Backing in makes sense at a place where everyone is leaving at the same time eg a concert. It makes no sense, however, when there's a line of cars behind you waiting to park and you are holding everyone up. If you couldn't back into a space before having a backup camera for the love of God don't make everyone wait while you need to adjust three or four times. I am thinking specifically of my gym, Lifetime Potomac. Everyone is trying to make the same class as you! Just pull in and think about the five cars behind you. We all leave at different times and there's no reason you shouldn't be able to back out--the garage has plenty of room. And think about a minute as you shark for a space. You are at the gym. To get a workout. Walking a few extra steps should not be a big deal. Please do not make everyone wait while you wait for someone else to exit their space. I'm going around you both.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you. Average person takes almost three tries to back into a space. If it’s that hard, pull in forward.

+100

Actually, if you don’t watch them, they will do it faster. When someone is watching you back into a space or parallel park, it makes the driver nervous and it makes it more difficult.

People who pull into spaces have poor impulse control, seek immediate gratification, and are less capable of strategic planning.

Anonymous wrote:Over the last few years, I’ve seen more and more people backing into parking spaces. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, as they try to line up their giant vehicles making everyone else wait forever.

Why don’t people just pull into a space??

Called a "Bootlegger" parking job. Makes for easier unloading and a faster get-away.

Backing in is Maryland Driver behavior.

Anonymous wrote:It's safer. You're backing into an unoccupied space you can see. You know there will be no other cars moving around there, and you can see any pedestrians. When you pull out again, you full visibility of the space you're moving into. Backing out into the aisle from a parking space is nerve wracking. Giant SUVs blocking my view, pedestrians looking at their phones paying no attention... I will back into a space 99% of the time FOR SAFETY. But I'm good at it, so it's just as fast as having to seesaw into the space because forward turn radiuses are smaller.

The 1% of the time I don't back in is at Costco. Not because the aisles are clear or safe, but because I'm definitely going to need access to the trunk. And every time I have to park wrong, I'm reminded why backing in is superior.

People walk through parking lot rows and cars will pull forward through what appears to be unoccupied spaces- you could potentially hit a car pulling forward.

It's safer. You're backing into an unoccupied space you can see. You know there will be no other cars moving around there, and you can see any pedestrians. When you pull out again, you full visibility of the space you're moving into. Backing out into the aisle from a parking space is nerve wracking. Giant SUVs blocking my view, pedestrians looking at their phones paying no attention... I will back into a space 99% of the time FOR SAFETY. But I'm good at it, so it's just as fast as having to seesaw into the space because forward turn radiuses are smaller.

The 1% of the time I don't back in is at Costco. Not because the aisles are clear or safe, but because I'm definitely going to need access to the trunk. And every time I have to park wrong, I'm reminded why backing in is superior.

OP sounds like a senior citizen.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like ignants at DMV, AAA and AARP are to blame. Technically, because it's harder to enter a confined space, you should nose into it with fullest vision, and then backout into larger space with lesser limited vision.

You aren't very good at math and geometry and physics, are you?

I don’t care what you do, back in or don’t. Just be quick about it.

And for godsakes do not back in at Costco!

Anonymous wrote:I hate when people back in and I’ll never change my mind.

+1

Anonymous wrote:It is safer. I do it in one try. Actually, it is easier for me to back into a space than pull into one.

Me too. Took some practice but much easier now and in some of those very tight spaces makes it easier to open the door and exit the car. Some garages in DC mandate backing in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is zero logic to the "it's safer to back in" argument - there's no visibility gained (only lost) while backing at such angles. It's only safer because the people walking through the parking lot will stop and gawk at the person backing in, thinking "what on earth is this fool doing?"

If you can’t understand how it’s safer to leave a space you backed into, then you must have some sort of spatial awareness disability.

There's a whole other part - arriving and backing into a space. And that is NOT safer, at all.

Dp - of course it is. As you are preparing to back in you have full visibility of the driving/walking. The odds of someone walking between cars is close to zero. If you have backed into a spot you have the same level of visibility as you pull out, which you do not have if you pull in because you’re positioned at the last part of the car to gain visibility.

I have never found this to be the case walking through parking lots. It's always the person backing in that's like "OK I'M GOING IN EVERYONE BETTER JUST STOP BECAUSE I'M JUST GOING." I always feel much less safe walking through when someone's trying to back in. It takes a lot longer, and so you have more time to deal with people than someone who parks the normal way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is zero logic to the "it's safer to back in" argument - there's no visibility gained (only lost) while backing at such angles. It's only safer because the people walking through the parking lot will stop and gawk at the person backing in, thinking "what on earth is this fool doing?"

If you can’t understand how it’s safer to leave a space you backed into, then you must have some sort of spatial awareness disability.

Huh?

If you find it hard or unsafe to back OUT of a spot, then you are so clearly the one who has spacial awareness disabilities. Backing out is not remotely challenging or unsafe for any remotely capable driver. But I'd bet you're from Maryland and are a terrible driver, in general.

I hate when people back in and I’ll never change my mind.