# WHY Use Two Parking Spots..... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 23, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006 "2009-07-23T15:42:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/21 "2009-07-23T17:30:41Z")
I just favor end spots and make the effort to walk. I see cars over two lines and think “lazy”. It’s classic behavior, because people don’t mind being seen as a lazy, ignorant waste, but they wouldn’t want their car to be seen as less-than-perfect. It’s the same people putting out 110 bucks for the best oil known to god, but they probably have a diet that could clog a sewer pipe. \*Quote Double-Space-Taking Wienie: “My car gets Mobile One every 3000 miles and can go 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, but I eat Big Macs, smoke cigars and can’t walk a few extra feet to get to the building entrance\*.” ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/22 "2009-07-23T17:34:42Z")
> [@Walkabout](#): > > To you people that are talking about doing mean things to a car parked this way, does it matter if the car is parked way out where no one else is parked? I park that way myself when it’s an area where there are plenty of spaces, never closer in where it’s crowded. Should I fear for my car anyway? Speaking only for myself, you don’t have to fear any damage to your car from it, but I reserve the right to mutter “look at that fucking asshole” when I drive past. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/23 "2009-07-23T17:37:28Z")
> [@Walkabout](#): > > To you people that are talking about doing mean things to a car parked this way, does it matter if the car is parked way out where no one else is parked? I park that way myself when it’s an area where there are plenty of spaces, never closer in where it’s crowded. Should I fear for my car anyway? If you’re parked that far out there and you’re reasonably confident that it won’t later get crowded, why park that way at all? It’s drawing unnecessary attention to your car. Just park farther out and normally. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/24 "2009-07-23T17:38:29Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Well, not to me. I probably wouldn’t even notice your car. But WHY do you do it? What are you so afraid of? Why is your car so special and everyone else’s is not? The way I see it, anyone could park that way if they’re willing to walk a little farther, so no, I’m not making any judgments about how special anyone’s car is. Like I said, this would only be in a lot that has a whole lot of empty spaces. What’s wrong with trying to protect your car from dings caused by idiots flinging open their doors if it’s not bothering anyone else? I actually haven’t done it for a long time, I just park normally in a spot that’s away from everyone else. What drives me nuts is that there always seems to be a car parked right next to mine, way out in the middle of nowhere, when I come back out. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/25 "2009-07-23T17:45:39Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > The more I think about this, the more certain I am that I’ll steal this idea. Except I’ll make sure to call the person a shithead. I’m subtle that way. My mom actually printed up a bunch of notes on bright-orange paper to stick on the windshields of people who park poorly on the street where she lives. This also gives her a dedicated supply of paper to use for other circumstances, such as last Saturday when she had to leave a, “YOU PARKED ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY, YOU FUCKING SHITHEAD.” ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/26 "2009-07-23T17:45:50Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > It’s not a real good practice to get into. Cars taking up two spaces tend to get scratches and dents from things other than stray car doors if you know what I mean. I had not heard of this practice until now. Taking up two spots? (presumably by parking dead center on the dividing line?) Terrible things could happen to such a car. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/27 "2009-07-23T17:59:29Z")
I use a wheelchair and need a wider space to get in and out. When I go shopping and all the handicapped spots are full I will go to the outside of the lot and take up two spaces so I can shop at all. This happens fairly regularly, I believe due to non-enforcement of the handicapped spaces. If you see my car parked that way and have a problem with it, tough noogies. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/28 "2009-07-23T18:13:16Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > I use a wheelchair and need a wider space to get in and out. When I go shopping and all the handicapped spots are full I will go to the outside of the lot and take up two spaces so I can shop at all. This happens fairly regularly, I believe due to non-enforcement of the handicapped spaces. Presumably your vehicle would have handicapped plates or a mirror-hanger, and thus be readily identifiable as having a legitimate reason to take up two spaces. The vast majority of people who park across two spaces are just dicks. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/29 "2009-07-23T18:22:17Z")
Last summer some idiot at work brought his Suburban towing his boat to work on a Friday (so he could leave early for upNort’ that afternoon) and parked across 5 spots! Funny thing was that people still parked in the immediately adjacent spots blocking him in. I don’t think he got to leave early like he wanted to. Bonehead. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/30 "2009-07-23T18:26:05Z")
I have a problem with street-parkers who take up two spaces by leaving a couple of feet at each end to park their precious car in. When I lived on the Upper West Side, there was a guy who used to put pieces of paper the exact size and color of NYC parking tickets and slip them under the windshield. They read something like "YOU ARE A FUCKING ASSHOLE FOR TAKING UP MORE THAN ONE PARKING SPOT, YOU SELFISH PIECE OF SHIT. I HOPE YOU GET A HEART ATTACK FROM SEEING THAT YOU’VE GOTTEN A ‘TICKET.’ ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/31 "2009-07-23T18:31:36Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I like when the reason a vehicle is taking up more than one space is because the driver attempted to wedge a boat into a compact parking space. I particularly enjoy the domino effect this often causes; the car next to it has pulls off some awkward parking job trying to get into the spot, ends up over its line as well, etc. Downtown Mpls public library parking lot has a sign that reads something like, “SUVs and Vans parked in compact spaces WILL be towed.” There’s a plaza not far from my office that has nothing BUT compact spaces. Seriously, they’re about 2/3 the width of a normal parking space. My wife’s Focus is hardly a boat, but even if it’s parked perfectly it’s at the exact limit of the lines. I don’t support taking up multiple spaces, but it’s infuriating when a facility leaves you no physical choice. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/32 "2009-07-23T18:32:43Z")
A few months ago I went to the Petsmart by my office to pick up kibble for the mutts and saw, I shit you not, a 1978 gold on black Trans Am parked across four spaces. I was laughing at the idiot too hard even consider keying the car. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/33 "2009-07-23T18:44:26Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > I picked up some of [these](http://orange32.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=47) for just this occasion. I’m almost out, and need to order some more. [Cheaper, more specific](http://youparklikeanasshole.com/) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/34 "2009-07-23T19:02:16Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Half a parking space sounds like it’s just the perfect width for all the shopping carts to be stored! We should all put them there. A few months ago I was at a supermarket, in the place where the shopping carts are spooned together. I was standing in front of them (or would that be behind them?), as was a woman. I heard “look out!” and some rattling. I wheeled around to see that some pimple-faced teenager that worked at the store had collected a bunch of carts from the parking lot and was putting them back. But instead of walking them up all the way he gave them a mighty shove from about 10 feet away. I saw this stack of maybe 5-6 carts bearing down on me like a freight train. I jumped out of the way to the left, the woman jumped out of the way to the right. Had either one of us had slower reactions, the store would be facing a huge lawsuit. To the pimple-faced kid’s credit, his aim was spot on. But man, what a freakin’ jerk! One of these days he’s going to hurt someone. Sorry to hijack the thread. But having read this, go back and read the quoted material. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/35 "2009-07-23T19:54:17Z")
> [@Walkabout](#): > > I actually haven’t done it for a long time, I just park normally in a spot that’s away from everyone else. What drives me nuts is that there always seems to be a car parked right next to mine, way out in the middle of nowhere, when I come back out. Why? Probably someone like me who has the time and vindictiveness to fuck with your not-next-to-_my_-car-please parking style - without resorting to prank notes or outright vandalism. Just calling someone on their bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/36 "2009-07-23T20:25:20Z")
I’d like to see a bill passed where one could call over a law enforcement officer who would witness and protect you as you fuck with the offending car with impunity. I’d take a week off just to track down and key as many of you as I could. Yeah, I know, dream on… ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/37 "2009-07-23T20:58:58Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > I picked up some of [these](http://orange32.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=47) for just this occasion. I’m almost out, and need to order some more. Better yet, try one of [these](http://www.knockknock.biz/catalog/categories/pads/nifty-notes/parking-citation-nifty-note/). ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/38 "2009-07-23T21:05:00Z")
> [@B.Serum](#): > > Better yet, try one of [these](http://www.knockknock.biz/catalog/categories/pads/nifty-notes/parking-citation-nifty-note/). I love that “Owning a Hummer” is an option. ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4af34b/32.png) [@Umbriel2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel2)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/39 "2009-07-23T21:18:14Z")
During Christmas shopping season many years ago I drove to the mall with five friends shoehorned into my VW Rabbit. After roaming the outer lots for a time looking for a parking space, we came upon a domestic sports car parked diagonally across two spaces. My passengers deployed, picked up one end of the car, slewed it into proper alignment in a single space, and I parked beside it. I think it had left by the time we got back, but I wish I’d been able to see the driver’s reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006/40 "2009-07-23T21:22:45Z")
**U2** : That made my day! Thanks for the laugh! 🙂 You too **BobARRGH** 🙂 And I loved the idea of the shopping carts! Quasi [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-use-two-parking-spots/504006.md?page=3)