# The perverse motivation of back-in parkers? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 4, 2015, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793 "2015-04-04T10:52:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/221 "2015-05-24T23:05:29Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > (Obviously, no one backs into _diagonal_ spaces.) On main street in the town where I live, there are areas where the street parking is slanted and you are required by ordinance to back in. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/222 "2015-05-27T20:03:23Z")
Don’t know why, but I thought the thread title was some kind of code for anal sex. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/223 "2015-05-28T20:43:51Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Don’t know why, but I thought the thread title was some kind of code for anal sex. That’s because your mind is in the gutter while ours are out in the street. 🙂 > [@Morgyn](#): > > On main street in the town where I live, there are areas where the street parking is slanted and you are required by ordinance to back in. Surely that’s diagonal, with spaces downstream. But in my travels I’ve never seen that! And I’ve been to all 50 states. Never seen it, but that’s cool. Can people share towns (& state) where that’s the case? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/224 "2015-05-28T21:02:10Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > I almost always park nose first at shopping centres and grocery stores so I have easy access to the trunk. Everywhere else I back into the spot. My husband needs to learn this. He backs in or shoots through every single time and then whines when he has to maneuver the cart past peoples cars to get to the trunk to load up. I’m an ambidextrous parker. I drive into the garage because my husband has the back in side and there is space for both drivers doors to open to the centre that way. I drive in when I’m shopping and need to load things into the trunk, and I back in when I am going to be in a rush leaving. Commuter parking lots are the best places to back in. Everyone arrives on their own schedule but when everyone detrains at the same time and wants to leave, being able to just drive out and escape the insanity quickly is lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/225 "2015-05-29T00:39:25Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Surely that’s diagonal, with spaces downstream. But in my travels I’ve never seen that! And I’ve been to all 50 states. Never seen it, but that’s cool. > > Can people share towns (& state) where that’s the case? Here you go. A [Google Street View](https://www.google.com/maps/@40.243868,-75.636039,3a,75y,15.41h,79.34t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sJBb-oiCNJZgBO15gzDpPJQ!2e0!6m1!1e1), even, with cars parked. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/226 "2015-05-29T19:47:55Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > I’m an ambidextrous parker. I drive into the garage because my husband has the back in side and there is space for both drivers doors to open to the centre that way. I drive in when I’m shopping and need to load things into the trunk, and I back in when I am going to be in a rush leaving. Commuter parking lots are the best places to back in. Everyone arrives on their own schedule but when everyone detrains at the same time and wants to leave, being able to just drive out and escape the insanity quickly is lovely. Yep. I tend to prefer backing in, but it helps that my car has the rear-view camera and sensor options to help tell me how I am doing. But if I am in a crowded parking lot or facing a diagonal parking space, I’ll usually go in front first. And to the poster above, I will (if picking up just a few things) often do the ‘2-space shoot-through’ to get the advantages of backing in without having to delay anyone by backing in. Has pissed off a few people planning to pull into that spot, though…🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/227 "2015-05-29T20:27:51Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Here you go. A [Google Street View](https://www.google.com/maps/@40.243868,-75.636039,3a,75y,15.41h,79.34t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sJBb-oiCNJZgBO15gzDpPJQ!2e0!6m1!1e1), even, with cars parked. And one near me - [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.381328,-71.097408,3a,75y,29.9h,68.86t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s5f2ZrEU3AIAvLbXKMlUC4Q!2e0), with parking sign to boot. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/228 "2015-05-30T16:08:33Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Here you go. A [Google Street View](https://www.google.com/maps/@40.243868,-75.636039,3a,75y,15.41h,79.34t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sJBb-oiCNJZgBO15gzDpPJQ!2e0!6m1!1e1), even, with cars parked. > [@Telemark](#): > > And one near me - [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.381328,-71.097408,3a,75y,29.9h,68.86t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s5f2ZrEU3AIAvLbXKMlUC4Q!2e0), with parking sign to boot. Pottstown PA, and Somerville MA - cool, thanks for those. I grew up in the northeast and don’t recall ever seeing that, but I’ve been in San Francisco for 30+ years now. Even on my trips back east I haven’t seen that. How do the folks there like these? I wonder if there are any west of the Mississippi? I like the concept, but it sure would be different and would take people here quite a bit to get used to. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/229 "2015-05-30T16:11:14Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > And to the poster above, I will (if picking up just a few things) often do the ‘2-space shoot-through’ to get the advantages of backing in without having to delay anyone by backing in. What gets me is when people don’t pull through. At my office parking building another guy gets there early like I do. He doesn’t pull through, and the entire lot is practically empty. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/230 "2015-05-30T17:27:51Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > > > And to the poster above, I will (if picking up just a few things) often do the ‘2-space shoot-through’ to get the advantages of backing in without having to delay anyone by backing in. > > What gets me is when people don’t pull through. At my office parking building another guy gets there early like I do. He doesn’t pull through, and the entire lot is practically empty. :smack: Even more of a head scratcher that I’ve seen several times is when someone has an empty space in front and backs out anyway. The lot isn’t angled and all aisles are two-way, so that’s not an issue; the only thing I can think of is that some peoples’ thinking is stuck in “I went in nose-first so I must back out” mode. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/231 "2015-05-30T20:54:01Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Don’t know why, but I thought the thread title was some kind of code for anal sex. and here I thought I was the only one GMTA ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/232 "2015-05-30T21:27:29Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Don’t know why, but I thought the thread title was some kind of code for anal sex. " I first learned to do it in an ambulance. If I do it that way, I could pull out really fast without anybody getting hurt. " :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Haberdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Haberdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haberdash)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/233 "2015-05-30T21:29:54Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Has pissed off a few people planning to pull into that spot, though…🆒 You shouldn’t engage in unexpected behaviors like pulling across into a space that someone is pulling into normally. You would definitely be at fault if this resulted in an accident. They’re fully justified in being pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/234 "2015-06-01T04:27:37Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > At the parking garage at work, I’d say about 25% of the workers back in to their spaces. > > Not only does it cause people to wait on them, but the action can be misleading and as a result dangerous, because in order to back into a space on **one** side of the aisle, you have to start by driving towards the **other** side. > > A case in point: this morning, I was following a SUV that seemed like he was pulling frontwards into an empty space on the left, and as he did so, I swung to the right to go behind him while he was pulling into that space, since there was plenty of room to do that. > > Next thing I know, I see his backup lights to my left. I had to lean on the horn to make sure he didn’t back up into me. Ermhhh… you don’t have to move to the opposite side to to park rear end first, in fact the proper way is to move to the same side, until your seat is in line with the second parking spot line (or the car parked there), turn 45 degrees away, then back in. Easy, quick, no hassle and if you are a bit off it’s easier to adjust the position without sticking out too much into the lane and with a much better situational awareness. So in short the problem was not about backing in per se, it was that the driver on that SUV was an idiot. On the other hand you _have_ to move to the opposite side if you want to park front first, then cut through the lane to move into the spot. As an aside, I just learned to drive last year (at 34 :eek:) and I had no problems with backing in; then again I live in an condo were some very affluent people reside and you learn to back in nice and smooth when you have to do it between a Porsche and top-end BMW… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/235 "2015-06-02T12:49:44Z")
Early in this thread, before it was moved from GQ to The Pit, **zweisamkeit** posted some references showing that back-in parking is safer than nose-in parking. It’s a good reminder to share them again, > [@zweisamkeit](#): > > … this is GQ and no one has given cites to back up\* their (correct) position that back-in parking is safer. So here you go: > > - [You’re Parking Wrong: Why it’s almost always better to back into a space than pull into it head-on.](http://www.slate.com/articles/life/transport/2011/02/youre_parking_wrong.html) > > - [The ins and outs of back-in angled parking.](http://sacramentopress.com/2012/02/27/the-ins-and-outs-of-back-in-angled-parking/) > > - [What’s up with the back-in parking spaces in courthouse?](http://www.arlnow.com/2011/01/12/whats-up-with-the-back-in-parking-spaces-in-courthouse/) > > - [Reverse parking into a parking stall can be mastered by using reference points.](http://drivingtips.org/reverseparking.html) > > - [Reverse logic – back-in parking really is safer choice.](http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2006-12-14/news/CLICK14_1_diesel-parking-space-willie-nelson) > > I’ll be blunt, here: Back-in parking is supported by driving/auto experts, research and studies, and other authorities. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/236 "2015-06-02T13:33:08Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I wonder if there are any (streets with back-in angled parking spaces) west of the Mississippi? I like the concept, but it sure would be different and would take people here quite a bit to get used to. The second link above states that more and more streets in Sacramento CA are having them, so the answer is yes! When I see my first one, I will celebrate! > **[The ins and outs of back-in angled parking - Sacramento Press](https://www.sacramentopress.com/2012/02/27/the-ins-and-outs-of-back-in-angled-parking/)** > > Back-in angled parking has popped up one block at a time in Sacramento over the past few years, causing cyclists to breathe a sigh of relief – and making some residents fume. In the Midtown and downtown areas, the city is challenged with providing... ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/237 "2015-06-02T13:40:48Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Early in this thread, before it was moved from GQ to The Pit, **zweisamkeit** posted some references showing that back-in parking is safer than nose-in parking. It’s a good reminder to share them again, It’s also a good reminder that while those articles **assert** that backing in is safer, not one of them has any data or links to research that supports that assertion. If there is any research to support it, it’s very well hidden. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/238 "2015-06-02T13:57:27Z")
Good point. If there’s research data I’d like to see it. In the meantime angled back-in parking spots in Sacramento existed back in 1911: > [@](#): > > There is evidence of back-in angled parking in Sacramento as early as 1911, but it was one of many parking configurations of the day, Cox said, and was overtaken in the downtown area by parallel parking. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/239 "2015-06-02T14:55:31Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Even more of a head scratcher that I’ve seen several times is when someone has an empty space in front and backs out anyway. The lot isn’t angled and all aisles are two-way, so that’s not an issue; the only thing I can think of is that some peoples’ thinking is stuck in “I went in nose-first so I must back out” mode. If I have the empty space in front of me, I’ll generally pull out through it. But I can understand why some people don’t: IME, there’s a decent chance that someone will decide to try to park in the spot that I’m going through, at the same time I’m trying to pull through it. It doesn’t happen quite often enough to keep me from doing it as a general rule, but I can see how it might put some people off from doing so. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793/240 "2015-06-02T15:04:35Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > Ermhhh… you don’t have to move to the opposite side to to park rear end first, in fact the proper way is to move to the same side, until your seat is in line with the second parking spot line (or the car parked there), turn 45 degrees away, then back in. > Easy, quick, no hassle and if you are a bit off it’s easier to adjust the position without sticking out too much into the lane and with a much better situational awareness. > So in short the problem was not about backing in per se, it was that the driver on that SUV was an idiot. Could you come here and teach classes on proper backing-in technique to the people who park in my garage? Seriously, I **never** see any of them back in with this degree of smoothness. > [@](#): > > On the other hand you _have_ to move to the opposite side if you want to park front first, then cut through the lane to move into the spot. Well, sure, if the parking space is on your left, you’re going to have to cut across the oncoming lane. But if you’re parking in a space on your right, not really. The key thing is to keep your left front corner as close as possible to the car in the space to the left of the one you’re pulling into, until you straighten out at the last moment. One smooth motion and you’re in. (Sure, if there’s no oncoming traffic, I’ll swing into the left lane a tad just to improve the angle, but if I can’t do that, I’m still good.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perverse-motivation-of-back-in-parkers/716793.md?page=13)