Totally OT - Parallel Parking

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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.
 
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?

mixfinder++12-18-2009-11-07-15.jpg
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?
 
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!
 
~New York City IS NOT, NOT, NOT the only place in the world with this issue.

~The arrogance here is palpable.
Absolutely. One should always check the mirrors first; before posting, AND before pulling out of a parking spot.

Any big city will have similar issues. No one said otherwise.

Make no mistake, when one comes from places that have only an occasional cow to hit or perhas a tree, there is no way their driving skills are well-honed. Period end of story. That is not a judgement or arrogance, that is a reality.

Relax, dear. One cannot get too roused over the postings of the OP.
 
One has been in one's mirror for quite one's time now.

I won't keep one, and I know one is probably expecting one from the grocery delivery staff before one Carolyn Applebee arrives for bridge.
 
Here in "Hooterville", not one of the NYC transplants can parallel park AT ALL. All they do is come to a stop & throw on the flashers (blinkers or whatever else you want to call 'em) and park RIGHT ON THE DAMN street! I have never seen one car with a NY plate park in a parking space that required parallel parking. I swear on my life. There could be an open spot right there and these idiots REFUSE to park in a spot. Just on the street will be fine. The town my store is in has a populatin of about 25,000 so it's not that backwoods (although I live in the country, the closest town has about 600 people). We get ALOT of NYC'ers here. We're about 120 miles away. We get all your public housing castoffs and some retirees. Anyway, double parking is rampant and I can bet either the vehicle will have a NY plate or the driver will have a frickin' blue Yankees hat on (usually cocked sideways and barely hanging on the head).
 
usually cocked sideways and barely hanging on the head

I just wanted to add, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS COMMENT AS RACIST. White, black, yellow, brown, they all were those hats the same way.
 
OK NOW I JUST HAVE TO MESS WITH Y'ALL......*LOL*

~The town my store is in has a population of about 25,000 so it's not THAT backwoods.

oh Really? My block has 25,000 people on it.
If you can't get natural gas where you live, you iz in the boonies, baby!

~We get all your public housing castoffs and some retirees.
And you are judging our entire city by THAT social class?

~Anyway, double parking is rampant and I can bet either the vehicle will have a NY plate or the driver will have a frickin' blue Yankees hat on (usually cocked sideways and barely hanging on the head).

Again you are judging us ALL based on a very limited sliver of society, and behaviors that are rampant in only the poorest parts of this city.

You wouldn't thrive in my city and I wouldn't thrive in your neck of the woods. No one said either is better or worse.
 
~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.

Here in my area, the illegals have learned that to get a drivers license WITHOUT a social-security nubmer, one simply applies in the state of South Carolina, where the SS# one gives (if it is even required) is not verified as to authenticity. Not even sure if addresses are checked to see if they exist.
 
Post# 400513-12/18/2009-13:53 ||| runematic (southcentral pa)

usually cocked sideways and barely hanging on the head
I just wanted to add, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS COMMENT AS RACIST. White, black, yellow, brown, they all were those hats the same

Uhhhh, no they don't. Blue hats are tilted to the right( Folk Nation), the red are tilted to the left (People Nation)

*One* would be smart to rep the blue where I come from. *One* does not see much red around here... <: lol!!
 
Here in "Hooterville", not one of the NYC transplants can parallel park.

The ones you speak of DON'T drive where they come from in NYC, and may have the attitude of entitlement for sitting on their @$$e$.
 
rickr, point well taken.

Toggs, really, come on get out of the city and see the real country.

~Again you are judging us ALL based on a very limited sliver of society
As are you with the cornfields, cows, and not having to parallel park.

~If you can't get natural gas where you live, you iz in the boonies, baby
We got that there "city gas" here as well. Get this, we also have this thing called cable tv and, golly gosh darn it all, they have MOVING PICTURES down at the opry house.

~And you are judging our entire city by THAT social class
YEP. You folks can't drive for shit!

I know you're messing around, so am I.

I was in Manhattan to pick up a porcelain Maytag sign off fleabay awhile back. We came in the Lincoln Tunnel and a few blocks away was this guy's apt. We asked how to get back to the tunnel. he said he didn't know. He doesn't drive & had NEVER been out of the city and he was all but 30. (Right behind his apt building was a sign saying something like Lincoln tunnel turn 1 block (haha)).
 
I'm glad we don't have cycling licences...

I have tried in the past to get a driving licence but failed many times. It proved too difficult for me and it costed me several thousand euros (well, guilders actually). So I stick to cycling and have no parking problems:) I am sure that I would have difficulties in getting a cycling licence if such a thing existed.
 
...and dont calm me Zsa Zsa. *LOL*

~Toggs, really, come on get out of the city and see the real country.

oooh an invite to your home. I'll be right there!

*LOL*

I go to central Connecticut nearly every weekend, IN MY CAR for a 100+ mile drive, one way. There are many aspects of "country" life that agree with me.

But being born and raised here in NYC, there is nothing quite like it. It's a love / hate relationship.

Glad we are all having fun with this!

... and yes thre really are people who won't parallel park and won't drive on a highway, or ride an elevator, or have not seen a revolving door, or a city parking garage with an elevator (lift) for the vehicles to get to the upper floors.

And I'm sure there are many things I haven't seen or done.
I mean I just can't wait to milk my first cow and get a propane delivery.......(ducks and runs).

ooooh i'm gonn aget SOOOO slapped... *LOL*
 
" KITT, please park here ! "

Launderess,
maybe Michael Knight aka David Hasselhoff will not lend you KITT .... anyway many Volkswagen models have the park assist system too.

In the pic you can see an italian creative, double-row parallele parking .....

Back to KITT, can't resist the Supercar theme in this VW Touran italian commercial showing the park assist sys *LOL* :



favorit++12-18-2009-17-39-9.jpg
 
Out here in Hooterville, you need to know how to handle the unpaved roads that are either mud or loose gravel, plus the unplowed and untreated roads in winter, plus the usual tractor hold ups and the very frequent cows and horses wondering the roads.
Plus with roads barley wide enough one car one must be able to carefully weave on and off of the road when passing another car, or school bus, or tractor.

I am from a town which has approx 600 students in the entire school district, and not even 2,000 residents, and we are made up of 3 townships and a borough. We do not have gas service, or water service, or sewage, or cable tv. Hell, when one goes downtown main street is barely more than 1/4 mile long and even better yet it is a narrow yellow brick road.

City driving has its obstacles, and country driving has its obstacles,
 
and for a funny, kinda sorta parking reference

Starts about 20 seconds into the clip. Classic line from Kate.

 
Park assist that's it, Favorit. I could not remember the name of the system. Oprah demonstrated one on her show prolly a couple of years ago now. Parallel parking is not a strong skill i possess either. alr2903
 
In Victoria, AU we have to learn parallel parking.

In some areas where the road is wide enough, we have angle parking, where the car is parked at 45 degrees to the kerb and you can drive straight in. But reversing out can be a little hairy if you are parked next to a big 4wd as you can't see if you are backing into traffic till the car is about one third already out. You just tiptoe out watching over your shoulder, trying to get to the point where you can see traffic before you get tooted... to overcome that problem, in some parts of New South Wales they have reverse angle parking, where the lines are marked at a 45 degree angle the other way. To enter these car parks you drive past the space, then reverse into it. (you turn as you reverse.) Drivers behind you are required to stop well back to give you room to manoevre. Exiting is easy, you can see more easily and you exit the space driving forward. That system is not used in my State, but I like it.
 
Tomturbomatic,

Yes the depot is still standing, and is registered as a historical building. The Girl and Boy Scouts use it for their offices now. Employers Mutual changed their name to Wausau Insurance, and now they are owned by Liberty Mutual. The company is just a shell of what it once was in terms of people that are employed with them now. At one time Employers Mutual and Wausau Insurance were the 2nd largest employers in the Wausau area, after Wausau Paper Mills.
 

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