Mastering the Art of Parking: How to Choose the Best Spot

A busy parking lot can be hazardous and frustrating to navigate when looking for the best spot available. Whether we are going to the mall, an event, or service, the prime spot we find might be the best value we get from our visit to that location. So rather than being frustrated with the experience, think of the search for a good parking spot as a game, where aach driver has their own strategy.

Some people are aggressive and will hunt for the perfect spot. They’ll drive in just as the previous parked car is barely even out of the stall, or they’ll frive behind people walking to their parked car, pressuring them to leave.

Others will drive around and passively look for something adequate. It’s not their ideal choice, but they’ll take what they can get. And many others will park in the first free space they come upon.

Experiment and try out different types of stalls to help your decision. Whether it be space, location to the building, condition of the area or environment. Use these tips to help you with your hunt for the perfect spot.

Carllrac presents: Finding the best parking spot.

Does it feel safe?

Your personal safety is always paramount to any parking decision you make. Stuff can be replaced, but your security needs to be first and foremost. If you ideal parking spot is in a place you feel uneasy about. Take the time to find the right one. The same can be said for being patient finding that ideal spot rather than settling for something that is less safe, but immediately available.

Use Multiple spots

Find an area with multiple open spots. Parking in not just one free space but taking up two or three if you can to avoid other cars, if possible. Prioritizing the ease of getting in and out of your car if the space next to you is vacant and minimizing the possibility of close contact car damage, or hit and runs. The downside to this is you will be typically parking further away from your destination. Do not take up multiple spots closer to the building, that may deprive other drivers of a good parking location.

Walking distance

Walking distance to building. This is probably the most common reason for wanting to select the perfect parking stall. These spots are usually take, so you may need to exercise patience, or be aggressive in claiming these spots.

Backtrack to the spot you liked

Don’t spend too much time looking for the perfect parking spot. You’ll spend just as much time circling the parking lot as it would take to just walk to the door from a spot that you think is ok, but not perfect. Backtrack to one you liked but overshot and be assertive in getting it back.

Pavement condition

Be aware of the evenness and quality of the pavement in and around your selected parking area. You don’t want to step into a pothole or mud, rolling your ankle or dirtying your footwear and pants.

Space

Space around other vehicles is a key factor for ideal parking. If you choose not to park further away from your location, where vehicle density is scarce, identify a section where the size of parked vehicles are suitable to provide enough gap in between. Are there bigger vehicles clustered together, you want to avoid? If you park next to a compact, with tons of space around you, yet the majority of vehicles are super duty pick ups or giant suvs, you may be coming back parked next to a vehicle that’s giving you less room to open your door, as drivers of similar sized vehicles tend to gather together. If you are in that situation, you may have to do “the squeeze and slide,” getting back into your car.

Anonymity

Did the other parker see you and you don’t want to put a face to other vehicles? It’s an awkward shared experience you want to avoid. When parking at the same time as another person, pretend to do something in your car, as they exit their vehicle and leave. You will also get a sense of their mistrust of you, by the distance away from their vehicle that they set the alarm.

People chilling in their car.

People like to hang out in their vehicles, while companions run errands. It can be a comfortable place to relax, listen to the radio, use a phone or have a snooze. When parking next to or close to another person, be aware that even though they are just taking it easy in their vehicle, it could work in your favor, as they can keep an eye on your car. They know who came out of your vehicle, and the time you parked. People chilling in vehicles can be a deterrent to thieves.

On the other hand… That person could be there for nefarious reasons, and might use their knowledge about your parked vehicle to break in, and steal your stuff. Possibly, even worse upon your return. Remember to keep valuables hidden, and strategically place garbage inside your vehicle as deterrent. Asses the situation and if you feel uneasy about the person chilling in their vehicle, take the extra time to find another spot.

The shopping cart corral

Parking close to shopping cart corral can be hit or miss. On one hand it can be a good idea because people will likely make an effort to push the cart into the corral and won’t be likely to leave carts immediately, next to, or in front of you. However, you do run the risk of more surrounding foot traffic. There is also the potential of cart corral overflows, which will result in limitations of pulling your vehicle out of your spot. In this case, more technical driving will be needed.

Avoid Garbage receptacles

If possible, avoid any parking with garbage receptacles next to your spot. It’s a higher foot traffic area where people will be coming near your vehicle. There is an additional possibility you could be subject to accusation for being the perpetrator of the litter. It’s also advisable to avoid these parking stalls due to the trash that may be on the ground. You do not want to run over garbage of unknown contents. It will also prevent your footwear from becoming sticky or soiled, from soda pop, diaper waste, etc., when exiting or entering your car.

Make peace with your decision

Don’t second guess the spot you picked. When you do settle on one, you might see a better one on the way to the store and may think you should have driven a few more seconds. Don’t beat yourself up over the decision, as that negative self talk may prevent you from thinking clearly, during your next park.

Avoid entrance adjacency

Avoid being the first vehicle parked at a high traffic turn into the parking lot. It’s bad enough that other vehicles are moving towards you at a 90 degree angle, and increasing the likelihood of a scrape. But, parking at the end of a parking lot adjacent to the entrance poses additional risks. Situations like a last moment turn. Or vehicle exiting the parking lot, with the incoming vehicle over compensating an avoidance turn, resulting in a fender bender with your parked car.

Exit

While avoiding entrance adjacent parking spots is safe. You still need to be mindful of the exit from the parking lot.

Is the parking lot busy?

Will it take you longer to get out on to the main road?

If it’s closing time, or there is an evacuation of the area, will you be stuck in a traffic jam of vehicles leaving the area?

Keep these considerations in mind and park, 2 to 3 cars within the lot entrance or exit. This will allow you enough space to back out and turn into the exit stream. Also, cars in the exit stream will be close enough to the exit that they are more likely to allow you to back out of your spot and go ahead of them. This is the due to the “I’m almost out, why not be nice” mind set that most people exiting a parking lot have, if they are within 10-15 feet of their escape.

Mastering the Art of Parking: How to Choose the Best Spot

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