I parked in two bays today...

[Spinal]

This thread is my public and formal apology for parking in two bays at the gym last night. It is true, I - one of the advocates against "bay-hogging" - parked in two bays.

While on the subject of apologies, I would also like to apologize to the 7-series driver whom I parked about a centimeter away from (or, from his driver's door side mirror); thus forcing him to clamber in from the passenger side to drive his car out once he (eventually) got back.

Sorry to him, I didn't realise he had parked over two bays, and in an effort to park properly, ended up parking over two bays myself - ending so close to his car I'm sure he couldn't open the door! I only wish I had been there to see it!

ahhh... that felt good
M.

 

[Dieselman]

Strange that.
I went to a business meeting yesterday and the only car parked over two spaces was....Yup, you've guessed it...

 

[CE230]

UK parking bays are way too small and only suitable for Smarts IMHO.

 

[kirkyboy]

i hate it when people try and make a point by trying to park very close to people, i have 4 children and need a bit of space to get babys and todlers pushchairs etc in and out of my car. i have no problem in doing what it takes to get my family in my car, mother and baby spaces are normally taken up by people with children who are at school.
just grow up and have consideration for other people, you dont know how the person was parked next to them, before you even come along

 

[219]

UK parking bays are way too small and only suitable for Smarts IMHO.

Since I got the 500SEL , I find that a lot of spaces are shorter than my car . Consequently , I sometimes have to leave the nose sticking out or , if a car park is not too busy , I will overhang into a space behind where there are spaces arranged back to back .

I will often park in a 'quiet' corner of a car park away from other cars , at the expense of having to walk further , just to reduce the chances of being dented by careless door openers .

I still hate to see selfish parking by pratts with 'precious' cars that are obviously so much more important than everyone else's that they deliberately park across two spaces , when I had my motorbike I would sometimes avail myself of one of these half spaces . Even now , the half spaces are a good place to leave shopping trolleys when departing

There was a prime example of one of these selfish idiots at the recent meet in Stirling : although the restaurant car park was full to capacity with some of us having to park on the pavement , one moron in a black 4x4 took up two spaces in a way that could not have been anything other than deliberate .

Oh , and having a six-month-old myself , I am well aware of the logistics of getting children and equipment in and out of cars . The amount of stuff to be carried , along with the safety factor , was partly why I got the SEL . I will legitimately use PARENT & CHILD spaces ( dads can use them too ) where available : however , having children is no excuse for bad parking - if a space is not big enough to open doors fully , just get the kids out before parking correctly or pull the car out of the space before getting them in - simple really .

 

[crockers]

Strange that.
I went to a business meeting yesterday and the only car parked over two spaces was....Yup, you've guessed it...

YOU ????

 

[jeremytaylor]

Michelle, I've done exactly the same in the past - to a big Volvo 4x4 last time - and yes, it does feel good!

 

[Mudster]

At the local Tesco Superstore, the spaces are so narrow that you struggle to open your door even when parking withing the lines.

Really we ought to adopt the American system of angled bays so we can actually drive in and out of them without a 7 point turn. It can only cost one bay per run surely?

 

[AbbieCadabra]

my limbo dancing skills have improved vastly since getting the CLK...

 

[Spinal]

i hate it when people try and make a point by trying to park very close to people, i have 4 children and need a bit of space to get babys and todlers pushchairs etc in and out of my car. i have no problem in doing what it takes to get my family in my car, mother and baby spaces are normally taken up by people with children who are at school.
just grow up and have consideration for other people, you dont know how the person was parked next to them, before you even come along

If there weren't any parent & child spaces, I would totally agree with you. Luckily, someone has thought of that and left an entire area of the parking lot specially for p&c/wheelchair access. They don't have stairs (ramps instead) and have a large thatched area between spaces to allow access.

As for the person parked next to them... well, on one side was a large hedge and the other a very empty parking lot... (and let's not get into the debate about how I find it selfish to park across 2 bays, even in an empty lot... there's another thread floating around which has my rant in its entire form )

What made me feel especially good is that I was in the old W202, which has a massive dent on the side (case ongoing, the 3rd parties insurance company apparently went bust) so I wasn't too worried about him denting my door any more in his attempts!

Jeremy: a 4x4 would work even bette The one I'm preparing now has an ugly matt-black "highway serial killer" look to it... (haven't gotten to the bodywork yet!)

As for car size, I've driven some big cars - including some stupid ford pickup with 6-whees (the rear wheels were "double"). I have never parked in two bays to protect my vehicle. My car may not be worth much, but it's worth alot to me. The best I can do to protect it is leave it at home, or park in a single bay away from others - similarly, I expect the exact same reaction from my "parking neghibor" be it a fiat or a ferrari!

M.

EDIT: just realised that turned into a rant - it wasn't the intention!

 

[crockers]

my limbo dancing skills have improved vastly since getting the CLK...

Pics Pics Pics................

 

[raymont]

Having a large car I try either to find an 'end' space so I can park with the wheels on the line where no car will be parking, or I park in the empty remote regions of the car park if possible.

Having parked in the remote area it's surprising how often I return to the car to find the only other car in that part of the car park placed right next to mine.

Why do people do that? Do they think their car will get lonely?

 

[crockers]

I always try to avoid parking next to 2 door cars - it is amazing how far they swing open and clatter the car next to them.....

 

[kirkyboy]

it sounds to me thay some people look for these spaces....
oh wait there kids (all 4 of them) pull the car out block traffic put kids and prams in car,,,,,, no i dont think so

 

[219]

Having a large car I try either to find an 'end' space so I can park with the wheels on the line where no car will be parking, or I park in the empty remote regions of the car park if possible.

Having parked in the remote area it's surprising how often I return to the car to find the only other car in that part of the car park placed right next to mine.

Why do people do that? Do they think their car will get lonely?

I often park in an end space too , particularly if next to a wall or a kerb thus only one side exposed to danger and you can park all to one side .

Sometimes , if I see a nice Mercedes , I will park mine next to it

 

[dino645]

I deliberately park over 2 bays in supermarkets, to prevent the usual imbeciles from making a complete hash of reversing in at astonishing angles and left steering lock to full right lock and back again.

The offenders, are usually (indiscriminately) old people. Then you get the busy rushed mums, who swing their cars in (copying their husbands) and misjudge the length-width of their cars, before opening their doors into other cars, to manouver giant baby seats and accessories out.

I agree that spaces are way too small, but I'm fed up with correcting small dents in the car where careless ignorant people keep pranging me.

 

[219]

it sounds to me thay some people look for these spaces....
oh wait there kids (all 4 of them) pull the car out block traffic put kids and prams in car,,,,,, no i dont think so

PramS (plural) ?

How many prams can one adult push ? If you have more than one pram to manage then you are not a lone adult in charge of 4 children .

Therefore , the other adult ( or older , responsible child ) minds the young ones for the 30 seconds or so it takes to park/pull out the car .

For someone who ' will do whatever it takes to get kids in and out of the car ' , why worry about blocking traffic ?

I fail to see the problem .

BTW , I have two older ones as well so know all about dealing with multiple kids .

 

[kirkyboy]

to be honest i woke up in a bit of a mood this morning took it out on this thread, i really dont care about 2 spaces or parking close i will park if possible where there is enough room for me an my family, dont tell me how to get in and out of my car or what to do
i used to belong to another car forum i thought they were pri*cks about there cars and what they think is the correct way to park , front fog lights, money, mods, chipping, diesel petrol, etc etc etc etc etc
but what i must say is the advise and helpfull ness of people have been second to none on here, i should stop now berore i make a bigger twit of myself sorry

 

[kwakdonut]

Having a large car I try either to find an 'end' space so I can park with the wheels on the line where no car will be parking, or I park in the empty remote regions of the car park if possible.

Having parked in the remote area it's surprising how often I return to the car to find the only other car in that part of the car park placed right next to mine.

Why do people do that? Do they think their car will get lonely?

That made me laugh - because it is SOOOO true!!!

 

[HowardD]

While on the subject of apologies, I would also like to apologize to the 7-series driver whom I parked about a centimeter away from (or, from his driver's door side mirror); thus forcing him to clamber in from the passenger side to drive his car out once he (eventually) got back.

Sorry to him, I didn't realise he had parked over two bays, and in an effort to park properly, ended up parking over two bays myself - ending so close to his car I'm sure he couldn't open the door! I only wish I had been there to see it!

ahhh... that felt good
M.

People are so different.

I would be so worried about my own car being damaged in the process that there would be no satisfaction in getting one over a BMW driver.

To be honest, there are so many far more important things in life to spend time thinking about than a petty response to a badly parked car.