t accommodate the behemoths, which further slows the backing in phenomenon.

My biggest issue with the big trucks is when they don't pull all the way in.

 

[Hastur]

Completely biased opinion forthcoming:

They annoy me so bad, I have decided to equate people that do that with not knowing how to drive.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

We've had some good discussion on this topic before. I always back in if it's a tight squeeze because it's easier to put the car exactly where it has to be.

 

[B Maverick]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

I agree with this.

Also, it makes it easier to leave a large event, or parking structure, when you can just pull out of the spot and get in line. Waiting for someone to give me the space to back out is not always easy. Would rather hold you up a second to back in, then to back out when everyone is trying to leave and no one lets anyone else in.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I see it a little more, and find it a little irritating. Nowhere near as irritating as the middle lane on the interstate now being the slow lane for whatever freakin' reason.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

I agree with this.

Also, it makes it easier to leave a large event, or parking structure, when you can just pull out of the spot and get in line. Waiting for someone to give me the space to back out is not always easy. Would rather hold you up a second to back in, then to back out when everyone is trying to leave and no one lets anyone else in.

The bolded is far from universal. I rarely have issues backing out of a space, as most people here are civil.

Meanwhile, I’m frequently held up by backer-inners. One re-do is acceptable, I guess, but more than that should result in a time violation.

 

[B Maverick]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

I agree with this.

Also, it makes it easier to leave a large event, or parking structure, when you can just pull out of the spot and get in line. Waiting for someone to give me the space to back out is not always easy. Would rather hold you up a second to back in, then to back out when everyone is trying to leave and no one lets anyone else in.

The bolded is far from universal. I rarely have issues backing out of a space, as most people here are civil.

Meanwhile, I’m frequently held up by backer-inners. One re-do is acceptable, I guess, but more than that should result in a time violation.

Oh for sure. Just personal experience living in SoCal. Usually if I am backing in there is no one waiting for me. Or minimal people. If it is a mad rush to get in then I am not backing in.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I see it a little more, and find it a little irritating. Nowhere near as irritating as the middle lane on the interstate now being the slow lane for whatever freakin' reason.

I hadn’t noticed the middle lane slowing, but it kinda makes sense on a 3-lane highway: far left for passing, far right for merging and exits, middle for everything else, including slow drivers.

 

[Tin Cup]

Usually, you need to either back in or back out. I’d just as soon get it out of the way and make leaving easier. Delayed gratification and all.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I see it a little more, and find it a little irritating. Nowhere near as irritating as the middle lane on the interstate now being the slow lane for whatever freakin' reason.

I hadn’t noticed the middle lane slowing, but it kinda makes sense on a 3-lane highway: far left for passing, far right for merging and exits, middle for everything else, including slow drivers.

So much less safe now as traffic crosses into the middle as people get pissed and pass. It also makes merging more dangerous as people pass on the right.

 

[Don Quixote]

Weirdest thing is when I see it grocery shopping/Target/etc. Like, why back in when you are going to want access to the trunk.

 

[Sammy3469]

I have to ask if this is happening anywhere else. I live in NC. Up until 6 months or so ago, I would estimate that maybe 5-7% of parking spots around my area had someone who backed into the spot. That made sense to me because it's a sub-optimal practice, IMO, and I wouldn't expect many people to do it.

But over the last 6 months or so that percentage has increased to 40-45% around me. Out of nowhere. At first I thought it was maybe a political thing, since a lot of the vehicles had Trump bumper stickers on them. But then I remembered that I live in NC. Anyway, a few weeks ago we went to dinner with our very left-leaning neighbors and they backed in. So scratch that theory.

Two questions:

1) Is anyone else noticing this in their area?
2) Does anyone have any idea why the practice has increased? I'm not much of a social media guy but is there some Tik Tok or Instagram thing that went viral exhorting the benefits of backing into a parking space?

TIA.

Yes. I know here a whole bunch of people started under the social media reasoning that the quick pop the trunk, take things, and drive off is much harder when its backed in.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I would never do this if there was traffic behind me, but I do it regularly in two very frequent lots: my kids' school lots and the metro north train station lot. Why do I do it? Typically there is less pedestrian traffic when I arrive and park then when I'm leaving (school lets out, train from city lets out). So it's easier AND safer in those two circumstances.

 

[Runkle]

It's incredibly common on Los Angeles, and, everyone who does it is dumb.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I would never do this if there was traffic behind me, but I do it regularly in two very frequent lots: my kids' school lots and the metro north train station lot. Why do I do it? Typically there is less pedestrian traffic when I arrive and park then when I'm leaving (school lets out, train from city lets out). So it's easier AND safer in those two circumstances.

Yes, it's definitely a time and place thing. I would never do it while the parking lot is busy.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Usually, you need to either back in or back out. I’d just as soon get it out of the way and make leaving easier. Delayed gratification and all.

But when you back out, the person you are delaying is waiting for your spot. When you back in, the person you are delaying is trying to find their own spot.

 

[UncleZen]

The only time I do it is at larger events. The cars parking are typically entering at staggered times so you can do it without cause traffic interruptions. Leaving is chaotic and everyone doing it at once.

 

[fruity pebbles]

The only time I do it is at larger events. The cars parking are typically entering at staggered times so you can do it without cause traffic interruptions. Leaving is chaotic and everyone doing it at once.

That I can understand

 

[Terminalxylem]

Usually, you need to either back in or back out. I’d just as soon get it out of the way and make leaving easier. Delayed gratification and all.

Pulling in is almost always quicker, rarely causing other drivers to wait for you to park. Meanwhile, backing out into an open lane is nearly always faster than reversing into a space.

So time is saved on both ends of the equation.

 

[zamboni]

IMO it’s acceptable if it’s a large event, as others have said, and you want to get out quicker. Or if it’s a tight area and backing out is tough.

The middle option is to just park sideways.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I see it a little more, and find it a little irritating. Nowhere near as irritating as the middle lane on the interstate now being the slow lane for whatever freakin' reason.

I hadn’t noticed the middle lane slowing, but it kinda makes sense on a 3-lane highway: far left for passing, far right for merging and exits, middle for everything else, including slow drivers.

So much less safe now as traffic crosses into the middle as people get pissed and pass. It also makes merging more dangerous as people pass on the right.

Wouldn’t those same people get pissed merging from the on ramp?

Good point about passing on the right, though I’m not sure a few vagabond right-lane speeders is more dangerous than navigating a line of slow traffic for the on ramp denizens.

 

[the moops]

Usually, you need to either back in or back out. I’d just as soon get it out of the way and make leaving easier. Delayed gratification and all.

But when you back out, the person you are delaying is waiting for your spot. When you back in, the person you are delaying is trying to find their own spot.

Not true. The person sin't necessarily waiting for your spot, they could just be driving down that lane to leave

 

[the moops]

Its the millennials and Genz'ers using their backup cameras....was never a thing before the cameras....it's all about...look at me....I can back in and hold you up and look cool

I have backed into spots since the mid 90's bud

 

[fruity pebbles]

Its the millennials and Genz'ers using their backup cameras....was never a thing before the cameras....it's all about...look at me....I can back in and hold you up and look cool

I have backed into spots since the mid 90's bud

Everybody hates you in the parking lot

 

[Joe Bryant]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

This. @urbanhack knows.

Don't do it if backing in is going to hold up traffic. But otherwise, it's optimal.

 

[belljr]

I back into my driveway is that better or worse than a parking spot

 

[KarmaPolice]

I see it a little more, and find it a little irritating. Nowhere near as irritating as the middle lane on the interstate now being the slow lane for whatever freakin' reason.

I hadn’t noticed the middle lane slowing, but it kinda makes sense on a 3-lane highway: far left for passing, far right for merging and exits, middle for everything else, including slow drivers.

So much less safe now as traffic crosses into the middle as people get pissed and pass. It also makes merging more dangerous as people pass on the right.

Wouldn’t those same people get pissed merging from the on ramp?

Good point about passing on the right, though I’m not sure a few vagabond right-lane speeders is more dangerous than navigating a line of slow traffic for the on ramp denizens.

Oh, it is not a few. It is s.o.p. here in WI.

 

[fruity pebbles]

I back into my driveway is that better or worse than a parking spot

If you live on a busy road and you’re stopping traffic to do it, much worse. If nobody’s around, who cares.

 

[belljr]

I back into my driveway is that better or worse than a parking spot

If you live on a busy road and you’re stopping traffic to do it, much worse. If nobody’s around, who cares.

I was tongue-in-cheek about the worse than a parking spot. I just live in a local development

 

[Nugget]

It is easier to park a pickup truck by backing in. The plug on my car is on the wrong side so I need to either back in to my garage or run the cord over the hood.

 

[cheese]

Our work insurance just started requiring it on the basis of first move forward preventing so many accidents. It feels unnatural to me. They claim there were also a massive number of children backed over in 2024 out of parking spaces. No idea of the details on that, but it’s what the insurance is telling people. I guess I’ll be doing it, but I’m not excited about it.

 

[bigbottom]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

I agree with this.

Also, it makes it easier to leave a large event, or parking structure, when you can just pull out of the spot and get in line. Waiting for someone to give me the space to back out is not always easy. Would rather hold you up a second to back in, then to back out when everyone is trying to leave and no one lets anyone else in.

Concerts and sporting events are an example where I support backing in because it is 10x busier when you are leaving vs. when you are arriving.

 

[bigbottom]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

This. @urbanhack knows.

Don't do it if backing in is going to hold up traffic. But otherwise, it's optimal.

I fully support people backing in in all situations if they so choose so long as it isn’t holding up anyone.

 

[snogger]

I have to ask if this is happening anywhere else. I live in NC. Up until 6 months or so ago, I would estimate that maybe 5-7% of parking spots around my area had someone who backed into the spot. That made sense to me because it's a sub-optimal practice, IMO, and I wouldn't expect many people to do it.

But over the last 6 months or so that percentage has increased to 40-45% around me. Out of nowhere. At first I thought it was maybe a political thing, since a lot of the vehicles had Trump bumper stickers on them. But then I remembered that I live in NC. Anyway, a few weeks ago we went to dinner with our very left-leaning neighbors and they backed in. So scratch that theory.

Two questions:

1) Is anyone else noticing this in their area?
2) Does anyone have any idea why the practice has increased? I'm not much of a social media guy but is there some Tik Tok or Instagram thing that went viral exhorting the benefits of backing into a parking space?

TIA.

If given a chance I always pull through a open space into the space in front. May "look" like I backed in.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

This. @urbanhack knows.

Don't do it if backing in is going to hold up traffic. But otherwise, it's optimal.

I fully support people backing in in all situations if they so choose so long as it isn’t holding up anyone.

Don’t think anyone has an issue if there’s nobody behind you.

 

[Chaz McNulty]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

This. @urbanhack knows.

Don't do it if backing in is going to hold up traffic. But otherwise, it's optimal.

This is exactly right. People who back in when they have a couple cars behind them are basically saying that their time is more important than everyone else's. I think it's very inconsiderate.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

This. @urbanhack knows.

Don't do it if backing in is going to hold up traffic. But otherwise, it's optimal.

This is exactly right. People who back in when they have a couple cars behind them are basically saying that their time is more important than everyone else's. I think it's very inconsiderate.

That’s exactly it. It’s me and f everybody else. Certain circumstances I can understand and don’t care…….event parking, big trucks

 

[SayWhat?]

As a truck owner, it’s basically a necessity to back into most spots if the parking lot/spot is a tight squeeze. Otherwise the angle as you drive forward, coupled with length of the truck, doesn’t allow you to fit.

Possibly because of the truck factor for myself, it bothers me zero if other people back into spots. Take a gummy, y’all.

 

[bigbottom]

Depends on the situation, but I can be more precise with the rear camera into a tight space then if I gauge it going straight in. If it's busy or something I won't bother. But if I have the time and there are straight spaces and not slanted..i'll back it in.

Easy out for the win.

This. @urbanhack knows.

Don't do it if backing in is going to hold up traffic. But otherwise, it's optimal.

I fully support people backing in in all situations if they so choose so long as it isn’t holding up anyone.

Don’t think anyone has an issue if there’s nobody behind you.

And I think that’s the rub. If you are choosing to back in (which is no doubt a longer process) and someone is waiting behind you, you are inconveniencing that person.

If you instead pull in straight, when you back out of the space, you have to wait for it to be clear for you to do so, which inconveniences you.

If there is no one behind you when you choose to back in, I agree that backing in is optimal or at least a wash. The question for me is whether it is justified to make other people wait while you back in. I think at concerts and sporting events it makes sense because everyone is better served by being able to pull straight out when traffic is at its worst. In other circumstances I’m not so sure.

 

[3C's]

I was at Costco a few weeks ago and some **** in a fancy car pulls up behind me as I'm about to back out. I'm in reverse and waiting for him to pass by, but he doesn't. He starts to back into a spot. Then once he's out of my way I start to back out and he honks at me because he wants to pull forward to get parked better. I wasn't about to wait. He honks again and I give him the shove it look.

 

[the moops]

Its the millennials and Genz'ers using their backup cameras....was never a thing before the cameras....it's all about...look at me....I can back in and hold you up and look cool

I have backed into spots since the mid 90's bud

Everybody hates you in the parking lot

That's fine

 

[Leroy Hoard]

If given a chance I always pull through a open space into the space in front. May "look" like I backed in.

Exactly, this is what I try to do. And since I'm not one to wait for a closer space it's usually done easy in places with good sized parking lots.

 

[E Street Brat]

Usually, you need to either back in or back out. I’d just as soon get it out of the way and make leaving easier. Delayed gratification and all.

But when you back out, the person you are delaying is waiting for your spot. When you back in, the person you are delaying is trying to find their own spot.

If I'm loading the trunk and notice somebody waiting for my spot instead of driving past me to the spot three spaces down and having to walk those extra 10 steps.
I wait in the car until they move on, or get out and start walking back towards the store.....

Eat a salad every once in a while Mr. Fatty fat fatso.