Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Defensive Parking

I don't think that I'll ever understand why they focus on parallel parking in driving school when in most cities people have enough problems with parking between parallel lines. You see, I discovered something on a trip to Best Buy (when I bought my iPod.) And now I'm very wary of who I park near and who drives the cars around me.

I picked up lunch on the way over to the store and figured that I'd finish eating it before I went in. A few minutes later, a little car with 3 people in it pull up in the spot to my right. The man driving the car weighed in at a good 375 lbs. (not tall and not exaggerating here, possibly more.) He opened his car door and started getting out. You probably know right now what happened. Wiggling his car between two cars didn't give him that much room to get out. A push of is body extended his car door out that extra distance to slap my passenger door like some punk. Hearing this, I turned my head to look the driver in the eyes and he wouldn't look at me, didn't apologize and hurried (waddled) into the store. Smartly, he left one of his friends waiting in the car fearing retribution. I hopped out and surveyed the damage and surprisingly there wasn't any to my door. I was still pissed. I pulled my car out of the spot and pulled into some spaces on the other side of the car. I wasn't going to wait to see how gentle he was trying to get back in.

Anyhow, I was thinking about the situation here. Sure, I could have beat him to the ground for being inconsiderate but it would have been 3 to 1. But, I now know why my friend Daniel parks his car in the most open area of the parking lot. Safety! If you have trouble getting in and out of your car, wouldn't you park in a spot where you don't have to deal with a situation like this? But then again, if you are that big, you wouldn't want to have to walk farther to get into the store. All I know is that I'm watching who I'm parking near for now on.

9 comments:

LoraLoo said...

I know exactly what you mean, and I always park the farthest out and away from everyone as possible. Even so I somehow find various paints and scratches; I've already had dents removed by a professional as well. My Tucson is barely over a year old! It's so sad how inconsiderate so many are.

Matt said...

Since I've had the box I don't park next to anyone. I did it with the Focus too, but I needed the exercise then :)

Unknown said...

Martin, reminds me of when Teri was hit in a Walmart parking lot leaving a huge dent in the car and nobody stepped forward and nobody said anything or cared.

Bar L. said...

Hi Martin! I always love getting your comments on my blog.

The parking thing bugs me too. Here in CA parking is such an issue. I have been pinned in before and had to wait for the person to come back to there car!!!!

David Amulet said...

Consideration and respect for others seems all too rare these days. I'm glad you avoided damage, but it's only a matter of time with all the assholes out there.

I agree -- if you don't want your car dinged, park far, far away.

-- david

Jenn Doll said...

I park far. Knowing that America is lazy and wants to park right next to the building to avoid the whole 2 blocks of walking, it means my car will be alone and in plain view.

Fred said...

I get to work very early and always get the end spot and park far over to the edge. The only scratches I have on my car are from my kids' bicycles.

Lily said...

When I go foodshopping I as a rule try to park beside one of the shopping cart bays. That way I only have one car parked near me and I always remember where I parked.

RT said...

LoL, I don't worry about my car getting dinged anymore. It's days of being in a beauty pageant are long past. But hearing you guys talk does bring back the memories of when it was new. I was such a freak about any little mark on it.