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Possibly the lamest question ever.

Do people in your town back into parking spaces, or is that a Texas thing? For some reason that is a big trend here. At least three times a week I have to wait for some yutz to back into a parking space. I see no advantage.

phil21 7 Apr 24
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44 comments

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5

I back in most of the time.
Reduces risk of accident when pulling out.

3

California here, I have an SUV and I always back in. I like to see what's in front of me when I'm pulling out......Am I the only one, that thinks that sounds sexual?

3

In my state, backing into a parallel park is the correct method.

Outside of that, how much longer does it take to back in, 10 seconds? What about the people backing out of spot after they went in straight? Aren’t they going to waste 10 seconds of your time as well?

3

I'll back in if there's a reason... like I need to load junk in/out of the hatch, or the space has a blind spot, where backing out will probably get my fender mashed by someone not paying attention.

Here's a fun one: in the St. Louis area, they're starting to remove traditional nose-in diagonal parking spots, and are replacing them with back-in, or reverse, diagonal spots... you pass the open spot, put the car in reverse, and back in at an angle to the curb. Now, logically and logistically? This makes all kinds of sense... it's safer and easier access to your trunk from the sidewalk, the car doors open away from the street and not towards it, back doors (where kids usually are) are now closer to the sidewalk than the street, etc. etc.

I guess it's just going to take a while for my brain to stop freaking out, whenever I turn onto a street and suddenly all the cars are angled away from me, like I'm going the wrong way. =)

tmaaz Level 5 Apr 24, 2018

That's actually pretty brilliant.

3

It provides a tighter turning radius. Helps park needledick trucks more easily. Texas has a lot of needledick trucks.

Cool , I learned a new slang today, 'Needledick Trucks'.

Ha ha ha ?

2

I only back in a space when I am at a nightclub and I'm expecting to have to have a quick getaway.

2

Backing in makes no sense ... especially when grocery shopping. One wants their trunk or rear door accessible to put things in , yes?

2

Minnesota here. Seems to be mostly guys driving oversized pickup trucks. I really don't get it. I have a pickup. I drive in like a normal person, or if such a spot presents itself, grab a pull-through.

2

Standard practice in oil/gas country. I've never gotten into the habit but I don't work in that field. I don't see what your problem is with it. Pulling in or pulling out takes time whichever way it is done, so relax.

2

That doesn't occur much where I live in PA. On another note, I think this post was good because it brought up a different and completely random topic, so all good.

Thanks, Spike!

2

I had someone tell me it was way easier to back into the parking space than to back out of the space? He was referring to those extra long big pickups half the men in Texas drive. ? As far as being right in the middle of the space....I am all for it.....cuts down on the door dings.

2

I've seen it everywhere. Parking is insanely difficult, so whichever way is easiest, more power to ya. What annoys me is when I'm in a car with someone who insists on going back and forth, back and forth, in and out, trying to make it perfect. Are we inside the lines? Good enough. It's a parking space, not your S/O. You don't need to fuck it.

2

It’s also a military thing. In the military it’s called “Tactical Parking”. It’s a thing where you can just jump into your vehicle and go without having to worry about reversing, making sure you’re clear, etc. it’s just bled out into the public.

But no, it’s not just a Texas thing. I’ve seen it all over the US.

2

Wow you must have some really l-o-n-g parking spaces. I live in a small city and when the space is not much more than 6 inches longer than your car you gotta back in. No other way will work

2

Here in Florida we have some part timers from Canada living here. They back in a lot, nearest I can figure is it's to have access to the battery to jump a car in cold weather. Just an uneducated guess.

I used to do that when I was young and driving crappy cars. Makes sense, right?

Very good point.

@carlyhorton Perfectly good sense.

2

I think it is stupidity usually big trucks with small drivers.. lol like hey hey look at my skills..ughh wasting parking lot time blocking everyone who parks straight in n backs out by looking behind them?fyi I'm in Texas to so I can only guess it's Texas ppl not really traveled much elsewhere myself.?

I've had two big trucks, but I'm tall, not small. 🙂 I'm also in Louisiana. I'd say a good 30-40% of all vehicles are backed in.

1

See lots of it here. It makes it easy to leave if you can just pull straight into traffic, rather than holding it up while you back out. I figure it's a bigger gain with bulky vehicles, like trucks or SUVs. As there are LOTS of both here in the south, I'd gather that's why we see more of the backing in down here.

Zster Level 8 May 3, 2018
1

I live in MO and my dad does that. He's not from Texas or anything. I think he does it because he doesn't want to back OUT of the space, when it's more difficult to see if cars are coming. I never do it, though. I'm paranoid that I will hit someone's car because my peripheral vision is bad (glasses).

1

I read about this as part of a test regarding patience or maturity. It was said that backing into a space suggests the patience to plan ahead, since it requires time and patience, but allows an easier exit.

Apparently maturity involves better depth perception and hand-eye co-ordination than I can muster. I don't drive backwards well at all. Knowing my clumsy ass, I'd run into at least one of the cars next to me if I tried parking backwards, so it's immaturity for me, I guess.

@memorylikeasieve bahahaha! It wasn't about the ability, it was about the pre-planning... the delaying of satisfaction. The satisfaction felt when you can pull out quickly and more easily. Everyone in the experiment was competent to back into a space.

@GinaMaria ahah. That does make a lot more sense. ?

It requires time and patience and totally ignores all others. Sorry, not buying. Not that you are wrong, but not buying.

1

I always back in. You get a much wider view of traffic and people (walking behind cars) when its time to leave.

1

I'm new to Texas and I've noticed this! I do not understand. I would much rather back out of the space when I'm done at the store or wherever.

1

Texan here and I can speak to this. Big industries in Texas are petrochemical plants, and oil & gas. Places like that often require workers to back into parking spaces, so it just becomes habit to do it elsewhere. I never did it before I got a job in the oilfield supply business, but after being required to there for a couple years I now do it all the time out of habit.

OK, I'm seeing a trend with oil and gas folk. Maybe it was a prescribed method in one industry and had become a trend.

Interesante!

1

I back into parking spaces. I drive a car that has a rear camera but no front camera, and the front of my car slopes very narrow (Camaro). If I pull forwards into a space with a concrete wheel stop it can scrape the air dam on my car. So I prefer to back in rather than to pull in.

1

you are obviously not a bank robber, not that am lol. you can't see that with a car full of shopping maybe obscuring your view and reversing out isnt more of a problem than reversing in with an empty car? at best theres no differance.

Sometimes when I go to an event and the parking lot is not congested when I get there, I'll back in. Because when the event lets out, cars are bumper to bumper getting out. So being able to just pull out into the line of cars is nice.

@carlyhorton ok, this I have done.

@carlyhorton exactly

1

I have 2 friends I call backer inners. Knowing these 2 characters I'd say they are always positioning themselves for a quick get away........

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