Ready for Back-In Parking Downtown?

This digitally altered picture shows how the 100 block of North West Broad Street would look with back-in angle parking.

As of Monday, August 15, 2011

Drivers in downtown Southern Pines will soon park differently on portions of Broad Street.

The town is unveiling back-in angle parking, which has existed for decades but is only beginning to sweep the nation.

“It’s going to be really exciting to be one of the very first communities in North Carolina to have back-in angle parking,” says Robert Reeve, director of the town’s recreation and parks department.

Reader poll

What do you think of Southern Pines idea for back-in angle parking?

I like it 18%
I don't like it 60%
I will wait and see 14%
My spouse can't park a car as it is! 8%

628 total votes.

The demonstration project of back-in angle parking will be conducted on the west side of Broad Street from New Hampshire Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue and on the east side from Pennsylvania Avenue to Connecticut Avenue.

Those five blocks were selected because they get enough turnover “to truly test public opinion and adaptability,” but they are not so busy “that back-ups cause a furor,” according to criteria listed in the Bicycle Transportation Plan adopted last October by the Southern Pines Town Council.

Not coincidentally, the $13,000 project will be piggybacked on existing N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) plans to repave Broad Street by November.

“We can save money working with DOT,” Reeve says. “Right after they’ve resurfaced everything, we’ll work with the subcontractor on all the stripings and other markings on the pavement. It fits right in with what we’re doing as we begin phase I of implementing the bike plan.”

Back-in angle parking is currently being used in North Carolina on several streets in Charlotte and is about to be implemented in parts of Cary. Its sporadic use around the country is concentrated on the West Coast.

“This isn’t a decision that was made just yesterday,” Reeve says. “Back-in angle parking has been discussed for more than a year and was included in the bike plan, which was also approved by DOT.”

Reeve has begun an outreach program to educate the public about the upcoming changes, and he chose the Southern Pines Business Association (SPBA) for his first stop. Downtown merchants have a large stake in the outcome because the five demonstration blocks are in the heart of the central business district.

“All of the downtown merchants want the project done before the holiday shopping season begins. None of them want it to interfere with the season, which accounts for a large portion of their annual revenue,” SPBA President Lee Riggsbee says. “If it’s going to happen, the sooner the better. The good news is we’re not losing any parking spaces.”

Riggsbee and Reeve expect an “adjustment” period once the changes are implemented.

“There’s going to be a learning curve for everyone to figure it out,” Riggsbee says. “It will just take some time.”

The new parking spaces will jut out at an angle from the curb but will face away from oncoming motorists instead of toward them. Similar to parallel parking, drivers will signal, pass their spot and back into it instead of entering front first.

“It will take some adjustment,” Riggsbee says. “It’s just a change, so I guess everybody will get used to it.”

In some cities across the country, drivers have had trouble adjusting. But the opposite happened in Tucson, Ariz., where the college town went from an average of three to four bicycle/car crashes per month before back-in angle parking to none in the first four years after implementation.

Although Reeve has no way to predict the impact here, he hopes that his presentations and the resulting word-of-mouth will ease the transition.

“We’re trying to do everything we can to educate folks about the upcoming changes in downtown Southern Pines,” he says. “We’re trying to communicate with as many people as we can. We started with the SPBA, and we’re hoping that we get 100 percent coverage.”

Proponents of back-in angle parking tout the following benefits:

n Improved visibility and improved field of vision. Drivers are able to see oncoming traffic when leaving their parking spot.

n Decreased number of collisions. Drivers no longer have to blindly back out of their parking spot.

n Improved safety for bicyclists. Drivers are able to see bicyclists in the roadway while exiting a parking space.

n Improved loading and unloading. Trunks back up to the sidewalk instead of the street.

n Improved handicapped parking. Spaces can be placed adjacent to curb ramps.

“It does seem like it’s the new wave of making a community safe for its residents, whether they’re shoppers, bicyclists, pedestrians or motorists,” Reeve says.

Potential drawbacks include vehicles overhanging the sidewalk, vehicles backing into street furniture, vehicle exhaust over sidewalks, vehicles entering the spaces head-in and potential congestion as drivers adjust.

The transition will be aided with signs and other markings to clarify the appropriate use of back-in angle parking spaces. Initially, “seed” cars could also be parked in a few spaces to illustrate the correct way to park.

“People will figure it out,” Riggsbee says.

Meanwhile, the town is recruiting residents to serve on its newly approved seven-member Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Members will be appointed by the town council.

“I’m trying to get as many people as possible to apply,” Reeve says. “We’ve already had quite a few, but the more the merrier.”

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at tnatt@thepilot.com.

More like this story

rightwingpatriot 1 year, 9 months ago

its about dang time

ClareBearNo1 1 year, 9 months ago

May I just point out a few things?

"Improved loading and unloading. Trunks back up to the sidewalk instead of the street." According to your picture, the back-in parking appears to be on the side of the street OPPOSITE the sidewalks. Looks like it will be more difficult to get to your trunk.

"Potential drawbacks include vehicles overhanging the sidewalk, vehicles backing into street furniture, vehicle exhaust over sidewalks . . ." Again, according to your picture, the back-in parking appears to be on the side of the street OPPOSITE the sidewalks so these are moot points.

theonewithsense 1 year, 9 months ago

Details, details.....they got rid of the picture for you

Toda 1 year, 9 months ago

This might be interesting when those little old ladies attempt to "back-in" without rubbing and exchanging paint on exposed fenders and bumpers. Then take off without a hint of remorse....

CNMT 1 year, 9 months ago

Was thinking the same thing....some people can't pull into a parking space correctly so I can't even imagine them trying to back into a parking space. And I have seen some people backing out of their parking space - it isn't always a pretty sight. While this method does have several advantages, this should be an interesting adventure!

Toda 1 year, 9 months ago

CNMT ~ SP police might need to hire a couple more traffic officers just to stand in front of the post office to write tickets...Check out the link provided by DaveyNC. More of a reality check than mindless reasoning proposing back-in-parking.

Bflat 1 year, 9 months ago

The trouble with the existing angled parking is when a huge SUV is parked beside and one has to just back out practically an inch at a time due to being unable to see oncoming traffic. The same is probably going to be true with the pull forward. Ummm, help me out as I have not had time to really study the back in configurations. Will the existing pull in be changed to back in by changing the angle direction?

DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago

Expect lots of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wT7zM...

Toda 1 year, 9 months ago

Notice not one Silver Hair amongst the drivers? Also, not a male in the bunch except the "gentleman" who parked the young lady's skateboard with wheels. My goodness, how did she obtain a drivers license? Thanks for the link...funny....

Bflat 1 year, 9 months ago

Now that vid was funny Davey. I can't figure out why some people have trouble backing up their cars. That's not all. Why do some drivers pull up so far away from the bank drive ups and have to open the door to reach the deposit canister?.

driveshaft 1 year, 9 months ago

Have the higher ups in So. Pines lost their minds ??? Half the people here can't even parallel park !!!!! Can you imagine the confusion and destruction in front of the post office. I remember years ago we use to have 2 lanes of traffic on Broad St. in both directions, what happened to that ? Now back to the post office. Back in the 60's when I was growing up, the post office had the same 3 windows it has now ! If they would build a new post office, we get faster service and less congestion

boomer 1 year, 9 months ago

What if you're right behind the person intending to park & even tho' they flash their turn signal you're too close & it's too late to stop because you've already at the parking spot & there's cars behind you, does everybody then have to stop & back up so you can proceed to back in?What a mess that would be!

Zippy 1 year, 9 months ago

This strikes me as maybe going from bad to worse and parallel parking would probably work as good as anything else. Now for something that many readers will think is obnoxious and frankly so do I but I'm going to suggest it anyway, is there another choice? First of all I'm not sure that the off street parking near the library is utilized enough, I don't know? There seems to be inadequate off-street parking down town in any case. So here goes, I know its awful but why not make a parking lot in back of the park, I agree its a horrible idea but what is the town going to do with that space anyway? I haven't heard anything and it will probably take years of dithering about it anyway so why not cut to the chase and make it a parking lot and ban on street parking say, between Penn. and Conn. avenues for some breathing room maybe we extend the sidewalk a little wider then so we could have some room for outdoor dining and maybe some islands with plantings and benches. Just a thought.

pacer 1 year, 9 months ago

MIght be as entertaining as the seniors in Pinehurst trying to negotiate the traffic circle.

emb6683 1 year, 9 months ago

What's the point of changing? The report says there will be no increase in the number of parking spaces, so all that is being done is adding to the confusion that visitors to the downtown have. Now in addition to "yield to the left" they have to learn back-in parking.

It seems that the only group that will benefit from this is bike riders.

I also don't understand hoew doing this will change the behavior of 80% of the drivers in this area. The article states "drivers will signal, pass their spot and back into it instead of entering front first." So drivers are going to start to signal now? If that happens, it will all be worth it, since most don't signal now.

The stupid comment that it allows easier loading and unloading since trunks back up to the sidewalk has already been highlighted. Obviously, whoever put that in the article has never driven on Broad St.

debsalomon 1 year, 9 months ago

I still haven't acclimated to Yield to the Left, especially when I'm the one on the left. I'll bet 100 percent of visitors and 50 percent of residents slow down anyway when crossing the tracks just because they are entering an intersection. I think each one of those intersections should have stop signs on Broad and cross streets. Couldn't hurt....

debsalomon 1 year, 9 months ago

Nothing's perfect...but for people like me who moved from a northeastern metropolis where downtown on-street parking is scarce and harrowing (climb over snowbank, find meter pay-station, hunt for credit card, pay a bundle, hope for the best) and parking lots charge scalpers' prices the parking here looks great. It's plentiful and FREE. You might have to walk a block or two, but the walk is pleasant and the streets, safe. Big SUVs do pose a danger when pulling out of an angled space. Perhaps drivers who have a problem with back-in spaces should confine their parking to parallel spaces on side streets, or on FREE city lots.

FightFireWithFire 1 year, 9 months ago

Awesome. Except for the drivers who like to yield instead of stopping at the right hand turns downtown. I think that is going to cause a few wrecks as people who already don't know to back up are having trouble getting into a spot. I watch people while they drive, and the bad habits and stupid things they do continue to elude me. People need to look over their right shoulder when backing unless they are comfortable and competent using their mirrors only. All too often I see people who are backing up and have no clue how to do so safely.

CNMT 1 year, 9 months ago

You are assuming they can turn their head far enough to look over either shoulder....LOL

FightFireWithFire 1 year, 9 months ago

That's right!

Arestorer 1 year, 9 months ago

I believe Bike-lanes in Downtown are not needed..The speed-limit in downtown is far below the ability of most bikes...I could understand the need in higher speed areas, but not dowmtown..We are supposed to be sharing the roads with bikes, not giving them the right-of-way..And the back in parking is just plain stupid..theres no sidewalks on the track side of the road,so how will this help trunk loading?? Most of the retired local drivers cant even back out of the spaces, much less back into them.This sounds like some Fru-Fru California BS...Leave it on the West coast..

RmeMP 1 year, 9 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

Arestorer 1 year, 9 months ago

What happened to the first story and comments???

melzabeth 1 year, 9 months ago

happens a lot. they change the story and lose the comments.... dunno why.

emb6683 1 year, 9 months ago

The only people who will benefit from this are the bike riders. It's not going to add any new spaces and, contrary to one of the advantages touted in the article, it will make it harder to load your car, since the trunk will now be against the railroad tracks, with no sidewalks.

Arestorer 1 year, 9 months ago

Southern pines is already one of the bike friendliest towns around....Seems like another"good" reason to waste our money..

HillTopper 1 year, 9 months ago

HAHAHAHHAHA ... This is going to be funny! Arestorer, I don't know. They do it all the time cycling news. You see the link DaveyNC posted with the original article? Funny stuff.

Arestorer 1 year, 9 months ago

I saw the link,,,priceless!!!!

I guess thats why they added the forth choice in the poll..

Flabbergasted 1 year, 9 months ago

Is this a Joke? "Similar to parallel parking, drivers will signal, pass their spot and back into it instead of entering front first" Yeah, right, no one uses their signal as it is. That is the first joke. Second Joke, Backing into a spot. I have yet to see anyone successfully back into a spot without fully taking up two spots. Third Joke, Add a bike lane to this already mess of an obstacle course. The street is barely wide enough for a file of cars, now you shrink that by adding a bike lane. Why don't they throw in a parade that includes clown cars, jugglers with knives and a handful of Whirling Dervishes. This has disaster written all over it.

7lakesmom 1 year, 9 months ago

Wow! A sane, realistic, thinking person really does exsist in this small town after all!!! I couldn't agree more!! Anyone heard the phrase "If it ain't broke. don't fix it"? Have any of these idiots ever tried parallel parking on that narrow street already crowded with folks who need to turn in their driver's license anyway? You can put your blinker on 5 car lengths before you intend to park and is anyone actually LOOKING at your blinker? Nope, they're right up on your tail, oblivious to the fact that you are trying to park! Now what? You are forced to circle around AGAIN and hope this time you get an observant driver behind you and the parking spot is actually still available! If you think people are gonig to be successfully backing into parking spots in this town you can think again. You people need to visit the city and see how the educated do things...or get a hobby and leave well enough alone!!