mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Parking can be high drama in big cities like mine, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to have witnessed two parking-related near-beatings in recent weeks, both misguided attempts to answer this enduring riddle: can you save a parking space for a friend by standing in it?
The first time I saw this drama play itself out, I was walking down the street in Culver City, talking on my cell phone, head in the clouds. I was quickly yanked out of my cellular reverie, however, when I heard shouting: “Go ahead, asshole, run me over!” There was a petite-but-feisty woman standing in a parking space, hands on hips, while an old man in a weathered Corolla inched toward her, ever further into the spot. “I’m saving this spot for my boyfriend, so get outta here!” she screamed, pointing behind her for added effect. The man continued to inch forward, bumper almost touching her knees, assuming that she would soon realize the folly of trying to challenge his right to the spot without a car of her own.
Soon enough, however, the boyfriend in question showed up. He was a big guy. He leaned down to the crack in the guy’s driver-side window, and shouted “If you run my girlfriend over, I’ll pull you out of that car and beat the s#!^ out of you!” At this point, I had passed the scene and didn’t want to rubberneck too badly or risk getting pulled into the debate. (Plus, I was still on the phone, vainly trying to describe what was unfolding before my eyes to the person on the other end.) I kept walking. When I looked back again, the situation had somehow resolved itself: amazingly, the couple had left, and the unflappable old man had taken the spot.
I saw a similar fight just a week later, this one between two young women. The one behind the wheel had actually bumper-tapped her space-standing rival in the leg while attempting to force her out, prompting her to wave her cell phone in the air, shouting “This bitch just ran me over! I’m calling the cops!” Somehow, this worked itself out too, and minutes later all was quiet again in Santa Monica.
These things don’t always work out so well in the end, however. Earlier this year in San Francisco, a man trying to hold a spot for a friend was shot dead by some guys in a van who disagreed with his parking etiquette. But so far as I can tell, there’s no law on the books against space standing — at least not in California. (There is in New York, however; you can get a $65 fine for holding a parking spot with anything other than a car.) In most places, though, it seems to be an open question — heck, even Yahoo Answers couldn’t settle the debate — and the price of this legal ambiguity has been a uptick in “parking rage,” and in some unfortunate cases, motorists’ blood.
So what’s the answer? Can you reserve a space by standing in it? Should a parker faced with an enraged space-stander back down?
Comments (27)
Comment
I have seen really funny/sad/scary ways to save parking spaces (mainly in the winter). I have witnessed it in Chicago,IL and Clifton,NJ. The idea is that when you are street parking, you shovel out a space in front of your residence, you place objects in that space (like 2 paint buckets supporting an ironing board)to reserve it. I have seen people come to blows over this but most tomes it is respected.
Would I stand in a parking space to ‘hold’ it for someone? I might try it but if someone challenged me with a move-or-get-run-over tactic I would back down. I value my life more than a parking space! Should you be able to reserve like that? You should be able to try anyway.
posted by JaneM on 9-24-2007 at 9:24 am
No, no, absolutely no. The example above about shoveling a spot may be a valid exception — after all, the spot wouldn’t even exist if you hadn’t worked for it. But otherwise, parking spots are first come, first served. The last time this happened I just acted confused, like I couldn’t understand why this person was standing in a parking space. I was a complete jerk and just refused to “get it” until she stepped away. That actually felt pretty good.
posted by Dan on 9-24-2007 at 9:42 am
NO, absolutely not. I experienced this firsthand many years ago as my mom and I were searching for a parking spot during the crazy day-after-Thanksgiving shopping rush. The situation escalated into one like your second experience - only my mom did not actually hit her and this girl DID call the police. She faked a limp and the officer believed her and arrested my mom.
It is a PARKING spot. Not a standing spot. I’m not allowed to hold my place in the block-long line at the DMV by running my car up on the curb. Similarly, I’m not allowed to hold a place in line by leaving an item on the ground.
posted by Karen on 9-24-2007 at 10:03 am
Absolutely no! The idea is just ridiculous!
posted by Mimi on 9-24-2007 at 10:08 am
That wouldn’t happen to be Wade Street in Culver City, would it? Because, yeah, parking’s a b*tch.
posted by caitlen315 on 9-24-2007 at 10:08 am
Yes, I think you should be able to stand in a parking space to hold it for some one as long as it’s just for a couple of minutes. I’ve done it before, but not on a public street it was in a parking lot, and no I wouldn’t let myself get run over if the other driver was that insistent.
posted by Melinda on 9-24-2007 at 10:12 am
I don’t think you should be able to hold a parking spot by standing in it. Though I do think that you should be able to save a spot if you shovled it clear of snow, as a previous comment mentioned.
In Washington DC, on weekend evenings, certain neighborhoods have interesting parking things going on. Usually, a homeless guy will stand in a parking spot, essentially “reserving” the spot until someone comes along and is willing to pay (usually about $5) for the reservation. That annoys the crap out of me, it means that there’s even less available parking. And there’s no way in hell I’m going to pay someone $5 for a parking spot that would otherwise be free!
posted by Jcb on 9-24-2007 at 10:42 am
I think it is reasonable to save a parking spot for a couple of reasons.
1. You need the spot for a moving truck that is on the way and the spot is near/in front of the build into/out of which you are moving.
2. You’re saving it for an ambulance/hearse.
I live in a neighborhood known for the atrocious parking situation. I solved all my parking problems the best way I new how - I sold my car and bought a bus pass.
posted by Adam on 9-24-2007 at 10:46 am
Has anyone heard of SpotScout?
It is a service where you post in advance that you will be vacating a spot at such-n-such location. Other people pay for that information and show up to claim your parking.
I suppose an enterprising person could walk or ride their bike around and occupying empty spots to sell using this service. The information is auctioned, but you can make $10 or more per transaction.
posted by n2y2 on 9-24-2007 at 11:03 am
People actually do this?
I agree with the majority here, no no no!
posted by natlynn on 9-24-2007 at 11:31 am
I don’t think there’s a valid reason why you couldn’t…say you’re in line for the movie theater with a friend and you have to go to the bathroom; should your friend not be able to hold your spot? Why couldn’t a friend hold a parking spot for you?
posted by erica on 9-24-2007 at 12:57 pm
@erica - I think the difference is that, in your scenario, you have a body holding a place for another body. Your friend couldn’t hold your place in line in the movie theater by parking her car there.
posted by caitlen315 on 9-24-2007 at 1:06 pm
I also have to say no on this. Besides, if you’re standing in a spot and I’m in a CAR? I win. Running you over isn’t even going to scratch the paint on my car, so move it already.
posted by Rachel on 9-24-2007 at 1:51 pm
Streets are for cars. If you’re standing in the street, and fail to move for a car that’s approaching at 2 MPH, you’re jaywalking.
Pull in, half in the space, half in the street. Obviously, nobody else is going to be able to park there. Then call the cops, and report that there’s an apparently-demented person in the street. Ask if they can take the person to a hospital for a 72-hour mental evaluation.
posted by Paul Ding on 9-24-2007 at 1:56 pm
I will say no, you should not be allowed to stand in a parking spot. No wonder why there is so much road rage.
posted by gina on 9-24-2007 at 1:58 pm
In undergrad i aquired an orange cone and used that to hold my spot on campus,people though construction work was being done, otherwise i would have to park about 2 miles from where i wanted to go, it worked for about 8 months until some one stole my cone,
posted by Lindsey on 9-24-2007 at 2:31 pm
You made my comment when you mentioned NY. One local city had people who would block the spaces in front their houses. It was ruled people do not own the road in front of their houses, there by ending a long standing tradition.
posted by gus on 9-24-2007 at 3:24 pm
I’m amazing at how strongly people feel about this! I’ve never even considered that it wasn’t acceptable to hold a parking spot - after all I can’t think of a scenario in which it would be for more than a minute, because how would you have gotten there if you didn’t come from the car that’s going to park there (but had to make a u-turn, or something)? Mind you I’ve never actually done it, but wow, I’ll make sure not to so I don’t get royally bitched at!
posted by Sara on 9-24-2007 at 3:38 pm
Holy cow! This just happened to me the other day! I had never considered it before and when I backed out of a parking space that I realized had “No Parking - Tow Zone” painted very faintly on the wall in front of me, I turned around to get into a space that I eyed in my rearview mirror. By the time I had turned around, there was a guy standing in the space. I pulled up and he crossed his arms and shook his head. He then motioned to the person in the car just behind me that had also turned into the parking lot I was in. I couldn’t believe it. I inched forward and we had a little stand off for awhile. I had to back up some to line up for the space and he walked up to my bumper and stood right at it. I was in my husband’s big a-s 4×4 truck, but I’m a pretty small woman, so I guess he was trying to intimidate me. Which he did. I parked right there, with him in front of me.
His friend ended up in the legal spot. I could’ve gotten a ticket, but I was just getting take out. I was furious! I really wanted to knock him over (for a second) then I decided it wasn’t worth the assault charge. I left them a note when I left. It said “That was bad karma - Shanah Tova.” (happy new year)
posted by austin mama on 9-24-2007 at 4:04 pm
hmmm… Seems there is a niche for an interprising person to make light weight cardboard car cut-outs.
posted by Rob on 9-24-2007 at 6:58 pm
I would be afraid to leave my car in a spot that someone wanted to claim as their own. If they seek revenge, you might come back to find scratched paint or broken glass or firefighters hosing down the smoldering wreckage.(o.k. maybe not that last thing)
posted by Tdave on 9-25-2007 at 12:59 am
Last Saturday was Car Free Day - not sure if any other cities celebrated it, but here in Toronto there were a bunch of people who paid for parking spaces on Queen St., then occupied them, with the express intent of making sure NOBODY could park there. The activities performed by people in the spaces ranged from mime, to dance, to free haircuts! I’d say that’s a much better use for public space.
posted by Tim on 9-25-2007 at 6:07 am
I had a friend who had recently had knee surgery, but did not have a handicapped parking permit. She was driving, and we spotted a spot a row or two over that was really close to the entrance of the movie theater we were going to. (we had been looking for quite some time for a parking spot) She couldn’t walk very far, so I jumped out and stood in the spot while she drove up to it, to save her the trouble of walking from a really far away spot. I stood close to the entrance to the spot so that other drivers could see me. A driver came up about a minute after I was standing there, and I explained the scenario, but they were really angry and wouldn’t go away. My friend pulled up very soon after thus causing a stand-off situation between 2 cars and a person! The people in the first car didn’t believe me that my friend had just had knee surgery, and they ceded the spot once she showed them her crutches! (she was driving an automatic and it was her left knee that had the injury)I think in those kind of cases, spot saving should be allowed, but I am aware of the fact that people would abuse it.
posted by greenstrawberries on 9-27-2007 at 11:45 pm
On a completely unrelated topic, what is that picture in the middle of the post of? (Between the cars and the map.)
posted by Off Topic on 10-16-2007 at 8:59 am
Okay, I’ll agree with holding a spot for a couple reasons (injured or a moving truck) but otherwise, absolutely no saving spots!
Even if you were standing in the spot and wouldn’t move, I would park the car in front of the parking space and walk away so your friend could not get in.
And for the people who shovel the streets for a parking space and/or block it with paint cans, cones, etc: Thanks for shoveling the road and littering. Your actions do not entitle you to the spot. It is PUBLIC PROPERTY, not your personal parking spot; Presuming that it is yours b/c you put 2 minutes worth of effort into it is ridiculous. The rule is “first come, first served”, not “first come, first REserved”. Unfortunately, you are probably successful most of the time because most people are too lazy to get out of their cars to move those objects.
Don’t get me wrong, I sympathize with people who live in areas or cities with terrible parking. But hey, that is a consequence of the lifestyle choice you have made.
posted by It's good to be the King on 11-8-2007 at 11:47 am
In sao paulo, brasil, I often saw people standing in parking spots and then selling them. They often got injured when run into.
posted by Gavin on 11-9-2007 at 9:21 am
…. There is no law against it, plus it just recently happened again to me. Yes I saved a spot, who cares?… only the one trying to park there. What was funny though is it was a young girl, she started spouting off cuss-words like she was taught them when she was one. She even left a note on my windshield saying it was a public parking lot. I just laughed and wrote a note of her level intellect (profane-note) on the same sheet of paper and left it on her windshield. Took off and there it remains. One must also consider the terms of the account. It may be viewed as hateful or aggressive, but the intent was well given. She may not like what I wrote back to her and may try to file charges. Then again, she never had the rights to yell at me like that and the charges for harassment such as she said can be brought against her in the court of law.
posted by BeenThereDoneThat on 6-6-2008 at 2:33 pm