bay parking tips

pavlovs_dog

I passed my driving test a year ago, but have only recently got back behind the wheel.

I have no problems with driving in itself, but i seem to be having some issues with bay parking. Unfortunately as there are no parking bays at my local test centre i was not taught how to do this manouvre when i learnt to drive.

i just don't seem to be able to front in to a bay parking space without clipping the white lines of the next space, or shunting back and forth repeatedly to get in within the white lines (i'd like to stress that for this reason i always choose bays that are empty either side, so there's no danger of me accidently bumping someone else). I'm yet to try reversing in - i'm not sure if this is any easier, although i have no problems reversing out of a bay, even if people have gone on to park either side of me.

On my route to work i have to pass through a very narrow bridge and set of gate posts - I can do this fine so why can't i park in a little square box (no jokes about female drivers please )

can anyone give me any tips on how to get my head around this?

aqueoushumour01

unless i see a carpark full of empty spaces i leave! can't standing bay parking. If possible, you could try going in at a better angle rather than 90 degrees. Or, my trick is to start reversing into a free bay (with other free bays around it!) so you don't need to worry about the lines, and then go forward into a free bay in front of you.

Viper_7

cripes..... sorry but shows a total lack of control!

No wonder people avoid carparks too many people out there guaranteed to run into you....and one is parked!

creased-leach

If you can negotiate tight spots where you can see the "obstacles"- ie the bridge, etc, it's unlikely to be an issue with your spatial awareness.

My bet would be that it's because you can't see the lines when you're past a certain point in the manouver, and you're not yet experienced enough to guesstimate.

Try finding an empty car park, and practice swinging it in really wide so you can see the lines, and almost drive straight in. I think the lack of cars on either side- whilst as a car owner I appreciate your not wanting to hit anything (!) may be hindering you. If you can see the cars, you can see the space you have. With the seating position in most cars you simply can't see the lines most of the time. Good luck!

We could do with some more considerate drivers on the road.

pavlovs_dog

aqueoushumour01 wrote: »

unless i see a carpark full of empty spaces i leave! can't standing bay parking. If possible, you could try going in at a better angle rather than 90 degrees. Or, my trick is to start reversing into a free bay (with other free bays around it!) so you don't need to worry about the lines, and then go forward into a free bay in front of you.

if it's a big car park (eg a supermarket) then i'm fine because i can always find a space that i can drive across so that i park park straight in the bay in front, without any of the back and forth nonsense.

unfortunately, that's not an option at the new cark park at work. there's a handful i can drive straight into (if no one has beaten me to it) and there's a few i can parallel park into, but the vast majority of the car park are bays.

Viper_7

It's everything to do with spacial awareness and the dimensions/maneuverability of the vehicle.

On a test, for the reversing around a corner you can't see the kerb the same way? You adjust as you extend the line of the kerb. when you go around a roundabout, you don't gawk at the roundabout to ensure you're going around it, you're aware it is there whilst performing the other 27 tasks at hand.

The lines are static, no one else is about, it's a simple manouver, don't need to see the lines directly, could use the lines opposite as a guide as they will be in line, and if you must angle the mirrors down.
Sure passing the test is one thing...driving in the real world is another, but not being able to park up at 5mph imo is just a risk to everyone.

http://www.keepbusy.net/play.php?id=woman-vs-man-parking-car

pavlovs_dog

creased-leach wrote: »

If you can negotiate tight spots where you can see the "obstacles"- ie the bridge, etc, it's unlikely to be an issue with your spatial awareness.

My bet would be that it's because you can't see the lines when you're past a certain point in the manouver, and you're not yet experienced enough to guesstimate.

i'm planning on going out to practice on the weekend. i hadn't thought about the lack of other vehicles being a hinderence rather than a help. I'm fairly confident i wouldn't hit anything because i'm always extra cautious around other people's cars - ours is 'new' and it's my baby so i'd be gutted if i bumped it, not to mention guilt-ridden if i hit someone else :eek:

i've got interior wing mirror controls so i might tweak them in the morning and see if bringing one of the lines into view helps with the manouvre. having looked at some videos online i've seen some techniques which aren't too dissimilar to the way i was taught to reverse around a corner.

flyingscotno1

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

can anyone give me any tips on how to get my head around this?

Only tips I can provide is to take a wide line in, swing out (where safe!) to the right before turning left into a bay etc.

I do have to say a lot of it is to do with spacial awareness- a lot of road narrowings are not that narrow until you do them in a bus or something! I am quite good at parking I think, but I do not like certain cars as they are unduly difficult (Current Corsa is bad- huge dash, small rear window and too hard to work out the corners).

Can you try reversing into the spaces- not much different from the reverse round the corner!

DaveF327

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

I passed my driving test a year ago,..... i was not taught how to do this manouvre when i learnt to drive.

Shame on your instructor for not teaching you this! It proves that many of them cut corners and only teach to a test rather than a life skill. Back in the day, I would teach it in a supermarket long before it became a test requirement.

i have to pass through a very narrow bridge and set of gate posts - I can do this fine so why can't i park in a little square box

Because you approach bridges and gate posts in a straight line. Supermarket spaces are approached from the side. Straight metal cars cannot bend and the closer you are to the bay, the harder it will be.

(no jokes about female drivers please )

Of course not! If truth be told, some men are crap at this too.

can anyone give me any tips on how to get my head around this?

Why not try the reversing approach? "Trolley to boot" arguments aside, it really is easier and safer than trying to drive forwards in where it's difficult to swing your bonnet, especially if your bonnet is long and you are short. Reverse in, and your bonnet can swing around in the big empty area while your boot is more controllable. TIP: a good start leads to a good finish.. be sure your car is equidistant between the rows of parked cars. As mentioned above, once you start too close to either side, it gets harder to do. A really slow speed helps together with regular different observations. Don't just stare at one mirror; compare several different viewpoints regularly and often.

Of course, it may be better to have an instructor show you in practice (you can still have a driving lesson after passing your test, you know ) but most importantly, practice makes perfect. Good luck!

SailorSam

It's easier if you reverse into the bay, as you're going back you only need check your mirrors and you can see the lines either side and centre up. When the time comes to leave you don't have to worry about trying to reverse into traffic, it's much safer driving out.

pavlovs_dog

Viper_7 wrote: »

It's everything to do with spacial awareness and the dimensions/maneuverability of the vehicle.

On a test, for the reversing around a corner you can't see the kerb the same way? You adjust as you extend the line of the kerb. when you go around a roundabout, you don't gawk at the roundabout to ensure you're going around it, you're aware it is there whilst performing the other 27 tasks at hand.

The lines are static, no one else is about, it's a simple manouver, don't need to see the lines directly, could use the lines opposite as a guide as they will be in line, and if you must angle the mirrors down.
Sure passing the test is one thing...driving in the real world is another, but not being able to park up at 5mph imo is just a risk to everyone.

http://www.keepbusy.net/play.php?id=woman-vs-man-parking-car

on my test i was taught to adjust the wing mirror for the reverse around a corner manouvre to bring the kerb into view. I did so on my test, completed the manouvre with no problems and was not penalised for adjusting my mirror.

the car i'm in now is significantly bigger than our last, it's also a lot newer and as it's a recent purchase the expense is still fresh in my mind. perhaps i'm just being over cautious with my parking? i have no issues with parallel parking