Do you have to back into every parking space?

[Anonymous]

So just out of curiosity, after shaking my head in amazement at this thread, I've been timing myself parking and pulling out of spots for the past several days.

Starting at the same point, approaching a parking space, and ending when my car is fully inside the space and clear of traffic wanting to get by:
Pulling straight in: 4-7 seconds
Backing in: 5-12 seconds

Leaving a parking space, from poking my car into the lane of traffic until I am fully joined in the traffic lane and driving at parking-lot speed:
Pulling straight out (after having backed in): 2-3 seconds
Backing out (after having pulled in): 6-20 seconds

My takeaways:
- If the person can back in reasonably well, we are talking about a few seconds either way. You've spent more time complaining about it on DCUM than you spent actually waiting for a car to back in. If you're that busy and can't wait 5 seconds, then put DCUM down and get on with your life.

- The extra time spent backing in is generally offset by being able to pull straight out vs having to back out.

- The most variability is in backing out of a spot. This is largely because I drive a small sedan. If a big car came and parked next to me, I cannot see around it, I can only see directly behind my car. I have to creep very slowly out of my space to make sure there isn't some a-hole racing down the parking lot, or a little kid about to jump out from behind the car next to me. I do have a backup camera, but again it only shows directly behind me, not what it coming from the side.

- Further variability in backing out is if the cars next to me parked too close, I can't start angling my car until my front bumper is nearly clear of their back bumper. If the driving lane is narrow, sometimes this requires 2 passes to get my car aligned with the driving lane. But I can back into the spot in 1 pass - swoop close to the spot, angle 45 degrees away, and back in. So for tiny lots, backing in actually does take less time overall. This is particularly true when I'm driving my husband's SUV instead of my little sedan.

OK, that's my data collection and analysis, in case anyone cares about actual number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to back in or pull in. You do what works best for you. But you do have to be careful and considerate to others.

I back in my space at work for two reasons. One, I can back in easier than I can pull in usually (pulling in woukd take several adjustments). No one is that impatient in the morning, but if you hold them up at the end of the day backing out, your life is in danger : ).

I don't get this. I can't imagine a situation where backing into a parking space would be easier than pulling into it.

This is because you don’t know how to do it correctly. When you do, you back in with one correct maneuver. Into one spot. With no potential moving parking lot traffic, pedestrian, etc. two stationary vehicles are all you need to scootch in next to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So just out of curiosity, after shaking my head in amazement at this thread, I've been timing myself parking and pulling out of spots for the past several days.

Starting at the same point, approaching a parking space, and ending when my car is fully inside the space and clear of traffic wanting to get by:
Pulling straight in: 4-7 seconds
Backing in: 5-12 seconds

Leaving a parking space, from poking my car into the lane of traffic until I am fully joined in the traffic lane and driving at parking-lot speed:
Pulling straight out (after having backed in): 2-3 seconds
Backing out (after having pulled in): 6-20 seconds

My takeaways:
- If the person can back in reasonably well, we are talking about a few seconds either way. You've spent more time complaining about it on DCUM than you spent actually waiting for a car to back in. If you're that busy and can't wait 5 seconds, then put DCUM down and get on with your life.

- The extra time spent backing in is generally offset by being able to pull straight out vs having to back out.

- The most variability is in backing out of a spot. This is largely because I drive a small sedan. If a big car came and parked next to me, I cannot see around it, I can only see directly behind my car. I have to creep very slowly out of my space to make sure there isn't some a-hole racing down the parking lot, or a little kid about to jump out from behind the car next to me. I do have a backup camera, but again it only shows directly behind me, not what it coming from the side.

- Further variability in backing out is if the cars next to me parked too close, I can't start angling my car until my front bumper is nearly clear of their back bumper. If the driving lane is narrow, sometimes this requires 2 passes to get my car aligned with the driving lane. But I can back into the spot in 1 pass - swoop close to the spot, angle 45 degrees away, and back in. So for tiny lots, backing in actually does take less time overall. This is particularly true when I'm driving my husband's SUV instead of my little sedan.

OK, that's my data collection and analysis, in case anyone cares about actual number.

It’s one singular data point amongst millions. And as you improve backing in (like driving on the road when you first get a license call 40 years later), this time improves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to back in or pull in. You do what works best for you. But you do have to be careful and considerate to others.

I back in my space at work for two reasons. One, I can back in easier than I can pull in usually (pulling in woukd take several adjustments). No one is that impatient in the morning, but if you hold them up at the end of the day backing out, your life is in danger : ).

I don't get this. I can't imagine a situation where backing into a parking space would be easier than pulling into it.

Most people don't get it, because most people lack fundamental skills to operate the vehicle. If any of you have ever driven a fork lift, you will note that the REAR wheels are the ones that turn. Same reason why the rear wheels on a ladder truck (fire engine) turn. You have greater maneuverability in tight spaces this way. Imagine for a moment an 18-wheeler trying to PULL IN to a loading dock. It would be impossible. I drive large vehicles, and maneuverability is so much better when the REAR wheels turn (as they do when you are operating a vehicle in reverse). This is why so many of us say that backing in is not only safer, but easier. You either get it, or you don't.

Perfect example illustrating the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to back in or pull in. You do what works best for you. But you do have to be careful and considerate to others.

I back in my space at work for two reasons. One, I can back in easier than I can pull in usually (pulling in woukd take several adjustments). No one is that impatient in the morning, but if you hold them up at the end of the day backing out, your life is in danger : ).

I don't get this. I can't imagine a situation where backing into a parking space would be easier than pulling into it.

Most people don't get it, because most people lack fundamental skills to operate the vehicle. If any of you have ever driven a fork lift, you will note that the REAR wheels are the ones that turn. Same reason why the rear wheels on a ladder truck (fire engine) turn. You have greater maneuverability in tight spaces this way. Imagine for a moment an 18-wheeler trying to PULL IN to a loading dock. It would be impossible. I drive large vehicles, and maneuverability is so much better when the REAR wheels turn (as they do when you are operating a vehicle in reverse). This is why so many of us say that backing in is not only safer, but easier. You either get it, or you don't.

+1, perfect example and illustration

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The safest way to get in to a parking spot is to pull in. The safest way to get out of a parking spot is to pull out. None of these going in reverse business. The solution is obvious. Reversible cars. No problems with visibility either way.

Citation?

I don't have time to find the cite, but years ago AAA (American Automobile Association) did a study which found the above to be true. There was an article in their monthly magazine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The safest way to get in to a parking spot is to pull in. The safest way to get out of a parking spot is to pull out. None of these going in reverse business. The solution is obvious. Reversible cars. No problems with visibility either way.

Citation?

I don't have time to find the cite, but years ago AAA (American Automobile Association) did a study which found the above to be true. There was an article in their monthly magazine.

If that's true, then they later changed their tune:

https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/12/10/youre-doing-it-wrong-aaa-says-majority-of-drivers-park-incorrectly-in-parking-lots/

[Anonymous]

I rarely back in but I pull through whenever possible. I purposely pull through too far, then hit reverse and use the rear view camera to back up to an appropriate distance from the line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an extended SUV. I believe it’s the biggest American-made SUV. When I first got it, I would park at the end of the lot/Gods country in a driven through parking spot.
I began backing it in on the driveway after my weekly shopping.

When I began working in an office with a super tight garage -basically room for 1.5 cars but 2-way traffic, I began parking on the top floor. Away from others. These days the garage is almost at capacity. I now 100% of the time back in. I had a guy lean on his horn the other week after I backed in. What made him an ass though was his 40 mph speed through the garage. Really?! It’s 830 am and you can’t sit?! Get up a little earlier next time.

The worst is that the garage (made for 1.5 car span) has parking spots at the end of every row that don’t give enough room for 2 cars to go in opposite directions. I can see the cars heading towards me (I sit high), so I routinely wait. The folks in sedan/coupe cannot and near misses all too often. Worst is when someone is backing out. I cringe.

Talk about burying the lede. Your monster truck is clearly too big for the garage. Get a normal sized car.

It's "lead", not "lede".... as in "the lead story"

Get your idioms straight before you start telling people what they should be driving.

NP. It's lede. You are wrong, leave the thread.

-- journalist who has spent 22 years working in mainstream media

And I've got 4 years on you, in the same industry. Except unlike you, I'm not lying about it.

It's l-e-a-d. As in "we're leading our newscast tonight with ________".

When you "bury the lead", you're putting the most important part of the story under/after some other minutiae.

Your post got a lot of WTF looks and squints in our newsroom tonight.

HOly Shit. Your newsroom just got pwned. You guys do know what pwned is right? If you need help, let us know.

Did you read the article? Of course not. Here, let me help you...

"Lead" IS the original spelling. It was changed to "lede" to assist printers doing page layouts for printing presses.

We don't have printing presses in TV news bureaus, ergo, we never changed the spelling from the original (and correct) version to an incorrect one.


Critical thought isn't your thing, is it? Hopefully you'll get better at it before you get to college.

Ouch!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to back in or pull in. You do what works best for you. But you do have to be careful and considerate to others.

I back in my space at work for two reasons. One, I can back in easier than I can pull in usually (pulling in woukd take several adjustments). No one is that impatient in the morning, but if you hold them up at the end of the day backing out, your life is in danger : ).

I don't get this. I can't imagine a situation where backing into a parking space would be easier than pulling into it.

Most people don't get it, because most people lack fundamental skills to operate the vehicle. If any of you have ever driven a fork lift, you will note that the REAR wheels are the ones that turn. Same reason why the rear wheels on a ladder truck (fire engine) turn. You have greater maneuverability in tight spaces this way. Imagine for a moment an 18-wheeler trying to PULL IN to a loading dock. It would be impossible. I drive large vehicles, and maneuverability is so much better when the REAR wheels turn (as they do when you are operating a vehicle in reverse). This is why so many of us say that backing in is not only safer, but easier. You either get it, or you don't.

+1, perfect example and illustration

-1

Awful example and illustration

I'm driving a cuv, not an 18 wheeler

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to back in or pull in. You do what works best for you. But you do have to be careful and considerate to others.

I back in my space at work for two reasons. One, I can back in easier than I can pull in usually (pulling in woukd take several adjustments). No one is that impatient in the morning, but if you hold them up at the end of the day backing out, your life is in danger : ).

I don't get this. I can't imagine a situation where backing into a parking space would be easier than pulling into it.

Most people don't get it, because most people lack fundamental skills to operate the vehicle. If any of you have ever driven a fork lift, you will note that the REAR wheels are the ones that turn. Same reason why the rear wheels on a ladder truck (fire engine) turn. You have greater maneuverability in tight spaces this way. Imagine for a moment an 18-wheeler trying to PULL IN to a loading dock. It would be impossible. I drive large vehicles, and maneuverability is so much better when the REAR wheels turn (as they do when you are operating a vehicle in reverse). This is why so many of us say that backing in is not only safer, but easier. You either get it, or you don't.

+1, perfect example and illustration

-1

Awful example and illustration

I'm driving a cuv, not an 18 wheeler

Not sure what a CUV is, but I agree with PP. Backing in is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to back in or pull in. You do what works best for you. But you do have to be careful and considerate to others.

I back in my space at work for two reasons. One, I can back in easier than I can pull in usually (pulling in woukd take several adjustments). No one is that impatient in the morning, but if you hold them up at the end of the day backing out, your life is in danger : ).

I don't get this. I can't imagine a situation where backing into a parking space would be easier than pulling into it.

Most people don't get it, because most people lack fundamental skills to operate the vehicle. If any of you have ever driven a fork lift, you will note that the REAR wheels are the ones that turn. Same reason why the rear wheels on a ladder truck (fire engine) turn. You have greater maneuverability in tight spaces this way. Imagine for a moment an 18-wheeler trying to PULL IN to a loading dock. It would be impossible. I drive large vehicles, and maneuverability is so much better when the REAR wheels turn (as they do when you are operating a vehicle in reverse). This is why so many of us say that backing in is not only safer, but easier. You either get it, or you don't.

+1, perfect example and illustration

-1

Awful example and illustration

I'm driving a cuv, not an 18 wheeler

Not sure what a CUV is, but I agree with PP. Backing in is better.

Not sure what you're trying to prove with this video since most of us don't drive trucks

[Anonymous]

The scale of the vehicle is completely irrelevant in this case. What works on a large truck also works equally well on a SUV, CUV, sedan, or even a Smartcar. It's about where the turning-wheels are, not about the size of the vehicle they're attached to.

This is obvious to any small child who plays with toy cars. I'm puzzled as to why adults are having so much trouble grasping it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to back in or pull in. You do what works best for you. But you do have to be careful and considerate to others.

I back in my space at work for two reasons. One, I can back in easier than I can pull in usually (pulling in woukd take several adjustments). No one is that impatient in the morning, but if you hold them up at the end of the day backing out, your life is in danger : ).

I don't get this. I can't imagine a situation where backing into a parking space would be easier than pulling into it.

Most people don't get it, because most people lack fundamental skills to operate the vehicle. If any of you have ever driven a fork lift, you will note that the REAR wheels are the ones that turn. Same reason why the rear wheels on a ladder truck (fire engine) turn. You have greater maneuverability in tight spaces this way. Imagine for a moment an 18-wheeler trying to PULL IN to a loading dock. It would be impossible. I drive large vehicles, and maneuverability is so much better when the REAR wheels turn (as they do when you are operating a vehicle in reverse). This is why so many of us say that backing in is not only safer, but easier. You either get it, or you don't.

+1, perfect example and illustration

-1

Awful example and illustration

I'm driving a cuv, not an 18 wheeler

Did you go to an Ivey?


Just curious

Not sure what a CUV is, but I agree with PP. Backing in is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not have to back in or pull in. You do what works best for you. But you do have to be careful and considerate to others.

I back in my space at work for two reasons. One, I can back in easier than I can pull in usually (pulling in woukd take several adjustments). No one is that impatient in the morning, but if you hold them up at the end of the day backing out, your life is in danger : ).

I don't get this. I can't imagine a situation where backing into a parking space would be easier than pulling into it.

Most people don't get it, because most people lack fundamental skills to operate the vehicle. If any of you have ever driven a fork lift, you will note that the REAR wheels are the ones that turn. Same reason why the rear wheels on a ladder truck (fire engine) turn. You have greater maneuverability in tight spaces this way. Imagine for a moment an 18-wheeler trying to PULL IN to a loading dock. It would be impossible. I drive large vehicles, and maneuverability is so much better when the REAR wheels turn (as they do when you are operating a vehicle in reverse). This is why so many of us say that backing in is not only safer, but easier. You either get it, or you don't.

+1, perfect example and illustration

-1

Awful example and illustration

I'm driving a cuv, not an 18 wheeler

You made my point perfectly. Like I said, you either get it, or you don't. You don't.