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Can't say I've ever seen one that required it. There are some that encourage it with angled spaces, but I've never seen a sign posted that required you to go in front first.
We have angled parking on a bridge downtown that is posted as back-in parking only.
it's not that hard to back in, but it's not that hard to back out, either IMO. only risk i see is backing out into someone who seems to think a parking lot is a great place to practice their 0-60 times, but it has yet to cause me an issue *knock on wood*
Mike
That's one good reason to back in. Another one: Around here, people walking to and from their cars do not watch for people backing. They'll just keep walking, without altering course, or stopping for a sec while a car is backing out of a space. It's so bad here, that I just back in every time. I don't remember people being like that in other places I have lived.
That's one good reason to back in. Another one: Around here, people walking to and from their cars do not watch for people backing. They'll just keep walking, without altering course, or stopping for a sec while a car is backing out of a space. It's so bad here, that I just back in every time. I don't remember people being like that in other places I have lived.
yeah, but the convenience of being able to load the back of the car plus not inconveniencing others while backing in makes it a 50/50 thing to me.
#1. Getting a "pull-through" is enough to make my whole day better, I love it, but to answer your question, there is one instance I can think of where it is not best. If you are grocery shopping and plan to get a lot of stuff, and need to put it in your trunk, then it may be easier to "front in", just so you don't have to negotiate the cart between vehicles, and so you can easily return it to the store.
#2. I'm also big on backing into a spot, I always do if it's a decent lot, BUT, if you are in a very busy lot, and spaces are at a premium, then at best you could cause confusion by someone being right up behind you, making it hard to back in, or worse yet, some b@$tard will sneak into your spot before you back in.
My wife an I always joke about backing in, I always say "you never know when you need to get away fast". hahahaha
I mostly agree with you, but I tried to answer both questions with thoughts that have actually crossed my mind and led me to park differently.
EDIT> I just read your questions to my wife and she answered both the same as me. I guess we WERE meant to be together. SOULMATES!!!!! <3
The grocery (or any big purchases ending up in the trunk, although I have a small trunk, so that doesn't happen very often) point is a good one, although for me that's the only reason I wouldn't normally back into a space, if a drive-thru wasn't available. I back into my garage. To me it's easier to look into my mirrors so I can see the sides of the car rather than going straight in and not being completely sure. Yes, I know where the sides of my car are, but why make it more difficult than it needs to be?
It's usually faster to back in than to back out. Generally I'm not rushed when backing in, but often can be blocking traffic when backing out. Plus all the time advantages lie with driving straight out. For example,
if someone approaches you at your vehicle, wouldn't it be much faster to drive straight out than to have to back out and then change directions?
I just park way out by the far end of the parking lot, where nobody else is parked. That resolves all the problems except the one of having to walk a few yards further to get to the store, but that has never done me any harm.
I once mentioned to a friend that I never park in the closest available spot to the store---I leave it for someone who actually needs a closer space. She told me decades later that she remembers that, and still does it herself. Meanwhile, my sister will drive up and down the lanes several times waiting for a close spot to open up, all the time complaining about the idiots who take up all the parking spaces. She is especially resentful of all the jerks with small cars, that pull in so far that you think there is a parking space, but when you get there, there's a small car in it. She is so much fun to ride with!
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