Fancy Parking
fancyparking.com
fancyparking.com
Rather than simply creating a website in photoshop then splicing it into multiple images with zero regards for accessibility, SEO, performance, or usability, sane web developers take their time to convert textual content to text. It's a way of saying to the world, "I'm not going to rush things, I'm going to support users with accessibility needs and actually make this site indexable".
It's all in a day's work for a web developer.
[Learn more](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML)
Least this one.
It's legendary as it is.
Ironically, this website loads significantly faster than most modern websites, even under HN-induced load.
> I'm going to support users with accessibility needs
I'm not sure visually-impaired individuals are the intended beneficiaries of this site...
I’m know you’re making a joke but I want to point out that only a small percentage of blind people have 0% vision and it’s important that we address accessibility on our sites for multiple types of users.
Because your front wheels rotate, not the back wheels, it's much easier to get into proper position when parking backwards especially when you're between 2 other cars and the space is small.
The rear wheels pivot!!
This is also why the quality of the rear tires is far more important - the fulcrum, or pivot, sees the most stress!
On top of the Honda Prelude, there's also the Porsche 911 GT3, the BMW 7 Series, Audi Q7, Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32, R33, R34 had HICAS), Renault Laguna (only in some European markets), Acura RLX (P-AWS), Lexus GS and LS, Infiniti Q50 and Q60, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado, and then to round out the list, the Lamborghini Aventador and the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
All of those feature rear wheels that pivot.
So, in a busy parking lot (classically a grocery store lot on Saturday) fancy parkers make others wait on them while they park. Normal parkers have to wait on others when they leave.
Reverse parking is the only parking method taught in the UK (and thus the only one you're tested on).
The reason you should use this (unless the car park is setup for forward parking bays) is that it's far, far safer.
Forward parking means you need to exit by reversing, functionally blindly, into traffic or children walking across the rear of your car.
Reverse parking means, when you exit, you can see cars wanting to be past, or children now walking across the front of your car.
And no, you're not "trading" safety by reverse parking because, when you park, any obstacles would be directly behind you, as opposed to at an angle.
Easier? Do you have some kind of system/algorithm that you use, because I find backing in harder than driving in.
Reverse in full lock.
Use your wing mirrors to get the side of your car parallel to the white lines.
Adjust as you go.
Practice makes perfect.
I reverse park 99pct of the time. I think it's safer to be able to see where you are going when getting out of a space, so you can more easily see other cars, children etc.
I think it also makes more sense with the steering mechanics, and I find it easier than going in nose first.
That I have more visibility is just a bonus, but not the main reason.
But yea, definitely easier to squeeze into tighter spots going backwards, and not that much harder after you've done it a few times.
I've parked in numerous UK army bases over the years (as a civilian) and have never been aware of this. There might be something specific for soldiers whose specific trade is driving but not in general car parks. Some younger soldiers join up without a license and pass a normal civilian driving test as part of their career progression (taught by civilian driving instructors IIRC).
Cameras are a mixed blessing. On the one hand these people are getting a better view, on the other even more people have gotten lazy.
It's a habit you quickly forget. You're just walking away waiting for the beep. No beep, you have to press the fob.
I do also hate when dealers advertise the backup camera as a security feature. It's mandatory, you don't advertise seatbelts or airbags (unless there are 37 like in a modern Mercedes).
Their argument for it was basically the same as the Army’s — with so many people working for them it became significant enough where it prevented a tangible number of people getting injured.
The other argument was that if you were getting attacked / mugged you could get away faster!
If there's a narrow parking space with a narrow aisle in front of it then forward-parking is basically impossible so you have to reverse-park, so it's a skill worth having.
My hypotheses: The ability to check license plates on out of state cars where they're not required to have a front plate? Who knows.
[0] https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/volo/1/19426/676178/1920x14...
Even with the law, plenty of enthusiasts here don’t run a front plate except while getting the annual safety inspection done.
If they only require one, why would they pay the expense for providing two? Especially as "two different cars driving around with the same license plate" is one of the things you have plates to prevent. If it were only about taxes, you'd have a prominent tax sticker and be done with it.
Finally! Another person who has this same rule!
Another one: "If there is a column (ie you're in a parking garage) park as close to it as possible. The dead space behind the column gives you plenty of space to use the door and it frees up space on the other side"
Anyway, I didn't know my method of parking in narrow spaces is considered "fancy".
The parking spots in front of my apartment are three slabs of concrete, with a total width of 10.5m (34.5ft).
There's grass on both sides, so if everyone cooperates, you can fit five cars fully on the concrete - usually with one from somewhere in the middle parked in the "fancy" position so as to take advantage of the fact that two drivers share the same gap to enter.
You need to roll out of there to seat a child though.
The other way is Superman parking because Superman is all about getting there quickly.
Since back then that has become my standard way of parking. It's also easier to park "back first" in constrained parking situations.
Not that I park in garages much but every once in a great while, I find myself in a situation when I just pull in forward where I'm not literally parked in but do have to inch the car out with very little clearance and a whole lot of back and forth turning.