Totally OT - Parallel Parking

[launderess]

It's the holiday season and the streets are more crowded than usual, and parking is very tight, and one HATES parallel parking on NYC streets. Rarely does one find a spot with a decent amount of room to whip in.

Am curious do persons living say out in the country or some such place where the thing rarely is used, have to learn parallel parking?

L.

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, Launderess, I'm aware of the tendency of NYC'rs to view the rest of the nation as a backwater where paved streets are almost as rare as raised sidewalks with hard curbs.

But rest assured they do exist in abundance throughout this nation, and that parallel parking is a time honored component of drivers' education and DMV classes.

It is a learned skill and one does need to practice it from time to time, but there are easy visual cues one can use to parallel park the average sedan with a minimum of fuss, bother, and palaver.

My panel van, however, is another matter. No side windows. Parallel parking that thing is like manuvering the Titanic around icebergs. In fact I strive to pull into canted spaces in a parking lot with the front facing the alleyway, so I can pull out without having to risk backing over a shopping cart or worse.

 

[xraytech]

Yes, I do believe that parallel parking is present in every driving test.
I personally have only had the need to parallel park twice since I started driving, but with ample space I can whip my Town Car into a spot in only one try should the need ever arise

 

[rp2813]

Ditto to ALL that Rich said. Harrrumph!

 

[ronhic]

and from an international perspective...

....yes....

 

[danemodsandy]

Ditto!

Even if one is out in the veriest of hinterlands, when one goes to one's nearest one-horse town to conduct one's business, one typically finds one's parallel parking skills quite, quite useful to one in maneuvering into a parking space, because one can usually find only one.

 

[revvinkevin]

Hey Launderess, I have a solution for you!!

Why don't you sell your current vehicle and buy a Smart car... then you will never have to worry about parallel parking again!

(Ducks & Runs?)

LOL

 

[bugsyjones]

Although I do try to avoid parallel parking, it's inevitable if I go to downtown Wichita. Parking availability there is disastrous and you almost always have to park on the busy street and walk a block or so to your destination. Sometimes the one-ways aren't very busy. The parallel spots aren't so bad, but I hate backing out onto busy Douglas Ave. Alot of times, I can't see the traffic around the cars beside me. Also, some spots have parking meters, and I try and avoid those too.

~Tim

 

[westingman123]

Hey Sandy, Rita says "Did you put enough ones into that?" >smirk<

 

[veroroger]

Well, I know

my home state of Michigan (may it rust in peace) and my adopted state of Florida (what's the senior discount) teach parallel parking. Not so sure of other states, especially in season. It seems like we have way too many people in large Cadillac's or Lincoln's who use a "touchy/feely" style for parking or park by sound. When you hear the clunk, you know you need to pull forward. I, myself, try to avoid them at all costs. But, then again, I've been accused of backing up by touch!
Roger Brown

 

[sudsman]

Parallell is a requirement for TX Dl..

But still hate it when the outsiders come into town in those noisy automobiles and scare the horses.. Or they kids come down the walks and untie the horses from the hichin post.. I have lost a many of good laundry wagons just that way. And poor Grandma too. She was on the wagon waiting for us to finish a delivery one afternoon and the a one of those fancy automobiles came by and spooked the horse and it came untied from the hitchin post and took off. Guess she is still out there in a run a way laundry wagon somewhere. We sho miss her..

 

[foraloysius]

From the Netherlands

Yes!

And it's the only way to park in the street where I live. Either on the left or on the right side.

 

[maytagbear]

When I got my license

back in '76, Ohio did have a parallel parking test, which I passed with rather higher points than the driving portion.

However, it has been replaced with something called "maneuverability," which contains parallel parking, and several other aspects.

I stopped driving in 2003, and if I were to take it up again, the maneuverability portion might be my downfall.

You meant this as a comedy bit, correct, Laundress dear? If so, you are a gifted comedienne, in the Fannie Brice mode.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[polkanut]

Whenever I go downtown here in Wausau, I sometimes need to paralell park the Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Why do we park in the driveway and drive on the parkway?

I learned how to drive in daddy's Carpice Classic in the 1980s. Big, boxy, line down the center of the hood (bonnet=> UK), and a hood ornament. Driving lessons were after school in the Union Square area of Manhattan.

Could parallel park that big ole thang on a dime. My current vehicle that has a hood and a trunk (boot=> UK) that appear to slope down from the driver's persepctive; not as easy.

Worked with a young lady from Brooklyn who had an out-of-town guest. Guest could not imagine parking in "such a small spot" My coworker had to park the car.

And they wonder what that huge barrel of KY is in the trunk ..JEEZ!

 

[toggleswitch2]

Parallel parking?

That requires turning one's head and looking as well as:

1- Stopping the texting
2- Putting down the telephone
3- Turning off the television
4- Putting down the cocktail and/or the cigarette
5- Stopping personal grooming- bra-strap adjustment, makeup, shaving (for men!)
6- Putting down the newspaper.

....and concentrating.

 

[thomasortega]

I don't know what happens to me...

... and how I passed the tests when I got my driver's license...
I can do paralel parking to the right in seconds and the space can be only a few inches bigger than the car, no matter what car, even if it's the first time i'm driving it. The car will be perfectly parked only a few inches from the sidewalk and I never hit the tires on it.

But to the left (most people say it's much easier) I can find an empty block, with a car parked on each corner and if I decide to park right in the middle of the block I can be sure i'm going to hit both cars on each corner, climb the sidewalk and maybe crash against a store window.

when it's done (after 40 minutes or more and dozens of people watching and laughing) i'll say "it fitted as a glove" and the car will be "so close" to the sidewalk that the street's left lane will be blocked.

Of course I'll leave the car using a Monalisa's smile or wear my sunglasses like Miranda Priestly.

About the video... Well, I think I've found someone that can park to the left much better than I do.

I hate sedans but my next car should be a Lexus.... LOL

 

[logixx]

Am curious do persons living say out in the country or some such place where the thing rarely is used, have to learn parallel parking?

Can Americans still teach themselves - more or less - how to drive? In Germany, and I think all of Europe, one most attend driving school to get the driver's license. And there are lots of things to learn: pulling/reversing into a parking space, parallel parking, driving at night, driving on the "Autobahn" (freeway), emergency stop (extreme braking), checking the oil level etc, etc... And then there are the theoretical lessons, of course, where they teach you all the street signs, all the rules, all the potential dangers - everything.

You won't get your license unless you passed both the theoretical and practical test - and paid about 2000 Euros (approx. $3000).

Alex

 

[norgeway]

no big deal...

My mom was the best at getting a big car...usually a 88 Olds,or LTD into a small space,so I learned all the tricks at an early age,just one thing,it is much easier to park a big old car, you can see all four corners of,than anything built today,I had a 63 Olds Starfire in 81 -83, when you start driving in something like that,as a teenager,you have no problems,because you can see what you are doing,now with this junk we drive you have to guess.

 

[cycla-fabric]

Parallel Parking

Had to learn it in NJ, and I remember I passed it when I took my driver's test as a teen. I don't pass up a parallel parking spot as long as the car will fit, it's very easy to do.

Doug

 

[thomasortega]

Wooooooooooooow

That's expensive...
Here in Brazil the candidate must pass both tests too (theoretical and practical), must park 3 times (paralel to the right and left, plus reverse parking). the candidate have 3 tries for each one of the tests. only one have to be perfect and the space is so big that one could park a truck in it. the car can't be more than 50cm away from the sidewalk, but it has to be perfectly paralel.

it's not allowed to use an automatic car, so the candidate must know very well how to use the clutch.
If the candidate let the engine "die" once, the whole test is voided.

for the ramp test, the examiner places a box of matches 2cm benind a rear tire and it can't be smashed. (again, know how to use the clutch). I can't believe i'm going to find a ramp like that one in my life again. It gives me the impression that the car is climbing a wall.

the practical test includes emergency breaking (60km/h to 0) without dragging the tires and without hitting the cones but I think that test is ridiculous because there's space enough to reduce speed gradually. even the examiner said it's ridiculous but, it's the law. By the way, they don't care if the car has ABS so now most driving schools buy cars with ABS, ESP, EGS and all that electronic stuff so everyone passes this test.

By the way, the car can't have hidraulic steerling for the test but everybody ignores it.

I've learned how to drive in a VW beetle, the test was using a Ford Corcel I (Ford pinto)

----------------
Off topic: Ford Pinto had to be renamed here in Brazil because of the meaning of "pinto" in portuguese... LOL

They were sure a car named "Ford P**is" wouldn't sell.

 

[jaxsunst]

In Arkansas in the early 80's, we had to learn it, but it was not part of my driving test. I took driver's ed in school, and took my test in a car with three other students. The guy passed me, even though I forgot my seat belt. I had to drive 3 blocks down a road and pull over to switch to the next student.

Downtown Memphis has parallel parking, but it also has enough public garages that if you want you can avoid it. I avoid it at all cost, I never mastered it.

 

[toggleswitch2]

The Chevrolet Nova didn't do well in Spanish-speaking countries, either.

NO-VA! (Doesn't go!)

 

[penguinsoup]

Parallel Parking in Kentucky

Here in KY, we just tie up our horses to the nearest trough before we head into the saloon. If one of the poorer families have to ride their hogs before they send them off to "make bacon".
I have attached a short instructional video on what happens when one drinks too much moonshine and rides that hog.

But seriously, I don't mind parallel parking my SUV or Van because a parking spot is a parking spot to me and if it fits, I'll gladly take it.

But of course here we are "blessed" with many strip and large malls with sprawling parking lots where beautiful fields and forest once were, and in many cases a waste of land in my opinion.

Enjoy the video!

Peng

 

[panthera]

I failed my first American driving exam

Because I couldn't get such a big thing into such a tiny space.
No kidding - I did my practice driving in a VW Bug.
Which threw a tantrum the day of my test.
Did the test in a Cadillac Fleetwood.
First time I'd ever used an automatic.
First time I'd ever used power steering.
First time I'd ever used power brakes.
I couldn't even SEE the end of the car!

Two weeks later, took the test again in the Bug and passed it.

I passed my German driver's tests (theoretical and practical) on the first try. In Munich.
Have to say three things about it.
One, that 2,000 Euros is no joke.
Two, Everybody else in Europe considers Germans the worst drivers on earth (and they're right).
The third is not safe for the refined natures of the blue-rinsed ladies, so no translation:
My favorite bumper sticker in Munich is:
Wenn DU so bummst wie DU parkst kriegst Du ihn nie rein.

 

[polkanut]

Here in WI, one has to take both theoretical and practical driving courses to get their license. The classroom portion was offered as a high school elective. I took it in summer school, and took the practical section during the 1st quarter of my junior year in high school. It cost me $75, plus another $15 to take the road test, and get my license. I passed on the 1st try, on ice covered roads in November (1985) btw.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Because I couldn't get such a big thing into such a tiny

Aren't virginal experiences the best?

 

[foraloysius]

I thought the Italians were the worst drivers in Europe and right after them the French. From personal experience I would say the French would come on place 1.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Downtown Wausau

Tim, Is that little train station still standing in Wausau? I remember that logo from Mutual of Wausau. In elementary school, a classmate's father represented them and we always had little calendars and such with that logo. There was also a television ad for MOW that featured the logo.

 

[thomasortega]

"One, that 2,000 Euros is no joke.
Two, Everybody else in Europe considers Germans the worst drivers on earth (and they're right)."

2000 Euros is no joke... It's sad, it's outrageous, it ridiculous, it makes the candidates want to cry. LOL

"Everybody else in Europe" should know the Paraguayan drivers.
nothing can be worst than a paraguayan driver... Just take a look at their cabs. Most of them are Toyota that look like "after the crusher". Once I saw a guy driving one of those Toyota with an ordinary white plastic chair instead of the driver's seat and the door was kept closed by using the seat belt to tie it to the column.

As most of them come from Asia (English hand), they have to be adapted, but they usually don't change the dashboard so it's not difficult to find a car with a hole on the dashboard and the steerlign wheel right above the gloves compartment and the speedometer and other indicators and part of the sterling column (like the turn lights switch arm) on the passenger's side.

Once I asked the driver how does he use the turn lights as the switch arm is pointed to the passenger's window and he answered in spanish: "who cares about that blinking shit? it's a car, not a christmas tree"

(but that crap has a brand new TOL Pioneer stereo. That's what matters here in paraguay)

By the way, I think that car was white someday. now it's "coppertone" due to the rust.

Probably not even in Cuba the cars are so unsafe and unreliable.

I'll try to get some pictures tonight when I leave my office.