Parking: pull in or back in?

[Anonymous]

Somebody mentioned this in the "things you find annoying" thread. Which do you prefer, and how old are you?

I'm 48 and there were no backup cameras when I learned to drive. I've always parked front-in because it's how I learned and I'm a creature of habit. Even with a camera I prefer to do the maneuver that requires some degree of precision while going forward rather than backward.

Most of the time it really doesn't matter to me what others do. But one situation does annoy me: If I'm heading down a row of spaces on my way out of a lot, and I see the car in front of me slow down and begin to turn left, that used to mean I could move around them to the right as they pull in to the left. Now sometimes it means that I'll be waiting as they stop, shift into reverse, then make one or more attempts to back in.

[Anonymous]

52. I back in whenever possible, and now find it easier than pulling in. I rely on the camera, but perfected it without a camera b/c of an awkward assigned parking spot in my office garage.

[Anonymous]

50 and I hate backing in.

[Anonymous]

I find Marylander's pathological need to back in kind of hilarious. I was at the DC Coscto parked (nose in) along the edge of the lot, which is bordered by a hillside. The guy next to me was super frustrated trying to load his Costco-sized grocery run into the trunk of his car, which he had backed into a hill, and therefore had nowhere to put his cart near the trunk.

Sometimes it makes sense to back in to a spot (or pull through for the same effect), but please, drivers of Maryland, stop thinking it makes you a superior driver that you back into every single space. Use your noodle.

[Anonymous]

It's situation specific, of course, but I generally prefer to back in. The parking space is empty, but when I leave, I will be pulling forward into an area that is more likely to have other cars, pedestrians, etc in it. I hate backing out without good visibility. Backing in is objectively safer, provided you have the skill for it.

If there are many cars behind me, I'll pull in front-facing, just because folks are pushy. But I don't see the time it takes to back into a space as any different than making cars behind you wait while you parallel park. If other drivers are paying attention, I'm using my signals and backing lights appropriately, and it should be clear what I intend to do.

[Anonymous]

I hate backing in.

I hate how many people back in who are bad at it. If it takes you multiple maneuvers-stop doing it.

[Anonymous]

I do not understand backing in at the grocery store. You may or may not be able to open your trunk and definitely can't get a cart back there!

[Anonymous]

Oh, and I'm 50

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somebody mentioned this in the "things you find annoying" thread. Which do you prefer, and how old are you?

I'm 48 and there were no backup cameras when I learned to drive. I've always parked front-in because it's how I learned and I'm a creature of habit. Even with a camera I prefer to do the maneuver that requires some degree of precision while going forward rather than backward.

Most of the time it really doesn't matter to me what others do. But one situation does annoy me: If I'm heading down a row of spaces on my way out of a lot, and I see the car in front of me slow down and begin to turn left, that used to mean I could move around them to the right as they pull in to the left. Now sometimes it means that I'll be waiting as they stop, shift into reverse, then make one or more attempts to back in.

No, it has never meant that. Stop trying to pass the car in front of you in the confines of a parking lot.

[Anonymous]

Normall I pull in, but in my garage at work I back in if I can because the garage spots are small and it is always really tight. So it's easier to be able to just drive out.

My DH virtually always backs in, and it annoys me at the store because then it isn't as easy to load up the back with groceries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somebody mentioned this in the "things you find annoying" thread. Which do you prefer, and how old are you?

I'm 48 and there were no backup cameras when I learned to drive. I've always parked front-in because it's how I learned and I'm a creature of habit. Even with a camera I prefer to do the maneuver that requires some degree of precision while going forward rather than backward.

Most of the time it really doesn't matter to me what others do. But one situation does annoy me: If I'm heading down a row of spaces on my way out of a lot, and I see the car in front of me slow down and begin to turn left, that used to mean I could move around them to the right as they pull in to the left. Now sometimes it means that I'll be waiting as they stop, shift into reverse, then make one or more attempts to back in.

No, it has never meant that. Stop trying to pass the car in front of you in the confines of a parking lot.

By the time I get up there, what I'm "passing" is a parked car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand backing in at the grocery store. You may or may not be able to open your trunk and definitely can't get a cart back there!

Agreed, I'm upthread as preferring to back in-- better visibility on both ends of the operation, and better maneuverability-- but the grocery store or anywhere I need the trunk is an exception. (Though I usually walk to the store with my granny cart, so it doesn't come up often)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somebody mentioned this in the "things you find annoying" thread. Which do you prefer, and how old are you?

I'm 48 and there were no backup cameras when I learned to drive. I've always parked front-in because it's how I learned and I'm a creature of habit. Even with a camera I prefer to do the maneuver that requires some degree of precision while going forward rather than backward.

Most of the time it really doesn't matter to me what others do. But one situation does annoy me: If I'm heading down a row of spaces on my way out of a lot, and I see the car in front of me slow down and begin to turn left, that used to mean I could move around them to the right as they pull in to the left. Now sometimes it means that I'll be waiting as they stop, shift into reverse, then make one or more attempts to back in.

No, it has never meant that. Stop trying to pass the car in front of you in the confines of a parking lot.

Agreed. Parking lots should be no passing zones. Of course, people who just stop anywhere and put their hazards on might force us to pass where we'd really rather not.

[Anonymous]

46. I hate backing in. I'm a nervous driver in general. I can do it if I absolutely have to, and practice whenever there's a truck snafu or other impediment on my very narrow one-lane street.

But generally I pull into a parking spot and then very carefully back out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somebody mentioned this in the "things you find annoying" thread. Which do you prefer, and how old are you?

I'm 48 and there were no backup cameras when I learned to drive. I've always parked front-in because it's how I learned and I'm a creature of habit. Even with a camera I prefer to do the maneuver that requires some degree of precision while going forward rather than backward.

Most of the time it really doesn't matter to me what others do. But one situation does annoy me: If I'm heading down a row of spaces on my way out of a lot, and I see the car in front of me slow down and begin to turn left, that used to mean I could move around them to the right as they pull in to the left. Now sometimes it means that I'll be waiting as they stop, shift into reverse, then make one or more attempts to back in.

No, it has never meant that. Stop trying to pass the car in front of you in the confines of a parking lot.

Agreed. Parking lots should be no passing zones. Of course, people who just stop anywhere and put their hazards on might force us to pass where we'd really rather not.

My point was, parking front-in is so quick that by the time I reach the spot where they began to turn, their car is already in the spot.