To wonder why you would park right beside someone in a pretty empty car park?

[cheddarcheezeplz]

Not the end of the world before someone comes for me to say you don't own the car park /people can park where they want.

I parked as far away from the shop as I could get as there is no parent and child spaces. Always park in same area due to this. Car park pretty much empty. 10+ spaces either side of me and same the row behind. I parked in the "front" space so I wouldn't have to reverse out. Space has a verge so I can get my child in and out. Someone has parked right up behind me and I could hardly get the pram in the boot. (probably should have picked the "back" space but assumed as car park so empty no one would be beside /behind me) they also have no car seat so can't see why they would need room etc as plenty of disabled spaces etc at shop front.

Why do people do this? I always assume if someone is parked far away / no other cars beside them they have likely done this for a reason.

AIBU to think I have parked "alone" for a reason and it's a bit weird to park right beside cars that have done this?

I don't know but it's definitely a phenomenon. I think we're just a social species!

It wouldn’t crossed my mind that someone would have an issue with a car parking in the space behind them.
I have a toddler and a preschooler so I understand needing space for the doors, but i think moaning because someone parked behind you is massive reach.

I think it's more odd to park the furthest away from another car in a car park. I'd probably pull up next to or infront of another car.

If drivers need space for a buggy or child or they're disabled there are usually allocated spaces specifically for them. It wouldn't cross my mind they'd park elsewhere expecting me to know their plan.

This exact thread reoccurs every few months, I think you just have to accept that it’s not abnormal behaviour, it’s a car park… for parking cars in. This car hasn’t even parked next to you, so really has done nothing wrong. If you want guaranteed access to your boot, drive in forwards

I think it’s because it’s easier to judge the parking space when you are lining up with a car that’s already there. It’s harder to park within the lines when you’re the only car in the vicinity

My theory is that some drivers can't park by the lines alone - they need another car to line themselves up with. My car is really long, often too long to fit comfortably length ways if the bays are on the shorter side, so if there's plenty of space in a car park I'll park in the front of a tandem set of spaces, but leave the front or rear significantly overhanging the space behind. No one would be dumb enough to try and park in the remaining space, but quite often they do.

I think it's just that the spaces around the cars subconsciously stand out more than completely empty spaces so people are more likely to park in them

It's a carpark, people are going to park. You need to drive in face forward if you need access to your boot

There is no parent and child spaces. Hence parking further away so I don't accidentally hit anyone's car with my door.

I didn't think of it that way! I'd always park in a space with no one around me if they were available. Less chance of getting your car dinged!

My FIL absolutely rages about people who come and park next to him on the campsite when he has intentionally parked away from everyone else 😂It's definitely a thing but I don't know why I am afraid.

Why would parking in the lines be ’harder’ than anything else?

Do you drive a limousine? I'm trying to think of a really long car 🤣

If you have something like a fiat 500 and it fits in the space then I don't see the problem parking behind you, and drivers will just see an empty space as their driving along they won't see the nose of the car in it. Cqrs that are too big for carparks really annoy me

Haha that last line of your post - of course they do!! It's like when someone is over the line, someone will always squeeze in beside them! Id park elsewhere if I can see they aren't between the lines as I'd think they'd probably hit me trying to get into the car/out of the space

I parked next to another car in the middle of a nearly empty carpark. I knew it would be dark when I returned and it was closest to a light.

I find it easier to park next to a car rather than within the lines of an empty carpark but im capable of both!

I parked next to a car in a virtually empty car park this morning because that's my spot 🤣

Hard to define why people do it. Sometimes choosing a parking spot is a bit of a game which livens up an otherwise very boring task (parking). Sometimes I don’t use logic, just fancy a spot, and that might be next to another car. Very British Problems-esque.

When I used to drive a my old banger I'd always park in these spaces 😂

If my car fits its going in, your problem if your over the lines. Why should someone take 2 spaces? But I didn't mind if my car got scratched

Similar to public transport, there is empty seats available you always find someone who wants to be sitting beside you.

One theory is it's the "herd instinct" at work - safety in numbers. Same with sitting in an almost empty bus.

I'm still learning, but when I do drive (with supervision) to the supermarket, I park near other cars more often than not for a few reasons.

It is practice for me so that if, when it comes to my test, and I'm asked to park, the only spaces available are near other cars, I will be confident.

I have been taught to use the position of other cars to line my car up. I have also practiced using just the lines, but I find it easier to judge when there is another car.

It just makes sense to my brain to group things together. It looks tidier. Your car being on one side of the car park, and mine on the other, if the car park were empty, would bother me immensely.

I don't know some people are just weird its like when you're on an almost empty beach and people come and sit really close to you. Or you're trying to pay in a shop and the next customer is right next to you. Like go away

Haha, it’s probably the same reason why every pedestrian who needs to stop on the pavement finds a choke point to do it on. Or why people with trolleys invariably block the aisles while they take a look at the shelves.

Actually there might be an evolutionary explanation for this – nearly everyone, given the choice, puts the top of their bed against the wall furthest from the door. Means one less exposed flank to worry about.

I know in this instance you're saying there aren't but as I'm not looking for such a space I wouldn't think there wasn't.

I think people are concerned that your car will get lonely. A friend of mine and I used to carpool to the edge of the city and then park in a massive carpark and get bus in. The carpark was huge think a couple of thousand spaces but many not used. My friend had a new car and was concerned about the paintwork so would park in the edge far away from the bus/station. Every evening we would come back to different cars next to her and about 100 empty spaces also in that row.

I always wonder this too. I had 2 hip replacements and need the space to get out of the car because the movement required for that still hurts so I have to get the door fairly wide open so I can swivel round, but walking is no longer an issue so I park far from the shop in the empty section- it’s always completely empty when I park but I’m guaranteed to find someone close beside me when I come out. At the other supermarket in our town, there are 3 or 4 smaller carparks as well as the main one and there’s one that’s always got no more than one other car in it when I park but last time I parked there, there was a massive vehicle parking right next to me just as I was about to reverse out - if I hadn’t already been in the car, I wouldn’t have got back in until he moved, he was so close.