Especially on a slow night, it’s a way of minimizing work for the attendant. Cleaning/polishing lanes next to each other makes his job easier. Also, leagues prefer to be in adjacent lanes, so keeping blocks of lanes empty and ready to use is necessary.
ETA: yeah, what watchwolf said. My son dumbed it down for me!
I suspect a lot of the clustering comes from people somewhat assuming the person there before them KNOWS something that they do not. You deliberately chose to park at that location when there were lots of closer to the store slots available. Why? Hmm. Maybe you had prior knowledge that for some presently invisible reason the area you chose is BETTER than the rest. And so, by parking/camping close by, I too can benefit from your knowledge.
And sometimes this is actually true. There was a time we got a head’s up from a friendly park ranger that the group in a particular area was into playing their music really late and loud. (At least, really late and loud in the context of having younger kids there we hoped to get to sleep at a reasonable hour.)
I’ve gotten some looks walking into a near-empty bar and taking a seat furthest from the three people grouped together. More walking for the bartender, and I guess an antisocial look on my part.
In my defense, I usually do this when I want to do some work on my tablet; catching up on email, reading the news, answering texts, etc. And I tip the 'tender a bit heavier for not bending my ear.
Actually it seems like the only people who feel the need to sit close to me in restaurants are the ones with children. I mean, I like children, but only if they’re sauteed with butter sauce.
Not the same thing you’re doing but sort of, I can’t count the number of times I’ve gone into an aisle to get something only to find it totally empty except for the one person standing right in front of the shelf where the item I want is located, and they’re either dawdling in front of it with their shopping cart, talking about what all they have to get next with their partner or on the phone, or dealing with their kids, or just browsing, trying to figure out which of the many selections available they want to buy. Again, the aisle is completely empty (just like the damn street where I’ve invariably got the only other person in sight right on my ass) except for that one person standing right where I need to be. Drives me nuts!
There is definitely something to think about here and I find your analysis compelling.
But, I also have to add in the “rolling coal”, revving engines, honking and other things that happen 3-10 times more often when I just happen to be in the SMART car. I had one guy (in a four lane city driving experience) who would speed up his F-150, shoot up on my bumper, rev past me super loud on the left (had to be tricked out some way), slow down to get behind me, go into my lane, pull up again fast, rev up, shoot around the left and do it again. He did it at least 4 times over about 12 city blocks. It was really weird.
My driving experience changes demonstrably when I drive that vehicle. It is across multiple metrics.
Seriously, try it out. A hybrid is not enough. The SMART car is pretty much one of the smallest car on the road in the US and it just really drives people insane. So, rent one or borrow one and drive it. You will be amazed.
I have a friend who always makes a point of parking next to other cars, even if there are acres of empty space in the lot. When I asked him why he did this, he said, “People are more likely to hit you when pulling into a space than backing out of it.” I saw some flaws in his logic (what happens when an adjacent car leaves and creates a nice, inviting parking spot next to your car?) but I didn’t argue.
Also, for what it’s worth, I used to make a point of parking a long way from other cars in a lot, just to have all that luxurious emptiness around my car. One night after work, I discovered that someone had taken advantage of the isolation and stolen a wheel off my car.