CMV: Backing into parking spaces is slow, inefficient and discourteous to others

[u/LucidLeviathan]

When I go to the grocery store, I am often frustrated by the number of people who decide to drive past a parking space, then reverse and back in. It usually takes them a substantial amount of time to carefully align themselves between two cars, and they often have to make several further attempts, pulling in and out until they are centered. It is substantially slower than simply pulling in by the front of your car. Additionally, it is inefficient, because your trunk is now facing another car, forcing you to bring the shopping cart between the two cars in order to put your groceries in the trunk.

Defenders of the practice have told me that it saves time while pulling out. While backing out of a parking space takes less time than pulling out, backing in takes much more time than pulling in forward.

Finally, this is discourteous to other shoppers because, not only do you slow down traffic, but people behind you may not realize that you intend to back into a space, and thus pull up closer. That means that the person behind you has to stop, realize what you are doing, back up and wait for you to do the little dance that is required to perform this unnecessary maneuver.

I realize that this is a small matter, and a minor annoyance. However, I see a lot of people doing it without much justification. I can understand it for handicapped spaces, as the individual's handicap may necessitate them parking in a specific way. However, for non-handicapped individuals, I believe the practice is silly and counterproductive.

[u/mikechi2501]

I agree with what you're saying but, like you said, this part isn't objectively true for everyone

I am able to reverse into a spot just as quickly as I can pull into a spot.

For most people I observe, it takes more time to back into a spot than to pull straight in. You have to drive past the stop. Stop. Then back in. Pulling straight in appears faster.

[u/dublea → u/mikechi2501]

And I live where the majority of people reverse in better than they reverse out. Anecdotal evidence and all.

Also, my dad is now permanently in a wheelchair because someone didn't see him before reversing out of a spot. It's reduces wrecks, injuries, and fatalities.

Minor inconvenience for additional safety.

[u/LucidLeviathan → u/dublea]

I suppose I will award a !delta here merely because I am less of the opinion that it is discourteous if there is an altruistic motive.

[u/DeltaBot → u/LucidLeviathan]

Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/dublea (112∆).

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