Totally OT - Parallel Parking

[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.

 

[ptcruiser51]

Driver's Ed

Was de rigeur here in Jersey as part of high school (and free!) Though maneuvering those tanks ('68 Pontiac, '67 Dodge, '68 Olds 88) was challenging. I took my test on my OM's '68 Chrysler - so big it had its own area code. I passed.

We just had our 40th h.s. reunion, one of the questions on our reply card was: "What did you learn in school that was of most benefit to you?" #1 answer was how to drive, #2 was how to type.

My driver's ed teacher was somewhat of a card. He gave us a quiz one day and one of the questions was: "Where is the best place to park?" Various answers: "Ford Road", "Behind the A&P", "Indian Lake clubhouse", etc.

I parallel park every day in my apartment complex. With my VW Passat it's not very hard, it's just the imbeciles that "park outside the lines" that make it annoying sometimes.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Not only did I have to learn it for my school bus license in 2000, but I had to be able to right AND left side parallel park it!

Chuck

 

[mixfinder]

My Gawd!! You just missed that car by two inches!!

That's right because there's only two inches to spare on my side. From 1973 until present (one year of SRX aside) I have driven what were once called Lincoln Continental and now the Lincoln Town Car. You learn to spit on both front fenders and give it gas hoping to come out the other side in one piece. It becomes so second nature I never give it a thought anymore. Seattle is legend for slow traffic, perennial construction and small parking spaces. God help you if you hold up traffic or weaken in your first attempt at securing a parallel parking space. I want to know why they don't ticket compact cars parked in full size spaces. Add to all that one steering wheel, two testicles and an average weekly mileage of 1,500 miles when I was working, my cavalier approach to diving scares the bejesus out of my passengers. Mom says, "It makes me a little nervous to ride with you hurtling down the road at 85 with one finger on the wheel." One time in the daily commute over Snoqualmie Pass on the way to work (118 miles one way) my wife rode along. It was snowing hard and when you'd pass a semi it was total white out. She screamed at me to slow down. "Would you rather die at 50 than 60," I asked?

 

[kenwashesmonday]

ptcruiser51 wrote:
"I took my test on my OM's '68 Chrysler - so big it had its own area code. I passed."

**************

Those cars were big, but unlike new cars, you could see all 4 corners of the car from the driver's seat.

Ken D.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Two inches can be the difference between oooh, AHHHH and OMG!

My brother-in law was driving in NYC. (Well attempting to anyway). His home is literally surrounded by corn fields, and swears where he lives has all the ameities and grandeur of my city, but I digress. He was pulling out of a parking space (on the street) leaving church and got into an accident. We asked how? / Why?

"Well, I was pulling out of the parking space and they didnt stop for me" Fist of all MALAKA, THEY have the right of way. You need to wait until it's safe to pull-out *LOL* and then do so. You don't have the right of way in ANY circumstance unless someone gives it to you.

It's not that we are rude or crude or selfish here, but just like in Seattle, you don't do anything in NYC to block/stop or slow-down traffic if it can be avoided. Anything that FACILITATES the flow of traffic is the de-facto "law" of the land.

 

[toggleswitch2]

defintion

Loading…

en.wikipedia.org

 

[rp2813]

Jesus H Christ

Can I be clear here?

New York City IS NOT, NOT, NOT the only place in the world with this issue.

The rest of the AW population, and that of the entire U.S.A. DOES NOT live if fcking HOOTERVILLE, OK? Can you Eva Gabor types get that?????

The arrogance here is palpable. Try parking in San Francisco and you NYC bitches will learn a few things.

Watch some TV and pay attention to the ads for Pace Picante Sauce, why don't you?

 

[mixfinder]

High Octane

Perhaps the premium grade is causing a little too much torque?

 

[revvinkevin]

Here is a little parallel parking story….

Years and years ago I used to work for an independent Volvo and Saab automotive repair shop. But alas, not as a mechanic as I'm not Swedish (yes he only hired Swedish mechanics). Anyway, the owner of the business also bought used cars (Volvos & Saabs of course) from auctions to clean, fix and sell. On any given day, between his "used cars" and the customer's cars, there was always a MINIMUM of 6 cars (but usually 10+) that needed to be moved out on to the street in the morning and back in the shop each night.

One day I was moving a Volvo Turbo wagon out of the shop and found a vacant spot up the street. I pulled up next to a space, sized it up and while it was a little on the tight side, I said "oh, what the hell, it will fit" and started to the maneuver the car. The cars at both ends of this space also belonged to the shop owner, so I knew it didn't matter if I bumped either of those cars. Volvos and Saabs of the time had rubber coated bumpers and could withstand gentle bumps w/o damage.

As I started to move this car into this tight space, two guys installing carpet in the adjacent apartment building took notice. I backed up until I bumped the car behind me, then cranked the wheel, moved forward and bumped the car in front. Back – bump, forward – bump, back – bump, forward – bump. I probably did this back and forth bump motion about 8 or 9 times before the car was finally "parked".

I got out of the car, locked the door and then looked at the amount of space between the bumpers at the front and then at the rear of car. As I did this, the carpet installers who witnessed the entire process said to me "We can't believe you got that in there!" As I looked at the space at the rear of the car I said, "WOW, I can't either"!

Now I swear to you, the amount of open space COMBINED between the front and rear of the car was NO MORE then total of 12 inches!! I sure was proud of myself! LOL

=================

On driver's licenses: Here in California almost any yahoo with finger prints, a Social Security number and $28 can get a class C (car) or class M (motorcycle) license. Granted you have to take a written test (multiple choice) and driving test, but it's still just that simple.

Not that I ever want to pay $2000 - $3000 for a drivers license, but I REALLY believe the requirements to get a drivers license here should be more strict. I've heard for a long time a European's need to know some basic automotive knowledge (how the car generally works, how to add fuel, check the oil, change a tire, also what to do in an emergency or panic situation, etc) and I feel this should be a requirement here too. I also think "driving courtesy" should be another requirement as well, only because I see so little of it on the road here in the greater Los Angeles area.

On the two occasions I visited Europe (London and driving to Belgium, Amsterdam, Paris and back to London. 2nd trip was Bavaria (Munich), Germany and Italy) driving there was such a joy! People were a LOT more courteous and actually pay attention when they drive. Granted traffic in Rome was a bit nuts, but overall it was just a joy to drive there!