The challenges of parallel parking

Parallel parking is tricky, and like anything, the more you do it, the better you get at it. I see people in London parallel parking in spaces I wouldn't even consider parking in, they're so small! But they do it in one hit every time, because they have to do it every day. I have little need to park in that way, so rarely do, and when I do it always takes me a few attempts.

Of course, one could always practice..

Edited by Blacksword - February 04 2010 at 07:26

Oh well - I'm by no means a perfect parallel parker myself. Still, I find it fun to watch those who are oblivious to even the most basic skills of it - and amazed that they ever managed to get a driver's license in the first place.

I find it just as rewarding to watch and read about male stupidity though - the Darwin awards have long been a site that gives me many hearty laughs.

As far as sexism goes, this is an example of the kind I find horrific, and which should be considered a true criminal offence all around the world. This specific incident is gross, but it is a horrific example of what is arguably the most sexist traditions yet existing on this planet.

Slartibartfast wrote: I can't parallel park for crap.

Yeah, it's always the big joke about driving but really I have no problems with it

I never had any problems with parking, i even won a manoeuverabilty contest once

Henry Plainview wrote: It's pretty embarassing, but I never learned to parallel park at all. For three months when I was working at a restaurant, every shift I would park by a 7/11 that was supposed to only be two hour parking because I was incapable of parallel parking on the street. I never got a ticket, though! Windhawk wrote: Some people, more often than not women That was a stupid, sexist thing to say, and I'd tell you where to put your head, but I'm afraid that would fall under the personal attacks rule...

I have to admit it is true though. And since I am a woman I can say it without being sexist. The average woman has less skills of spatial orientation than the average man; all those jokes about us using maps or parking have a basis in reality.  On the other hand women are much better at multi-tasking than men. It probably goes back to the days of hunting and collecting. The males needed to be good at spatial orientation when they were out hunting and collecting.  The women had to be multi-tasking in the caves or wherever they dwelled (looking after the kids while grinding flour and baking bread, for example.
That does of course not mean that ALL  women are bad at spatial orientation, there are even women who are outstanding at it. I am talking of averages here.
While I perfectly find my way around a map I definitely have problems with parallel parking. That woman in the car could have been me; only I don't wear blonde wigs.

I've not really encountered any problems with women being unable to parallel park, but almost every woman I know seems to have no overall sense of direction. A female friend of mine drove me to a neighbouring town the other week, less than 4 miles away, and via a very direct route. She needed her SatNav to get her back home!! If she was new to the area, I'd understand, but she'd lived there for 30 years!

Driving in general is not something I want to be a multitasking activity, regardless of how able anyone thinks they are, guiding a 1½-tonne metal projectile at 70 miles an hour in the presence of many other projectiles of similar mass and velocity is not something that should be accompanied by anyother task, however trivial. SatNav is a god-send, now people can concentrate on the road in front of them rather than craning their necks looking for street signs - all of the acidents I've been involved in were caused because the other driver "didn't see me" - how the hell can anyone miss a 14 foot long bright red car? (well, obviously they didn't miss it at all, they managed to hit it quite accurately inspite of not seeing it ). And as any parking shows, it's not just at speed or the inability to parallel park either - both our cars show the signs of dents and scrapes from people who can't serial park.

Moogtron III wrote: Raff wrote: BaldFriede wrote: Henry Plainview wrote: It's pretty embarassing, but I never learned to parallel park at all. For three months when I was working at a restaurant, every shift I would park by a 7/11 that was supposed to only be two hour parking because I was incapable of parallel parking on the street. I never got a ticket, though! Windhawk wrote: Some people, more often than not women That was a stupid, sexist thing to say, and I'd tell you where to put your head, but I'm afraid that would fall under the personal attacks rule... I have to admit it is true though. And since I am a woman I can say it without being sexist. The average woman has less skills of spatial orientation than the average man; all those jokes about us using maps or parking have a basis in reality.  On the other hand women are much better at multi-tasking than men. It probably goes back to the days of hunting and collecting. The males needed to be good at spatial orientation when they were out hunting and collecting.  The women had to be multi-tasking in the caves or wherever they dwelled (looking after the kids while grinding flour and baking bread, for example. That does of course not mean that ALL  women are bad at spatial orientation, there are even women who are outstanding at it. I am talking of averages here. While I perfectly find my way around a map I definitely have problems with parallel parking. That woman in the car could have been me; only I don't wear blonde wigs. Count me in as one of those women who have no problems whatsoever with finding their way around a map. I remember that once I was told by one of my colleagues at work that it was quite unusual for a woman, which may very well be true. On the other hand, now that I'm married I've noticed that the multitasking thing is also quite true. I can do two or three things at the same time, while Micky concentrates so hard on what he is doing  that sometimes he doesn't even hear what I say. Looks like my marriage. Practical multi task woman meets dreamy cave man, and they fall in love. I do try to concentrate on the words of my wife which I'm sure are important if I could hear them, but once a train of thought comes by, I catch that train and forget the world around me. Now, parallel parking is another story.

yes...  that has been an adjustment for Raff...  I'm especially bad when I drive keeping on topic.  I'm sure that Raff has noticed that when I drive she might as well be talking to brick wall.  The people here can not drive and love nothing more than cutting you off or hitting the breaks for no reason other to f**k with the people behind them.  I am simply not a mult-tasker.  I tend to be a dreamy, flighty type normally and overcompensate when I have something I need to concentrate on and completely focus on what I am doing to the point where I won't even chew gum while walking

I could see that.... it is hard with Raff though and probably why I am forced to toss the gum out when walking.  Talking with her is quite the experience.  She has a mind that never stops turning, I thought I was deep, but I've nothing on Raff and it is such a joy to talk with her and hear her thoughts on life, politics, and especially her thoughts on life here from an European perspective.  If I didn't concentrate so hard behind the wheel I'd be just like those f**kers that try to drive all while yelling at the kids, tuning the radio, and bitching at their spouse on the cellphones.