Of ALL the spaces, you chose the one next to mine!!!!

[Tothemoonandbackx]

Just got to the local shopping centre and I've parked up in a spot where there are no other cars around me, there are probably over 100 spaces to choose from, and this guy has just parked right next to my car and struggled to open his door to get out????? Why would you not just park in one of the other 100+ spots where you are free to swing your door open as wide as possible and crab walk out of your car....just wwhhhhyyy!!!!!

I have this even when parking.
I use a supermarket car park that also serves a busy high at so it's always busy. I like to park separately so drive to the outer reaches of the car park. There will always be someone following behind me who just follow and follow until they realise that I'm going to the depths and they eventually pull into a space closer to the shop.

And there is always someone next to me when I return, even though I'm parked very far away from anything!

When I first passed I went shopping very early. Parked in a totally empty car park. My car was small so I used to put stuff in the back of my car.
Another car honked whilst i was offloading my trolly to park in the spot I was standing in and then parked really hard against me. I put my trolley away and the driver asked me if I was leaving, I said yes and she looked so annoyed! People are odd.

I was on a deserted beach in California, completely alone.
This older man in a Speedo came along and put this tiny towel down about a foot away from mine - never said a word - and just laid down so close he could’ve reached over and touched me.
It freaked me out and intimidated me so much I got up and went back into the house and locked the door behind me.

Weirdo. Probably a perv.

My driving instructor told me to do this to help with parking, but it actually didn't help me at all, I'd much rather park with no cars beside me (and bonus if I can drive through and not have to reverse!).

I don’t want to, thanks. I can use my mirrors but it’s just easier to park next to another car.

Read through the thread to see why not.

If you choose to park next to a car on your right hand side, the gap you leave is up to you. If you park with no car on your right, a later arrival can park on your right and leave you less of a gap.

I think they are unable to guage the parking space so use another vehicle as a guide.

I don’t understand PP who say “it’s easier to park next to another car.” In an empty car park, just adjust your car until you are straight. If your mirrors don’t help/ are at wrong angle, open the door and look at the ground. Nobody is next to you to care.

My theory is that they think if car thieves are about, there is safety in numbers and they will choose your car instead.

Especially if your car is flashier, faster, stuff showing on the back seat etc..

See also drivers who insist on laboriously reversing into spaces even though there are dozens free they could just drive into. And not block the road for ages.

I know a woman who sits next next to another woman on buses on purpose because god forbid A Man might trap her next to the window. Not the way I think, but that can be a reason.

This rarely happens to me, but the one time it did, I moved. I saw the guy deliberately making a beeline for me (because my bag was on the seat next to me) so I moved and sat in one of the many empty double seats in that carriage. He gave me a "look" but I didn't care.

Sometimes I do sit next to someone in an empty-ish carriage because I know it will fill up at the next station and I want to sit next to a slim woman if possible.

Lurkers in shops are so annoying - had one recently. I was browsing in a little gift shop and a woman came in and just latched on. I walked over to a different shelf and she followed, then again and again. I eventually let her follow me and then went back to the previous shelf. She looked so surprised/offended! It’s like it breaks the spell and they realise what they’ve been doing like it wasn’t fully conscious.

Also hate people who patter right behind you in the street. Once had one who was following close behind on a deserted street. If I weaved to the left or right she went with me. After doing this a few times to make sure I wasn’t imagining it, I stopped dead and stepped to the side so she could pass and she said “it’s all right you can walk on.” I said “I don’t want to.” She was offended too. People are weird.

Oh this drives me NUTS. I actually don't know what people mean when they say they can't line up without another car - change the angle of your mirrors then? Literally never had this issue ever.

When I was heavily pregnant (and absolutely massive), I had to pop to the shop en route to work. Parked miles away from the entrance, loads of spaces around me and not busy at all. Came out and a fucking van had parked up next to me and the chap was tucking into his breakfast while blasting the radio. I had to knock on his car and ask him to move because I physically could not access my car at all. He did move but didn't seem to register what a dick he'd been.

I also had similar when the baby was born - I have 3 dc, 3 car seats along the back and there are hardly any parent and baby spaces anymore (and the few that do exist are always taken). I try to park by at least one empty space as I need to open the door fully on one side to access the middle car seat. Did this and came back to a sea of empty spaces but both spaces next to me taken. Again, couldn't get the kids in. Ended up walking back to the shops and having to buy lunch out which I really didn't want to do. Luckily one of the bastards had moved when I returned!

Jeez if you can’t park a car in loads of empty spaces where it really doesn’t matter if it’s not perfectly straight then you shouldn’t be on the road.

Love these stories. I always make a point of moving if someone sits next to me in an empty train carriage. As soon as they sit down I move. They are usually offended 🤷‍♀️ heaven knows why?
Years ago DH and I were on a hiking holiday in Austria. Beautiful day in the high alp meadow, amazing views, nobody around so we wandered off the path a little way and sat down to eat our picnic lunch.
5mins later, no word of a lie, another couple joined us. When I say joined us, I mean literally sat down as if we were one group and tried to make conversation. Absolutely nuts. We packed up and moved and yep, they were offended.

If you’re reversing in, you can’t see the lines in the mirrors once you’re more than about half way in.

If you use your mirrors correctly you can, it's not difficult to do.

Reminds me of a camping trip. Huge flat field, toilet and shower blocks at each end. Everyone had set up so cars were parked between tents, giving everyone a bit more privacy of a night

We got back and found a man and his grandson had set up between us and the tent next door, his guy ropes overlapped both sides. The second half of the field was empty.

I asked him why, he looked at me blankly.

We moved our tent further down. He spent 48 hours asking everyone else what he might have done to upset us! Owner of the site thought it was hilarious, gave us brownie points for being so pragmatic and just moving.

But I still have no idea why anyone would do that!

You possibly met my BIL and his now ex. They used to love making new friends on holiday. You know how you do the polite "if you are ever round our way you must pop in"? Well, they used actually do it.

Bloody horrific behaviour

Oops. Wrong post quoted. I'm sure you get my drift 😜

I thought cars were less likely to be broken into if near another car?

I'm intrigued by the opposite scenario.
My nearest supermarket has an underground car park with lots of pillars, so most of the spaces are in groups of three. Pretty much the first 33% of the arrivals park in the middle of three spaces, presumably "because they don't want to get their doors scraped"
As it gradually fills up, they are actually doubling their chance of getting dinged.

I doubt that’s why they park there. I always go for the middle space in those appallingly designed car parks because they’re easier to park in.

So when I'm in work, there are certain cars I choose to park next to because I know they are parked up for the entire day and they look after their car so are less likely to dent my doors...even if there are other empty spaces at the time, these would eventually fill up and then you have no control over who parks next to you/how close. This is in a car park where generally everyone is parking and staying put for the working day so may not be the same for you.
If it's an unknown but busy car park, I try to find a space at the end or between 2 cars who have reversed into their space, as expensive and clean/looked after as possible (although this doesn't always go for anything now with PCP/leases etc) and no child's car seats in them.
In OPs situation I park as far away from everyone and the shops as possible and would also be pissed off to find someone right next to me 😂 happens quite often at asda and I do go when it's quiet and park miles away from the doors!
I may overthink my parking just slightly 🙈