2006-11-01
Back up
I'm sometimes puzzled by the rationale and motivation behind people who back into parking spaces in order to make their car point outward. On the surface it is because it makes it easier and quicker to drive out. But backing into a space requires more maneuvering, concentration, and effort compared to backing out of a space because the space you are backing into is more confined and narrower than the wider berth you have when backing out to leave. So the total effort cost of parking and leaving is higher when parking face out than face in. Obviously, it must be worth it somehow for some people to do this. Is preparing your car for a quick get away at some extra time and energy that much more valuable than allowing yourself to arrive quickly by driving straight in to the space? I see it at parking lots all the time and my part-time roommate does this at home when he's in town. Our driveway is narrow and there are parked cars on either side of the entrance and our cul-de-sac is oddly shaped, so when he backs in it can take him a few minutes to slowly negotiate his car backwards at an angle along the drive path without hitting anything; whereas when I get home I simply pull right in without fuss and when I back out I don't have to be as careful since I'm backing out into a more open area instead of a tight one. I wonder what kind of mental difference it implies? Is it a reflection on pessimism versus optimism to want to leave efficiently than to arrive efficiently?
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8 comments:
Thane,
I must admit that I am one of those patrons that have backed into a parking space. I don't do it very often but with me it depends upon the angle of the parking space. If the parking lanes are one way the angles of the parking space makes it more difficult to back in as with when the parking lanes are two way its much easier to back in. You hit it right on the nose; I did see it as easier and quicker to drive out. But, also as you said backing into a space does require more maneuvering, concentration and effort compared to backing out of a space; something I never really thought about until now. When I would do this my thoughts were; a quick way to exit out versus backing out by parking the normal way would put more of a strain on my neck. But, not thinking about all the time I put into backing in the first place also put a strain on my neck.
You’ve opened my eyes Thane by making a very good point! I shall never back into a parking space again.
actually, backing out of a parking space can be a hellish experience, especially when you're wedged in between 2 SUVs, going blind and almost hitting a car speeding way more than they should in a parking lot. i would view it as a safety issue. people are less likely to ram into you backing into a parking space than backing out.
that said, i'm too lazy to back in that way. i'll do it if there's an open space ahead of me . . . the lazy man's way.
like superman, i'm too lazy to back into a space. i like parking forward but will not back up to do that. what i do is carefully choose a space what has an empty space in front of it, then i pull up to fill that space. so i'm parked "backwards" but didn't have to back up to do it. when i leave, it's easy to just go out.
now, if no spaces like that are available, i just park the regular way. pull in. and back out.
parking backwards is a pain in the fkn ass. i won't do it and it's not worth the time. all of your points were well taken. which is why i don't practice this form of parking.
i prefer to park diagonally. i don't like those tight ass spaces where it's packed like sardines, the right angle spaces. i like parking in corner, next to a concrete end cap. that way, at least one side of my car is protected.
Okay, I don't back into spaces. (However, I do remember backing into the garage when I was a bachelor living in my parent's place years ago.)
But I do like to pull forward. If the spaces are perpendicular (as opposed to angled), where I would be parking face-to-face with another car and the space directly in front of my space is free, I like to pull forward. Beware, however. I was pulling forward one time and another car (who obvious didn't see me) started turning into the space and startled me. Of course, I conceded and backed up. Anyway, I find that method quite easy... easy going in, and easy coming out...
But since we're on the topic of parking, one of my pet peeves are inconsiderate people who have the nerve to disrupt the flow of traffic in a parking lot by waiting for someone to pull out just because that space is close to the store or mall or whatever. If there's no parking, fine, go ahead and wait, but if there're parking spaces a little further out, what the hell is the problem with walking a little further? If you're disabled, fine. If you're in a wheelchair, I understand. But to have the audacity to block traffic just to get a close space when you've got two perfectly good legs is ridiculous.
I'll bet those people in wheelchairs would give anything just for the chance to be able to walk to their destination, regardless of how far they had to park...
Oh and Kilatzin you and wifey have a van which would make it more challenging to do that.
So let's compare the dangers of backing out versus driving out. Backing out, one must concentrate more on possible cars driving by and pedestrians walking by, hitting stationary objects is less of a concern. Driving out, you can take better stock of obstacles but then you have moved much of the obstacle concentration to the backing-in process. Perhaps one brings more peace of mind than the other.
There are of course circumstances where backing in is more desirable than backing out. Backing out onto a busy street or in a place where you can't guarantee enough clearance comes to mind (though backing in in those cases can also be frustrating). I think in common cases, the best it might be is a wash, even when backing out blind versus driving out blind.
I admit that in some circumstances, backing out of a space is kind of like driving in New York City. Over there, you rarely/never check the mirrors, you just monitor/deal with the cars in front of you for sudden movement and you trust the guys in back are watching where your arse is going too. Somehow it works there. So when backing out (slowly) one hopes a passing car wouldn't think "oh, a car is backing out into my path, I think I'll just go ahead and hit it". But then it's no different than if the car were driving out forward. The problem occurs more when the passing car is an ass and won't give you enough room to back out.
let me add that i like parking diagonally only when i know i have to back up. diagonal spaces are not for pulling forward.
the right angle spaces are the ones i use to go forward, the lazy man's way as superman puts it.
yes i've had someone try to go into a space i was pulling forward from, and it did scare me, so of course i had to back up like a dumb ass.
as for the "inconsiderate people who have the nerve to disrupt the flow of traffic in a parking lot by waiting for someone to pull out just because that space is close to the store or mall or whatever" ---they should all be run over by a bulldozer with spikes don't you think ronin?
i'm kidding.
but yeah, they do suck veiny balls. if there's space, i'll try manoever around the offending a-ghole to get out so i can get a space farther out. the time spent waiting for some slow a-hole is better spent getting a space elsewehere.
OK, let me offer this little tid-bit for conversation. I back up my car in the garage while Canine parks hers straight in (on the right side). The practical side of this is that it provides additional space between the driver side doors (down the middle of the garage), making it easier to enter and exit each vehicle. To maximize this configuration, Canine parks a bit closer to the right side of the garage, and I park a bit closer to the left side.
Now perhaps people who back up into spaces have this in mind as well. I personally do not actively look to back into parking spaces. However, on occasion, if I drive past an available space I will back into it, if I can do so efficiently.
I'm with Ronin regarding the A's who block the lane and make you wait. If anything, move aside and let me pass!
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