Did I have enough space to reverse

Yes, plenty of space

Drive straight off with barely turning

Reversing in is generally easier as the turning wheels are on the outside of the manoeuvre an so you get more “pivot” into the space. Safer to reverse into a smaller confined space you can confirm is clear, rather than reverse out which might be into the path of a person, car etc. not so great if you need to access the boot, that’s true.

I was always taught to reverse park, but I notice that younger colleagues always drive straight in. Saying that, they all drive new cars with the parking beeping and/or cameras. I've had them in hire cars and can't bear them. Does anyone know if young people can sit their test in a car with the beeps? (What's the real name??).

Lots of room to reverse, you had 2 lanes. Reversing in means pulling out is easier as you have better visibility and you can start the turn sooner so needing less space. Its also better safety wise. My dh work carpark have put in place that all cars have to reverse in, due to accidents that happened. Not sure how they enforce it but everyone follows it. I find reverse parking much easier than going in forward.

This with bells on. Your car is steered from the front. If you drive out you can begin your turn as you exit the space. If you reverse out you can’t begin turning until you have exited the space at least partly reducing the room you have to manoeuvre and complete the turn

Looking at the image you posted can’t see how you feasibly struggled to get out either way. There’s ample room

Here, where I live in Ireland, it’s socially accepted that you reverse park into most car parking spaces. All school and council car parks expect it and have signs up telling you to reverse park.

If you don’t understand why it’s better to reverse park, maybe you need to practise doing it and then you’ll understand why it’s easier and better to do that in virtually all circumstances.

Loads of space to get out. Reversing in is much easier.

Are you a nervous driver?

I'm sure that the reason so many people are bad at reverse parking is that they don't realise that the steering wheel has no control over the rear wheels. I see people shuffle back, turn the wheel, shuffle forward (into the same space they shuffled back from), turn the wheel, shuffle back....no progress made at all. You need much bigger movements to get any turn in the back wheels.

It's much easier than forward parking and it's also much easier to get out. You should try it, as it looks like you might need to improve your parking skills. Yes, there's plenty of space to get in and out.

They don't all wait until it is clear though. Many people just reverse out expecting cars that are travelling past just to stop for them. It is especially bad in supermarket car parks.
and they rely on sensors, which for a start don't seem to sense if there's a human behind the car.

When you drive in forwards, the car pivots round the front wheels. When you reverse, the car pivots rounds the rear wheels. The rear wheels, are usually nearer the back of the car (compare the front, which normally has a long bonnet in front of the front wheels). Ergo, you can swing in tighter in reverse. Why do you think we are taught to parallel park in reverse?

Its also visability as the car pulling in is moving stopping and changing direction so within the flow of traffic.

Moving from parked is going from stopped to join the flow of traffic.

And we are talking apes so have poor backward field of vision

You need to go somewhere and have a good lesson on manoeuvres as I could get a long wheel based van out of there. I have driven a lot of big vehicles so had to improve my parking and reversing etc. A few specific lessons when I was already a good driver made a huge difference.

This.

Pet hate of mine is people who don't know how to reverse park.

Your rear tires are fixed in parallel, the front turn so you have far more manoeuvrability if you reverse in.
This is a basic concept in terms of spatial awareness. I am surprised as a driver you dont understand this

Irrespective if which way you were parked... yes there is more than enough room

They don't all wait until it is clear though. Many people just reverse out expecting cars that are travelling past just to stop for them. It is especially bad in supermarket car parks.

In fact just the other day a driver reversing out of their drive nearly went into the side of the bus I was on. It is also quite scary as a pedestrian as drivers don't always spot you. If they have reversed in you can catch their eye and it is easier for them to see you but if they are reversing you don't know they are moving until you see the car actually move.

Its not quite that simple.

The driver will be at fault but may not be solely at fault.

The driver with right of way has only such a right if it is safe to occupy the space being used by another car
So it could end up that the insurance payment is reduced by a %

But as a driver is joining traffic from a stopped /parked position they will always be held mainly liable

Looks doable, but a few forwards and backs at full lock may have been needed. Depends on your car turning circle, and assuming all spaces are full. Particularly tricky if you were in the white or black car space and heading north/top of photo. I’ve added a box for a relatively similar to car footprint of a sprinter like van. I’d not have been happy reversing out ! As PPs say, this is why reversing is in nearly always better!

Unless you were driving an artic lorry , loads of space. You had 2 full lanes. Do you typically have to mount to opposite pavement to get out of a space? If the van was in the way, then you're saying you would need to have mounted the pavement and that's just not safe or OK.

No, but it changes where the steering wheels are, which makes a huge difference.
If you don't know that then I really question whether you should be driving...

No but it makes getting out a lot easier. You had plenty of room