[LRS]

The Psychology of Human Parking Behavior

Why is it that when I take the effort to park my brand new car away from every other car in the car park, that inevitably upon my return, some moron is parked right next to me!!!! Is this just a UK phenomenon or is it endemic around the world?

I’m really trying to understand if there is some deep underlying primitive instinctive need for people to park next to someone else – strength in numbers, safety etc…? Do they subconsciously see that my car could be in danger being all alone by itself! Or is it just the case of some a**hole doing it on purpose just to wind you up?

Why, why, why does this happen, when all around you there could be dozens and dozens of other empty parking spaces that they could have chosen to park in, they choose the one right next to you!!!

Totally bemused…

LRS

[normtrum]

ha ha ...I couldn't agree with you more! I have thought about this very issue many times. I'm in the Seattle Washington area, but I guess I might as well be in London, because I guess it happens everywhere. I mean it doesn't happen to me every time, but a good 50% at least. I try to park so it never happens, but somehow, somebody usually finds me.

[GAO]

People seem to like to park next to quality vehicles, especially Beemers - so that they can have a good look without attracting attention, It always happens to me when driving my BMW 335d, but never when driving my dad's old Vauxhall Astra

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by LRS

The Psychology of Human Parking Behavior

Why is it that when I take the effort to park my brand new car away from every other car in the car park, that inevitably upon my return, some moron is parked right next to me!!!! Is this just a UK phenomenon or is it endemic around the world?

I’m really trying to understand if there is some deep underlying primitive instinctive need for people to park next to someone else – strength in numbers, safety etc…? Do they subconsciously see that my car could be in danger being all alone by itself! Or is it just the case of some a**hole doing it on purpose just to wind you up?

Why, why, why does this happen, when all around you there could be dozens and dozens of other empty parking spaces that they could have chosen to park in, they choose the one right next to you!!!

Totally bemused…

LRS

LRS, you just need to find the right spot!











Viv

[Chris33]

No matter were I park in the local sainsburys carpark I always return with an old shitter F reg escort parked next to me!

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by Chris33

No matter were I park in the local sainsburys carpark I always return with an old shitter F reg escort parked next to me!

Have you tried unhitching it?

[dxb335d]

LOL

i always park in a decent carpark or dont bother and the decent car parks i use have massive family bays which are really wide so with door full opened your still well over 2 foot away from anycar!!



chris33: for all you know that F reg escort could be a 300bhp monster

Carl

[Micky Dee]

Some kid opening a door on his aunt's Laguna caused £700 of damage to my old 5 Series. He dented the door right on the side impact bar so apparently it was a nightmare to fix. Also, he chipped the paint and I understand that BMW repair shops paint a huge area (almost half the side of the car) to enable a good colour match! As a result I'm always careful where I park my 335. Even been known to straddle two spaces at Tesco!!!

Also, I've noticed that most manufacturers have done away with the rubber door friendly side strips! Although ugly, they did serve a purpose.

[NathanJT]

On a serious note, there was study some years ago that showed how humans have a natural instinct to flock together when in public places, essentially we like to congregate.

I guess it's possible that this applies to car parks as well. After all when was the last time you drove into a car park to find the cars already there evenly distributed across the entire available space?

Hang on... why am I being serious at this time of the morning!?

W**kers the lot of em! (that's better).

[bob mushroom]

Having conducted a quick survey this morning of my fellow collegues it is a general concensus of 1 that it is because.

"If I park next to a nice car that'll get nicked and not mine" this person drives a Y reg Seat Ibiza beat to hell

[dxb335d]

they might paint the whole side to match, and from side on will look good, but from an angle the front wing wont match the bonnet and the rear quarter wont match the boot..

and also the colour will be a different shade slightly to the other side of the car,

i hate it when cars needs painting... its such an arse..

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by bob mushroom

Having conducted a quick survey this morning of my fellow collegues it is a general concensus of 1 that it is because.

"If I park next to a nice car that'll get nicked and not mine" this person drives a Y reg Seat Ibiza beat to hell

but the person who is going to steal a bmw wont look at anything less than a bmw, merc and audi in a car park

the person who wants to steal a shitter of a seat, to eventually 'burn out' and cause our fire departments to waste there time will not even look at anything german

[mkaaes]

I live in Seattle Wa, I have a march 07 335 coupe. A few months back I was in a pretty swank area of town, and parked out of the way...some retard not only parked next to me, he/she tagged my bumper. Not lightly mind you, I was so incredibly pissed. There must be a particular breed of not only stupid people, but inconsiderate as well. I wanted to punch the person in the face.

[toofasttooslow]

Originally Posted by mkaaes

I live in Seattle Wa, I have a march 07 335 coupe. A few months back I was in a pretty swank area of town, and parked out of the way...some retard not only parked next to me, he/she tagged my bumper. Not lightly mind you, I was so incredibly pissed. There must be a particular breed of not only stupid people, but inconsiderate as well. I wanted to punch the person in the face.

Unfortunately I think Seattle attracts stupid people. It's like the magnetic pole for dumbass drivers and people who can't park worth a damn. At one point I seriously thought about mounting a mini-gun on my car for those instances when I saw a stupid person behind the wheel. I decided against it though because it would have cost me too much money to go through all that ammo.

[RockIt]

A similar discussion took place on the RX8 owner's forum a while back. Every car I've owned has been dinged at some time in a carpark, (most recently the Beemer was side swiped by a bloody 4x4). A woman opened her door into my brand new Puma whist I was still in it and flatly refused to admit it!

It isn't always old motors either. My friend can only afford an old vehicle, but takes great pride in it and looks after other people's property as well. By contrast, the owner of a brand new company Jag threw his door into the side of my new Celica because he was in a hurry to get out of the rain. :mad:

Much as I value my vehicle, I can't condone the attitude that some people have that it's OK to park in a disabled bay (had a stand up row with one guy over this when he took the only space and we had a legitimate badge), a marked family space if you don't have kids to get in and out of the car, or straddle two places. I might want that space

I do wish that car parking spaces were wider though and that people weren't so bloody self-absorbed, careless and selfish.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by RockIt

A similar discussion took place on the RX8 owner's forum a while back. Every car I've owned has been dinged at some time in a carpark, (most recently the Beemer was side swiped by a bloody 4x4). A woman opened her door into my brand new Puma whist I was still in it and flatly refused to admit it!

It isn't always old motors either. My friend can only afford an old vehicle, but takes great pride in it and looks after other people's property as well. By contrast, the owner of a brand new company Jag threw his door into the side of my new Celica because he was in a hurry to get out of the rain. :mad:

Much as I value my vehicle, I can't condone the attitude that some people have that it's OK to park in a disabled bay (had a stand up row with one guy over this when he took the only space and we had a legitimate badge), a marked family space if you don't have kids to get in and out of the car, or straddle two places. I might want that space

I do wish that car parking spaces were wider though and that people weren't so bloody self-absorbed, careless and selfish.

i agree with you entirely

i have personally never parked in a disabled bay as i think its darn right ignorant and rude.. and the fact i never wish to have to be wheelchair bound and hav to use one, i would rather walk 300 yards than park real close due to not being able to walk

regarding the kids spaces, i am a kid so im ok

and the only time i park in those spaces is quieter periods like the evenings so therefore not putting anyone with a family out as there are loads of the spaces left


Carl

[LRS]

I really touched a raw nerve with everyone!

The subject certainly chaps my a*s every time it happens to me...

So, in response to all those d**k h**ds that try parking right next to me, may I introduce you to the Tesla!!

The depressing thing is that the sad ba**ards will still park right next to me!!

Attachment 87934

[DervFan]

OK I'm the first to admit that I have "once" or "twice" parked in disabled bays. I have since learned the error of my ways, so now park in Mother & Baby instead (Benefits of having )

Anyway, what's worse than parking in a disabled bay ? - parking in two with a Range Rover !


Possibly the worst case of anti-social parking ever

[- Paul -]

I was at Tescos yesterday, it was raining, all the family spaces were taken. We were parked in one. We came out and back to the car as the family next to us was pulling out of the spot. Next thing, this bloke parked in it (no family and no kids seats etc) I waited till he got out as I was waiting under shelter till the missus put our baby into the car. I said to him " You do realise that's a family space?" "Yeh" was the reply, " You're not bothered then?" I said. A grunt and a stare was all i got back. What an absolute fu**ing loser. He didn't want to get wet. He was at least 6ft3 and a big lad at that. People like that deserve to have nasty things happen to them.

Edited as it was a bit harsh!

[- Paul -]

http://www.epommweb.org/ecomm2004/wo...oenJanssen.pdf
http://www.parking.org/magazine/jan2006/jan06art1.pdf

Quite an interesting read

http://drdriving.org/rages/parking.htm

People take longer to vacate a space when someone is waiting for it!

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by DervFan

OK I'm the first to admit that I have "once" or "twice" parked in disabled bays. I have since learned the error of my ways, so now park in Mother & Baby instead (Benefits of having )

Anyway, what's worse than parking in a disabled bay ? - parking in two with a Range Rover !


Possibly the worst case of anti-social parking ever

man i recognise that parking space,??? about 5 years ago i think i parked there when my ex missus went for a job interview

forget where it is was, but somewhere north of cambridge

i took picture of my car parked there at the time... sure it wasnt disabled tho

might be totally wrong but loks like the same place

carl

[squeezebm]

Originally Posted by SoYank

Have you tried unhitching it?