To wonder why people don’t use both lanes in the petrol station?

[Horcrux]

Do people not realise that the hose reaches around to the other side so that you don’t have to wait to use the tank closest to your cap?
Or do people know this but have a reason for not doing it?
AIBU for parking on either side?

I don't get people who don't use pay at pump though. A zillion times quicker.

Likewise. I prefer to go to our Asda petrol station as it's entirely pay at the pump without a kiosk, so the throughput of cars is much quicker. The alternatives give a choice and I just can't believe how few people use the pay at pump option. I could understand it if they want to buy stuff from the shop but most don't - they go in, queue, and then come out again without buying anything - just why, especially when the queues have gone as far back as the road?

It doesn't always reach. And I have a very small car and pride myself on being good at parking etc. Sometimes I can be arsed to do battle. Mostly I can't.

I don’t do it because I think I’ll end up not being able to actually make the hose reach and then I’ll be mortified

Same

I’ve fuelled a Range Rover and Volvo XC90 countless times on the “wrong” side and never once not managed to get the hose round.
But I do enjoy doing it after skipping the queue of people who don’t seem to think they can do it on their smaller cars.

Not just parking close but parking further forward too

Because it doesn't always reach to the other side. I have a small car but despite what the signs say it doesn't work - the angle is wrong and the pump keeps cutting out.

It does not reach mine (imported yank tank) but most petrol stations (at least near me) do not have an actual in and out, they have no direction of travel and no No entry signs. People by habit choose to go in one direction. I often drive in the 'wrong way' to death glares.

Either:

1. Have to park exactly in the right place then heave the hose out and drag it round the car, possibly scratching the car; or

2. Wait an extra couple of minutes.

Hmmm, yes difficult decision. Unless I’m in a desperate hurry, I’d rather wait a couple of minutes for a much easier life!

I've got a disability. You wouldn't be able to tell if I'm using the pump by my fuel cap but hauling the pipe across the car is really quite difficult.

I drive a very large vehicle and have had a very awkward experience trying to get the hose around! I still do try if it's very busy to I do try to aim for the one that's on the right side.

I feel it is my duty to always use the correct side to give the Judgers something to feel smug about. It's part of care in the community.

I felt traumatised by the hose not coming close to reaching, a few times. I never assume, now.

Right now the power steering has failed in my car; it's huge labour to steer in small spaces, no way I want to have to risk a re-maneuver.

Oh this remind me of a wonderful time when I pulled up on the “wrong side” and was pulling the hose and some clever clogs bloke went “ha did you forget which side your petrol cap was on” I said nope I just know how to read and pointed to the “extra reach hose use both lane zones sign”. Twas a smug good day.

Our pickups the hose does reach if there is two of you and you can pass it over the vehicle to your mate to fill, it doesn’t always reach to the back if you can’t park far enough forward I.e if there is a car at the pump in front so you can drag it round yourself. I’m safe and warm in the cab so I’ll just wait. Pay at pump also doesn’t take fuel card, only bank card so some of us have to go in the shop. Though in my car I’m not that bothered and it’s a sizeable estate but then I always pay at pump if I can.

The garage near me has a man who will come out and fill up while you go in the shop though. That’s my favourite garage to go to as you can get a coffee while to car gets filled.

People who dither are fuel stations have a special place in hell.

I also like being able to see how much I'm putting in and I can't always see the screen when I'm stood on the opposite side of the car.

The hose is too heavy for me to pull round.

I have a big car and lucky if the hose gets there by a cm and that's with pulling right over and forward!

Thankfully my fuel cap is passenger side so those pumps always have a shorter queue

It did not reach the time I did it so I gave up

I did that once. Had problems with the hose. Spilled petrol all over my new shoes.

I drive a van so the hose can’t reach around 🤷‍♀️

I often fill up at a Tesco station with an Express attached. It bloody annoys me if I am waiting for a pump and they come out after ages carrying a bag or two. If you want to bloody shop move your car to the proper parking spaces, don’t leave it blocking the pump.

I drive a minivan - it doesn’t reach.

Last time I did this there was nearly a punch up.

Seriously.

I misjudged where I needed to be and although I was close to the pump the hose wouldn’t reach. So I needed to back up slightly. Some impatient bellend thought I was leaving and overtook the car at the pump behind me to try and get into my pump.

And then went berserk when he realised I wasn’t leaving. Got out his car screaming and swearing and threatening violence. I’m never one to run away from a good fight so got out the car in an equally combative mood. I was actually test driving the car and the poor car sales person had to jump out and tell the bloke to fuck off. Car sales guy was 6ft plus and crazy impatient guy decided he wasn’t going to be as aggressive to him as he was me!

I’m sticking to the same side now. Unless you’re exactly lined up they don’t reach. Not in our local Tesco anyway, there’s about a 3” sweet spot.

I've tried both ways to be honest. At our local fuel station the nozzle just won't go in at the correct angle if I have to stretch it over, so whilst the hose is definitely long enough, the pump just keeps cutting out all the time. It doesn't have pay at the pump, not all places do. You have to go into the shop.

At the Tesco fuel station in the next town it is better and works well on both sides. It does have pay at the pump, which I usually use. However, if I am using one of the Tesco 10p off per litre you still have to go into the kiosk to redeem them. There is no facility for it at the pumps and the vouchers do have a note on about it.

I have no desire to drag dirt and grit across my car and therefore scratch it. So will happily wait for the correct pump