Opportunity Parking - Thoughts? - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

SVOboy · 12-22-2007, 07:56 PM

Backstory: It's dark and I don't have any good lights for my bike (sad, I know) so I took the car to acme. I always enter from the back and pass by the back parking spaces for the DMV and go around the front to get to the Acme spaces, but tonight I was thinking, if I parked in the back I would be save a whole bunch (not that much, but compartively) of gas by parking in the back. I didn't though because no one is back there at night and I'm paranoid about car theft.

So this begs the question. Not so much what would you do in this situation, but in general what do you do to take advantage of parking when you're out? Usually I park the most quickly I can in the back of the lot so I can pull through and have a quick exit...What do others do?

MetroMPG · 12-22-2007, 08:06 PM

1) There's actually an "Acme" store?? I thought that was just a coyote & roadrunner cartoon creation!

2) I usually park in the hinterland of a lot to minimize the amount of uncertain manoeuvering in the packed rows around pedestrians & other vehicles. Usually that means closer to the entrance/exit than the building. I think that's what you're talking about with the DMV slots.

I also aim for a pull through spot, and the one I ultimately choose is based more on where the car stops rolling than anything else

trebuchet03 · 12-22-2007, 08:33 PM

First spot I can find wins for me - even if it's nearer to the back...

That being said... I think last week some poor woman and her daughter (son?) were found in their running car, gagged and shot (both dead) at a somewhat local mall

They were parked in the far reaches of the parking lot...

roflwaffle · 12-22-2007, 10:04 PM

I park in a pull through spot near the back because there's less chance of me hitting other people when I leave and not as much time spent screwing around looking for a spot, which tends to mean I spend less time at the commerce place.

diamondlarry · 12-23-2007, 02:30 AM

I tend to park in the first spot I can find that I'm able to pull through.(face-out park) Also, if there is a spot that allows me to park on a downgrade, I'll take advantage of that too.

MetroMPG · 12-23-2007, 02:21 PM

Going for pull-through parking is another example of where hypermiling and defensive driving tactics overlap.

It was in the curriculum I taught when I was an instructor. From a strictly defensive perspective, the key concern is avoiding situations where you have to reverse into a flow of traffic. So we taught choosing a pull-through spot, where possible. If none are available, reverse into your spot (and that again goes along with good ecodriving, since you're doing the manoevering while the car is warmed up).

Lazarus · 12-23-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

I tend to park in the first spot I can find that I'm able to pull through.(face-out park) Also, if there is a spot that allows me to park on a downgrade, I'll take advantage of that too.

Dito here.

DifferentPointofView · 12-23-2007, 09:38 PM

Okay, so one time I was parking at a wal-mart and I found a pull through spot near the front cause I was with my mom and she always wants a good close spot, so I pulled through and turn off the vehicle, unbuckled my seatbelt, and kinda sat there waiting for everyone to start going out of the Jeep (I always like to be last to make sure everything is locked up and secure) and this lady drives by in her Ford Escape chewing me out through her window. I'm thinking what in the world!? so We get out of the Jeep and walk up to the store, and this lady (looks to be 19-23 no less!) is walking up behind me chewing me out some more.

"Oh I bet you thought that was REAL Classy how you just pulled up like that" was her exact words, I just Ignored her and went inside, but I had no Idea what I did wrong, I still had my permit at the time so I thought nothing about it, but ah well.

As for parking and worrying about theft, I don't think about it much, I always lock my doors and if I'm leaving it for a while I pull the tarp over the expensive stuff. I live in a nice quaint village of 550 and I don't worry much about anything.

trebuchet03 · 12-24-2007, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DifferentPointofView

"Oh I bet you thought that was REAL Classy how you just pulled up like that" was her exact words, I just Ignored her and went inside, but I had no Idea what I did wrong, I still had my permit at the time so I thought nothing about it, but ah well.

My typical/automatic response to goofy things like that is... "It's the future." It catches people off guard, in confusion, given a few moments to escape

DifferentPointofView · 12-24-2007, 12:34 AM

good to know, I'll remember that

oh, and I agree with your signature quote. SUV's nowadays are for grocery getting. But there are exceptions, like me, "Only in a Jeep". On the side, it says Laredo, I might not ever go there, but I definitely have gone to ... we'll call them exotic.. places we'll never go. If your a true Jeep owner, you'll know what I'm talking about if I mention "The Jeep Wave". Look it up if you have to.