Yep, parallel parking was the end all when I first took the driving test too.
Originally Posted by
CliffordK
I don't believe parallel parking was on our test 35 years ago
I got quite proficient in parallel parking in college, fighting for undersized parking spots.
Pre Smart Car era, the Fiat 500 was great for parallel parking. There was one stretch of road, packed early, but I could 100% guarantee there would be a spot big enough to squeeze into. I would imagine other drivers groaned when they left a nice buffer in front of their car and found me in it.
I'm one of those people that always leaves a buffer zone on all sides. Nevertheless, if I returned and found someone had violated that courtesy and there car was in any way touching mine, I'd likely be waiting when they got back, and that's only because I'm more polite than some folks.
Typically I park only where their are lines so the demarcation is clear, although I've seen many instances where people still manage to violate them. If it doesn't fit, find a larger space.