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

[the moops]

We should just have single lanes of traffic everywhere

 

[Gally]

We should just have single lanes of traffic everywhere

Definitely no lane jumpers then. Just those pesky shoulder drivers.

 

[Bossman]

At the end of the day, it's fine. I've got great insurance, I've got a driver cam, and I've got the time and money to do things right. If you pull out in front of me and I'm in the proper lane, and you do it late enough, there's a decent chance you're getting drilled, and then you're getting sued. And I'll win.

So if you really want a reason to use the road properly, maybe that's the one. Save some money and hassle.

Color me confused as you seem to contradict yourself ... or others on your team...

A driver already in the lane that people are merging into sees that the lane that is ending is clear for length of about 20 cars before the lane ends ...
This driver moves to the vacant lane to "use all available asphalt" and advance 20 spots and you choose to drill him? ... and then sue him/her and win?
So complete traffic stoppage, Personal injury, body shops, rental cars .... That'll teach 'em!
My goodness.

 

[Harry Manback]

At the end of the day, it's fine. I've got great insurance, I've got a driver cam, and I've got the time and money to do things right. If you pull out in front of me and I'm in the proper lane, and you do it late enough, there's a decent chance you're getting drilled, and then you're getting sued. And I'll win.

So if you really want a reason to use the road properly, maybe that's the one. Save some money and hassle.

I truly hope you try this, as you likely won't win. But it will be a funny story.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

We should just have single lanes of traffic everywhere

The Kramer solution. Nice wide lanes, easy cruising.

 

[Gally]

We should just have single lanes of traffic everywhere

The Kramer solution. Nice wide lanes, easy cruising.

Hey.....those are first class lanes. Not just for everybody........

 

[Instinctive]

At the end of the day, it's fine. I've got great insurance, I've got a driver cam, and I've got the time and money to do things right. If you pull out in front of me and I'm in the proper lane, and you do it late enough, there's a decent chance you're getting drilled, and then you're getting sued. And I'll win.

So if you really want a reason to use the road properly, maybe that's the one. Save some money and hassle.

Color me confused as you seem to contradict yourself ... or others on your team...

A driver already in the lane that people are merging into sees that the lane that is ending is clear for length of about 20 cars before the lane ends ...
This driver moves to the vacant lane to "use all available asphalt" and advance 20 spots and you choose to drill him? ... and then sue him/her and win?
So complete traffic stoppage, Personal injury, body shops, rental cars .... That'll teach 'em!
My goodness.

See it's ok. now I know it's just trolling. We'll just agree to disagree. I'm not here to antagonize or be trolled, I'm here to have fun. GLHF.

 

[QuizGuy66]

People like to needlessly waste the time of the person pulling into the parking lot behind them.

-QG

 

[BrutalPenguin]

People like to needlessly waste the time of the person pulling into the parking lot behind them.

-QG

No, those people don't think about other people at all.

 

[Terminalxylem]

At the end of the day, it's fine. I've got great insurance, I've got a driver cam, and I've got the time and money to do things right. If you pull out in front of me and I'm in the proper lane, and you do it late enough, there's a decent chance you're getting drilled, and then you're getting sued. And I'll win.

So if you really want a reason to use the road properly, maybe that's the one. Save some money and hassle.

100% agree it’s jerk behavior, but seems like it would be nearly impossible to prove his intent by “blocking” the lane.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

 

[The Z Machine]

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Try parking a medium sized car in France on a parking deck. Very tough to do front-in in one shot. Much easier to back-in in one shot.

 

[the moops]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Do you wait for them to leave to see how quickly they got out of their spot thereby saving time for the next person who pulled or backed into their spot?

 

[Harry Manback]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Do you wait for them to leave to see how quickly they got out of their spot thereby saving time for the next person who pulled or backed into their spot?

Of course not. But I’d estimate the ratio of delays I’ve experienced waiting for backer-inners versus people exiting spots, any style, is ~10:1.

 

[Terminalxylem]

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Try parking a medium sized car in France on a parking deck. Very tough to do front-in in one shot. Much easier to back-in in one shot.

Why? Metric system?

 

[Terminalxylem]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

I appreciate it.

But unlike the zipper merge, there’s no math to support backing in being quicker. Anecdotally, it definitely isn’t helping traffic.

 

[Chadstroma]

I find parking forward and backing out faster. Easier/quicker to drive in ans more room to back out. I am not opposed to backing in for a reason... I do back in when picking my daughter up for vball practice because the parking lot is dead when I get there and a circus where people do not let you get out... I need a specific reason

 

[The Z Machine]

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Try parking a medium sized car in France on a parking deck. Very tough to do front-in in one shot. Much easier to back-in in one shot.

Why? Metric system?

Typical width of French parking space is about 2.2m (7' 2.5"). The typical US width is 2.7m (8' 10"). That extra 0.5m (1' 6") is pretty important for trying to swing the front of the car into the spot. Also, the lanes themselves are narrower, and typically one way, so there's no way to swing out wide.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Try parking a medium sized car in France on a parking deck. Very tough to do front-in in one shot. Much easier to back-in in one shot.

Why? Metric system?

Typical width of French parking space is about 2.2m (7' 2.5"). The typical US width is 2.7m (8' 10"). That extra 0.5m (1' 6") is pretty important for trying to swing the front of the car into the spot. Also, the lanes themselves are narrower, and typically one way, so there's no way to swing out wide.

How the hell do you even get out of your car once parked? Are all of the vehicles 3 feet wide?

 

[Terminalxylem]

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Try parking a medium sized car in France on a parking deck. Very tough to do front-in in one shot. Much easier to back-in in one shot.

Why? Metric system?

Typical width of French parking space is about 2.2m (7' 2.5"). The typical US width is 2.7m (8' 10"). That extra 0.5m (1' 6") is pretty important for trying to swing the front of the car into the spot. Also, the lanes themselves are narrower, and typically one way, so there's no way to swing out wide.

Wow, that’s a huge difference. Would be interesting to experience that first hand. What percentage of people pull in under those circumstances?

And still, it doesn’t explain the trend for backing in the US.

 

[Terminalxylem]

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Try parking a medium sized car in France on a parking deck. Very tough to do front-in in one shot. Much easier to back-in in one shot.

Why? Metric system?

Typical width of French parking space is about 2.2m (7' 2.5"). The typical US width is 2.7m (8' 10"). That extra 0.5m (1' 6") is pretty important for trying to swing the front of the car into the spot. Also, the lanes themselves are narrower, and typically one way, so there's no way to swing out wide.

How the hell do you even get out of your car once parked? Are all of the vehicles 3 feet wide?

Definitely wouldn’t accommodate our bloated vehicles.

 

[The Z Machine]

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Try parking a medium sized car in France on a parking deck. Very tough to do front-in in one shot. Much easier to back-in in one shot.

Why? Metric system?

Typical width of French parking space is about 2.2m (7' 2.5"). The typical US width is 2.7m (8' 10"). That extra 0.5m (1' 6") is pretty important for trying to swing the front of the car into the spot. Also, the lanes themselves are narrower, and typically one way, so there's no way to swing out wide.

How the hell do you even get out of your car once parked? Are all of the vehicles 3 feet wide?

In parking garages (often underground) i typically let passengers out before backing in. Then I give myself a little more room on the drivers side. Open the door slowly so as not to ding the car next to me and slide out sideways. Helps to mot be obese or have mobility issues...

 

[Bossman]

In parking garages (often underground) i typically let passengers out before backing in. Then I give myself a little more room on the drivers side. Open the door slowly so as not to ding the car next to me and slide out sideways. Helps to mot be obese or have mobility issues...

US has special permits and parking spots for those that you speak of above...

 

[Chadstroma]

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

Try parking a medium sized car in France on a parking deck. Very tough to do front-in in one shot. Much easier to back-in in one shot.

Why? Metric system?

Typical width of French parking space is about 2.2m (7' 2.5"). The typical US width is 2.7m (8' 10"). That extra 0.5m (1' 6") is pretty important for trying to swing the front of the car into the spot. Also, the lanes themselves are narrower, and typically one way, so there's no way to swing out wide.

Plus, when surrendering you need to just go- can't back out of your parking space.

(sorry, couldn't control the urge)

 

[Gally]

How the hell do you even get out of your car once parked? Are all of the vehicles 3 feet wide?

Don't you mean 0.914 m?

 

[Harry Manback]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

I appreciate it.

But unlike the zipper merge, there’s no math to support backing in being quicker. Anecdotally, it definitely isn’t helping traffic.

It's not about quicker it's about safer.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

I appreciate it.

But unlike the zipper merge, there’s no math to support backing in being quicker. Anecdotally, it definitely isn’t helping traffic.

It's not about quicker it's about safer.

I’ve never contested the safety advantage of backing in (nor has anyone else, TMK). Just don’t think the magnitude of that benefit (pretty small, I'm guessing - any concrete data?) offsets the downsides. Like exceeding the speed limit, it’s a time-saving risk worth taking.

Eleven pages of arguing has mainly focused on its inefficiency, which also seems indisputable, imo. I’m glad somebody on team back up finally acknowledges this non-complex concept.

 

[Harry Manback]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

I appreciate it.

But unlike the zipper merge, there’s no math to support backing in being quicker. Anecdotally, it definitely isn’t helping traffic.

It's not about quicker it's about safer.

I’ve never contested the safety advantage of backing in (nor has anyone else, TMK). Just don’t think the magnitude of that benefit (pretty small, I'm guessing - any concrete data?) offsets the downsides. Like exceeding the speed limit, it’s a time-saving risk worth taking.

Eleven pages of arguing has mainly focused on its inefficiency, which also seems indisputable, imo. I’m glad somebody on team back up finally acknowledges this non-complex concept.

Unfortunately for your argument, it might not even be slower to back in. All of these anecdotes are focusing on people backing in to spots. Yes, backing in takes longer than pulling in, What people are either choosing to ignore, or failing to realize, is that backing out takes more time than pulling out forward. Notice no one seems to be commenting on these experiences? Weird.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

I appreciate it.

But unlike the zipper merge, there’s no math to support backing in being quicker. Anecdotally, it definitely isn’t helping traffic.

It's not about quicker it's about safer.

I’ve never contested the safety advantage of backing in (nor has anyone else, TMK). Just don’t think the magnitude of that benefit (pretty small, I'm guessing - any concrete data?) offsets the downsides. Like exceeding the speed limit, it’s a time-saving risk worth taking.

Eleven pages of arguing has mainly focused on its inefficiency, which also seems indisputable, imo. I’m glad somebody on team back up finally acknowledges this non-complex concept.

Unfortunately for your argument, it might not even be slower to back in. All of these anecdotes are focusing on people backing in to spots. Yes, backing in takes longer than pulling in, What people are either choosing to ignore, or failing to realize, is that backing out takes more time than pulling out forward. Notice no one seems to be commenting on these experiences? Weird.

No, I’ve commented, as have others.

Unfortunately, you seem to have missed those posts. To recap the salient points:

Pulling in is faster than backing, while pulling out is quicker (and safer) than backing out.

Both pulling in and exiting facing forward are easy, in most circumstances. They both can happen pretty quickly, assuming traffic doesn’t block one’s exit.

OTOH, backing into a confined space is more difficult (and time consuming) than backing into the wider lanes of parking lots.

More importantly, delays in backing in may hold up other drivers, while delays exiting a spot mainly just delay the driver.

Some of us are more likely to be time constrained at the onset of parking (eg. running late for work, or a dinner reservation) than leaving the lot.

The magnitude of the safety advantage of backing in isn’t entirely clear, but likely pretty small, so some us choose efficiency and consideration of other drivers, preferring to pull in.

Make sense?

 

[Instinctive]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

I appreciate it.

But unlike the zipper merge, there’s no math to support backing in being quicker. Anecdotally, it definitely isn’t helping traffic.

It's not about quicker it's about safer.

I’ve never contested the safety advantage of backing in (nor has anyone else, TMK). Just don’t think the magnitude of that benefit (pretty small, I'm guessing - any concrete data?) offsets the downsides. Like exceeding the speed limit, it’s a time-saving risk worth taking.

Eleven pages of arguing has mainly focused on its inefficiency, which also seems indisputable, imo. I’m glad somebody on team back up finally acknowledges this non-complex concept.

Unfortunately for your argument, it might not even be slower to back in. All of these anecdotes are focusing on people backing in to spots. Yes, backing in takes longer than pulling in, What people are either choosing to ignore, or failing to realize, is that backing out takes more time than pulling out forward. Notice no one seems to be commenting on these experiences? Weird.

No, I’ve commented, as have others.

Unfortunately, you seem to have missed those posts. To recap the salient points:

Pulling in is faster than backing, while pulling out is quicker (and safer) than backing out.

Both pulling in and exiting facing forward are easy, in most circumstances. They both can happen pretty quickly, assuming traffic doesn’t block one’s exit.

OTOH, backing into a confined space is more difficult (and time consuming) than backing into the wider lanes of parking lots.

More importantly, delays in backing in may hold up other drivers, while delays exiting a spot mainly just delay the driver.

Some of us are more likely to be time constrained at the onset of parking (eg. running late for work, or a dinner reservation) than leaving the lot.

The magnitude of the safety advantage of backing in isn’t entirely clear, but likely pretty small, so some us choose efficiency and consideration of other drivers, preferring to pull in.

Make sense?

Except the weird assertion that delays when backing out of a spot mainly affect the driver. if I had $1 for every soccer mom whose SUV just hung out far enough to block the lane while she decided to pull back in and let people by or finish backing out and be on her way...I wouldn't need to work anymore.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

I appreciate it.

But unlike the zipper merge, there’s no math to support backing in being quicker. Anecdotally, it definitely isn’t helping traffic.

It's not about quicker it's about safer.

I’ve never contested the safety advantage of backing in (nor has anyone else, TMK). Just don’t think the magnitude of that benefit (pretty small, I'm guessing - any concrete data?) offsets the downsides. Like exceeding the speed limit, it’s a time-saving risk worth taking.

Eleven pages of arguing has mainly focused on its inefficiency, which also seems indisputable, imo. I’m glad somebody on team back up finally acknowledges this non-complex concept.

Unfortunately for your argument, it might not even be slower to back in. All of these anecdotes are focusing on people backing in to spots. Yes, backing in takes longer than pulling in, What people are either choosing to ignore, or failing to realize, is that backing out takes more time than pulling out forward. Notice no one seems to be commenting on these experiences? Weird.

No, I’ve commented, as have others.

Unfortunately, you seem to have missed those posts. To recap the salient points:

Pulling in is faster than backing, while pulling out is quicker (and safer) than backing out.

Both pulling in and exiting facing forward are easy, in most circumstances. They both can happen pretty quickly, assuming traffic doesn’t block one’s exit.

OTOH, backing into a confined space is more difficult (and time consuming) than backing into the wider lanes of parking lots.

More importantly, delays in backing in may hold up other drivers, while delays exiting a spot mainly just delay the driver.

Some of us are more likely to be time constrained at the onset of parking (eg. running late for work, or a dinner reservation) than leaving the lot.

The magnitude of the safety advantage of backing in isn’t entirely clear, but likely pretty small, so some us choose efficiency and consideration of other drivers, preferring to pull in.

Make sense?

Except the weird assertion that delays when backing out of a spot mainly affect the driver. if I had $1 for every soccer mom whose SUV just hung out far enough to block the lane while she decided to pull back in and let people by or finish backing out and be on her way...I wouldn't need to work anymore.

I haven’t had this experience, and importantly, often you’ve elected to let the soccer mom back out. So there’s an expectation of a possible delay.

Meanwhile, I have no say when someone in front of me decides to back in, with a much higher likelihood of a multi-point, time-sucking affair.

 

[B Maverick]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

I appreciate it.

But unlike the zipper merge, there’s no math to support backing in being quicker. Anecdotally, it definitely isn’t helping traffic.

It's not about quicker it's about safer.

I’ve never contested the safety advantage of backing in (nor has anyone else, TMK). Just don’t think the magnitude of that benefit (pretty small, I'm guessing - any concrete data?) offsets the downsides. Like exceeding the speed limit, it’s a time-saving risk worth taking.

Eleven pages of arguing has mainly focused on its inefficiency, which also seems indisputable, imo. I’m glad somebody on team back up finally acknowledges this non-complex concept.

Unfortunately for your argument, it might not even be slower to back in. All of these anecdotes are focusing on people backing in to spots. Yes, backing in takes longer than pulling in, What people are either choosing to ignore, or failing to realize, is that backing out takes more time than pulling out forward. Notice no one seems to be commenting on these experiences? Weird.

No, I’ve commented, as have others.

Unfortunately, you seem to have missed those posts. To recap the salient points:

Pulling in is faster than backing, while pulling out is quicker (and safer) than backing out.

Both pulling in and exiting facing forward are easy, in most circumstances. They both can happen pretty quickly, assuming traffic doesn’t block one’s exit.

OTOH, backing into a confined space is more difficult (and time consuming) than backing into the wider lanes of parking lots.

More importantly, delays in backing in may hold up other drivers, while delays exiting a spot mainly just delay the driver.

Some of us are more likely to be time constrained at the onset of parking (eg. running late for work, or a dinner reservation) than leaving the lot.

The magnitude of the safety advantage of backing in isn’t entirely clear, but likely pretty small, so some us choose efficiency and consideration of other drivers, preferring to pull in.

Make sense?

Except the weird assertion that delays when backing out of a spot mainly affect the driver. if I had $1 for every soccer mom whose SUV just hung out far enough to block the lane while she decided to pull back in and let people by or finish backing out and be on her way...I wouldn't need to work anymore.

I haven’t had this experience, and importantly, often you’ve elected to let the soccer mom back out. So there’s an expectation of a possible delay.

Meanwhile, I have no say when someone in front of me decides to back in, with a much higher likelihood of a multi-point, time-sucking affair.

The bolded is not necessarily true. Just like someone deciding to back in, people also decide to just back out. Usually causing a "multi-point, time-sucking affair".

At the end of this argument, it really comes down to when this all happens. There are plenty of people heading in and backing out causing issues, just like there are plenty backing in and fronting out not causing issues. And either way it will always be done the worst possible way at the worst possible time for your schedule/patience level.

 

[Harry Manback]

The reason this thread isn't filled with anecdotes about people annoyed at having to wait for someone to back out of a spot is because it's so normalized it's a non-issue, and people are selfishly less bothered as it often means they get a spot out of it.

It's the same amount of waiting, but on one side it's normalized and often comes with a reward, and in the other it results in a missed parking spot and something old people can shake their fists at for being "different".

 

[Scoresman]

The reason this thread isn't filled with anecdotes about people annoyed at having to wait for someone to back out of a spot is because it's so normalized it's a non-issue, and people are selfishly less bothered as it often means they get a spot out of it.

It's the same amount of waiting, but on one side it's normalized and often comes with a reward, and in the other it results in a missed parking spot and something old people can shake their fists at for being "different".

This may be true, but the annoying thing about people backing in for me is that they have to pass the parking spot a bit, then throw on their reverse lights. If this is a very busy parking lot, then there's probably someone behind them who now also has to back up to let them park. It's not very common but it happens. It's not the same amount of waiting, because now I have to maneuver myself to allow you to park.

It's the same thing with parallel parking. If it's a busy bumper to bumper street and you pass a spot then stop and put on your reverse lights expecting people to go around or back up themselves, then you're the jackass in that situation.

It's pretty simple for me and it's all about situational awareness. If there's no one behind you, back in all you want. If it's really crowded, consider not doing that.

 

[Gally]

It's the same thing with parallel parking. If it's a busy bumper to bumper street and you pass a spot then stop and put on your reverse lights expecting people to go around or back up themselves, then you're the jackass in that situation.

This is different though because backing in is what you have to do to parallel park (assuming there is no room to pull straight in). There is less annoyance factor because people understand that this is what has to happen. I will try and put on my signal before getting to the spot to hopefully alert the people behind me that I intent to pull into that spot so they should not crowd me as I pass the spot to start the parallel parking process.

 

[Instinctive]

The reason this thread isn't filled with anecdotes about people annoyed at having to wait for someone to back out of a spot is because it's so normalized it's a non-issue, and people are selfishly less bothered as it often means they get a spot out of it.

It's the same amount of waiting, but on one side it's normalized and often comes with a reward, and in the other it results in a missed parking spot and something old people can shake their fists at for being "different".

This may be true, but the annoying thing about people backing in for me is that they have to pass the parking spot a bit, then throw on their reverse lights. If this is a very busy parking lot, then there's probably someone behind them who now also has to back up to let them park. It's not very common but it happens. It's not the same amount of waiting, because now I have to maneuver myself to allow you to park.

It's the same thing with parallel parking. If it's a busy bumper to bumper street and you pass a spot then stop and put on your reverse lights expecting people to go around or back up themselves, then you're the jackass in that situation.

It's pretty simple for me and it's all about situational awareness. If there's no one behind you, back in all you want. If it's really crowded, consider not doing that.

If you're so close behind as to prevent the 3-5 feet past maybe needed to back in, with the obvious and likely sweep of the front of the vehicle opposite the spot, you deserve to have to wait more. I've literally never encountered someone being that close as a driver or passenger in my entire life.

 

[Scoresman]

The reason this thread isn't filled with anecdotes about people annoyed at having to wait for someone to back out of a spot is because it's so normalized it's a non-issue, and people are selfishly less bothered as it often means they get a spot out of it.

It's the same amount of waiting, but on one side it's normalized and often comes with a reward, and in the other it results in a missed parking spot and something old people can shake their fists at for being "different".

This may be true, but the annoying thing about people backing in for me is that they have to pass the parking spot a bit, then throw on their reverse lights. If this is a very busy parking lot, then there's probably someone behind them who now also has to back up to let them park. It's not very common but it happens. It's not the same amount of waiting, because now I have to maneuver myself to allow you to park.

It's the same thing with parallel parking. If it's a busy bumper to bumper street and you pass a spot then stop and put on your reverse lights expecting people to go around or back up themselves, then you're the jackass in that situation.

It's pretty simple for me and it's all about situational awareness. If there's no one behind you, back in all you want. If it's really crowded, consider not doing that.

If you're so close behind as to prevent the 3-5 feet past maybe needed to back in, with the obvious and likely sweep of the front of the vehicle opposite the spot, you deserve to have to wait more. I've literally never encountered someone being that close as a driver or passenger in my entire life.

3-5 feet is pretty standard in a bumper to bumper situation and you kind of have to pass the parking spot a little bit to back in. Sometimes parking lots can get that busy.

 

[Instinctive]

The reason this thread isn't filled with anecdotes about people annoyed at having to wait for someone to back out of a spot is because it's so normalized it's a non-issue, and people are selfishly less bothered as it often means they get a spot out of it.

It's the same amount of waiting, but on one side it's normalized and often comes with a reward, and in the other it results in a missed parking spot and something old people can shake their fists at for being "different".

This may be true, but the annoying thing about people backing in for me is that they have to pass the parking spot a bit, then throw on their reverse lights. If this is a very busy parking lot, then there's probably someone behind them who now also has to back up to let them park. It's not very common but it happens. It's not the same amount of waiting, because now I have to maneuver myself to allow you to park.

It's the same thing with parallel parking. If it's a busy bumper to bumper street and you pass a spot then stop and put on your reverse lights expecting people to go around or back up themselves, then you're the jackass in that situation.

It's pretty simple for me and it's all about situational awareness. If there's no one behind you, back in all you want. If it's really crowded, consider not doing that.

If you're so close behind as to prevent the 3-5 feet past maybe needed to back in, with the obvious and likely sweep of the front of the vehicle opposite the spot, you deserve to have to wait more. I've literally never encountered someone being that close as a driver or passenger in my entire life.

3-5 feet is pretty standard in a bumper to bumper situation and you kind of have to pass the parking spot a little bit to back in. Sometimes parking lots can get that busy.

I'll take your word I guess. Your experiences are your own.

I've been to sporting events and Costcos and airports every single one of the top 10 most populous metroplexes in the U.S. and literally never experienced what you described, except (funnily enough) when leaving such major events, where having backed in is a huge difference maker.

 

[Scoresman]

The reason this thread isn't filled with anecdotes about people annoyed at having to wait for someone to back out of a spot is because it's so normalized it's a non-issue, and people are selfishly less bothered as it often means they get a spot out of it.

It's the same amount of waiting, but on one side it's normalized and often comes with a reward, and in the other it results in a missed parking spot and something old people can shake their fists at for being "different".

This may be true, but the annoying thing about people backing in for me is that they have to pass the parking spot a bit, then throw on their reverse lights. If this is a very busy parking lot, then there's probably someone behind them who now also has to back up to let them park. It's not very common but it happens. It's not the same amount of waiting, because now I have to maneuver myself to allow you to park.

It's the same thing with parallel parking. If it's a busy bumper to bumper street and you pass a spot then stop and put on your reverse lights expecting people to go around or back up themselves, then you're the jackass in that situation.

It's pretty simple for me and it's all about situational awareness. If there's no one behind you, back in all you want. If it's really crowded, consider not doing that.

If you're so close behind as to prevent the 3-5 feet past maybe needed to back in, with the obvious and likely sweep of the front of the vehicle opposite the spot, you deserve to have to wait more. I've literally never encountered someone being that close as a driver or passenger in my entire life.

3-5 feet is pretty standard in a bumper to bumper situation and you kind of have to pass the parking spot a little bit to back in. Sometimes parking lots can get that busy.

I'll take your word I guess. Your experiences are your own.

I've been to sporting events and Costcos and airports every single one of the top 10 most populous metroplexes in the U.S. and literally never experienced what you described, except (funnily enough) when leaving such major events, where having backed in is a huge difference maker.

I think we're imagining two different scenarios because I see it often enough to know its not just me. Somebody wants to back in or parallel park, but the person behind them is close enough to where they have to back up to let the person park.

I will say the only time I back in is at sporting events where the parking lots get so backed up it's near impossible to get out otherwise.

 

[bigbottom]

It's the same thing with parallel parking. If it's a busy bumper to bumper street and you pass a spot then stop and put on your reverse lights expecting people to go around or back up themselves, then you're the jackass in that situation.

This is different though because backing in is what you have to do to parallel park (assuming there is no room to pull straight in). There is less annoyance factor because people understand that this is what has to happen. I will try and put on my signal before getting to the spot to hopefully alert the people behind me that I intent to pull into that spot so they should not crowd me as I pass the spot to start the parallel parking process.

Yeah, the early blinker is the “hey, I’m gonna park here” signal. Folks should do that when they are coming up on a spot where they plan to back in.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I watched a woman take like 5 minutes to back into a spot last night as a line of cars stacked up from the entrance with no where to go. It was painful to watch.

I was behind a couple vehicles who backed in today. Both got it first try.

Still, I had to wait

And still baffled people are arguing backing in is quicker.

It's not a complex concept, but I have sympathy.

I appreciate it.

But unlike the zipper merge, there’s no math to support backing in being quicker. Anecdotally, it definitely isn’t helping traffic.

It's not about quicker it's about safer.

I’ve never contested the safety advantage of backing in (nor has anyone else, TMK). Just don’t think the magnitude of that benefit (pretty small, I'm guessing - any concrete data?) offsets the downsides. Like exceeding the speed limit, it’s a time-saving risk worth taking.

Eleven pages of arguing has mainly focused on its inefficiency, which also seems indisputable, imo. I’m glad somebody on team back up finally acknowledges this non-complex concept.

Unfortunately for your argument, it might not even be slower to back in. All of these anecdotes are focusing on people backing in to spots. Yes, backing in takes longer than pulling in, What people are either choosing to ignore, or failing to realize, is that backing out takes more time than pulling out forward. Notice no one seems to be commenting on these experiences? Weird.

No, I’ve commented, as have others.

Unfortunately, you seem to have missed those posts. To recap the salient points:

Pulling in is faster than backing, while pulling out is quicker (and safer) than backing out.

Both pulling in and exiting facing forward are easy, in most circumstances. They both can happen pretty quickly, assuming traffic doesn’t block one’s exit.

OTOH, backing into a confined space is more difficult (and time consuming) than backing into the wider lanes of parking lots.

More importantly, delays in backing in may hold up other drivers, while delays exiting a spot mainly just delay the driver.

Some of us are more likely to be time constrained at the onset of parking (eg. running late for work, or a dinner reservation) than leaving the lot.

The magnitude of the safety advantage of backing in isn’t entirely clear, but likely pretty small, so some us choose efficiency and consideration of other drivers, preferring to pull in.

Make sense?

Except the weird assertion that delays when backing out of a spot mainly affect the driver. if I had $1 for every soccer mom whose SUV just hung out far enough to block the lane while she decided to pull back in and let people by or finish backing out and be on her way...I wouldn't need to work anymore.

I haven’t had this experience, and importantly, often you’ve elected to let the soccer mom back out. So there’s an expectation of a possible delay.

Meanwhile, I have no say when someone in front of me decides to back in, with a much higher likelihood of a multi-point, time-sucking affair.

The bolded is not necessarily true. Just like someone deciding to back in, people also decide to just back out. Usually causing a "multi-point, time-sucking affair".

At the end of this argument, it really comes down to when this all happens. There are plenty of people heading in and backing out causing issues, just like there are plenty backing in and fronting out not causing issues. And either way it will always be done the worst possible way at the worst possible time for your schedule/patience level.

Yes, when it happens is important - I mentioned the differences some of us experience coming vs. going.

While I don’t feel so fatalistic about delays happening at the worst possible time, I strongly believe backing in is far more likely to result in delays than backing out. Obviously, our driving/parking habits may differ, so ymmv.

 

[Terminalxylem]

The reason this thread isn't filled with anecdotes about people annoyed at having to wait for someone to back out of a spot is because it's so normalized it's a non-issue, and people are selfishly less bothered as it often means they get a spot out of it.

It's the same amount of waiting, but on one side it's normalized and often comes with a reward, and in the other it results in a missed parking spot and something old people can shake their fists at for being "different".

Possibly, but isn’t something which benefits you inherently less annoying?

Also, I strongly disagree it’s the same amount of waiting. Is it possible, maybe, just maybe, the annoyed guys aren’t grumpy old men, and their complaints are legitimate? Perhaps the behavior has been normalized for a reason?

 

[Terminalxylem]

It's pretty simple for me and it's all about situational awareness. If there's no one behind you, back in all you want. If it's really crowded, consider not doing that.

This guy gets it.

One of my fundamental driving rules is, minimize behavior which negatively impacts other drivers. It’s an extension of the Golden Rule.

 

[Terminalxylem]

The reason this thread isn't filled with anecdotes about people annoyed at having to wait for someone to back out of a spot is because it's so normalized it's a non-issue, and people are selfishly less bothered as it often means they get a spot out of it.

It's the same amount of waiting, but on one side it's normalized and often comes with a reward, and in the other it results in a missed parking spot and something old people can shake their fists at for being "different".

This may be true, but the annoying thing about people backing in for me is that they have to pass the parking spot a bit, then throw on their reverse lights. If this is a very busy parking lot, then there's probably someone behind them who now also has to back up to let them park. It's not very common but it happens. It's not the same amount of waiting, because now I have to maneuver myself to allow you to park.

It's the same thing with parallel parking. If it's a busy bumper to bumper street and you pass a spot then stop and put on your reverse lights expecting people to go around or back up themselves, then you're the jackass in that situation.

It's pretty simple for me and it's all about situational awareness. If there's no one behind you, back in all you want. If it's really crowded, consider not doing that.

If you're so close behind as to prevent the 3-5 feet past maybe needed to back in, with the obvious and likely sweep of the front of the vehicle opposite the spot, you deserve to have to wait more. I've literally never encountered someone being that close as a driver or passenger in my entire life.

3-5 feet is pretty standard in a bumper to bumper situation and you kind of have to pass the parking spot a little bit to back in. Sometimes parking lots can get that busy.

Yeah, this occurs in busy lots all the time.

 

[Harry Manback]

The reason this thread isn't filled with anecdotes about people annoyed at having to wait for someone to back out of a spot is because it's so normalized it's a non-issue, and people are selfishly less bothered as it often means they get a spot out of it.

It's the same amount of waiting, but on one side it's normalized and often comes with a reward, and in the other it results in a missed parking spot and something old people can shake their fists at for being "different".

Possibly, but isn’t something which benefits you inherently less annoying?

Also, I strongly disagree it’s the same amount of waiting. Is it possible, maybe, just maybe, the annoyed guys aren’t grumpy old men, and their complaints are legitimate? Perhaps the behavior has been normalized for a reason?

No

 

[Harry Manback]

The time it takes to back out is offset by the time it takes to back in. Hard stop.

Backing out is dangerous and results in property damage and bodily harm at a far greater rate than pulling out forward.

Backing in has little to no risk for bodily harm and property damage. Yell at clouds, find an echo chamber, shake your fists. Facts are facts.

 

[FiredMartz]

It's just parking lot etiquitte....I follow you in parking lot....you pull into space...I move on past you to find another space

Not .....I follow you in parking lot.....you pull by a space...I think I have it...you suddenly start backing up and then I have to back up....you shake fist at me looking through your back window....unbelievable

 

[wlwiles]

I drive a company owned vehicle as my daily driver. If I have an accident in a parking lot while operating my vehicle in reverse, then I no longer have a company vehicle. Sorry if I'm inconveniencing you for 5 seconds while I back into a parking spot, but I'm not risking it...

1 out of 4 vehicle accidents are caused by someone driving in reverse/backing up. Every car is equipped with a back-up camera these days, and we as a society place way too much reliance on them as the sole reversing tool. Nobody turns their head or knows how to use mirrors anymore.

 

[Harry Manback]

I drive a company owned vehicle as my daily driver. If I have an accident in a parking lot while operating my vehicle in reverse, then I no longer have a company vehicle. Sorry if I'm inconveniencing you for 5 seconds while I back into a parking spot, but I'm not risking it...

1 out of 4 vehicle accidents are caused by someone driving in reverse/backing up. Every car is equipped with a back-up camera these days, and we as a society place way too much reliance on them as the sole reversing tool. Nobody turns their head or knows how to use mirrors anymore.

People also seem to tune out the loud beeping warnings that come with a backup camera too, as I've almost been hit a number of times by people with new cars, equipped with backup cameras, backing out of spots.