Where in the World Isn't Bob Saget?

Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
NYwdwfan said:
Oh - I forgot the best part of the night!!! Parking is always an issue “down Port” as we call it, and as I was driving down a side street I saw people get in a parked car about 15 feet ahead of me so I threw on my blinker and waited. Then reality set in: I was going to have to parallel park my beast (new Traverse). They pulled out, I pulled up next to the car in front of the open spot (we do NOT go in head first!) and backed that puppy in perfectly on the first try. OK it was slightly crooked but I didn’t care!! Go me!! 🙃
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Years and years ago, back when cars were first invented, I took drivers ed. Wasn't even required back then. The instructor taught us a simple way to parallel park perfectly almost every time. I still use it and it still works.

Drive up alongside the car in front of the space. Line up (as best you can) your rear bumper with the rear bumper of that car. Immediately turn the wheels all the way to the right and back in slowly.** When the back of your front seat or the approximate center of your vehicle, lines up with the rear bumper of that car straighten the wheels and back in on that angle until you can turn the front wheels all the way to the left and still have the front of your car clear the rear of that same car. Doing that you should be able to then be straight in the parking spot and with perhaps just a little forward motion be centered in the parking space. Easy Peasy!

This has been a public service message!
The direction you turn the wheel depends on what side of the street you are parking on. If you are British or on a one way street and you park on the left side then you alter the two listed wheel positions. First to the left and then to the right. Sorry for the simple spoiler, but, I didn't really want to be responsible for a major traffic problem in downtown London.
 
NYwdwfan

NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
Goofyernmost said:
Years and years ago, back when cars were first invented, I took drivers ed. Wasn't even required back then. The instructor taught us a simple way to parallel park perfectly almost every time. I still use it and it still works.

Drive up alongside the car in front of the space. Line up (as best you can) your rear bumper with the rear bumper of that car. Immediately turn the wheels all the way to the right and back in slowly.** When the back of your front seat or the approximate center of your vehicle, lines up with the rear bumper of that car straighten the wheels and back in on that angle until you can turn the front wheels all the way to the left and still have the front of your car clear the rear of that same car. Doing that you should be able to then be straight in the parking spot and with perhaps just a little forward motion be centered in the parking space. Easy Peasy!

This has been a public service message!
The direction you turn the wheel depends on what side of the street you are parking on. If you are British or on a one way street and you park on the left side then you alter the two listed wheel positions. First to the left and then to the right. Sorry for the simple spoiler, but, I didn't really want to be responsible for a major traffic problem in downtown London.
Click to expand...
That’s the technique my dad taught me and it works every time!
 
ajrwdwgirl

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
When I was taking driver's ed I could never parallel park correctly, I always ended up sticking out of the space strange or hitting the curb. It just wasn't for me. When I took my driver's test I told the instructor/DMV guy I couldn't parallel park and I never planned to. He was a very nice guy and encouraged me to to try it and tried to even talk me through it, I was not very successful. I again promised him that I would never parallel park and he said okay and passed me on it. I have kept true to my promise and never parallel parked, instead I get extra steps and park a little further away if I need to. The DMV guy was actually a really nice guy, either that or bored with his job. Also during my test there was a plane show at the small airport with WWII planes and other older planes so he took me on a couple loops past there to look at the planes and then had me stop for awhile so he could have a closer look at the planes. :cool:
 
PUSH

PUSH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Goofyernmost said:
Years and years ago, back when cars were first invented, I took drivers ed. Wasn't even required back then. The instructor taught us a simple way to parallel park perfectly almost every time. I still use it and it still works.

Drive up alongside the car in front of the space. Line up (as best you can) your rear bumper with the rear bumper of that car. Immediately turn the wheels all the way to the right and back in slowly.** When the back of your front seat or the approximate center of your vehicle, lines up with the rear bumper of that car straighten the wheels and back in on that angle until you can turn the front wheels all the way to the left and still have the front of your car clear the rear of that same car. Doing that you should be able to then be straight in the parking spot and with perhaps just a little forward motion be centered in the parking space. Easy Peasy!

This has been a public service message!
The direction you turn the wheel depends on what side of the street you are parking on. If you are British or on a one way street and you park on the left side then you alter the two listed wheel positions. First to the left and then to the right. Sorry for the simple spoiler, but, I didn't really want to be responsible for a major traffic problem in downtown London.
Click to expand...
That's how I was taught in driver's ed.
 
PUSH

PUSH

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
ajrwdwgirl said:
When I was taking driver's ed I could never parallel park correctly, I always ended up sticking out of the space strange or hitting the curb. It just wasn't for me. When I took my driver's test I told the instructor/DMV guy I couldn't parallel park and I never planned to. He was a very nice guy and encouraged me to to try it and tried to even talk me through it, I was not very successful. I again promised him that I would never parallel park and he said okay and passed me on it. I have kept true to my promise and never parallel parked, instead I get extra steps and park a little further away if I need to. The DMV guy was actually a really nice guy, either that or bored with his job. Also during my test there was a plane show at the small airport with WWII planes and other older planes so he took me on a couple loops past there to look at the planes and then had me stop for awhile so he could have a closer look at the planes. :cool:
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I was not very good at parallel parking when I was learning to drive, and I got who everyone considered the hardest DMV person for my driver's test. But luckily I had the PERFECT parallel park on my test. I have not parallel parked on a street since then. I've done it in my driveway a few times, though.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
PUSH said:
I was not very good at parallel parking when I was learning to drive, and I got who everyone considered the hardest DMV person for my driver's test. But luckily I had the PERFECT parallel park on my test. I have not parallel parked on a street since then. I've done it in my driveway a few times, though.
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The important thing to remember is that you aren't going to get it perfect every time. The more you do it, the more likely it is that it will work, especially if you don't have a DMV person sitting next to you. I practiced it with a 40 foot bus and got it the first try, but, I never wanted to do it on a regular basis. Just for the sake of safety... If you find yourself having to parallel park a 40 foot bus, make sure the parking space is big enough. Otherwise, it gets real messy. ;):joyfull:
 
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JenniferS

JenniferS

When you're the leader, you don't have to follow.
So, we’re well on our way to Kingston, headed E on the 401 with just about every other car in Ontario.

We stopped at the ON Route (our gov’t thinks it’s mighty clever) and the wait in the Express line at Tim Horton’s was 20 minutes.

Back on the road now, eating our picnic lunch in the car because we’re still more than an hour away from our destination.

We just passed the Big Apple though, which to the boys always meant we were almost there.

4633D86A-E00F-45B8-BB22-95EF4EA8493E.jpeg
 
NYwdwfan

NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
JenniferS said:
So, we’re well on our way to Kingston, headed E on the 401 with just about every other car in Ontario.

We stopped at the ON Route (our gov’t thinks it’s mighty clever) and the wait in the Express line at Tim Horton’s was 20 minutes.

Back on the road now, eating our picnic lunch in the car because we’re still more than an hour away from our destination.

We just passed the Big Apple though, which to the boys always meant we were almost there.

View attachment 300722
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If you just passed The Big Apple you should be to my house in about 45 minutes.
 
MinnieM123

MinnieM123

Premium Member
Goofyernmost said:
Years and years ago, back when cars were first invented, I took drivers ed. Wasn't even required back then. The instructor taught us a simple way to parallel park perfectly almost every time. I still use it and it still works.

Drive up alongside the car in front of the space. Line up (as best you can) your rear bumper with the rear bumper of that car. Immediately turn the wheels all the way to the right and back in slowly.** When the back of your front seat or the approximate center of your vehicle, lines up with the rear bumper of that car straighten the wheels and back in on that angle until you can turn the front wheels all the way to the left and still have the front of your car clear the rear of that same car. Doing that you should be able to then be straight in the parking spot and with perhaps just a little forward motion be centered in the parking space. Easy Peasy!

This has been a public service message!
The direction you turn the wheel depends on what side of the street you are parking on. If you are British or on a one way street and you park on the left side then you alter the two listed wheel positions. First to the left and then to the right. Sorry for the simple spoiler, but, I didn't really want to be responsible for a major traffic problem in downtown London.
Click to expand...

Oddly, we didn't cover parallel parking in my driver's ed classes. Doesn't matter--I refuse to do it--I'll park blocks away if I must, to find a straight-in spot! :p
 
MinnieM123

MinnieM123

Premium Member
JenniferS said:
We skipped having lunch with Sir John Eh, and headed straight to the hotel.

Years ago when we last stayed here, it was a Radisson. The rooms have since been upgraded. I swear we had a balcony in 2010, but at least the view is the same. 👍

View attachment 300751View attachment 300758View attachment 300759View attachment 300760View attachment 300761
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That looks like a nice room. Oh, I saw on the calendar that Monday is a "civil" holiday in Canada. What does that mean?
 

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