Parking: pull in or back in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Except the car didn't do what you expected, as cars often don't. You need to slow down and leave space.

Backing in is faster than backing out, but if you blow past the people trying to back out then you probably never noticed that.

[Anonymous]

Backing in is safer, but since so many of you can't park worth a damn, no wonder it annoys you.

[Anonymous]

You need to back in so that you can make a quick getaway in case of an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Except the car didn't do what you expected, as cars often don't. You need to slow down and leave space.

Backing in is faster than backing out, but if you blow past the people trying to back out then you probably never noticed that.

That's my point - now I expect cars to back in. That wasn't the case 20 years ago. And if they are backing in I have to come to a complete stop.

Backing in is not necessarily faster than backing out - it depends on whether they line themselves up properly on the first try. Not everybody does. And pulling in forwards is also faster than pulling out forwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Except the car didn't do what you expected, as cars often don't. You need to slow down and leave space.

Backing in is faster than backing out, but if you blow past the people trying to back out then you probably never noticed that.

That's my point - now I expect cars to back in. That wasn't the case 20 years ago. And if they are backing in I have to come to a complete stop.

The effrontery!

Backing in is not necessarily faster than backing out - it depends on whether they line themselves up properly on the first try. Not everybody does. And pulling in forwards is also faster than pulling out forwards.

It's a skill issue. If you're used to parallel parking, backing in is trivial. And sure, there are lots of lousy drivers around here. And lots of people driving monster SUVs they don't know how to handle.

[Anonymous]

Pull in, back out. Infinitely safer than backing in. Walking through parking lots is always more scary with people backing in - they just assume everyone will stop and yield to them, instead of the other way - cars should yield to people walking.

[Anonymous]

52 I back in so its easier to get out usually. I don't do this in crowded parking lots if there are other cars in the aisle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Except the car didn't do what you expected, as cars often don't. You need to slow down and leave space.

Backing in is faster than backing out, but if you blow past the people trying to back out then you probably never noticed that.

That's my point - now I expect cars to back in. That wasn't the case 20 years ago. And if they are backing in I have to come to a complete stop.

The effrontery!

Backing in is not necessarily faster than backing out - it depends on whether they line themselves up properly on the first try. Not everybody does. And pulling in forwards is also faster than pulling out forwards.

It's a skill issue. If you're used to parallel parking, backing in is trivial. And sure, there are lots of lousy drivers around here. And lots of people driving monster SUVs they don't know how to handle.

Haha. But seriously, if it's relevant that backing in can save time, it's also relevant that backing in can cost others time.

[Anonymous]

Backing in is for hicks and insecure men.
It irritates everyone. Do not do this.

[Anonymous]

65 and I back in whenever I can. My car has some spots that are difficult to see and backing in avoids me having to navigate those difficult spots, so hence safer. Also the thing about pulling out is that you can see more of what is going on around you. Back up cameras, if you have them, have limited depth. And, unless you get in the car and immediately move, the situation surrounding you changes and you have more limited ability to see what is actually going on.

That being said, if you're not good at it and it's not safer because of your skill, you shouldn't do it. Most of the time, either way is legal.

[Anonymous]

46, and sometimes back in when no one else is around, because I don't want to slow down the process. It entirely depends if someone is waiting to park or not.

[Anonymous]

I back in because it makes leaving safer, but I pass the first open spot I come to in case a short-tempered puller-inner is behind me

[Anonymous]

I’m 55 and pull in to park. It’s how I learned, and for me it’s safer. I don’t mind if others back in, feeling it’s the safer way for them to park. I want everyone to maximize safety. I don’t if they sometimes have to reverse a little, I’ve been in some tight spaces, especially in parking garages, where
I had to adjust even pulling in forward. I’d rather they take a little extra time than to park badly making it difficult for anyone parking in the next space.

The only thing I really object to is when drivers back-up WITHOUT SIGNALING. Countless times other drivers have just driven past a space without any signal of interest, so I start to position myself to pull in, and suddenly they’re backing up, and then I may have to back up, and there may be cars coming up behind me. This makes things less safe for everyone. I know Maryland drivers have some sort of allergy to using their turn signals, but communicating your intentions to other drivers helps everyone get home more safely.

[Anonymous]

Good point to ask ages, but I’d also ask where they live - rural or suburban.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Backing in is for hicks and insecure men.
It irritates everyone. Do not do this.

What???