Comments on: Parking Strategies

By: JB

JB — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:54:36 +0000

Another know it all. Sigh. “It isn’t that far of a walk” might work for you, but how many children do you have, and what is the weather like where you live? It’s human nature to park nearer the mall/store entrance if it’s raining, snowing, freezing cold out, and when you add young children into the mix, yes it really does help not to have to drag them through the whole parking lot. It’s much safer too. Haven’t you noticed the “please save this parking spot for pregnant women or families with young children” signs that have gone up in the last few years?

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:04:19 +0000

Carl, I’m very close to Canada, but it is OK to park up to 100 feet away from store in any weather

By: Carl

Carl — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:30:09 +0000

Parking farther from the store to get some exercise is a valid point, but up here in Canada one must consider that when it’s -30 degrees, a shorter walk to the store is desirable. I’d rather spend some time looking than end up with a five minute walk in that weather.

By: Aitor Calero García

Aitor Calero García — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:00:23 +0000

Another tip when dealing with parking is to go directly to the first floor marked with available spots, instead of trying to find one in the zero floor. I see lots of people wasting their time there instead of finding an easy spot two floors down.
Nice tips!

By: Joe Lennon

Joe Lennon — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:58:06 +0000

Mark,

I wouldn’t write off the gas usage – http://knol.google.com/k/a-guide-to-reverse-parallel-and-bay-parking# – £100 a year ($150) – and that’s in the UK where cars are generally relatively efficient euroboxes and not V8 guzzlers like you have over in the States :-)

Another reason would be security – driving out allows you to make a quick getaway should you need to.

Great blog, by the way!
Joe

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:39:25 +0000

I prefer leave car little bit far away from crowd by number of reasons:
- It is faster do not spend time for looking empty spot and cruising around.
- I don’t want my new car to be damaged by lazy people on large track and SUV who pick any spot close to enterace.
- It is good to walk little bit
- You can leave parking lot much faster.

When I park car far away I preferred spot near lamp pole. It give more protection from cars going across parking lot – just in case :) and people most likely avoid lamp pole too.

One more trick – when you park leave more space at right side of car , you are most likely control your left door to hit then somebody else from right side of your car…

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:30:17 +0000

I used to park wherever until my (then) brand new car had a massive dent in it from a cart. I figured I was safe since it was actually the second to the last spot, but there was a slight hill to the parking lot. After I threw the cart like the Hulk & had it fixed, I now park as strategically as possible. My advice: always take more steps. It’s cheaper than fixing a dent.

By: Mark Shead

Mark Shead — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:34:08 +0000

I doubt if the gas usage would be noticeable, but that’s a very interesting point. I hadn’t realized that.

I prefer to pull through to leave the car in an outward facing position because backing up (at least for me) involves a greater risk of hitting something.

By: Joe Lennon

Joe Lennon — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:31:39 +0000

Timmy made a good point about reversing into spaces – this is doubled up by the fact that you might save a small amount of gas money over time as a warm engine uses considerably less gas than a cold one when in reverse gear.

By: Mark Shead

Mark Shead — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:51:07 +0000

I guess it depends. If someone is conscientious enough to return the cart, it seems like they are going to avoid hitting cars. Its the people who leave the cart out in the middle of no where that I’m concerned about.

By: frank

frank — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:10:01 +0000

maybe park across from a cart return but definitely not next to it unless you don’t mind a dinged up car.

By: Mark Shead

Mark Shead — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:25:13 +0000

That’s pretty funny. It is amazing how people feel they own the spot even before you get into your car. Parking is highly competitive!

By: Mark Shead

Mark Shead — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:24:00 +0000

I’m not sure. It comes from photos.com so it might be Ann Arbor.

By: Timmy

Timmy — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:15:11 +0000

I tend to look for shady spots as far away from the store as possible. Also back into parking spaces whenever possible, it makes it easier to exit when you are sandwiched in between a couple of SUVs and you can’t see if anyone is coming from either direction.

By: d

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:11:32 +0000

is that picture from ann arbor?