Parking

[peterr]

Seeing my roundabout topic went well I thought i'd vent my speen about parking.Here in the southern highlands the big thing is to reverse park in the car parks around town.As far as I have read you have to park nose in unless stated, such as angle or bum in first, most of the drivers are in those 4x4s and would have trouble parking in a open paddock !!
I get a bit irritated when a driver goes past a park, stops and then backs in, having been stuck behind a car who is suddely going backwards does not do the wifes all ready strained nerves from my driving much good.The reverse park is not done in one move thereare many in and out moves to park between the lines.I have been walking along the path behind the parking space in one local shopping center to suddenly have the rear end of a car suddenly wanting my walking space to park over.
Dont start me pepole who have down sized their car and can not even park nose in !! Yes I am a older bloke .

[My poor XF]

You have a problem with reverse parallel parking?? Ok then...

[mike_nofx]

Yep makes me laugh seeing people struggle to get their groceries into the boot because they reverse parked up to a wall or another car and can't bring the trolley round.

Though I reverse park at work because at knock off time there are dozens of cars all trying to escape at the same time, the reverse exiters are struggling for a break.

[Ben73]

I thought you were required to reverse in on most public roads.
Reversing in is a bit safer then reversing out though.

[my_gxl]

Thought...is what a lot of people "know" about most road rules.

[NX74205]

Are you talking about reverse parallel parking? Err ... it's the done thing. If you're parking on the side of the street, you're supposed to reverse parallel park the thing.

Reverse parking in a bay perpendicular to the road is a different story, but often, reverse parking is easier, particularly if the spot is tight.

[Cúl-Báire]

I think he is talking about reverse angle parking?

It seems to only exist in NSW (all over), and QLD mining towns!!!

[xisled]

In Vic only time I would reverse park is when parallel parking against the curb. All angle parks you drive in front first.

[stev3n]

I always try to reverse into a park, as I believe it's safer when you go to exit the park. When you are in a shopping centre car park and someone in a van, SUV or 4X4 (let's face it they are getting more and more common) parks next to your sedan or other car it is impossible to see what is coming. You can't see pedestrians or other traffic until your car is three quaters of the way out of said park.

Most mines in NSW will only allow you to reverse park on their property, as it is proven there is a reduction in accidents.

A little off topic but, in the intrest of safety, I believe there should be seperate parking areas for vehicles over 1.5 metre high. A barrier installed at 1.5m which limits who can and can't enter, similar to a Macca's drive through. The area for small cars being closer to the shops. Those people who have a car suitable for outback adventures surely can't complain as they have chosen that form of transport.

[Silver Ghia]

I assume the OP is referring to parking perpendicular to the road.

It may seem a bit safer for them to exit, but certainly not when reversing in as far as pedestrians and other vehicles are concerned. I shudder, especially when my car is parked next to the space, and generally wait to see what happens. Some reverse in with no effort, but many have two or three goes at it.

Also when it comes to loading up the boot with shopping, especially the big 4WD's, they cant open the tailgate to put the shopping in because of the car behind, so they load up the rear passenger seats. They wheel the trolley in there scraping the car next to them, also bumping the car with the rear passenger door when they open it. Inconsiderate I say.

Should be illegal. In fact Heidelberg Vic council (whatever they are called) have a ruling that reverse parking is not allowed.

[Itsme]

Age old problem, most people would not even know how to park a car properly which ever way and it is going to get worse since most shopping centres & roadways give you piddly size parking bays these days.

Get use to the door bangers lol.

[OffRoadFalcon]

When parking next to the curb on a street, I always reverse in. MUCH MUCH easier than going in front first (especially considering both cars I drive are 5 metres + long!
I often get nice comments from people about how well I park, guess they notice the L plates.

Parking perpendicular, depends on the situation. Generally I'll park forwards, but sometimes if I've got a load in the back, its better to reverse in.

[79FordEsky]

Peterr Its good to see another southern highlander. where are you from?

[BFZ Wagon]

Many country towns in NSW and QLD have had reverse-in angle parking for decades. Some are slowly changing it so that it's nose in.

I've also noticed centre parking disappearing slowly from many towns and cities as well. They usually 'upgrade' the area and put gardens etc in and take out all the centre parking and turn it into 1 continuous median strip. I know that's happened to most places on the Gold Coast over the years.

[TheInterceptor]

Mm yeah, what i notice here is that when a car reverse parks on a main road, the car that was behind will move to go around as soon as the opportinity arises whether the guy finished parking or not haha. That is if they havent stopped right up the parking guys clacka to begin with.

I usually reverse park, normally its because of how i end up approaching the parking spot. Easy and quick. I will never understand or know how some people need 3 goes to park a Yaris!!

[OffRoadFalcon]

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

I will never understand or know how some people need 6 goes to park a Yaris!!

Fixed for you, saw this a few months ago in Bunbury while we were eating lunch at a cafe.

But the CR-V I saw the other day definitely beat that, tried 5 times when I parked a little down the road from them, and were still trying when I came back to the car 10mins later! Then the car infront of them left

No wonder people congratulate L platers who can do it.

[2011G6E]

We're now required to reverse park at work...bit of a pain, but at least the Prados all have a standard reverse camera, so it's not too hard.

I sometimes reverse into shopping center car parks with the G6E if I'm not holding anyone up...let's face it, with most modern cars, you have literally no idea where the front edge of the car is when nosing up to another car, especially when the other car has a towbar on it. I love Holdens idea with the Statesman which used to have front parking sensors...great idea.

[FGII-XR6]

most angle parking in NSW is reverse what gets me is when the angle obviously favours reverse parking and all the other cars are reversed in you get some moron almost doing a U turn to park nose in at the same angle as the reversed in cars. how stupid can some people be? if all the other cars are reverse parked and the signs say rear to kerb why do they drive straight in

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

We're now required to reverse park at work...bit of a pain, but at least the Prados all have a standard reverse camera, so it's not too hard.

.

I find them cameras to be useless at reverse parking. It always looks like you are further to the left then you really are. Plus a couple of them are hanging off after a couple of months, so you now get a nice view of your rear bumper and nothing else.
I completely ignore the screen unless Im unsure if there is a small pole or something behind.

On topic of angle parking, I hate parking nose in. I find it much easier to reverse in.
It's safer to reverse into a spot which is known to be clear, then to reverse out into a line of traffic, which may be hard to see due to large cars next to you.

[KIWI-1]

Laughing trying to imagine a Focus (VW, Prius) reverse angle parking while on autopilot.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by Ben73

I find them cameras to be useless at reverse parking.

No need to mention names but some well publicised tragedies involving vehicles with reversing cameras... and many more that don't make the headlines.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

how stupid can some people be? if all the other cars are reverse parked and the signs say rear to kerb why do they drive straight in

i see that occasionally

Bombala has 45 degree rear to kerb parking in the main street. i can mostly pick the visitors as they swing out across both lanes so they can back in straight, rather than turn while they reverse. even some of the locals struggle with it, usually it starts when they don't go far enough forward to being reversing (and don't have enough space to turn in).

my biggest beef with parking is stupid trees and other stuff they put between spaces.

the other problem is you can't see out as you are leaving, because a big 4x4 parks next to you.

[XR6_661]

This is really scraping the barrel for things to whinge about.

[Mr Brooksy]

If I am reading what Peterr wrote correctly, he is talking about parallel parking. I also assume he is complaining about doing this on Bong Bong Rd (Bowrals main street).

I lived and drove there for many years, sorry to say but that's the way you are supposed to park there mate. If you don't like it there is a bypass.

[Mickxr8]

Angle reverse parking in NSW rocks , so sensible , so easy and safe esp in real cars like my ol xb and cm wagons , wish they would bring it in over here but sadly it would take a generation ( if it was ever done ) to work properly ,.
Car parks over here get smaller seemingly every time you go to the shops ? , try and open your door in your newish falcon,crumpledoor whatever ?

[Sprint]

Now the car parks for you(focus)

Talk about car control, if you cant control your car at 2kmh, then how can you be expected too at speed.

[aussie muscle]

from jalopnik of a Aston Martin Driver who likes to use two spaces (maybe he just doesn't like inconsiderate parkers scratching his doors)

[OLD BALDY]

I hate those reverse parking in towns, particularly with my 20foot van!!!
I find most of these towns you finish driving around the back blocks trying to find a spot, I generally finish up driving to the next town and hope!

[Olbucko]

The town that I live near has 45 degree reverse parking, works well if every body parks at the correct angle, unfortunally many people don't care or understand 45 degrees and park at 90. makes it hard to reverse a large car into a small gap. Also has the advantage that when you leave you can go left or right

Front in angle parking as is common in the Southern Highlands is very quick and easy to park in, but dangerous when leaving, in a van you have to reverse blindly into the oncoming traffic. and if you are loading at the rear you have your back to the traffic

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by Mickxr8

Car parks over here get smaller seemingly every time you go to the shops ? ,

Oh yes. Tell me bout it. Came back from Coles this evening to find some dumbo lady resting her Yaris's door onto my wagon while she mucked about....felt like shooting her

Bigger spaces would be a real great idea!! But thatll never happen anymore seeing as there needs to be as many spaces as possible to accomodate more shoppers..