Back-In Parking Here? Somebody Must Be Kidding
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I often wonder where these brilliant new ideas come from. Like back-in parking. When the plan for the changes in parking for the downtown area of Southern Pines first came to my attention, I thought it was a joke. And a very poor one, at that. How could anyone possibly imagine that such a drastic change would benefit anyone?
My first concern was for the businesses along Broad Street. I love downtown Southern Pines. It has a wonderfully upscale yet relaxed atmosphere that makes me want to shop there. The only drawback is that finding a -parking spot to pull into sometimes requires two or three drives around the block until I get lucky.
Parallel parking is not impossible, but certainly quite difficult for me - so I refrain from attempting it.
Soon after I heard of this planned change, I spoke with Robert Reeves of the Southern Pines Parks and Recreation Department and David White, assistant town manager. It didn't take long for me to realize my concerns were falling on deaf ears. They told me I was the first person to come to them objecting to the plan.
That is understandable. Apparently, in the world of bureaucracy, a few committee meetings and town meetings -constitute "getting the word out," but in the real world of everyday -people, it doesn't work.
When I brought The Pilot news story to the attention of a dozen or so of my friends, they had the same basic reaction as I did. The upcoming change is so out of the realm of reason that it was hard to believe it was true. Then, we all agreed that businesses would suffer because the parking -situation would be unnecessarily complicated and people would be discouraged from coming -downtown.
It is my understanding that the back-in parking is supposed to make it safer for the bicyclists who come up and down Broad Street. What bicyclists? In my years of pulling in and out of parking spots on Broad Street, I have never once had to stop my maneuver for a bicyclist.
Often, I stop for oncoming cars, many of which allow me to leave so they can have my parking spot. Of course, this parking change is to accommodate all the bicyclists who will be traversing Broad Street after the great Bicycle Plan is put in place to encourage them to come down Broad Street.
Some trendy cities like Charlotte, Cary, Philadelphia and places on the West Coast have adopted this type of parking. Most likely, the drivers in those areas have newer driving skills than many of us here in the Sandhills. What works great -elsewhere may not be the wisest choice here. In many ways, this appears to be another version of "keeping up with the Joneses."
I can see that my shopping habits will most likely change in the near future. The idea of having to precariously back into a space at an angle between two other cars makes me want to stay on U.S. 1 and head on down to Aberdeen, where the parking is much more user-friendly. Backup parking is out of the question for me. I know my limitations.
My attitude as I write this is not hopeful. It's been my experience that when "the city" decides to do something, it happens, no matter how many folks raise objections. This has been true in other places I've lived, so I don't really expect it to be any different here.
No matter how reasonable the arguments against back-in -parking - which are many - we'll have back-in parking in downtown Southern Pines.
OvaJean Siemens lives in the -village of Whispering Pines but says she considers Southern Pines to be her town.
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Comments
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Possible new business alert!!! Valet back in parking service. You read it here first.
DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago
Trendy cities like Charlotte? And the Containment Area for Relocated Yankees? HA! This here little town ain't no place to be doin' fancy stuff like backing a car up. We only go forward down here.
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Oh really, Davey, I've read many of your comments and I can tell you you ain't going forward.
native 1 year, 9 months ago
"You were the first person objecting to the plan" ????? Do they read the local paper????
native 1 year, 9 months ago
I guess people are just posting here and not ever saying anything to the "powers that be"....
dumplin 1 year, 9 months ago
Yup. I think that's the problem, native. If everybody who's against the backin parking idea would attend the Southern Pines planning meeting at 3pm Monday, August 22 at the police station building, maybe the "powers that be" would pay attention. You might call town hall to verify, but I think the time and place is accurate.
temperanceprudence 1 year, 9 months ago
...any one else find it odd that a travel/roadway/design element like parking, street safety, etc is being led by the Parks Director??? Not talking about a ballfield here...Where is the Road/Streets Superintendent? The Town Engineer??? @TOSP - were these professionals in your employ a part of this decision????
Toda 1 year, 9 months ago
" Apparently, in the world of bureaucracy, a few committee meetings and town meetings -constitute "getting the word out," but in the real world of everyday -people, it doesn't work." Sort of sounds like county government...only a few make dynamic changes for the entire populace. Why not just close off the streets along the rail and just have bike lanes? Perhaps Robert Reeves and David White doesn't read The Pilot....?
ProudNC 1 year, 9 months ago
I back into spaces almost all of the time. The trick? Go slowly and watch what I'm doing. I think it's much easier to pull out of a parking space - especially with all of the mega/monster SUVs and pickups in the area. I think it's easier to see around them if I'm pulling out.
t4perkins 1 year, 9 months ago
Good grief almighty!!!!!! The streets of downtown Southern Pines are going to be more gobbed up than a year old bottle of Elmer's Glue...!!!
Sean 1 year, 9 months ago
You know, I buy the Elmer's wood glue by the gallon and I can tell you it lasts over a year. Though I did have one gallon get moldy a few years ago; I think that one froze.
Good luck with your glue-ing!
AbdominalDohMan 1 year, 9 months ago
You gotta be kidding. Raising sand over having to back into a parking spot. Now, I'm one of the first to jump on government when it over reaches, but seriously? #1- It is a ton safer to pull forward out of a parking space than back out of one. #2-If you can't back into a parking spot then you need to evaluate your driving skills.
CNMT 1 year, 9 months ago
With reference to point # 2 in your post - I think that is exactly what some people are trying to say....some people around here can't drive period, let alone back into a parking space....and it has NOTHING to do with age or where they were born (North vs. South)
Bflat 1 year, 9 months ago
Whether parking parallel or angled back in, the driver is going to have to back up that car to get it properly in a marked parking space. Only exception I can think of is if there are several empty spots in sequence allowing for a direct pull into a parallel spot. As to the bikes, I get visions of a few bikers coasting down the street and someone pulls forward from a back in spot that doesn't see the oncoming biker. How many people on bikes are going to be shopping in downtown? That will require supersized baskets or saddle bags to carry purchases.
Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago
I just feel sorry for all the babies in strollers that will get hit by the back end of a car driven by a little blue haired lady..
Sean 1 year, 9 months ago
I actually did laugh out loud a bit when I read this comment. All the poor, poor babys in strollers that will get hit by old women backing up.
Please tell me that was intended to be sarcasm. Hilarious!
dlb 1 year, 9 months ago
I am under the mistaken impression that parallel parking was a part of the drivers test. If you can not parallel park you shound not be driving. How on earth to you manage the traffic circles? Call a cab.
bmbk2006 1 year, 9 months ago
Most of the people who are going to have BIG problems with this probably got licenses over 50 years ago.
TreadLightly 1 year, 9 months ago
I suspect that there are many people who can meander into a parking space, and when they put it in reverse gear, the car automatically gets itself out. I also suspect my wife will choose a mall or somewhere with her idea of "normal parking." If she chooses Southern Pines, rest assured that over the years she has backed into more formidable objects than what will be in the adjacent parking space. (Tree, dumptruck, to name a couple.)
HillTopper 1 year, 9 months ago
This has ZERO to do with making anything better for anyone but a small group of bicyclist. Period.
It's actually going to make things a lot more difficult for the majority of people and hurt downtown businesses. Say what you want ... people are intimidated by it they're not even going to try. It's a special interest, horrible idea. Needs to be canned!
DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago
I don't know about you, but I much prefer to pull in to oncoming traffic with a clear view rather than having to back into traffic. I think it will make things better for all of us after what will likely be a rocky adjustment period. Can't wait to see someone swing around and try to pull in front end first rather than backing in.
Sean 1 year, 9 months ago
Post Plagiarist! ; )
Arestorer 1 year, 9 months ago
Ya'll keep saying"backing into traffic",,,,,This aint no 55 speed zone...
I still think for simplicity, they should leave it as is..And for people that have a proplem with the parking now, will also have same problem if its changed,,,,,they just cant drive good..
Actually, this matters little to me....I know how to turn my head and back a car..
Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago
Glad you're a gooder driver.
foregolf 1 year, 9 months ago
I have driven in the downtown SP area for well over 25 years and my biggest concern is the courtesy of other drivers. I have seen cars trying to back out of the spaces there now and the oncoming cars seldom let them back out. Especially in front of the post office. So if I am driving slightly past a spot that I will need to back into, what am I to do if there is a car behind me and they are unable to back up due to a car behind them? I see the positive side in leaving the spot, I just don't get how this is going to be safer entering it.
coffecreme 1 year, 9 months ago
Agreed
wrich49 1 year, 9 months ago
I too have driven and parked a lot in downtown SP for the last several years and have never had any problem with parking...parallel or otherwise. Since the streets involved are one way and have two lanes, I have always found it easy to watch carefully and back out of the front pull in spaces. Since there is no traffic from the other direction, you always have a clear view of cars coming from behind you if you just turn you head and look.
coffecreme 1 year, 9 months ago
I just think pulling into a parking space is so much more efficient than stopping and backing into a parking slot and holding up traffic. I am not seeing the advantage here. But then I am not a rocket scientist!
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Of course, we could get real radical and start thinking outside the car. If we were to develop an efficient local mass transit system that enabled any of us to travel from our homes to any of the beautiful, quaint areas in our neighborhoods, we would not have to worry about traffic and how we were going to park. We also would have to worry less about pollution, foreign oil and old people behind the wheel. Of course this will never happen in this country on a widespread basis and certainly not in this county at all. The folks screaming "it is taking away our rights" will win out because they scream louder than those who make thoughtful proposals.
AbsoluteWellness 1 year, 9 months ago
you mean walk to the stores? wow! then I'd have to give up my gym membership! the horror! :)
HillTopper 1 year, 9 months ago
It will make it easier for those people going the wrong way on Broad St. to park. They're having to back into a space now, right?
Sean 1 year, 9 months ago
Have you ever seen that, come on, get a hobby.
phstresident 1 year, 9 months ago
I wonder how many people commenting here and on the other article bothered to attend any of the planning workshops and public input meetings that were held when developing this plan? It always amazes me how people ignore those meetings then choose to rant and rail against what is being done. The time for comment and discussion was during the planning process so that the town had as many facts as possible prior to adopting the plan. Now that being said, I don't know how the back in parking will work and I myself have fears of how well it will work based on the driving I've witnessed around town. I personally am willing to give it a shot and then make an informed opinion as to it's merits. Regardless of whether this happens or not, good luck Town of Southern Pines and this is a great reason why people should get involved in their communities, attend meetings, voice your opinions and be heard.
HillTopper 1 year, 9 months ago
I guess I just "assume" that we elect and/or pay people to make intelligent decisions. This was far from intelligent. No one in their right mind would have thought they were cooking something like this up for the "bicycle gangs" in town. 6 months and then we'll have to pay to re-paint all the parking space lines.
Sean 1 year, 9 months ago
Do you have anything constructive to say???????
Sean 1 year, 9 months ago
You sound like someone who could safely paint a line!! maybe??
Sean 1 year, 9 months ago
..well, I am curious how many of the responding individuals often drive down that area in question? Not many, I think.
I guess the negatives are you will have to stop traffic to park, but you do as it is..., while waiting for someone to pull out. And for you too pull in. --That is it.
Any one who is talking about people who will not let them park, or people who will not let them out.... are just not thinking.
Get real, the person behind you must be 3 inches off your bumper to not allow you to back in park. Don't you think this has been looked at. THINK OF THE GEOMETRY. Flip the blinker on and... DO IT.
As for the backing up.. you're on your own. But I'll let you know what I think.... Put your right arm on the passenger seat. look over your right shoulder. put the car in reverse. go slow. adjust as needed.
The difference between doing it stylish and doing it effectively will be roughly: NADA.
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