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

[Joe Schmo]

My goodness. Everyone is acting as if the lane was blocked for a half mile. It was 20 cars. 250ft.

The purpose of me pacing the truck next to me was to not pass those that were ahead of me and I did wait to merge when my lane ended as everyone is insisting I should do. The people ahead of me did not.

Before anyone else bows out, all of you please admit that you would speed up, pass all 20 of those cars in the right lane... including the people that just merged that were ahead of you... as well as the people that allowed them to merge that were ahead of you... to zipper in behind car #1.

I do this on a regular basis and it drives my brother nuts because he thinks they way you do. Its a two lane byway that merges left into one lane after a light at an intersection and people often merge into the left lane waaayyy before the light during rush hour. I am well aware of the zipper method and will ride the right lane and go past 20 or so cars and merge after the light. I've passed my brother a few times as he comes home that way about the same time I do and he is an early merger who thinks I'm "cheating". Been telling him for years he's a dunce but he prefers to stick to his guns and stay in his lane. If I see him when I pass I honk and wave, he gives me the finger. Ahhh, the love. Added plus is I get through the light and he gets stuck in another cycle.

 

[bigbottom]

My goodness. Everyone is acting as if the lane was blocked for a half mile. It was 20 cars. 250ft.

Are you agreeing that blocking the lane for a half mile would reduce efficiency of traffic flow?

 

[Instinctive]

My goodness. Everyone is acting as if the lane was blocked for a half mile. It was 20 cars. 250ft.

Are you agreeing that blocking the lane for a half mile would reduce efficiency of traffic flow?

The principle is the same whether it's 250 feet or 25000 feet.

Idk why I keep letting myself get sucked into this.

 

[Bossman]

My goodness. Everyone is acting as if the lane was blocked for a half mile. It was 20 cars. 250ft.

Are you agreeing that blocking the lane for a half mile would reduce efficiency of traffic flow?

Absolutely, up to the point of merging into one lane. The more lanes utilized, the more people would get to the merge faster.
You just won't get thru the single lane congestion any faster ... but you DID get to it faster.

If you want to merge 1/2 mile before the lane ends then I'm passing you ... to have a better position in line.
I chose not to pass the folks ahead of me that "zippered" within 250ft of the lane ending. But seems most of you would seize the opportunity, "speed up" pass them to be #2 in the queue instead of staying where you were at #20. Like I said, we all have someplace to be. I'm content to wait my turn and not advance my position at their expense.

Also, I think everyone can agree that the merge point would be the slowest point in those situations. Essentially it is one lane for two cars.
Once the merge happens, it's one lane for one car and traffic "theoretically" should flow twice as fast ... so whether the cars in front of me merged 250ft too soon or not, I'm not buying that more cars are getting thru the constriction if these folks drove up to a merge point 250ft closer to the constriction.

 

[bigbottom]

My goodness. Everyone is acting as if the lane was blocked for a half mile. It was 20 cars. 250ft.

Are you agreeing that blocking the lane for a half mile would reduce efficiency of traffic flow?

Absolutely, up to the point of merging into one lane. The more lanes utilized, the more people would get to the merge faster.
You just won't get thru the single lane congestion any faster ... but you DID get to it faster.

Precisely. By blocking the lane, whether for a half mile or 250 feet, you are delaying people from getting to the merge faster, which slows traffic and is less efficient. So while you are concerned with preventing individual drivers from “jumping the line” so to speak, you are decreasing overall traffic flow efficiency. Now, by doing so for just 250 feet, the amount of incremental inefficiency you are creating is quite small, but it’s there nonetheless. The logic I was taking issue with was the apparent argument that it didn’t impact the efficiency of traffic flow at all, so I’m glad that got sorted.

So let me ask you this: if you merge early and just as you are approaching the zipper merge point, you see someone in the merging lane who has zipped past 20 cars right up to the merge point in front of you, do you let them in?

 

[the moops]

My goodness. Everyone is acting as if the lane was blocked for a half mile. It was 20 cars. 250ft.

Is 20 cars and 250 ft the magical number where one should merge?

 

[-OZ-]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

 

[-OZ-]

My goodness. Everyone is acting as if the lane was blocked for a half mile. It was 20 cars. 250ft.

Are you agreeing that blocking the lane for a half mile would reduce efficiency of traffic flow?

Absolutely, up to the point of merging into one lane. The more lanes utilized, the more people would get to the merge faster.
You just won't get thru the single lane congestion any faster ... but you DID get to it faster.

Precisely. By blocking the lane, whether for a half mile or 250 feet, you are delaying people from getting to the merge faster, which slows traffic and is less efficient. So while you are concerned with preventing individual drivers from “jumping the line” so to speak, you are decreasing overall traffic flow efficiency. Now, by doing so for just 250 feet, the amount of incremental inefficiency you are creating is quite small, but it’s there nonetheless. The logic I was taking issue with was the apparent argument that it didn’t impact the efficiency of traffic flow at all, so I’m glad that got sorted.

So let me ask you this: if you merge early and just as you are approaching the zipper merge point, you see someone in the merging lane who has zipped past 20 cars right up to the merge point in front of you, do you let them in?

Why wouldn’t everyone merging as soon as reasonable, after the last light before the merge, be every bit as effective as merging at the last possible moment?
It’s not like everyone has to stop once they’re in one lane. The merge is the choke point.

 

[the moops]

My goodness. Everyone is acting as if the lane was blocked for a half mile. It was 20 cars. 250ft.

Are you agreeing that blocking the lane for a half mile would reduce efficiency of traffic flow?

Absolutely, up to the point of merging into one lane. The more lanes utilized, the more people would get to the merge faster.
You just won't get thru the single lane congestion any faster ... but you DID get to it faster.

Precisely. By blocking the lane, whether for a half mile or 250 feet, you are delaying people from getting to the merge faster, which slows traffic and is less efficient. So while you are concerned with preventing individual drivers from “jumping the line” so to speak, you are decreasing overall traffic flow efficiency. Now, by doing so for just 250 feet, the amount of incremental inefficiency you are creating is quite small, but it’s there nonetheless. The logic I was taking issue with was the apparent argument that it didn’t impact the efficiency of traffic flow at all, so I’m glad that got sorted.

So let me ask you this: if you merge early and just as you are approaching the zipper merge point, you see someone in the merging lane who has zipped past 20 cars right up to the merge point in front of you, do you let them in?

Why wouldn’t everyone merging as soon as reasonable, after the last light before the merge, be every bit as effective as merging at the last possible moment?
It’s not like everyone has to stop once they’re in one lane. The merge is the choke point.

Partly because people don't merge properly. When it is at the actual merge point, there is a natural merge (many times with cones that gradually bring you into the other lane). But also, having an empty lane for any portion of a road is less efficient in general

 

[Bossman]

So let me ask you this: if you merge early and just as you are approaching the zipper merge point, you see someone in the merging lane who has zipped past 20 cars right up to the merge point in front of you, do you let them in?

Let this person in to the next zipper slot? Absolutely not ... the guy behind me can let him in. But this is MA so good chance he's not letting him in either.
... and if I scooted past 20 cars in a hurry to get to the front of the line, I wouldn't expect to be let in immediately. Eventually but not immediately.

I do respect and appreciate the zipper. This situation would be the only one I can think of where I would refuse to zipper. I don't feel people should be punished for merging a bit early before being up against the cones. Also, being MA, people might feel the need to attempt the lane change prior to the lane ending in fear they wont be let in.

When skiing, I always look for the lane with fewer people ... to better my position in line ... but I understand the lift is taking the exact same amount of people to the top at a set speed, regardless of how many lanes merge down to 1. (8 to 1, 4 to 1, 1 to 1). Also, you can get on the lift halfway up the mountain and It's not going to change how many people get to the top in a certain time frame ... just like you're not getting any extra cars thru that one congested lane of traffic no matter how quickly they get to the congestion. But "studies show" so my common sense pea brain is obviously wrong.

 

[Bossman]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

I'm within the lines of my parking space. The person that "pulled thu" didn't pull up far enough to get his hatch open. Is damaging of personal property warranted? ...
or is that person un-smart for pulling thru for the sake of not having to back-up to leave?

 

[-OZ-]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

I'm within the lines of my parking space. The person that "pulled thu" didn't pull up far enough to get his hatch open. Is damaging of personal property warranted? ...
or is that person un-smart for pulling thru for the sake of not having to back-up to leave?

If you ALWAYS pull far enough forward to block the tail gate, you’re probably not within your lines. Sure, if the person in front leaves no space that’s on them but many of us have plenty of space to open the gate when we park, without hitting the vehicle behind us

 

[-OZ-]

having an empty lane for any portion of a road is less efficient in general

It really isn’t, at least in any meaningful way, if merging properly. But that is why I said at a reasonable point after any intersection / light.

 

[Bossman]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

I'm within the lines of my parking space. The person that "pulled thu" didn't pull up far enough to get his hatch open. Is damaging of personal property warranted? ...
or is that person un-smart for pulling thru for the sake of not having to back-up to leave?

If you ALWAYS pull far enough forward to block the tail gate, you’re probably not within your lines. Sure, if the person in front leaves no space that’s on them but many of us have plenty of space to open the gate when we park, without hitting the vehicle behind us

To be fair, my truck bumper is about at the middle of their hatch so I suppose they might have had room if a sedan pulled in all the way as the hatch might come out and over the sedan hood. Even if their hatch can be opened it still strikes me a dumb to park this way when grocery shopping ... just for the sake of not having to back up.

 

[brun]

I pull through if I can.
I usually back in otherwise, unless I will need access to my trunk.
I close the gap with the car in front of me and zipper merge.
If someone wants to cheat the merge. I don't sweat it. I'm probably only 20-30 feet back from where I would have been anyway.

 

[Scoresman]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

I'm within the lines of my parking space. The person that "pulled thu" didn't pull up far enough to get his hatch open. Is damaging of personal property warranted? ...
or is that person un-smart for pulling thru for the sake of not having to back-up to leave?

If you ALWAYS pull far enough forward to block the tail gate, you’re probably not within your lines. Sure, if the person in front leaves no space that’s on them but many of us have plenty of space to open the gate when we park, without hitting the vehicle behind us

To be fair, my truck bumper is about at the middle of their hatch so I suppose they might have had room if a sedan pulled in all the way as the hatch might come out and over the sedan hood. Even if their hatch can be opened it still strikes me a dumb to park this way when grocery shopping ... just for the sake of not having to back up.

It's not dumb. If there is an open spot for you to pull in like this, there is literally no downside to doing it. It's the easiest and probably safest way to park in terms of getting in and out. And there is no reason to get so upset about people doing it that you gleefully and passive aggressively block their trunk from opening.

You keep saying "for the sake of not having to back up". What exactly is wrong with not having to backup? Why not take advantage of not having to backup?

 

[-OZ-]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

I'm within the lines of my parking space. The person that "pulled thu" didn't pull up far enough to get his hatch open. Is damaging of personal property warranted? ...
or is that person un-smart for pulling thru for the sake of not having to back-up to leave?

If you ALWAYS pull far enough forward to block the tail gate, you’re probably not within your lines. Sure, if the person in front leaves no space that’s on them but many of us have plenty of space to open the gate when we park, without hitting the vehicle behind us

To be fair, my truck bumper is about at the middle of their hatch so I suppose they might have had room if a sedan pulled in all the way as the hatch might come out and over the sedan hood. Even if their hatch can be opened it still strikes me a dumb to park this way when grocery shopping ... just for the sake of not having to back up.

I’ll actually agree and don’t do it while grocery shopping. Partly because I want to take the cart next to the back but also it just isn’t an option.
we do most of our grocery shopping at a place that uses the angled parking (Walmart) two with small lots that never have two spots in a row open (Aldi’s and Trader Joe’s) and a warehouse club with a LOT of open spaces (BJs) where I usually park farther away than others when we go there.

 

[Bossman]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

I'm within the lines of my parking space. The person that "pulled thu" didn't pull up far enough to get his hatch open. Is damaging of personal property warranted? ...
or is that person un-smart for pulling thru for the sake of not having to back-up to leave?

If you ALWAYS pull far enough forward to block the tail gate, you’re probably not within your lines. Sure, if the person in front leaves no space that’s on them but many of us have plenty of space to open the gate when we park, without hitting the vehicle behind us

To be fair, my truck bumper is about at the middle of their hatch so I suppose they might have had room if a sedan pulled in all the way as the hatch might come out and over the sedan hood. Even if their hatch can be opened it still strikes me a dumb to park this way when grocery shopping ... just for the sake of not having to back up.

It's not dumb. If there is an open spot for you to pull in like this, there is literally no downside to doing it. It's the easiest and probably safest way to park in terms of getting in and out. And there is no reason to get so upset about people doing it that you gleefully and passive aggressively block their trunk from opening.

You keep saying "for the sake of not having to back up". What exactly is wrong with not having to backup? Why not take advantage of not having to backup?

The "dumb" part of this is not the pull thru ... I do it all the time. The dumb part is to pull thru at a grocery store. Just as backing into a parking spot would be un-smart when grocery shopping.
Why would you want to be wedged against another car when loading groceries? If you have the room then sure, just make sure to pull forward enough that you can get your hatch open when someone parks behind you.
If you didn't pull thru enough or your SUV is massive and barely fits in the space, then you will need to figure it out. I'm merely pointing out the fact that their pull thru parking style is flawed by pulling my vehicle all the way up to my line.

 

[Scoresman]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

I'm within the lines of my parking space. The person that "pulled thu" didn't pull up far enough to get his hatch open. Is damaging of personal property warranted? ...
or is that person un-smart for pulling thru for the sake of not having to back-up to leave?

If you ALWAYS pull far enough forward to block the tail gate, you’re probably not within your lines. Sure, if the person in front leaves no space that’s on them but many of us have plenty of space to open the gate when we park, without hitting the vehicle behind us

To be fair, my truck bumper is about at the middle of their hatch so I suppose they might have had room if a sedan pulled in all the way as the hatch might come out and over the sedan hood. Even if their hatch can be opened it still strikes me a dumb to park this way when grocery shopping ... just for the sake of not having to back up.

It's not dumb. If there is an open spot for you to pull in like this, there is literally no downside to doing it. It's the easiest and probably safest way to park in terms of getting in and out. And there is no reason to get so upset about people doing it that you gleefully and passive aggressively block their trunk from opening.

You keep saying "for the sake of not having to back up". What exactly is wrong with not having to backup? Why not take advantage of not having to backup?

The "dumb" part of this is not the pull thru ... I do it all the time. The dumb part is to pull thru at a grocery store. Just as backing into a parking spot would be un-smart when grocery shopping.
Why would you want to be wedged against another car when loading groceries? If you have the room then sure, just make sure to pull forward enough that you can get your hatch open when someone parks behind you.
If you didn't pull thru enough or your SUV is massive and barely fits in the space, then you will need to figure it out. I'm merely pointing out the fact that their pull thru parking style is flawed by pulling my vehicle all the way up to my line.

How do you know they need to load their groceries through the trunk? Maybe they just have a couple bags that they put in the back seat. I make a couple trip[s a week to the store and never really use my trunk.

You're making lots of assumptions that may be incorrect and acting passive aggressively on them.

 

[bigbottom]

So let me ask you this: if you merge early and just as you are approaching the zipper merge point, you see someone in the merging lane who has zipped past 20 cars right up to the merge point in front of you, do you let them in?

Let this person in to the next zipper slot? Absolutely not ... the guy behind me can let him in. But this is MA so good chance he's not letting him in either.
... and if I scooted past 20 cars in a hurry to get to the front of the line, I wouldn't expect to be let in immediately. Eventually but not immediately.

I do respect and appreciate the zipper. This situation would be the only one I can think of where I would refuse to zipper. I don't feel people should be punished for merging a bit early before being up against the cones. Also, being MA, people might feel the need to attempt the lane change prior to the lane ending in fear they wont be let in.

Did you happen to watch the video that I posted upthread? It makes the case that the zipper merge is clearly the most efficient . . . in theory. However, the video acknowledges that the zipper merge may not be the most efficient in practice because it doesn’t take human nature into account. And the example they provide is the “traffic vigilante” that refuses to let someone merge out of spite. Here’s the relevant part of the video:

Traffic Vigilante

In other words, the zipper merge is clearly the most efficient in theory, but your stated practice of (1) blocking the lane to keep people from zipping to the front of the line and (2) refusing to let cars merge that have zipped to the front of the line are precisely the things that thwart the efficiency of the zipper merge.

 

[bigbottom]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

I'm within the lines of my parking space. The person that "pulled thu" didn't pull up far enough to get his hatch open. Is damaging of personal property warranted? ...
or is that person un-smart for pulling thru for the sake of not having to back-up to leave?

When I did this the other night, I was clearly the un-smart one. If I am planning on loading anything significant into the trunk or the back of my SUV, I clearly should not pull through (or back in).

 

[Drunken knight]

So let me ask you this: if you merge early and just as you are approaching the zipper merge point, you see someone in the merging lane who has zipped past 20 cars right up to the merge point in front of you, do you let them in?

Let this person in to the next zipper slot? Absolutely not ... the guy behind me can let him in. But this is MA so good chance he's not letting him in either.
... and if I scooted past 20 cars in a hurry to get to the front of the line, I wouldn't expect to be let in immediately. Eventually but not immediately.

I do respect and appreciate the zipper. This situation would be the only one I can think of where I would refuse to zipper. I don't feel people should be punished for merging a bit early before being up against the cones. Also, being MA, people might feel the need to attempt the lane change prior to the lane ending in fear they wont be let in.

Did you happen to watch the video that I posted upthread? It makes the case that the zipper merge is clearly the most efficient . . . in theory. However, the video acknowledges that the zipper merge may not be the most efficient in practice because it doesn’t take human nature into account. And the example they provide is the “traffic vigilante” that refuses to let someone merge out of spite. Here’s the relevant part of the video:

Traffic Vigilante

In other words, the zipper merge is clearly the most efficient in theory, but your stated practice of (1) blocking the lane to keep people from zipping to the front of the line and (2) refusing to let cars merge that have zipped to the front of the line are precisely the things that thwart the efficiency of the zipper merge.

"II would like to return this suit out of spite."

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Is “zipper merge” same as “alternate merge”? I would imagine so but never really heard the “zipper” version until this thread.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

I look for a spot to pull through to the next lane so I'm faced forward but didn't have back in. Usually farther away but need the steps.

Asian parking lots are getting imaginative. Incline parking takes the space for 24 spots and turns it into 40. They have requirements for top of building parking and vertical parking for new developments.

Old Americans like me simply can't get their head around anything changing. But it's coming soon in bigger cities like NYC and LA. The Dutch have vertical parking for bikes now.

 

[Bossman]

At the grocery store I'll always pull my truck in far enough that these suv "pull thru" people can't get their hatch open.

Hope you check around your tires for nails.
Not that anyone here would do that.

I'm within the lines of my parking space. The person that "pulled thu" didn't pull up far enough to get his hatch open. Is damaging of personal property warranted? ...
or is that person un-smart for pulling thru for the sake of not having to back-up to leave?

If you ALWAYS pull far enough forward to block the tail gate, you’re probably not within your lines. Sure, if the person in front leaves no space that’s on them but many of us have plenty of space to open the gate when we park, without hitting the vehicle behind us

To be fair, my truck bumper is about at the middle of their hatch so I suppose they might have had room if a sedan pulled in all the way as the hatch might come out and over the sedan hood. Even if their hatch can be opened it still strikes me a dumb to park this way when grocery shopping ... just for the sake of not having to back up.

It's not dumb. If there is an open spot for you to pull in like this, there is literally no downside to doing it. It's the easiest and probably safest way to park in terms of getting in and out. And there is no reason to get so upset about people doing it that you gleefully and passive aggressively block their trunk from opening.

You keep saying "for the sake of not having to back up". What exactly is wrong with not having to backup? Why not take advantage of not having to backup?

The "dumb" part of this is not the pull thru ... I do it all the time. The dumb part is to pull thru at a grocery store. Just as backing into a parking spot would be un-smart when grocery shopping.
Why would you want to be wedged against another car when loading groceries? If you have the room then sure, just make sure to pull forward enough that you can get your hatch open when someone parks behind you.
If you didn't pull thru enough or your SUV is massive and barely fits in the space, then you will need to figure it out. I'm merely pointing out the fact that their pull thru parking style is flawed by pulling my vehicle all the way up to my line.

How do you know they need to load their groceries through the trunk? Maybe they just have a couple bags that they put in the back seat. I make a couple trip[s a week to the store and never really use my trunk.

You're making lots of assumptions that may be incorrect and acting passive aggressively on them.

No assumptions ... if they're not using the hatch then no harm. If they are using the hatch then hopefully I can make them less un-smart. Everyone wins in my eyes.

I appreciate having this thread (and all of you) for holding me over until this NFL draft that is taking forever to get here.
Just want you all to know that I'm not really a bad guy until you get to know me.

 

[the moops]

Is “zipper merge” same as “alternate merge”? I would imagine so but never really heard the “zipper” version until this thread.

I guess so? I have never heard it called anything but a zipper merge

 

[Terminalxylem]

Is the challenge maneuvering your vehicle as you back out? Or avoiding traffic?

It's other traffic. Getting out of a spot in a busy lot is much easier going forward vs backward.

That’s fair.

But it seems like some people believe it’s technically easier to back into a space than back out of one (ignoring traffic). That’s nonsense imo.

For my habits (park far away, with less lot traffic, and avoiding driving to uber crowded venues), I rarely have difficulty backing out.

Not all situations are the same. I have a private spot in a lot that I lease. I cannot choose a different spot. This one is assigned to me. Often both spaces on the sides of mu space are occupied. The spaces are quite tight. I can tell you it's much easier to back into the space without scraping the sides than to pull in forward.

Sure. I think the biggest factor is what type of vehicle one drives. For most Americans, it's something big, with a commensurate turning radius.

For the compact cars my wife and I drive, I can never recall a situation when pulling in was that difficult. 95+% of the time, it's one turn and done - no stopping, shifting in reverse, checking behind me, etc.

And most importantly, no delaying other motorists.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Guys, never mind the countless studies done on the efficiency of zipper merging. Bossman has this figured out.

Yeah, it's really a problem when common sense fails. But some (many?) people refuse to accept that possibility.

 

[The Z Machine]

Is the challenge maneuvering your vehicle as you back out? Or avoiding traffic?

It's other traffic. Getting out of a spot in a busy lot is much easier going forward vs backward.

That’s fair.

But it seems like some people believe it’s technically easier to back into a space than back out of one (ignoring traffic). That’s nonsense imo.

For my habits (park far away, with less lot traffic, and avoiding driving to uber crowded venues), I rarely have difficulty backing out.

Not all situations are the same. I have a private spot in a lot that I lease. I cannot choose a different spot. This one is assigned to me. Often both spaces on the sides of mu space are occupied. The spaces are quite tight. I can tell you it's much easier to back into the space without scraping the sides than to pull in forward.

Sure. I think the biggest factor is what type of vehicle one drives. For most Americans, it's something big, with a commensurate turning radius.

For the compact cars my wife and I drive, I can never recall a situation when pulling in was that difficult. 95+% of the time, it's one turn and done - no stopping, shifting in reverse, checking behind me, etc.

And most importantly, no delaying other motorists.

Sure, that's your situation. Mine is different. Try parking in a place where the width of the spot is much closer to the width of the car or the driving lane is more narrow so you can't swing out wide to get a good angle into the space.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Is the challenge maneuvering your vehicle as you back out? Or avoiding traffic?

It's other traffic. Getting out of a spot in a busy lot is much easier going forward vs backward.

That’s fair.

But it seems like some people believe it’s technically easier to back into a space than back out of one (ignoring traffic). That’s nonsense imo.

For my habits (park far away, with less lot traffic, and avoiding driving to uber crowded venues), I rarely have difficulty backing out.

Not all situations are the same. I have a private spot in a lot that I lease. I cannot choose a different spot. This one is assigned to me. Often both spaces on the sides of mu space are occupied. The spaces are quite tight. I can tell you it's much easier to back into the space without scraping the sides than to pull in forward.

Sure. I think the biggest factor is what type of vehicle one drives. For most Americans, it's something big, with a commensurate turning radius.

For the compact cars my wife and I drive, I can never recall a situation when pulling in was that difficult. 95+% of the time, it's one turn and done - no stopping, shifting in reverse, checking behind me, etc.

And most importantly, no delaying other motorists.

Sure, that's your situation. Mine is different. Try parking in a place where the width of the spot is much closer to the width of the car or the driving lane is more narrow so you can't swing out wide to get a good angle into the space.

Yeah, I believe places like this exist, but they’re very uncommon, if one drives a smaller car.

As I said, I think it’s the size of our vehicles that creates this dilemma, more times than not. If a space can accommodate your average truck/SUV/crossover, however they need to shoehorn themselves in, I can pull in effortlessly.

To be fair, we just purchased a larger car, and while I adapt to its dimensions, parking has been a little more difficult. I’ve even tried backing in, but still not a fan.

 

[the moops]

I’ve even tried backing in,

How inconsiderate of you!!

 

[kupcho1]

This is maddening. Yesterday, I had to wait to get out of the parking lot for someone to back into a space. Mind you, these spaces are set at a diagonal, so not only did she have to take additional time getting into the spot, she'll have to take just as much time to get out as she'll be pointing the wrong way.

She wasted my time to waste her time.

 

[FiredMartz]

This is maddening. Yesterday, I had to wait to get out of the parking lot for someone to back into a space. Mind you, these spaces are set at a diagonal, so not only did she have to take additional time getting into the spot, she'll have to take just as much time to get out as she'll be pointing the wrong way.

She wasted my time to waste her time.

Right !!!!...I;ve said it 100 times....this sh8t didn't happen before people had back up cameras in their car!!!,,,stop the insanity and just pull in !!!

 

[Instinctive]

This is maddening. Yesterday, I had to wait to get out of the parking lot for someone to back into a space. Mind you, these spaces are set at a diagonal, so not only did she have to take additional time getting into the spot, she'll have to take just as much time to get out as she'll be pointing the wrong way.

She wasted my time to waste her time.

Well let's recognize the problem there isn't backing in, it's the completely asinine decision to park the wrong way in a diagonal set lane.

Amusingly enough, if you're driving the wrong way in a diagonal lane it is WAY faster to back in than to loop 270 degrees to go in front ways.

 

[The Z Machine]

Amusingly enough, if you're driving the wrong way in a diagonal lane it is WAY faster to back in than to loop 270 degrees to go in front ways.

But pulling out is gonna be a challenge.

 

[Instinctive]

Amusingly enough, if you're driving the wrong way in a diagonal lane it is WAY faster to back in than to loop 270 degrees to go in front ways.

But pulling out is gonna be a challenge.

Not if you just drive the wrong way like you did when you parked LOL

 

[the moops]

This is maddening. Yesterday, I had to wait to get out of the parking lot for someone to back into a space.

You really gonna miss those 30 seconds? Serenity now friend

 

[Terminalxylem]

I’ve even tried backing in,

How inconsiderate of you!!

Nobody was behind me.

 

[kupcho1]

This is maddening. Yesterday, I had to wait to get out of the parking lot for someone to back into a space.

You really gonna miss those 30 seconds? Serenity now friend

30 seconds?



You're giving her way too much credit my friend.

 

[nirad3]

well... this thread got.... interesting

 

[bagger]

Don’t be a weirdo and just pull into spaces head first.

 

[B Maverick]

It would be nice if everyone zipper merged and went about their merry way. Unfortunately, what happens out here is a couple things:

1) Cars will jump out of line to the open lane to speed forward and then try to merge back in, gaining 5 car lengths of time, pissing everyone off in both lanes.
2) Due to item 1, cars in the full lane do not like to let people merge, esp if they saw them jump out of line to try a last minute cut back into line, all to gain a couple car lengths.

Would be nice if it actually worked how people say it should. This doesn't even get into drivers on the shoulder, going straight in turn only lanes, driving up center turn lanes, etc. But those might be better saved for another thread.

Now you can go back to backing into a parking spot discussion.

 

[Scoresman]

It would be nice if everyone zipper merged and went about their merry way. Unfortunately, what happens out here is a couple things:

1) Cars will jump out of line to the open lane to speed forward and then try to merge back in, gaining 5 car lengths of time, pissing everyone off in both lanes.
2) Due to item 1, cars in the full lane do not like to let people merge, esp if they saw them jump out of line to try a last minute cut back into line, all to gain a couple car lengths.

Would be nice if it actually worked how people say it should. This doesn't even get into drivers on the shoulder, going straight in turn only lanes, driving up center turn lanes, etc. But those might be better saved for another thread.

Now you can go back to backing into a parking spot discussion.

I think the bolded is technically better for traffic flow. The problem is everyone views traffic as a "line" and people who move to the free lane are viewed as cutting in line. I'm guilty of this mindset for sure.

 

[-OZ-]

These spaces are set at a diagonal

There should be parking fines for parking the wrong way in these. Diagonal spaces are often better for drivers, but that’s negated when people do them wrong. And in this case, there clearly is a wrong way.

 

[Gally]

1) Cars will jump out of line to the open lane to speed forward and then try to merge back in, gaining 5 car lengths of time, pissing everyone off in both lanes.

This shouldn't piss people off. Maximizing lane volume is the proper thing. If the zipper merge was used properly this is not an issue. This goes to people being selfish by not letting the zipper merge happen because someone is using the lanes properly

.

2) Due to item 1, cars in the full lane do not like to let people merge, esp if they saw them jump out of line to try a last minute cut back into line, all to gain a couple car lengths.

If these people drove properly they would have used the full volume of the other lane and have no reason to be pissed off at anybody.

This doesn't even get into drivers on the shoulder, going straight in turn only lanes, driving up center turn lanes, etc. But those might be better saved for another thread.

These are drastically different actions and those people should be shot.

 

[Instinctive]

It would be nice if everyone zipper merged and went about their merry way. Unfortunately, what happens out here is a couple things:

1) Cars will jump out of line to the open lane to speed forward and then try to merge back in, gaining 5 car lengths of time, pissing everyone off in both lanes.
2) Due to item 1, cars in the full lane do not like to let people merge, esp if they saw them jump out of line to try a last minute cut back into line, all to gain a couple car lengths.

Would be nice if it actually worked how people say it should. This doesn't even get into drivers on the shoulder, going straight in turn only lanes, driving up center turn lanes, etc. But those might be better saved for another thread.

Now you can go back to backing into a parking spot discussion.

I think the bolded is technically better for traffic flow. The problem is everyone views traffic as a "line" and people who move to the free lane are viewed as cutting in line. I'm guilty of this mindset for sure.

If everybody just did it right, there is no line to jump out of and gain five car lengths. BOTH lanes are full to the point of the zipper.

 

[B Maverick]

It would be nice if everyone zipper merged and went about their merry way. Unfortunately, what happens out here is a couple things:

1) Cars will jump out of line to the open lane to speed forward and then try to merge back in, gaining 5 car lengths of time, pissing everyone off in both lanes.
2) Due to item 1, cars in the full lane do not like to let people merge, esp if they saw them jump out of line to try a last minute cut back into line, all to gain a couple car lengths.

Would be nice if it actually worked how people say it should. This doesn't even get into drivers on the shoulder, going straight in turn only lanes, driving up center turn lanes, etc. But those might be better saved for another thread.

Now you can go back to backing into a parking spot discussion.

I think the bolded is technically better for traffic flow. The problem is everyone views traffic as a "line" and people who move to the free lane are viewed as cutting in line. I'm guilty of this mindset for sure.

If everybody just did it right, there is no line to jump out of and gain five car lengths. BOTH lanes are full to the point of the zipper.

This is the point I was making. jumping up a few cars doesn't help anyone. And often causes people actually coming up the empty lane to have to slow down and avoid hitting you.
If everyone was using both lanes and zippering, it would probably flow better. Jumping out of line to pass 5 cars does not.

 

[B Maverick]

This shouldn't piss people off. Maximizing lane volume is the proper thing. If the zipper merge was used properly this is not an issue. This goes to people being selfish by not letting the zipper merge happen because someone is using the lanes properly

Maximizing lane volume and zippering is one thing and I agree with you. Jumping out of line to pass a couple cars and cut back in does nothing for anyone except cause irritation and potential accidents with those properly using the lanes. Now if you are coming up to the line of cars and the other lane is open, go for it. But once in line and trying to jump a few cars? No, stay in line.

If these people drove properly they would have used the full volume of the other lane and have no reason to be pissed off at anybody.

Correct. But they arent. And jumping a couple cars does more bad than good.

These are drastically different actions and those people should be shot.

Yes and very much yes.

 

[Gally]

. Now if you are coming up to the line of cars and the other lane is open, go for it. But once in line and trying to jump a few cars? No, stay in line.

What is the difference? If the lane isn't being maximized then it is causing an issue that will get perpetuated where it becomes 5 cars then 10 cars then a mile back because nobody wants to "jump the line". That is why not filling the lane causing people to mentally feel the line is being jumped is so bad.

Fill the lane and end the false stigma.

 

[Harry Manback]

Don’t be a weirdo and just pull into spaces head first.

I was actually *this* close to no longer backing in but now I'll never pull in head first out of spite.