"Are you coming or going?"

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

When I read threads like this it I am pleased that I am a non-driver. I find catching buses relaxing and economical and I don't have to worry about parking.

A couple Xmas's ago I ended up in a car with four other women going to huge shopping center for I don't remember what. Some social event. We drove around looking for a car park for FORTY MINUTES, the whole time the discussion alternated between oh my oh my where is there a car park oh look is that one oh look over there oh my oh my and Xmas table settings. I remember thinking "why don't I just open the door and save myself" but I was too embarrassed to quit what everyone else seemed to accept being stuck in.

I feel like I learned a lot of lessons that day.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Flux you seem unnecessarily stressed over a very common occurrence. Don't worry if the guy is being rude, just wave to him and say "I'll be going in a minute, just getting ready! Happy Holidays!" And then when you do go give him a big waving him on in wave to the parking space.

As traffic piles up behind him and now I'm the jerk who is taking his sweet time getting ready? No thanks. I'd rather be the martyr and let it be obvious who the jackass was in this situation holding everyone up.

Well don't take your sweet time. Hurry the fuck up.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I don't mean literally taking my sweet time, but to an outside observer it might seem that way. But that's the thing...the guy waiting there now forces me to "hurry the fuck up" thus making it rude IMO.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

eh, be super friendly to him. If he was in a bad mood he'll feel like a jerk. If he's just a guy on a mission to buy a thing in a hurry he'll think you're nice, a breath of fresh nice in the holiday season. Fresh nice is good.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

He was actually very grateful that I moved out of the way before I was ready to, saying thank you and that he didn't expect me to do that. That's all and good, but the fact is that I did it to get him out of everyone else's way. To him I'm sure it was a pleasant interaction.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well just focus on that then. The guy behind him was probably thinking "damn, I wish it was me waiting for that guaranteed spot".

 

[Gov Kodos]

And some of them were probably thinking how much they can't stand motorcycles taking up an entire car space.

 

[Saito S]

From that picture, it kind of looks like that'd be a BETTER lot than many I've been in to do what that guy did. There is a nice long lane behind him where people can "pile up" without blocking an exit or anything. Though he is a bit close. I don't think it's an especially big deal but I can see how it would be irritating. More so in other parts of the lot, though, or in other lots where things would be more cramped.

A few points in opposition. 1) Since the holidays DO cause stores and lots to become more crowded, however, I'd think that doing your best to be speedy when putting your packages away and getting ready to vacate a space would be just as much a courteous, expected thing to do as not blocking the lanes while looking for a space. After all, you've done what it is that prompted you to need a parking space; now clear out so others can get on with their day. Their time is just as valuable as the time of the person getting ready to leave, and no one likes circling a lot over and over and over and over... There are more or less rude ways to wait for a specific space to clear while someone gets ready to leave, but in and of itself, that's not necessarily a rude thing to do. 2) The act of asking "coming or going", by itself, is not rude either, and I'm surprised you'd find it so. If the lot is jammed and there are more people than spaces, asking people who look like they're getting ready to go if they are indeed nearing being ready to go is... well, what else WOULD you do? Especially since if you DON'T ask, and instead just start waiting, there are some people who will put all their stuff in their car, check a few things, get something else out of the car, then lock it up and walk away - they actually had more errands to run and had no intention of clearing the space yet. All the while, there was a person waiting, and the person already in the space studiously avoids eye contact so as to not inform the waiter that they're not, in fact, leaving. This to me is far more rude.

All of that said: I am car-free and perfectly happy to be so (the only time I get a huge load of groceries is if I have a ride). This is just another reason why. I live in the core of the SF Bay Area, which is... decent, for public transit. It's not great, but usually serviceable, with occasional flashes of "actually really good."

This puts it near the top of all areas in the US for transit, sadly.

 

[MacLeod]

It's not so much that people wait for spots, it's when they begin to wait so prematurely that the person they're attempting to replace is still a good 4-5 minutes away from becoming mobile and subsequently block traffic behind them as well.

But it's not as simple as that at busy times esp. this time of year car parks can easily get full, and in this case it seemed to be a guarneteed spot in a few minutes times vs circiling around looking for another spot for an unknown period of time. Many people would wait and take the definate spot in a few minutes rather than circle around for who knows how long.

But what is really more frustrating is the amount of lost spaces in a car park due to bad parking, cars parked right on the line, in essence taking up two spots.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

And some of them were probably thinking how much they can't stand motorcycles taking up an entire car space.

As stated before, I left room enough for at least 2 other bikes if need be. Where else am I supposed to park, the roof? I've seen bikes parked on sidewalks but that doesn't seem particularly legal to me.

Some parking lots have dedicated motorcycle spots. I suppose some cage drivers would be irritated by that, too.

 

[Gov Kodos]

As others have said, not seeing your problem.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

You must not have seen my question, either. You said people are probably irritated that my bike used up a spot. I ask again: where else am I supposed to park? The benefit of the bike is that you can fit more than one per space, so if another motorcyclist were to need a spot he could share mine, effectively saving a spot for a car. That spot would have been used whether I drove a car or rode a bike.

 

[Gov Kodos]

The point was that you aren't the only one feeling surly over something which is simply part of being in a parking lot at a crowded time. I don't see your problem, because your issue is as ridiculous as those complaining about the bike.

 

[Finn]

Yes, I agree with others. Not really seeing the problem. And we all can read what you wrote or pasted (the picture).

It's not an worthy issue to rant about or even make a map diagram of.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I suppose it is just a part of the situation. I just feel that when I have been on the opposite side of it, I would go ahead and circle around in hopes of finding either an empty or soon to be vacated spot rather than sit there and wait while someone has to bust their ass to get out of the spot. It just feels awkward and rude of me to sit there and wait for them when as far as I know there could be an open spot somewhere else. I've also been the guy behind the guy waiting for someone when the people occupying the spot are still fumbling with their keys, and again...it's the guy sitting there waiting that looks like the jerk.

 

[Finn]

^at least, if I read one of your earlier posts right, the guy left enough space for others to pass him. I've seen people park right in middle of the path. The worst is when someone waits too close for me to back out.

We have to get used with it during the holidays with the crowded parking lots.

 

[Kestra]

If you circle around and never wait for anyone, it can be really hard to get a spot. I know this because I am usually that person. It's one of those annoying, imperfect situations where you just do what you need to in the best way possible. It's good to ask if someone is coming or going so traffic isn't held up for no reason. If you're the one leaving, it's not like you have to rush crazily, but it's courteous to not take a ton of time either.

I think one thing for you to consider, Flux, is your own limits. You can't do something "nice" if it makes you mad.

 

[nightwind1]

Is it common to take up an entire parking space with a motorcycle?

Not only common, but totally acceptable and legal. As a licensed motor vehicle, a motorcycle is legally entitled to as much street, road and parking space as a car or truck.

In fact, when I park my bike in a space, I park it at an angle to block as much of the space as possible so no idiot will try to squeeze into the same space and risk damage to my bike.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Is it common to take up an entire parking space with a motorcycle?

Not only common, but totally acceptable and legal. As a licensed motor vehicle, a motorcycle is legally entitled to as much street, road and parking space as a car or truck.

In fact, when I park my bike in a space, I park it at an angle to block as much of the space as possible so no idiot will try to squeeze into the same space and risk damage to my bike.

Yeah, I don't understand where else people are expecting a bike to park. In a non-high-traffic situation I do the same thing: park the bike diagonally to fill up the whole spot. If it's a full lot like yesterday I'll make an exception and leave at least room for other bikes.

 

[Mooch]

Well I for one agree with the OP. People that follow you to your parking spot are annoying and kind of stalkerish. It's even worse when there's people waiting in both directions, and they are both trying to take your spot. They make it practically impossible to actually get out. I enjoy disappointing them by dropping my stuff off and then going back inside the mall to shop some more. In any case I would think it's obvious who's holding up traffic, and it's not the person who's parked.

Also, if there's no motorcycle parking I don't see anything wrong with parking in a regular spot. What else would you do?