Parking Petition?

[SmartyPants25]

I want to park my smart like they do in Europe! Apparently this is illegal. Maybe we can start a petition to let our little smarts, park with our tail lights to the curb. I can't count how many great parking spots I see where if i could back into the spot I would fit just fine! Motorcycles can do it, how bout a smart!

[bmx43]

Originally Posted by SmartyPants25

I want to park my smart like they do in Europe! Apparently this is illegal. Maybe we can start a petition to let our little smarts, park with our tail lights to the curb. I can't count how many great parking spots I see where if i could back into the spot I would fit just fine! Motorcycles can do it, how bout a smart!

they don't really park the cars like that in Europe on a regular basis. at least not that i've seen. most are still parallel parked. plus, remember, our car is now over a foot longer than the previous version that Europe had. our car is now too long to park perp in most cities.

[La Petit]

in london the smarts perpendicular-park all the time. i lived in bayswater near paddington station and i'd see a half dozen every day that perpendicular-parked. but if the 451 is really more than a foot longer than prior models, then perpendicular parking in the states is probably right out, and not unreasonably so.

in los angeles ive perpendicular-parked in hollywood and studio city on several occasions, but not on busybusy streets. my smarties nose stuck out a bit more than id like (by about the foot that bmx was talking about), but certainly not more than the side of a cubevan would.

i figured if i got a ticket - o well, at least its not a moving violation, and id probably post a scan of the citation here for all to see. either way, i got a lot of sweet parking spots.
now, if they scooped my smarty for perp parking id be bit miffed tho.

[droosan]

In most SoCal cities, motorcycles aren't supposed to do this, either (although, many do).

Besides ... a perp-parked Smart will still require a good bit of clearance on either side, in order to be able to open the doors. If someone parks too close to your perp-parked Smart while you're away, you won't be able to get back inside!; not a problem, if you're parallel-parked.

[MarkB]

The 451 is 8 inches longer than the 450....not "over a foot" longer.

[MarkB]

Oh and just FYI the length of a Smart ForTwo happens to be the same width of a tractor trailer. To me it seems only fair to be able to park ass to curb.

[SmartAzz]

Originally Posted by MarkB

Oh and just FYI the length of a Smart ForTwo happens to be the same width of a tractor trailer. To me it seems only fair to be able to park ass to curb.

I agree, seeing as how super wide vehicles (various trucks, duellies, etc) can park and crowd the street can't see why a Smart should be excluded.

Perhaps parking enforcement won't mind if we hop up on the curb a little to tuck in more

[RLove]

Although I see it a lot in Europe, parking perpendicular to the curb isn't going to work in the States...just like the concept of the left lane just for passing and high speed merging on the highway.

The last thing I want is some SUV driver pushing their trailer hitch through my door as they try to maneuver their land yacht out of a parking spot, (that I've made tighter because I wedged my car into it).

[doenut]

I spent three weeks in Europe last June and I can vouch for the fact that smarts are parked perpendicular to the curb regularly in Germany and in Italy.

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by droosan

In most SoCal cities, motorcycles aren't supposed to do this, either (although, many do).

Besides ... a perp-parked Smart will still require a good bit of clearance on either side, in order to be able to open the doors. If someone parks too close to your perp-parked Smart while you're away, you won't be able to get back inside!; not a problem, if you're parallel-parked.

Moreover, I'd rather be bumper to bumper when the adjacent car uses the tap method of parallel parking , and not my door!