Jo Schulz: Why reverse parking is the superior way to park in multistorey car parks

Just when you thought you could leave the tailgating, non-indicating drivers on Adelaide streets, the road rage has crept into car parks over reverse parking, writes Jo Schulz. Take the poll.

Is there a right and wrong way to park your car in a multistorey city park?

You bet there is in my road rules book – and I fear I may be about to butt heads with half of our dear readers over this one.

Of course, the superior way is to reverse your car into the parking bay.

Never nose-in first, always rear-in first.

It takes no longer to reverse park, and provides for an easier and safer drive-straight-out the park exit.

Yes, I can hear the “here we go again” from impatient drivers lined up behind me with a curse word or three while I reverse in.

READ MORE: Adelaide drivers, here’s 10 things we hate about you

Firstly, you may wish to re-read my original column on the unhealthy level of impatience being one of the worst Adelaide driver traits.

The short time it takes me to reverse park is making you late for what, buddy?

Sure, you may think it’s a little inconvenient to you, but so is reversing out often blindly into traffic when I leave. Who hasn’t struggled to see past the giant tank 4WD cars that have become a modern-day obsession?

For as many times as you’ve been held up by someone trying to reverse park, I can guarantee you I’ve had the same hold up from front-first parkers not being able to master their move first time in.

Topham Mall carpark on Waymouth Street – the scene of many parking crimes. Picture: Simon Cross

Reverse parking is the safer option too – you only need to ask the many industrial and mining sites which are making it the compulsory way to park for their workers.

Newer cars will have a reversing camera, park-assist sensors and fold-in side mirrors to make the entire parking exercise a breeze.

Perhaps I’m at expert reverse parking level as I don’t need to make a three-point turn (or worse) and hold up the traffic flow for long to back my car in. One reverse manoeuvre and we’re parked. Shock, horror – it delays you no longer than nose-first parkers.

And yes, I’m the one choosing to tuck in tight next to the cement pillar to give me the space to open my door and exit my own car without having to do a contortionist act (we’ve all been there and do not wish it on our worst parking enemy).

An underground car park with plenty of reverse parking perfection.

Plus, the better I park between the lines the less chance you have of denting my paint work by opening a car door into me.

It’s best you don’t get me started on how the average parking bay size seems to have somehow shrunk in the building wash, just as it seems the average car has upsized to monster truck proportions.

If you think my reverse parking habit stops at the multistorey parks you’d be very mistaken.

Suburban shopping car parks also are lucky enough to grace my skills.

A vacant parking space just waiting for a reverse parker to grace between the white lines.

Reverse-parkers beware though: The only time this does not work out well is if you need access to your boot to load in the shopping.

But if there’s a will to reverse park, I’ll usually find the way.

Reverse parallel parking is not much different – it’s a must for drivers on popular shopping strips and a little patience goes a long way to getting the traffic flowing smoothly in a timely fashion.

So next time you see my reversing lights flash you in a multistorey car park, take a deep breath and admit when it comes to parking, backwards is the way forward.

Jo Schulz is digital editor at advertiser.com.au who occasionally takes out her road rage by writing columns.