AIBU to wonder why people park next to lone cars?

[mrsCtheRed]

So I've just got back from shopping, and once again, some absolute dickhead has parked right next to me, when there are about 168 free spaces, and only about 20 cars actually parked.
Surely it makes sense, when there's a block of empty spaces, to park in alternating bays, for the convenience of everyone?

I notice this ALL THE TIME, and I so want to come back to my car whilst somebody is actually mid park, and ask them Why? Why?
For the love of god, why?!?!!!!!!!!

I just can't get my head around why people choose to park next to an already parked car, when there's acres of spaces free 🤯

And the most annoying part is, I always park right at the far end of any car park, in the hope that its less likely to happen, and it still happens!

Can anyone give me an insight into why people do it? As I've now just come to the conclusion that they're all either selfish bastards, or thick as shit.

Personal space? What rubbish. Cars are machines, they don't need personal space. Others have mentioned plenty of good reasons why drivers might do this, such as personal safety advice, or to reduce the risk of dings.

Well the mystery as to why drivers do this has been solved..

It's drivers who can't park between white lines unfortunately. They 'need' another car to line up against as they struggle.

I do plenty of reverse parking, I use my mirrors to guide my car in!

The more you practice, the better you get at it.

Don’t be silly, there’s no personal safety reason to park right next to another car. Even assuming some tiny advantage of there being another car near yours (the person likely away in the shop, in any case), then parking even one space over would give you any safety in numbers advantage, without crowding the other driver’s space and causing them to have to squeeze in and out of their car door. It’s inconsiderate.

As for dings, you’re more of a liability to the other car you’re squashing unnecessarily tightly up to, than when leaving a clear distance. Anyone whose driving is so poor they can’t use the painted line to steer by is going to be more likely than a fully competent driver to scrape the other car when manoeuvring tightly beside them. So doing this is a bit selfish really.

If you park alongside another car, or between two cars, one or both sides of your car are protected until those vehicles leave. I should have thought this was self-evident.

What do you mean, you don’t need parking practice?

Clearly you do, because you’ve already said you find it easier to park right next to someone, and even though you’ve now heard you could be causing another driver real difficulty and pain, you’re still doing a ‘I can park where I like’.

I mean, you can, but why would you not change your view having heard that? I can only imagine that really you know you’re no good at parking and feel anxious about changing what you do, or you’re just selfish and don’t care about others.

What a strange view of the world you have. I can park between cars perfectly well. I can park between empty spaces perfectly well. It’s just easier to park beside just one. When performing basic tasks, I don’t aspire to being able to perform all possible variations of the task with equal ease, because I have a life. Likewise when I want to go somewhere, I could run and get there more quickly, or I could walk. I choose whichever is most convenient for me.

It wouldn’t occur to me that parking next to a car would cause its owner “real pain” because those people - like you - have disabled badges they are free to use in order to have more space. I don’t park in disabled spaces. I don’t park in parent and child spaces unless I have a child with me. Doing that would inconvenience other people. Parking in a space I’m free to use is normal behaviour. Your attitude is not normal behaviour. Use your blue badge.

Perhaps, but you seeking protection for your car causes the car you go right up against to be more vulnerable to scrapes from you, either while you’re moving in and out of the space, or from opening a car door in a really tight space.

You’re also causing those with mobility issues or small children unnecessary hassle and perhaps pain, while they contort themselves in and out. Parking spaces are quite small.

So I suppose it comes down to whether you feel you should be considerate to others, or just care about yourself.

Because they’re allowed to

I don’t find it strange to be considerate of others.

I find it really strange that you can hear about why your desire to make things slightly easier for you causes others problems and sometimes pain, and yet you still only case about your own convenience, and don’t give a moment’s thought to anyone else.

I never thought I’d be so annoyed by a parking thread😂

Need to snap the licences of these people, it’s just ridiculous. By all means park leaving one bay in the middle. Parking right next to someone in an empty car park is odd and 100% incompetent driving/parking.

Not sure why you think I have a blue badge. I don’t, I’m fully able-bodied.

But some of us actually consider others and their needs, and don’t just centre ourself 24/7.

Anyone who can’t use the lines to line up in a car park needs a mandatory eye test (they must be like Mr Magoo!), and retest of their driving license. It’s absolutely shocking that people would drive around knowing they’re so incompetent.

I think it's the same suburban mentality that had a family pitch their tent right next to ours in an open field where the site owner left you to choose your own spot. Then had their toddlers running around screaming from the early hours.

Oh I’m sorry, I thought you were the same poster I replied to earlier, who did have a blue badge. I’ll keep parking as per my own needs. Everyone has needs. Mine is not making parking more complicated than it needs to be.

I always try to park a few spaces away from other cars but someone will always park next to me so close I can hardly open my door, despite they being plenty of vacant slots. Very annoying!!

Your ‘need’ to not be inconvenienced is nowhere near the need for someone with mobility issues to have a bit of space. But you know that. The issue is that you only care about you.

Oh take a day off Bunfight! No one is saying they can’t do it, just they prefer not to. Maybe people saying they can’t get into their cars when another car is parked next door shouldn’t have a car? Or at least shouldn’t have cars so big they take up more than one space.

The other day I returned to my car to find someone parking up next to me, super close. We both had bigger cars but I was fully in the space properly. As I got into my car I could see she couldn't open her door, that's how close she was. Not just a case of being able to slide out like you sometimes have to do. She literally couldn't open it. She waited as I got in and I think her plan was to wait for me to drive off and get out. But I didn't, I sat there for 10 mins until she was forced to move her car. Who does that? Like I say, we both had big cars (both range rovers) but I was parked perfectly in the middle, not in a close to the entrance spot or anything like that. It baffles me.

I once parked next to a car in a supermarket car park when there were other spaces available. I did that because it was closer to the shop.

When I came out the other car’s owner ranted and raved and swore at me. I explained why I’d parked there and pointed out that she had easily enough room to get in the driver’s door.

It dawned on me that she was a nervous and not very good driver who just didn’t like cars on either side because she’d have to take more care getting out.

But I do agree that parking next to a lone car a long way away from the shop door in an empty car park would be odd.

I've two tales about this!
Just a few weeks ago I had a brand new £35k courtesy car with a £500 excess so I didn't want to risk some plonker opening their car door on it. So I parked as far away from the entrance as I could and went as early as I could. Jesus wept. Not one but two cars either side in an otherwise empty car park! Luckily no dents.
A couple of years ago I traded a car when I bought another. Same colour and make. The trade garage was at least 50 miles away from where I lived. A couple of months later, when I was parked in an almost empty car park, I came out to find my old car next to me!!
I absolutely have no idea why people do it..

I find it easier to line myself up next to a car than in empty space. I get terrible choice paralysis when choosing a parking space as well so it’s easier for me to just park next to someone.

It’s just pretty selfish when they’ve heard why it’s an issue for others, and still do an ‘I’m alright Jack, I don’t give a shit about anyone else and I’ll keep doing what I want’.

It’s one thing to be oblivious to other people needs, quite another to be informed of them and still be inconsiderate. That’s an attitude I find really awful. So selfish.

Also quite worrying that so many people are such piss poor drivers they can’t line up in a car park without another car to guide them. We all have to use the roads with these liabilities.

Do you live in London or a big city?

I bet you argue about the colour of grass dont you😂

Well nobody cares if I park my little compact Suzuki swift alongside them 😂