Sometimes I wonder if driver's education needs a refresher course in parking.
I was staying at a Fairfield Inn about 15 minutes from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). I'll save the details of my hotel experience for another blog post, but this little adventure happened when I got up and headed out to my car.
And then I saw this beauty of a parking job.
A black Ford Escape was parked diagonally across the parking-space line, its front end intruding into the neighboring space. A handicap symbol is even painted on the pavement nearby, making the whole scene a little more interesting.
Now, I noticed the Harley-Davidson placard on the front bumper. So naturally, my imagination started working overtime.
Maybe the driver thought they were parking their HOG and figured the passenger side was the center of the motorcycle? Perhaps they were still mentally cruising down the highway and forgot they were driving a four-wheeled vehicle.
Okay, I know. That explanation makes absolutely no sense. Neither does this parking job!
Come on, people! The lines are there for a reason. They're not decorative suggestions, and parking spaces aren't a game of automotive Twister.
As someone who lives with a disability, I pay attention to how people use parking spaces. A little consideration goes a long way, especially when accessible parking and enough room to get in and out of a vehicle matter.
I'm not suggesting every parking mistake deserves a public investigation. We've all had moments when we needed to straighten up. But there's a difference between being a little off-center and leaving your vehicle straddling a line like it owns the place.
The takeaway? Take five seconds, check your parking, and straighten the car before walking away. Your fellow drivers will thank you.
And to the driver of this Ford Escape: I hope you enjoyed your stay. Next time, let's leave the Harley-Davidson parking technique for the motorcycle!
