Parallel Parking and people who cannot:

Diamondmaker

Go on how many people will admit to avoiding PP where ever possible???

I saw a woman trying to park a ciaquento into a decent sized space on Fri. I stopped behind and waited patiently.

She proceeds to driv in head 1st as I realsie I could be in for a long wait.
As suspected she does the old in and out in the same arc routine oblivious as to why she does not get into the psace any further,,,in fact sometimes she seemed to come our further.
After a while I sqeezed by her and noticed she was cute so offered to her that she should drive as far forwrd as she could with the wheel the opposite way she had at so as to rverse and as if by magic allow her rear wheels get to the kerb....
She took offence and snapped at me she was only going to be here a minute!
She was the 2nd car around a blind bend and I hope her protrudung car got what it deserved...I done really.

There are so manuy numpties out there who cannot PP even one of my 28 yr old male mates...what do expect I spose if it not taught on the diving test!!

Capt'n Midnight

It's on the UK test, then again we don't have much of a testing system here,

Actually we don't have any testing here since it's only optional. You can self certify and tens of thousands have driven this way for over ten years.

It's amazing how many people still don't realise you can move the front end of the car left or right very easily by reversing a few feed, but that you have to go a car length if you want to move the back end at all.

Nuttzz

i rarely have to parallel park, dont see what the big deal is....

Omikron1

Im a fairly new driver and i think im pretty good at nearly all aspects but i gotta say i usually try to avoid parallel parkin. im not terrible at it but sometimes im not sure of the distances so it could take me a couple of trys. and i don't wanna look like a spa so i usually avoid it

Squirrel

I've only had to PP once since I've started driving and that was in a fairly tight space up a hill in Dun Laoghaire with a Range Rover sitting on my rear bumper when I went to start it. It took me two attempts, I was in the first time but the afforementioned RR decided to try take the whole drivers side off my car so I re-did it to move it 3 inches closer to the kerb.

Wishbone Ash

A little trick that most people don't realise is that, when parking in a street with shop/office windows, use the reflected image in the window as a guide. You can easily reverse back quickly to within one inch of the vehicle behind and then straighten up. It looks impressive to those who are unaware and they think you're great at parking.

mike65

If you can't PP you really should'nt be allowed the privilege of a car! Theres is a method but once learnt tis easy.

Mike.

dudara

PP is a skill that you do have to work at, but quite easy when learned. I had to parallel park my car most days in Cork, when I'd only just gotten it. Tough learning curve, but you do learn!

Wishbone Ash

dudara wrote:

PP is a skill that you do have to work at, but quite easy when learned. I had to parallel park my car most days in Cork, when I'd only just gotten it. Tough learning curve, but you do learn!

Parallel parking a van with no rear windows is a good way of learning - mirrors only.

luckat

OK, experts, explain exactly how to parallel park, please.

ninty9er

I love to PP. It's like a challenge to see how small a space I can get into. Most people will just pass spaces that are easily manouverable because they have absolutely no PP skills.

I will admit to driving into a space this morning on the way to work because it's only 10 seconds from the front door of work and was on a corner. But I know from experience I could drive my car into that spot.

It's really all about knowing your car

ninty9er

luckat wrote:

OK, experts, explain exactly how to parallel park, please.

Pull up next to the "car in front" with the back of yours at the back of it. Steer towards the footpath. reverse. when your rear wheels are near the path straighten up.

Therte will be variances depending on the overhang

cormie

I love parallel parking too, in fact, I always choose the most difficult space to park in purely for the challenge of it. Got into a really tight spot in Dun Laoghaire with a bus behind me and a bus coming towards me too. Over and done with within seconds. Wanted to take a photo of the spot it was so tight! lol.:D

Wishbone Ash

cormie wrote:

I always choose the most difficult space to park in purely for the challenge

I have no difficulty parking but I will avoid tight spots as the motorists front and rear will probably do some annoying minor damage to my car when they are exiting.

cormie

Wishbone Ash wrote:

I have no difficulty parking but I will avoid tight spots as the motorists front and rear will probably do some annoying minor damage to my car when they are exiting.

Not an issue when you have a banger:D

luckat

"Next to the car in front"? How near it?

I seem to remember something about when your rear window passes the back of the car beside you...?

Stark

I've been able to do it on the occasions that I've had to. I rarely get opportunity to practise though.

bigtimecharlie

Was in Antwerp earlier in the year and while sitting in traffic, I noticed the worst case of parrallel parking ever. Guy did not have a clue, hit both car's more than 4 times, car was left 3 feet from kerb and the left the hazard's flashing while he ran down the street.

Sandwich

I think the mistake made by those who find it difficult is that they leave too much space when between themselves and the-car-in-front when they align before reversing. The bigger the gap between the sides of the two cars, the higher the angle you approach the footpath as you reverse and the greater thje lock required to realign with the footpath after turning in (if more than the car can do then you're stuck and cant complete the manouvre). Go close side-to-side with the car infornt - but you need a good sense of the corner of you car then as you reverse. Leave too comfortable a margin and you just wont be able to straighten in a limited space.

mike65

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Parallel parking a van with no rear windows is a good way of learning - mirrors only.

This is true when I'm in the van PP is a breeze despite only having wing mirrors to see.

Mike.

kilasser

This is a good web page on PP: http://www.2pass.co.uk/parallel.htm
http://www.2pass.co.uk/reversepark.htm

Fey!

It's made a lot easier if you have electric mirrors - adjust the mirror down so that you can see the path beside your back wheel. Driving a 206 with manual mirrors at the moment (my own car is still off the road), and I find it a nuisance to park. That said, it's made easier by the fact that the end of the car is at the back window!

Another thing that makes life easier is parking sensors - you can get a proper set fitted for between €250 and €350. Bear in mind that the 2 sensor sets are rubbish, and there is a special kit available if you have a towbar fitted.

BTW, I can actually parallel park without the aids. The reflection in a window trick is excellent - you can use the windows across the road from you too.

My pet hate is people trying to guide you into spaces - I know that they're just trying to help, but I find them to be a distraction, not a huge amount of help a lot of the time, and they sometimes stand in the way!

digitaldr

Check this out:D

elexes

i refuse to pp basicly because i am in full belief that the people around will damage my car . ive seen many people use other cars as bumpers and then move off . i hate when i get a small scratch on my car .

americans have the right ida about parking . then again they have usually better streets

lau1247

ninty9er wrote:

I love to PP. It's like a challenge to see how small a space I can get into. Most people will just pass spaces that are easily manouverable because they have absolutely no PP skills.

I will admit to driving into a space this morning on the way to work because it's only 10 seconds from the front door of work and was on a corner. But I know from experience I could drive my car into that spot.

It's really all about knowing your car

Yeah I totally agree on this.. it's a great way to test out your skill and make a self assessment..

I always drive up half way from behind to the car in front, stop, then swing the steering almost full towards the footpath while reversing. Once I feel that I can swing the front of the car in by turning the steering the other way and not hitting the front car, I'll swing it. This is where you need to familiarise yourself with your own car length in the front, that should usually do it.

After it's just few minor adjustment for allignment

mikedragon32

I used to have a major mental block about PP but I'm okay now!

It's great watching drivers on the contintent (esp. France) clatter the cars in front and behind while they shoe-horn their car into a space...

Irish Salfordia

digitaldr wrote:

Check this out:D

Good thing that is not part of the driving test or there would be a high fail rate!

Irish Salfordia

kilasser wrote:

This is a good web page on PP: http://www.2pass.co.uk/parallel.htm
http://www.2pass.co.uk/reversepark.htm

This is a great site in most aspects.

It does contain a number of things not in the Irish test, but as many people say we dont have a lot there

galah

Ahhh, one of my pet hates is people who can't parallel park...
My neighbours are ALL very very bad at it - and it's not even the fact that their cars are sticking out miles into the road or that it takes them ages to do it (somehow it seems to escape them), but that they park sooo stupidly as to block 3 perfectly fine car spaces with one car...and don't even care. I don't have a driveway, and there's only on-street parking, so you'd think people would be a little more considerate...


(I can rant about this forever...).

I'm a stickler for perfect parallel parking (a friend of mine make a habit out of measuring the distance to the curb - it's almost always exactly 5 cm...perfect..;-))

Johnny Storm

Many years ago I was sitting in the Elephant and Castle in Temple Bar and a guy was trying his best to parallel park accross the street. The whole restaurant was in stiches. Eventually he noticied everyone looking at him and laughing and got a big reddener and drove off.

I have to admit that it was MANY years after I got my driving licence that I finally learned to PP. PP and emergency stops should defo be part of the test.

seamus

I'll generally avoid it when I can, but I won't drive for miles just to find somewhere I don't have to parallel park.
The main reason I avoid it in heavy traffic is because the guy behind you will *always* drive right up your ass, preventing you from reversing, and leaving those few seconds while you look at him to see if he'll reverse back, and he's just looking sheepish/confused/angry.

RobAMerc

mike65 wrote:

If you can't PP you really should'nt be allowed the privilege of a car! Theres is a method but once learnt tis easy.

Mike.

Hear hear

smemon

this is how it's done.

imagine doing that pulling up for your driving test

mike65

My "Top Tip" is as follows -

As you prepare to park indicate left, pull in slightly as you slow and then hit the hazard flashers, pull back out a fraction come a stop and prepare to reverse. This way all but the dimmest will realise what you are about to do. Keep the flashers on until you are in the space.

Mike.

Alun

mike65 wrote:

As you prepare to park indicate left, pull in slightly as you slow and then hit the hazard flashers, pull back out a fraction come a stop and prepare to reverse. This way all but the dimmest will realise what you are about to do. Keep the flashers on until you are in the space.

Did a parallel park to day as it happens on Bray High Street. No traffic around, started the maneouvre, got about a third of the way into the slot, see something out of the corner of my eye and slam on the brakes. What had happened? Yes, a pedestrian had decided it would be good idea to cross from the other side of the road and walk behind me while I'm reversing about a foot away from the back of my car. Some people just seem to have a death wish

Seth Brundle

mike65 wrote:

This way all but the dimmest will realise what you are about to do

Unfortunatley, that is a large number of Irish road users!

unkel

The bigger my car, the easier I've found it over the years to parallel park. Mind the front and rear park distance control helps too

cwynnes

kbannon wrote:

Unfortunatley, that is a large number of Irish road users!

here here.....why is it that the vast majority of drivers just cant use the roads properly.....and roundabouts....PEOPLE REMEMBER TO INDICATE WHEN USING THE ROUNDABOUTS....i feel as if im gone off the topic slightly
Oh yeah....I cant PP either and ive been drivin 4 years...i just avoid doing it...ive always promised id learn soon....and i will....soon

lau1247

i suppose for people who can't PP, they could get one of those automatic parking system..

Can't remember where I've seen it but BMW and Lexus apparantly have one
But then there's no challenge anymore :rolleyes:

dubstub

Fey! wrote:

Another thing that makes life easier is parking sensors - you can get a proper set fitted for between €250 and €350. Bear in mind that the 2 sensor sets are rubbish, and there is a special kit available if you have a towbar fitted.

Actually, I think parking sensors are pretty useless for helping parking. They are useful for warning you about an obstacle that may be obscured from your vision, such as a bollard or a high curb. For parking they generally can't tell the difference between 10cm and bumpers touching. This means a lot more manoeuvring in a large car as the sensors will be screaming that you're about to destroy your car when there is still a good bit of space to continue your turn.

smemon

lau1247 wrote:

i suppose for people who can't PP, they could get one of those automatic parking system..

Can't remember where I've seen it but BMW and Lexus apparantly have one
But then there's no challenge anymore :rolleyes:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dmh6FO2_6VE

pretty cool it will also detect whether or not the car can fit into the space

wonder if it detects pedestrians though

jozi

Not sure if i could PP before or after i passed my test. I used to make life hard for my self by PP in to spaces, how else was i supposed to learn how to do it? Still need to correct my self the odd time but generally im ok PP.

It's like the big narrow hill in cavan, i know a few people who for a long time didnt dare go up it for them reasons. I figure, go up the hill and deal with what ever happens (just dont crash) or you'll never learn.

Wishbone Ash

Rear wheel drive cars are easier to PP as there is a better lock on the front wheels.

Johnny Storm

Despite what I said earlier in this thread I made a total bollox of Parallel parking this morning!
I took three goes at it, each as bad as the other, finally I left the car there with the back wheel way up on the path. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.
I think if you get off to a bad start while PPing it's hard to recover for some reason.

unkel

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Rear wheel drive cars are easier to PP as there is a better lock on the front wheels.

Yes, the turning circle of a RWD car is usually less than that of an equivalent size FWD car

mkennedy

hi.
just reading these posts- very interesting.

wondering if anyone knows if there is an accepted minimum ratio of parking space length/car length in order to successfully parallel park: something like 1.5 to 1 for example or does it vary much from car to car.

Diamondmaker

I have gotten my car into space with litterally 2/3 inches spare each way.
It DOES invove touch parking to go this close...its the only wat to get "maximum value " out of the space...I firmly believ in using all the tools and for extremely teeny weeny last chicken in Sainsburys ( tenner to the preson who knows whos phrase that is ) runt spaces it can be necesary, hey thats what they are for a light bump!


PP rules! I love the old hill PP on a busy road with a full car of people, the more pressure the more fun.the reflection thing is good too..It really is mad reading through this how similar evryone is and how embarressed and afraid people are of doing this badly.
Why can crap drivers just not be to embarressed or afraid to drive full stop and take the bus!:D
Another thing I saw a guy do once which I now use whn parking against a low curb and you are just too dman cool to adjust your mirrorss is open the door and folow it in visually.:cool: Yes I am a Parking Nerd:D

Diamondmaker

unkel wrote:

Yes, the turning circle of a RWD car is usually less than that of an equivalent size FWD car

thats interesting I never specifically noticed it in mine but it is a longer car than I ever owned previously and parking and multi story CPs are never an issue. It makes sense , I think, when I think of it.

miamee

I can parallel park alright but I don't go out of my way to do it! Can do it in the work carpark no bother but I'm much less likely to do it on a busy street (more likely to have some eejit drive up yer ass as someone already mentioned!)
Used to get the bus on Middle Abbey St & have a great old laugh watching people trying to PP across the road from the bus stop

Diamondmaker

the trick for parking on a busy street is to stop the car ahead of where you want to park. Wait a sec indicate, get a visual from the driver behind that they understand that when you drive forward for your approach that they are NOT to drive into the space you just left then do your business.

Sandwich

Really. All this talk of aligning in shop windows, sensors etc.
Either you can parallel park or you you cant :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Z-xBXTl24