The size of parking spaces around the US needs upgrading

[A.Goldberg]

Ah, but Land Cruisers are extraordinarily comfortable cars - if a bit of a challenge to drive, and park, and navigate, in tight, urban spaces. (But were they conceived and ever, really, supposed to be driven in tight, urban spaces? That is one of the main problems with these off-road, four-wheel-drive vehicles; most of the time, in the First World, they are not used in the sort of rugged, and testing and challenging environments that they were designed for - instead, they are bloated - and fashionable - monsters in urban settings.)

Point taken - and it is a funny one - about the BMW 5 series. This is viewed as an executive level saloon in Europe, not a mid sized car.

With Boston's record snow fall this year the LC came in handy… until the snow banks go so big you could barely navigate a Smart Car through the roads and especially the back allies. Prior to the LC she had a Prius until it got totaled. The LC was her father's spare car. It lived the majority of its life in the sprawling Connecticut countryside, far from other parallel parking and constricted areas to maneuver in. Actually it spends a lot of time on the beach fishing in the summer… yes it actually got some off road use. The LC will soon be replaced, not to worry.

 

[Sydde]

I try to park in siberia and cross the steppes to get to where ever. Best thing about that is being more likely to find a sprew (space where you can pull through to the other half).

 

[AlliFlowers]

Try parking in a handicapped spot, only to find the ickwad that parked next to you in the non handicapped pot parked over the line so that you can't get to your door with your cart or cane, never mind actually get into your car!

 

[Roller]

Hahahaha, some of those backing-in folks must have immigrated to the U.S. Never really understood that one...

I back into spaces in crowded parking lots. The likelihood of hitting one of the cars on either side while entering the space is lower than the chance of hitting another vehicle or pedestrian while backing out. It's also more convenient to drive out going forward.

 

[mgguy]

Driverless cars that can park themselves efficiently should help alleviate parking problems in the future as they become more prevalent.

 

[puckhead193]

I just park in Quam and leave my car how it is. Hate door nicks on my car

 

[heehee]

Conversely, people in Britain (which has comically badly designed car parks) seem to fit normal and large-sized vehicles into spaces that seem woefully undersized. Of course, there is a certain type of middle-class English dude who insists on backing in to parking spaces. I've never got a good reason for why they do this - especially as it vastly increases the probability that they'll bump the vehicle in the next aisle. Maybe they are planning on robbing the shop and need to be ready to make a quick getaway?

i almost always back in to a spot. It's way easier to get out a crowded parking lot. I don't trust parents watching their kids running around in parking lots and I cream one. When backin in I know there are no one around when I pull around the car into reverse.

 

[vrDrew]

Driverless cars that can park themselves efficiently should help alleviate parking problems in the future as they become more prevalent.

Thats an interesting topic all by itself.

Car builders and computer engineers may very soon conquer the challenges of getting a car to autonomously navigate the perils of wether, traffic; pedestrians; street signs; and traffic signals.

But have they even begun to deal with the often complicated choices necessary to figure out what constitutes a parking space that is a) safe and b) legal?

For instance: Where I live, some streets restrict street parking during the hours when the local baseball team is playing. Does the Google (or Tesla or Mercedes, etc.) engineer have to program in the local knowledge necessary to make this sort of decision into the "parking algorithm"?

 

[Huntn]

Thats an interesting topic all by itself.

Car builders and computer engineers may very soon conquer the challenges of getting a car to autonomously navigate the perils of wether, traffic; pedestrians; street signs; and traffic signals.

But have they even begun to deal with the often complicated choices necessary to figure out what constitutes a parking space that is a) safe and b) legal?

For instance: Where I live, some streets restrict street parking during the hours when the local baseball team is playing. Does the Google (or Tesla or Mercedes, etc.) engineer have to program in the local knowledge necessary to make this sort of decision into the "parking algorithm"?

Parking markers...

 

[G4er?]

Modern cars have much less visibility than older cars. Due to the huge blind spots it can be convenient and safer to back in to a parking space. Better visibility going forward than going backwards.

Might not make a huge difference at a shopping center but certainly makes a big difference in an employee parking lot.
Not everyone gets to work at the same time so you have time to back in. But with everyone leaving at the same time it sure is safer not to back out.

 

[Tomorrow]

Dallas seems to be full of places built in the 80's where the craze was to build on an undersized lot, then make most of the parking spaces "compact car only" to meet the code minimum requirements.

Compact car only. In Texas.

Most people have learned the unofficial rules of how to deal with this nonsense - when done right, you can park three large pickups or SUV's in five of these spots perfectly. There's a Chili's on Knox where an entire row is unofficially dedicated to these types of vehicles, unfortunately it's first come, first served.

Modern cars have much less visibility than older cars. Due to the huge blind spots it can be convenient and safer to back in to a parking space. Better visibility going forward than going backwards.

See, I see this the complete opposite way. I can see MUCH better pulling forward than I can backing up, and when I'm parking, I generally do so into a MUCH tighter space than the one into which I back out when I leave. So I pull in forward, where I can see the parked cars, light pole bases, etc. and I back out into the wiiiiiiiide open parking lot.

 

[jdechko]

Here you go, knock yourself out. Here's a table from the Architectural Graphic Standards handbook showing what size a typical parking space should be (depending on the angle). Also, depending on the size and use of the building, there are a minimum number of required spaces (1 per 250sf minimum), and handicap spaces are required. Don't forget that you have to have places for the cars to drive (minimum width) and turn (minimum radius). Landscaping is also required/ requested.

I've been made to design some really awful parking lots when I worked civil, but that picture shows a pretty good parking lot and a pretty crappy driver.

EDIT: Also, you live in Seattle. You should know what awful parking is.

 

[palmerc2]

If I can drive & park a 3/4 ton 4 door truck just fine, I don't see how it's a problem. Perhaps it's not the spots, but the other drivers who are unable / inconsiderate to park within the lines. However I always park towards the back of the lot to avoid door dings, once again from inconsiderate idiots.

 

[D.T.]

Japan has those separators, pretty nice.

Of course the real solution here is to drive something that isn't an enormous oversized pig and/or park far away from other people. Little exercise wouldn't kill the average fat American.

I always park out, away from the other cars, try to score an end spot when possible. Like the walk, _really_ like escaping dings because of other inconsiderate asswipes who sling open their doors without thinking.

Also like parking next to minivans with sliding doors ... or on the passenger side of an adjacent car.

 

[puma1552]

I always park out, away from the other cars, try to score an end spot when possible. Like the walk, _really_ like escaping dings because of other inconsiderate asswipes who sling open their doors without thinking.

Also like parking next to minivans with sliding doors ... or on the passenger side of an adjacent car.

I'll never, EVER park next to a minivan, asshat kids jumping out doing god knows what.

But I do like to also park on the end of a row, specifically the right end of the row since I'm likely to be on the passenger side of anyone that does end up next to me (let's face it backing in is rare in the US). I also park as close to the curb as possible without curbing the wheels.

It's tricky though, you have to park far enough out to be safe, but not so far out it's painfully obvious you are trying to park away from everyone, to entice some asshat to damage your car on purpose just out of spite.

Park far out, while still managing to blend in a bit.

 

[D.T.]

I'll never, EVER park next to a minivan, asshat kids jumping out doing god knows what.

But I do like to also park on the end of a row, specifically the right end of the row since I'm likely to be on the passenger side of anyone that does end up next to me (let's face it backing in is rare in the US). I also park as close to the curb as possible without curbing the wheels.

It's tricky though, you have to park far enough out to be safe, but not so far out it's painfully obvious you are trying to park away from everyone, to entice some asshat to damage your car on purpose just out of spite.

Park far out, while still managing to blend in a bit.

Yeah, kids jumping out do freak me out, but I love that minivans have _sliding_ side doors and short main passenger doors.

The cars that scare me the most are old school tanks with MASSIVE doors, that weigh a ton, and usually the passenger is a 90 year old lady who just swings the door open with reckless abandon.

Hahaha, I once parked way out, we come out of the restaurant, I see there's definitely a car next to mine and a huge sea of open spots - I was kind of grumbling, got up to it, a new black Gallardo - guess he figured there's some safety in numbers.

I'd like to go on record that even with my love for cars, I've never, ever done something like park across two spots or diagonal, that's like attaching a big sign that says "PLEASE COME SCREW WITH MY CAR"

 

[FieldingMellish]

Ahhh, the better to swing that huge door open, my dear. Costco’s parking lot is form following function. Incredibly fat Americans going shopping for massive amounts of goods.

 

[calderone]

Ahhh, the better to swing that huge door open, my dear. Costco’s parking lot is form following function. Incredibly fat Americans going shopping for massive amounts of goods.

*truth*

I generally park far away from the lazy, careless folks. As far away from the structure as I can. With that said, it is pretty rare that I have to park since I don't own a car and walk nearly everywhere. My opinion probably doesn't count!

 

[hallux]

Conversely, people in Britain (which has comically badly designed car parks) seem to fit normal and large-sized vehicles into spaces that seem woefully undersized. Of course, there is a certain type of middle-class English dude who insists on backing in to parking spaces. I've never got a good reason for why they do this - especially as it vastly increases the probability that they'll bump the vehicle in the next aisle. Maybe they are planning on robbing the shop and need to be ready to make a quick getaway?

Ya know, I shake my head at those that park nose-out in lots for places where they're VERY likely to need the trunk/hatch to load their loot, ESPECIALLY at warehouse clubs and supermarkets. Just once, I'd love to ask one of those people WHY they do that? In fact, as much as I like to keep my car undamaged, I'll actually pull in behind one of them and pull up right to the line at the front (sometimes being real close to their back bumper).

If I'm not expecting to load a lot of bags or large items, I'll pull through or back in. I think the issue with visibility while backing/pulling out in a parking lot isn't so much blind spots in our OWN vehicles but the large SUV or pickup next to us blocking our visibility (I drive an Outback, it's not huge but is bigger than some).

 

[0007776]

Driverless cars that can park themselves efficiently should help alleviate parking problems in the future as they become more prevalent.

That just made me think, when driverless cars become a commercial reality could you make one that would let you off by the door or whatever store you want to go into, and then have it go off and find a parking spot by itself? And then just have an app on your phone that you could use to get the car to come back and pick you up.

 

[Roller]

I always park out, away from the other cars, try to score an end spot when possible. Like the walk, _really_ like escaping dings because of other inconsiderate asswipes who sling open their doors without thinking.

Also like parking next to minivans with sliding doors ... or on the passenger side of an adjacent car.

My chosen parking spots at work, in decreasing order of preference:

1. Single spots between pillars - there aren't many of them, but I can usually score one if I'm early enough.

2. Spots next to the passenger side of adjacent car(s) - most people drive to work alone, so they're not likely to use that door.

3. Nicer cars than mine, well kept up without dings or dents - I figure their drivers may not care much about my car, but want to avoid denting their door.

I also like spots next to handicapped spaces, since they are not used that often and usually have a buffer zone around them.

 

[Kariya]

Boggles my mind how people botch parking jobs in the US. The bays are like the size of football fields.

Come and park in Europe and then you'll really know what small is.

 

[notjustjay]

So I saw this the other day and I had to take a photo:

 

[mojolicious]

I was looking at Google Earth for a particularly horrific car park I occasionally use, but this one across the street from it looks even worse from above...

In most UK car parks it's quite normal for there to be no more than two feet between optimally parked cars. The one above appears to be tighter than that.

 

[senseless]

Also, never park downhill from a shopping cart corral.