Parking Lots

[kentauros]

When driving through a parking lot (entering or exiting) and you see someone’s backup lights come on, do you wait and let them out?
Or do you speed up and honk as you pass them?

How many times have you been honked at for having the audacity to back out of your parking space?

Are parking lots the public domain Indy 500?
Or do you take it slow and easy in case of pedestrians and those backing out without looking?

In shopping/grocery parking lots do you take your shopping cart back into the store or the nearest cart-return area?
Or do you push it out into the middle driving aisle to be picked up by the wind and smashed into other parked cars?

Answer or add your own questions about parking-lot behaviour :)

[MissMillie]

1. I always return my cart to the cart-return

I never honk at anyone backing out of a space. I figure I'm more likely to see them before they see me (especially if they are surrounded by big cars/trucks).

Parking lots are supposed to be 5 mph, I think, and I always drive as if there may be a kid darting out from between cars.


Today, I went to roll my cart up to my car to put my stuff in the car, and I couldn't get to my car because of all the other carts blocking the way.... and I was parked right next to the cart-return area. And it was raining.

I figure if I leave a cart out, it's likely it will get hit into someone else's car. I wouldn't want someone to hit a cart into my car.... In fact, I often park very far away from other cars so that no one will leave a cart near my car.


People suck. No one has any sense of common courtesy anymore.

[pinniped]

2. If the asshole barrels out of their space, they're getting the horn.

Some fuckers launch out and expect people to slam on their brakes.

A couple weeks ago, I saw some old dude shoot out of a space right into some old lady's Honda. He didn't even look back, like Mr. Duggins from the Brady Bunch.

[charlie and algernon]

9. I watched an old guy dart out of a gas station parking lot and cross a two lane road BACKWARDS

and smash into a tree ACROSS the street from said gas station! He very nearly smashed into the car right in front of me, that would've been fun. :eyes:

Luckily no one was hurt, I still have no idea what the heck happened that caused him to speed BACKWARDS out of a gas station and across a two lane road.

[KG]

11. hint- 'old guy'. living in FL i've seen lots of funky stuff pull by old drivers

in person and on the news. a tank is the only truly safe mode of transport here.

[Kali]

3. in a lot that just has painted lines,

and the rows face each other. You are starting your big, honking, POS, pick-up with the manual transmission. All three spots in front of you are open. You are tickled because you are going to get to pull forward instead of having to back up and turn. Some nimnult pulls into the center slot RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU:mad:

[MissMillie]

4. yeah, that one pisses me off too

whenever I can, I pull through as I'm parking, or I back into a space.

[One_Life_To_Give]

16. Or park next to your loading/3rd door

When you park way away from the door at the supermarket. Just so you will have space to get cart in between the passenger and 3rd (suicide) door. Only to find that in an empty area of the lot somebody just had to park tight to that side.

[siligut]

5. DH and I were driving in a parking garage together.

There was a car pulling out, so DH stopped to let them and the car behind us honked. I yelled back at them. I usually am very polite, but that was just rude.

At the market, I try again to be courteous. I always take the cart to the cart return or back to the store if that is closer.

What I really like is when I am returning a cart and someone says “I’ll take that”, I also will do that with someone else.

[kentauros]

6. I have been honked at several times for backing out of my parking space

while trying to see around the mountains of steel on either side (I drive a Civic). It wasn't because I was backing out fast, but because the honkers couldn't be bothered to wait five seconds.

Whenever there are stop signs or "Stop" painted on the pavement, I will come to complete stops just to piss off the ones tailgating me through parking lots ;)

I do try to be as courteous as I can, like by example, but it rarely sinks in...

[blue_onyx]

7. I do take the cart to the return area

The side of my car has a bunch of scratches from carts flying around on windy days. I put carts back to be considerate of other people's cars.

I usually let people out if they are backing out.

[MajorChode]

8. You have no right of way when backing up

Someone honking their horn is doing the person a favor by letting them know a car they may not see is approaching.

[kentauros]

10. Every time I've been honked it was due to a jerk zooming through

the lot with no regard for anything. Although what you say makes sense, I seriously doubt if anyone even is aware of that, if you've ever observed how people drive in parking lots ;)

[MajorChode]

12. Nobody should be zooming through a parking lot in the first place

They are places were kids appear suddenly from behind cars and people are backing up blindly. Anyone who is zooming through a parking lot is a moran to begin with.

Personally I don't usually yield the right of way to someone backing out, unless they are committed and would have to go forward for me to get by. I rarely use my horn because I'm never going that fast to begin with, but I will occasionally if I think they are unable to see me or they are about to hit someone else.

[Initech]

13. If I feel someone is going to back into my car they get the horn.

It's happened to me on more than one occasion and every time the fucking douchebag has the nerve to flip me off. :mad:

[One_Life_To_Give]

14. Indy 500 is for sissies

Don't wait for people to back out of spaces. Face it if they couldn't bother to back into the space, it's probably going to be a long wait for them to get their tail in gear.

And always return shopping carts, my mom taught me well.

Now why do people spend 10 minutes driving around trying to save themselves a 30 second walk?

[BlueJazz]

15. Now why do people spend 10 minutes driving around trying to save themselves a 30 second walk?

Yep...That's the strangest thing. I see Folks drive all around the place looking for a space up front then walk into a HUGE mall where (I know) they'll walk for an hour.

Weird! :)