Where can I learn to park?

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One

Soldato
Joined
24 Aug 2011
Posts
6,162
Location
ABQ, NM
For the past 5 years I've been pulling up alongside a kerb. Yesterday I tried to reverse bay park. I failed miserably and took so long and got so embarrassed I just decided to drive home and not go to the shops. Where can I practice this without fear of congestion and preferably without real cars that I might potentially crash into? I'm sure part of the problem is simply not knowing where to position my self for the start of the maneuver and not knowing where to look. Any links to tutorials would be great too.

P.s. I am safe on the roads, just not car parks :p
 
why reverse park anyway ? il never understand people who do this at supermarkets then have to squeeze infront of someone else bonnet to put their shopping in the boot


actually i do have to do this every now and again at work but only when the only space is one where the corners too tight for going forwards
 
Ignore the pre edit, I misread


Supermarket in the evening will sort you out - just practise until you feel comfortable.

Generally ill swing the front out just as I'm about halfway past the bay I'm going into and stop to reverse when the back end has just passed the bay - that's mainly because the civic has a comedy turning circle though
 
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A friend is hopeless at reversing into bays, but then it would help if they actually used their door mirrors whilst doing it.

It's actually easier to reverse into a bay than it is to go in forwards in my opinion as whilst reversing the steering is effectively at the rear and you can see the "Front" wheels in the mirrors if needs be by aiming the mirrors down.
 
"andy" said:
why reverse park anyway ? il never understand people who do this at supermarkets then have to squeeze infront of someone else bonnet to put their shopping in the boot
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So you can actually see when getting back out of the space :p
Plus many carparks will have a path along the back of the space anyway.

Always reverse into a space given the choice. As to how to do it, use mirrors, don't crash. Simple.
 
To be fair... I can count on one hand the number of times that I have had to parallel park properly, rather than just driving in.
In a car park I drive in and reverse out.
 
"andy" said:
why reverse park anyway ? il never understand people who do this at supermarkets then have to squeeze infront of someone else bonnet to put their shopping in the boot


actually i do have to do this every now and again at work but only when the only space is one where the corners too tight for going forwards
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It's easier to drive out forwards, less chance of getting blocked in. I think anyway.

Housey said:
Brave OP, very brave.
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Yeah I know lol. Just looked on YouTube, it seems it's as easy as full locking when back of car is level with centre of bay next to the one you want. I'll have to give it a go at the local Tesco tomorrow evening.

P.s. I live in a city so never need to drive into town. I park on pavement outside my house and work place so since passing my test 5 years ago I've literally forgotten the tips and tricks for simple maneuvers like this one. I can parallel park well enough. Work has changed however so now I have a car park. Today I parked on the street because I'm a noob
 
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In a busy carpark ill usually reverse in too

Easier for getting back out, wait for gap or if neccesary make gap and drive out....if it's quiet or I can find a relatively quiet spot I don't bother
 
Oh dear... 5 years of driving and you're not confident in parking?? :p

Give yourself plenty of space. Use your mirrors. Don't dry steer :D

I only ever reverse into bays. I never drive straight into them as reversing into a bay gives you better visability on how much space you have on each side. Plus it's easier when you leave as you just drive off!
 
PinkFloyd said:
So you can actually see when getting back out of the space :p
Plus many carparks will have a path along the back of the space anyway.

Always reverse into a space given the choice. As to how to do it, use mirrors, don't crash. Simple.
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valid points... maybe i just like the gamble of reversing out of a busy tescos space.
 
Find your space, line yourself up level with the marker line for two bays past your bay, engage reverse gear, full lock, reverse in, straighten up as you go in (fnar). You should find you're pretty much the perfect distance and you reverse near enough straight into the space without need for significant adjustment.

Easy peasy way to do it when you can't get the knack for it. It won't take long before you don't need to actually think about it. I remember my instructors car had two little stickers on the doors to line up with :p
 
Serious question, were you not taught this by your driving instructor ? or did you take one of these intensive "pass within 4 weeks" type courses ?

Your best bet is to practice in empty car parks. Before the shops open early sunday morning is a good time proving they don't close the car parks. There will be nobody there at 9am.
 
bay-park2.jpg


It's kind of easier to stop at a bit of an angle to the bay. The closer to being already lined up you are the less thinking about it you have to do.

Go practice in Tescos when it's shut?

I like reverse parking. As well as seeing better when you pull out it often means your drivers door is on the other side as the person you're parked next to which is a plus if people park wonky.
 
Always reverse park, makes it a lot easier than reversing into traffic.

Seemed to get the hang of it very easily, but then I had to do it on my test.
 
I park how the sign tells me to!

Usually rear to kerb at 45 degrees, looks very odd going somewhere there are no rules and all the cars are just abandoned at the side of the road.

As for reversing, it's basic car control... mtfu ;)
 
I can reverse park fine, but I am not all confident with paralel parking. I obviously learned to do this to pass my test, however I didn't drive much after passing (literally once or twice a year for the next 8yrs!). My first car is a fat Volvo v70 estate, which doesn't help!
 
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