What are people doing when they get in their cars and take ages to drive off when I am waiting for the parking space?

[Anonymous]

I have no idea what they do. I get in my car and go. If I have to sit there and wait, I let the person waiting for the spot know that I'm going nowhere. Ofcourse I know someone is waiting, I'm not blind.
What I want to know is what kind of person has a car that looks like someone has taken a knife to the bumper. I see such a car every once in a while. Do they back up til they hit another car almost every single time? Can they not tell how close or far they are? Or did they really take a knife to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there was a study that showed people take longer to pull out when they know someone is waiting for their spot.

You are correct.

For all of the maybe this, maybe that, it's interesting that it all seems to happen more when it looks like someone is waiting for your spot.

+100 it’s a power/control thing even if nobody admits it.

+1

I will wait as long as it takes just to p*ss them off, if the parkers are obviously taking extra time intentionally.

Hint: they are.

Totally agree. I’m surprised the length to which posters here have tried to justify their wait. The overwhelming reality is that people get in their cars and go, and they don’t routinely do the things mentioned here. Outwaiting someone for your spot is simply a power/control issue.

You sound like a complete p*n*s. I bet you creep along behind walkers until they get to their cars and then block traffic waiting & waiting & waiting until you get YOUR spot. As if you had any entitlement to it in the first place. And when you drive on the road you tailgate, flash lights, swerve in and out, flip the bird etc. instead of actually sharing the road with everyone else like a normal person. If I have tasks I need to attend to first, you can bet I'll out last you in your silly little parking space game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a major safety issue and, unfortunately, it will catch up to many of you. Be safe. Get in your car, get secure, and drive away.

What is the safety issue? Not immediately leaving when you get in your car? Seems safer to fiddle with your phone when you're not driving -- the risk of crashing while distracted is significantly higher than the risk that some jerk is going to attack you for making them wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone did this to me today. It makes me so angry when people do that.

100% they are asserting their dominance. It's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm waiting for my car to warm up and meanwhile setting up my GPS. I move as fast as I can when I see people waiting but if my next destination is dependent on talking to someone else (like do I need to stop at the supermarket or go straight home) or needs GPS, I am not pulling out until I have that working.

You are not supposed to "Warm up your car" it's stupid and pointless.

[Anonymous]

I am using hand sanitizer, getting some water, putting in my address for the next stop if I don't know where I am going, and possibly checking messages.

Some of you "in a hurry" posters do the same thing, but it's ok when you do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No answers here but I’m an Airbnb host with a webcam pointed at the parking area. I have watched many, many cars sit, idling, for 15 minutes or more. No idea what they can possibly be doing that they couldn’t have done before they left the unit. Some people just like sitting in their cars. I think it’s like “non time” - the only peace they have.

weirdo this is why I don't use airbnbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a major safety issue and, unfortunately, it will catch up to many of you. Be safe. Get in your car, get secure, and drive away.

This. You're asking for trouble sitting in your car like that!

[Anonymous]

So if you aren't leaving the space right away, why not wave on the person waiting? I know you know they're there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kills me is when someone is waiting for your spot and blocks the flow of traffic through the parking lot to do so. I see this at Costco all the time.

It’s power/control in reverse. If the person in the spot won’t yield and the waiting car won’t either, the increasing blocked traffic is the tiebreaker. It’s the waiting car putting crowd/social pressure on the parking space idiot.

When I’m stuck behind someone waiting for a spot, they are the one I am irritated with, not the person in the parking spot. There’s always another spot further along in the lot that’s actually easier to exit from if the waiting idiot would just move along. This is at the Pentagon City lot, which I understand to be one of the worst.

[Anonymous]

Op don't give them the satisfaction on waiting for the spot! Keep moving. This is 100% on purpose!

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I sit in my car listening to a podcast, the end of an NPR segment (they literally call it a "driveway moment"), a song, play a game on my phone, whatever. It's often the only time alone I have, so what does it matter? If someone is obviously waiting for my spot I will promptly move, but I always park at the back of any lot so it rarely happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so annoyed by these people. Don't wait for a spot until you see their reverse lights on! Instead people are huffing and puffing while I buckle my kids in the car seat, return a text message and then look up directions to my next place. Just park 10 spaces further away!!!! I do understand if I'm in the city and there aren't spots, but sheesh.

If I see you waiting, I try to hurry up, but if you honk, I will wait alllllllll day.

All of this. If you're in that much of a hurry, choose an open space and keep it moving. You probably need the exercise.

These threads make me laugh every time seeing how upset people get over the possibility of someone in their parking spot reading messages / emails before driving. Yet the same people will scream to the high heavens about phone use while driving.

[Anonymous]

If you have a legitimate reason to not pull out (putting your address in, answering a quick text, adjusting your mirrors, etc) great. I don't mind waiting. But if you're doing it just because you see me waiting on that spot, you're an ass. In this area, it's often impossible to find parking. There might not be any other spots available. Of course, i'd walk 10 extra feet if that is an option, but it's often not. Stop playing stupid power games and be civil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so annoyed by these people. Don't wait for a spot until you see their reverse lights on! Instead people are huffing and puffing while I buckle my kids in the car seat, return a text message and then look up directions to my next place. Just park 10 spaces further away!!!! I do understand if I'm in the city and there aren't spots, but sheesh.

If I see you waiting, I try to hurry up, but if you honk, I will wait alllllllll day.

All of this. If you're in that much of a hurry, choose an open space and keep it moving. You probably need the exercise.

These threads make me laugh every time seeing how upset people get over the possibility of someone in their parking spot reading messages / emails before driving. Yet the same people will scream to the high heavens about phone use while driving.

It's fine if you need to read texts or emails before you leave, just wave the person on so they can look for another space.