Yes, I can parallel park my Rendezvous. And I used to drive a handicap bus, and I could parallel park that too. When I was a teen, my dad made me practice backing up and parallel parking before I was allowed to drive forward. Once I mastered those skills, he let me take the car.

I can parallel park. I learned when I was 15 years old by practicing with my parents standard shift car on our gravel driveway, in the summer without air conditioning in the car! Talk about sweating! But I got the hang of it pretty fast.

I love it when the street is empty and I can just pull right in without having to backup, etc.

I learned to parallel park when I was 16, in order to pass my road test. I have NEVER parallel parked since then. I always park in a regular lot, in a spot I can "pull-through" and drive straight out of. If that's not available, I park with at least one empty space on each side. I will walk for blocks to avoid street parking.

I enjoy parallel parking. The challenge is to do it in one swoop, ending up with your wheels turned at the same angle you'll need to pull out later. I don't often achieve that, but I'm a good parallel parker. And I can do it on both sides of the road.

Maybe this should have been my answer to Sandy's question for today. :-)

I'm like Jannie.....passed my drivers test, and that was the end of parallel parking, unless I have a couple of cars space!!

When I lived in my hometown, I never had to so I was awful. I bombed parallel parking on my driver's test too. I got very good at it really fast after I moved to Seattle. It's the only kind of parking there is, and often people are waiting behind you to pass you when you are done parking, so there is the pressure to hurry up too. I had alot of moments of panic at first, LOL, but I am pretty good now.

Yes I can parallel park and I drive a minivan. If there are no cars on the street I just pull in front on, why wouldn't you? LOL

Yes, I can parallel park. After living for 14+ years where there was only angle parking, I took a deep breath & decided to see if I 'still could' soon after moving. Had a '69 station wagon (box on wheels) at the time. I was so proud of myself when I managed that in one try! It's easier with an automatic, but I can still parallel my standard if I have to....tho as I've gotten (uh,humm) older, I prefer the angle parking :-0

Jannie, my mom would walk extra blocks, too, to keep from parallel parking, and she could drive just about anything!

Ohh yes! i grew up in chicago and drove cadillacs so i had no choice but to learn to park well in huge cars lol. since i've been in orlando (10+yrs) and rarely ever parallel i'm not as confidant and fast at it, not to mention i drive a grand cherokee- much smaller vehicle. when i'm back in chicago i try to avoid tight spots because i have an escalade there and it's toooo big for the city spaces :-/ ~ liz

I can....but I can't remember the last time I had to park on a public street. Has to have been years ago.

I don't drive anymore, but I could parallel park very well for years. An early boyfriend talked me through it when I was driving and he sitting beside me. I found, as I got older, it became very difficult to turn my head to do it.

Bigfoot_Liz said:

Ohh yes! i grew up in chicago and drove cadillacs so i had no choice but to learn to park well in huge cars lol.

That must be the secret, 'cause I grew up in NYC and drove Cadillacs! :-)

My high school driver's ed teacher taught us a fool-proof formula for getting it right first time, everytime. My father was so impressed with the method I was taught, that he had me teach all my siblings to park when it was their turn to learn (I wasn't even still living home when my little brother was learning to drive, but dad sent him up to me on his bike--LOL).

Not only did have I been successfully parallel parking for the past 40 years, but I drive a big FJ Cruiser and to get it into my parking place in our driveway, I have to virtually parallel park ON THE LEFT. There's no room for error--the spot is only about 4 feet longer than my car, and surrounded by fence on 2 sides, with the garage behind it.

I used to be able to do a really good job when I had a compact car. I now have a 5 passenger mid-size car & it's a lot harder because the car is longer & a lot wider. Fortunately, I rarely have to do it since I either park in a lot or in my garage. :-)

What's interesting is that young people ranging in ages from 16 to mid 20's that I have talked with, do not know how to parallel park or are quite intimidated by it. When I obtained my drivers license 35+ years ago, it was mandatory to be taught how to parallel park by a driver's training instructor. Parallel parking was tested for on the behind the wheel test when obtaining a driver's license.

Not sure when the laws changed, but niether one of my boys who are in their mid 20's were required to know how to parallel park to obtain a license. Because of that, their driver's training instuctor did not and would not teach it, so my hubby and I ended up doing so.

By the way, I've been lurking for sometime and thoroughly enjoy reading KT, it's a lovely way to start the day.

matti

I can parellel park really good and I am even good at parking a truck better than a car! But, if you asked me about backing into a parking space,
forget it! I am always crooked unless I have a certian mark across to the street to line up with. I have to back into my space at my house and I use a
line on the curb across the street. Sometimes even then I am crooked. But, if I did not back in I may having troubles backing out when I go to leave the house.
CRAZY!!!
Deb

azzalea, it would be interesting if you could give us the tips your driver's ed teacher gave you to pass on to my grandchildren, if this is something you can do "verbally."

I can parallel park. Where I live its a daily part of life. If you can't you are up the creek w/o a paddle.

I recall learning to drive at Sears (yes, the store had it's own driving school!) To parallel park, I think I had to back up and turn the wheel to aim for the far corner of the spot I was backing into. Then, when the front seat of my car was about in line with the rear bumper of the front parked car, that is when I would turn the wheel one revolution the other way, and that would be enough to ease me into the spot.

I'm sure they have directions posted on the internet!

Trip down memory lane this thread!!!!

Yes, I can. I drive a large pick up now and just parallel parked it on Saturday, but over the years I have had many large cars...big buicks, a cadillac and a couple of olds 98s, plus others.

The trick is you pull up alongside the car that will be in front, and start backing and cut your wheels in until you are halfway in, and then pull forward as you straighten up to get the front half in.

Yes and I was taught by the method Marilyn describes. I'm amazed at how easy it is to get a drivers license today. We had to know so much more back in the day.

II was taught like Marilyn. Must be a Texas Teaching Method.

When I was a Coordinator for Handicapped Program I had to Parellel park at the State Office for appointments. I had a huge Station Wagon and it was always a tight squeeze.And that was for Handicapped Parking! LOL!

Some day I'll tell you a story on Main Man about Parellel Parking. To late now, I'm going out.

Gayle

I can parallel park. I started "practice" driving when I was 10 or 11. We had a long drive way. My Dad would let me back his car all the way to the end and drive it back to the house. Then he'd set up obstacles so I could learn to parallel park. By the time I was 15 and took drivers training in school it was a snap. I forgot to mention that I was stopped while driving by a State Trooper when I was 12. My Dad had taken me way out in the country on an old oil lease road to practice my driving and out of no where here was the Trooper. He asked me for my DL, which of course he knew I didn't have. He suggested that my Dad and I change seats and that I not drive on public property again until I was a licensed driver. LOL

It's been 40 years, and to tell the truth, I pretty much parallel park on 'auto pilot', but if I remember the formula correctly.

Pull up even with the car in front of the space you're planning on parking in. Back up STRAIGHT until you can see the back end of their car in the back corner of your back side window. THEN start cutting your wheels hard until you're at a 45 degree angle from the curb. Straighten the wheel until your back, curbside wheel is the right distance from the curb, cut your wheels to pull the front of the car in to the curb. Once you get that down, it won't take 4-5-6 backward and forward motions to get the car in the space.

I can, but don't have to often around here. I too had to parallel park to get my license in the dark ages.

I am good at parallel parking. Just like roller skating or riding a bike, it comes right back to me.

I was taught (by Herbie J. my driver's ed teacher) to pull up even with the car in front of the spot you want to park in. Put it in reverse, back up, slowly turning your wheel to the right. When you can see the driver's side headlight in your side mirror, you start turning the opposite way.

I impressed DH big time when we went to California in our Denali. He couldn't parallel park and I said, "here, let me show you how it's done." He gave me that "yeah right" laugh. He was eating crow when I slid right in that spot. And did it several more times.

My friend Marci is the best driver I know. She can parallel park on a one-way street, on the left side of the street! I know 'cause I was with her when she did it!

When I went for my driver's license, the parallel parking had to be done between railroad ties laid out as the front and back of the space to park in. The police officer watched as I parallel parked then got in the car beside me for the road test. That meant I had done well with the parking. Whew! What a relief. Then the officer said, "Drive straight ahead." So I did. Straight through a Stop sign!

I had to go back another day and try again. That time I honored that Stop sign and got my license. Don't think I've parallel parked since than.

Sue

Of course I can. A person who can't parallel park (or back a vehicle out of a parking space, for that matter) should not be driving at all, IMO.

I can, but there is very little need to around here. In front of the library or in front of the shops are about the only 2 places I would need to. Since I have an SUV, I need a slightly bigger spot than is available sometimes.

Once in FL I got wedged in between 2 large vehicles, I swear I had to do a 200 point wiggle to get out of it, I was so mad. No power steering in that car, man, I was exhausted and livid!

This doesn't really have to do with parallel parking, but it came up in conversation recently since my Dad is working with my DD on her parallel parking skills.

Anyway, my Dad was waiting on a bench for me at a service station. He observed a woman pull up to the gas tank, apparently too far. The attendant asked her to back up a little bit - and I kid you not, she replied she doesn't know how. Now THERE is someone who should not have a license.

I don't think I have parallel parked more than a couple of times since I passed my test either.

I just got my license about 3 1/2 years ago and I had to parallel park in order to pass my drivers test. I failed the first time but passed the second time. I am not good at it and that is the only time I have had parallel parked since. I might be able to do it now because I am not so nervous when I am driving, but I am always afraid I will hit either the car in front or back of me.
Kittywhiskers

Yes. My uncle taught me when I was 15, using the method described by azzalea. Anyone could park my current car because the passenger side mirror tilts down to view the curb when you shift to reverse.

I can, but I don't remember how I learned. Probably from my father, who was a drill sargeant when it came to teaching me to drive (hill starts, back up around a corner, had to take my test on a standard transmission, etc.). I lived in Boston for 14 years and parallel parking was a necessity. I can park my SUV easily.

I live in NYC, and we park our car on the street (no parking space or garage, which is true for most drivers in NYC).

You better believe i can parallel park!

And even if there is no one else there (which happens at odd times and places), or only one car there, I would adjust my "position" a couple of times. To be sure I'm nice and tight to the curb, and straight, and to get optimal spacing compared w/ the probable (or actual) positions of the other cars, so we can all fit as many cars on the block as possible.

Around here, one of the required movements is parallel parking ... if you don't do it reasonably well, the examiner won't pass you.

Hi maura,

Can't you just visualize the lady in question (or was it a man?) putting the gearshift in neutral and pushing the car back?

When you're driving a vehicle in which the reverse gear doesn't work ...

... you drive planning about a half a mile ahead ... and think carefully before entering certain spaces (especially if driving a long-wheelbased vehicle).

Or be prepared to push the car back to where you can drive it forward. It helps on such an occasion if you have a passenger to help with the pushing (two or more passengers and you just sit inside to ensure that the steering - and braking - is done correctly ... and in time).

ole joyful

had a fantastic teacher when i was the ripe old age of 16 and never forget his fairly easy instructions. it's a matter of lining up your car, backing in till the sidewalk curb is in the middle of your back bumper (in the rear view mirror) he also taught me to leave the car once you were in the spot without turning the wheels. makes for an easy getting out of the spot...

now how often have i used this recently? NADA! lol....

okay, not being snarky here but....how do you get a driver's license and not be able to paralell park? I'd suggest practicing it on a day that you aren't rushed and the traffic is calm.
Good luck!

Yes, I can! However, I don't know when I last had to.

I learned from a diagram in a woman's magazine... Ladies Home Journal or McCalls, many years ago. It is the same method Azzalea describes.

I must say, anytime I have to park in a tight spot, or even in a not-so-tight spot, a kind man will magically appear to wave his arms about and misguide me into the space.

No, I cannot in more than 40 years of driving!!! Passed my exam with only that as a failure.

If I'm brave enough to drive into NYC, I pay (dearly) to park my car in a garage or take a limo in....seriously!

I'm pretty good at it. There's one place that I frequent regularly for lunch, and you have to parallel park, and it's on a busy street.