ABHMar 23, 2023
Chris Espinosa

I finally had the logic of backing in to perpendicular parking spaces explained to me in a way that makes sense.

• The driver’s visibility ahead of the vehicle is better than behind it
• There are more potential hazards in the traffic lane than in the parking space

So nose-in-back-out puts the better visibility in the zone of lesser hazard, where back-in-nose-out applies the better visibility to the zone with the greater hazard.

Mar 17, 2023 at 8:25pmIvory for iOS
Show threadDr. Juande Santander-VelaMar 17, 2023
@Cdespinosa in Chile this is explicitly explained in most parking places where this is a requirement. Also, because of seismic activity, it is easier to evacuate when all cars have the nose out.
Show threadMans RMar 17, 2023
@juandesant @Cdespinosa Aside from those considerations, the front end has more lateral mobility, making it easier to get the car into the proper position when reversing into a tight space. Simple geometry.
Show threadMiguel ArrozMar 17, 2023
@Cdespinosa Although that is the reasoning behind many places like BC always including back-parking in road tests, it’s completely car-centric. It’s much more likely that a child is playing on the sidewalk or near it, and much harder for the driver to see them while backing up than driving forward.
Show threadMiguel ArrozMar 17, 2023
@Cdespinosa (This may not be completely accurate with modern backing cameras and sensors, but it definitely was until recently)
Show threadR.I.PienaarMar 17, 2023
@Cdespinosa @miah better turning circle if you are reversing so it’s really good for small turning areas
Show threadAndrew LaurenceMar 17, 2023
@Cdespinosa indeed! My only objection is that as a habitual nose-in driver looking for a space, it rankles when the car in front of me passes a space only to stop and start backing in. It’s a collision of expectations.
Show threadmarkMar 17, 2023
@Cdespinosa I only dislike the part when you're driving down a lane of parked cars, and there is nonindication that one of them is about to pull out. Backup lights are a wonderful clue. If the forward from a space people dart out, it can be terrifying, and honestly, most of the reasons for doing this are to be able to leave in a hurry.
Show threadKelly GuimontMar 17, 2023
@Cdespinosa I have never heard it explained, THANK YOU!
Show threadJim LutherMar 17, 2023
@Cdespinosa This is to make up for the poor visibility and poor turning radius of the giant trucks everyone around me drives today.
Show threadEli the BeardedMar 17, 2023
@Cdespinosa Same holds for private garages / driveways. Backing in is my preferred method
Show threadCradockMar 18, 2023
@Cdespinosa Thanks. That’s cleaner and more thorough than I’d been able to say it.
Show threadKeith RollinMar 18, 2023
@Cdespinosa Also check out http://fancyparking.com/methods.html
Fancy Parking ::: Methods

Show threadBart WhiteleyMar 19, 2023
@Cdespinosa Also,
* Teslas (with the exception of CyberTruck) don't have 4-wheel steering which means it's much easier to park in a tight spot in reverse. You can take a perpendicular slot on the right without needing to swing wide into the oncoming lane first.
* It's much easier to ensure you are straight and centered in the parking spot due to the camera and guide lines.
* It's much easier to tell if you are pulled into the slot at the appropriate depth due to the camera.
Show threadBrian KingMar 23, 2023
@bwhiteley @Cdespinosa all of the above. Whenever I back into a spot, I also consider it a little gift for my future self.
Show threadChuck O'Rourke:verified:Mar 23, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss
Is this serious?
Show threadChris EspinosaMar 23, 2023
@Chuck_ORourke Absolutely! I commented on why so many Tesla drivers choose to back in to perpendicular parking places, and a surprising number of people responded saying that is the One True Way and we nose-in parkers are unenlightened.
Show threadMacBiFFMar 23, 2023

@Cdespinosa @caseyliss back-in-nose out require less space on the traffic lane too when you’re heading out. Car on traffic lane need not back up for you to come out.

In a way you can “bully” your way out nose first and not have to rely on the kindness of cars on the traffic lane if you back out.

Show threadChad BaileyMar 23, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss another thing I've come to appreciate: My backup camera has those fancy lines that move with my steering wheel, and I can pull into the spot much more accurately that way!
Show threadEric JenningsMar 23, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss it’s too bad that now way more cities are ticketing if you back into spaces. (The logic being they want to easily scan your license plate for tracking parking meter time and not every state has front license playes.)
Show thread CalebMar 23, 2023

@Cdespinosa Ok. Still gonna (unwittingly) steal your spot when you drive past it.

(Preemptively) Sorry!

Show threadSageMar 23, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss Before wide-angle backup cameras I might’ve agreed, but since the camera is mounted way closer to the “edge” of the car than your eyeballs are, I know that my backup camera has caught movement in the peripheral that I would’ve never seen if I were parked backed-in. My very crude drawing to illustrate.
Show threadShawn LevasseurMar 24, 2023
@sageolson @Cdespinosa @caseyliss my car has a front camera too, so I’m covered both ways. Throw in the composite “overhead” view, and I have more mastery over parking than ever!
Show threadAndrew WadeMar 23, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss That’s great! I can add I’ve been told that you’re generally less alert/aware when you start driving, so since reversing is inherently more difficult, it’s safer to start your drive forwards.
Show threadApplewiseMar 25, 2023

@andrewwade @Cdespinosa @caseyliss
This is my experience. It’d be like starting a game level with the boss.

You need to warm up. Boss always comes at the end of the level.

Show threadGeoffaireyMar 23, 2023
@Cdespinosa it’s important at all times, but especially important if you may feel vulnerable (E.g. lone woman late at night) when you can see in front of your vehicle clearly and don’t have to get out to investigate. @caseyliss
Show threadNathan BMar 23, 2023
@Cdespinosa I was always taught "reverse in, drive out".
Show threadPhilip Mallegol-HansenMar 23, 2023

@Cdespinosa @caseyliss The other part of it is: Most cars steer with the front wheels.

It’s easier to carefully control the pivot angle of the car with the wheels in the “back” relative to the parking spot.

Show threadSteven HollandMar 23, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss right!
Show threadKeith RollinMar 23, 2023

@Cdespinosa In addition to your reasons and those of everyone responding, there’s Tesla’s auto-park facility, which will back you in.

(Cf https://mastodon.social/@Cdespinosa/110028867819444924, which mentions Teslas)

Show threadJustinMar 23, 2023
@Cdespinosa But on the flip side, the driver's visibility ahead of the vehicle is better than behind it and pulling into the parking spot requires more precision than backing out does.
Show threadBynkiiMar 23, 2023

@Cdespinosa @KingShawn that falls apart when you have massive vehicles on either side and you can’t see shot to the side until you’re halfway out of the spot.

Whereas my backup camera gives me a WIDE field of view almost immediately.

Backing out is much safer in a non-gigantic vehicle.

Show threadyertleMar 24, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss I don’t really have a horse in this race, but backup cameras give you good rear vis nowadays. And the main issue is when you back up into a space, cars behind you may have no idea what you’re doing and be too close. That’s their fault, but it’s a common issue
Show threadMarianoMar 24, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss if the parking spots are very narrow I do the opposite other cars do. This way I can position the non-driver side inches close to the other cars’ non-driver side and the driver doors’ have plenty of space to open.
Show threadThomas ChengMar 24, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss tell this to all the Bay Area people who wonders what the heck we are doing every time we back in to our spot.
Show threadApplewiseMar 25, 2023
@Cdespinosa
Show threadAnthony AllisonMar 25, 2023

@Cdespinosa @caseyliss we call it "first movement forward" parking, and it is the best way to park in my opinion.

Other benefit, when backing into a space you can see the lines with your side mirrors, so you are better able to center the vehicle in the parking spot.

Show threadAnthony AllisonMar 26, 2023
@Cdespinosa @caseyliss other benefit I remembered as I backed into a space today—most newer cars have backup cameras, so if you are backing in it is easier to see how close you are the barrier, wall, or car in the opposite parking space.