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?

@cheddarcheezeplz they're probably rubbish at parking with just the lines so need a car to line up with! I find it easier to reverse park between two cars rather than into an empty space. No idea why though!

I always pull in forwards if I need to get stuff out my boot.

This is DH rationale when parking as well

People do it because it's easier to line up with another car, especially if the bays aren't marked. Or because they like that bit of the car park. Or because they can drive through two bays and not have to reverse in or out.

However, although I am sometimes guilty of it myself, I did move the other week when someone parked right next to me in a car park that only had a couple of other cars in it. I won't do it in a nearly empty car park.

It's the same dilemma on a train. I really want to sit next to another (slim) woman. But if I sit next to someone on a half empty train with loads of free seats I will look weird (even though the train fills up as it heads towards London).

About a year ago I went into a cafe and it was pretty empty. The waiting staff tried to sit us right next to another group of people so I asked if we could have a bit of space. Anyway a bit later another group came in and you guessed it, the waiting staff put them on the table between us and the original group!

I assume they didn't like walking very far...

Also, while we are on the subject of car parks. why do people park opposite the ramps in a multistorey (often when they are quite long cars) and make it difficult for you to sweep round to go up or down the ramp? I have an easy to manoeuvre car but it's still annoying. They've got the whole floor to park on. It's not always an exit ramp either, which I could understand a bit more.

I think humans are herd animals. Like sheep and cattle.
I don't think people even think for a moment about it, they just go to where the other person is, where the other car is, because it's an instinctive thing.

It's very annoying.
When it has happened to me in mcdonalds car park for example, I've moved my car to the opposite side of the car park to finish eating. Yes, the person probably thought i was bonkers but I don't care.

There's definitely a breed of person who comes and stands really close to you on a station platform to try to get you to move over so they can be first on the train when the doors open! Or they walk really fast along the platform as if they are going to run into you, so you move - and then they stop in the place you've vacated.

Fortunately at my station there are always loads of seats so I am the last on now and leave them to play their games with other people.

I had this recently. I parked in a space that then left one space before the parking ticket machine lobby thing - so a tight space.

I got my ticket, walked across the car park to work, looked back and this chap was trying really hard to fit his transit van into the gap! This is a big town centre car park, probably over 100 empty spaces and he picks that one… 🥴

I'd do it because it's easier to line up with another car than work out where the lines are (though I don't necessarily do so)

Also maybe because if someone has chosen that space there might be a good reason for it and I don't need to make my own choice.

Or they might be OCD and dont like seeing random spaces.

It is very annoying. When I have had this happen to me and I'm in the car, which is rare obviously, I move the care. When you get out and go to the same place as them like a supermarket you do get funny looks or even an annoyed look.

People are weird. I once parked at airport arrivals on a completely empty parking deck and came back to someone who had parked right up beside me - with every other space remaining empty.

If there’s one place in the world you might appreciate a bit of space around your car to load belongings, surely the airport is it.

Perhaps but what about the people who don't like it, we are not acting herd like?

People are morons.

My theory is that they subconsciously think you know something they don’t. So parking near you is a safe bet.

Winds me up too.

I agree they shouldn’t but two wrongs don’t make a right.

I worry about the driving ability of the many people that can’t seem to park within the lines of a car park and therefore need to line up with other cars!

Isn't it like little kids who like to line up their cars? Seems neater somehow

Bit like when there’s a whole empty bus and someone sits next to you. We are a social species. People are drawn to people.

I think it's because some people find it easier to park next to another vehicle rather than using just the lines as a guide. I also find it easier but prefer to park away from other cars if possible to prevent mine getting whacked by doors.

there's always those in any species that don't act the way the rest do.

https://medium.com/@bodymatters-Mark/driver-parking-close-in-busy-car-park-due-to-social-pressurerelatable-tales-of-social-parking-cb716ec23f56

An interesting article on the phenomenon here. As the author puts it, "You gravitate towards the flock, like a sheep with a driver’s licence."

See if you've got a small car and you've parked sensible you make a good candidate to park next to because there is a good chance l'll be able to get in the car when I come back. Of course there is a risk you'll leave and some idiot in an oversized car will park too close but I feel like the risk of being hit or blocked in is bigger in a space with no cars currently on either side.