While the stupidity of Reverse Angle Parking (RAP) is probably the most Cape Charles thing ever, eventually, it will go away. In the meantime, it’s still here, causing frustration, anger and accidents.
Everyone hates it.
Is backing into stalls difficult? For many, yes. The original dubious mantra by town officials looking to save face was that it is “far easier than parallel parking.” Really? Why can’t we just pull straight into the spot with our eyes facing forward instead of having to maneuver into a tight space surrounded by expensive vehicles?
Case in point:
Nicki Tiffany says
I would just like to clarify one thing, since I was there. The truck driver was pulling OUT of the space, not backing in.
Joseph Francis Corcoran says
Same result .
Sorin Varzaru says
Well, to be the devil’s advocate here, do you want people who can’t back in a car into a parking spot to back out their car in traffic? That being said, I can back anything into any space if it phisically fits, but I hate parking my truck on Mason
Joe says
I agree it would be easier to pull straight into the parking spots but all the lines would need to be repainted the opposite angle. Is that the plan?
Beth Anne says
The parking spots in Cape Charles worked for decades. Ppl came to town bc they adored the quaintness and immediately screwed up the historical charm with their bright ideas and GREED!
Kathleen Butler says
I hate backing despite the fact I have a back up camera on my car, and I still rely on my side mirrors. Parking lots would be easier. Oh wait, new buildings have to be built.
Billy Barton says
Backing in or backing out accidents will happen. That won’t change!
Note: True, but this is not really a serious article. It’s a little chuckle.
Dave Cooper says
How soon can this be changed for safety reasons. It is just dangerous to back into a parking space with kids walking on crowded sidewalks while cars are waiting for you to “get out of the way”. This needs to be changed ASAP.
Derek abraham says
Much easier to back out than to back in.. however you are going to need a spotter to tell you if there is on coming traffic just as you do in Edenton, Nc.. Unless you believe the person or persons will yeild to you backing out and hope they aren’t people watching.. my 2 cents
Nicholas J Strangarity says
We travel a lot and I have NEVER seen back in angle parking any where else in the country. It is as stupid as the dots on Route 41 in Pennsylvania, that have been there since the 1950’s.
There are a lot more rules and situations that need to be revised in Northampton County.
Peter Ennis says
Arlington VA
Birmingham AL
Charlotte NC
Chico CA
Everett WA
Honolulu HI
Indianapolis IN
Knoxville TN
Marquette MI
Missoula MT
New York NY
Olympia WA
Philadelphia PA
Portland OR
Salt Lake City UT
San Francisco CA
Santa Barbara CA
Seattle WA
Syracuse NY
Tacoma WA
Tucson AZ
Ventura CA
Washington DC
Wilmington DE
Just a brief list of cities that have reverse angle parking. Must just be something about CC drivers. Maybe you should forfeit your license if you can’t back into one of these spaces.
P. Ennis
Jack Trump says
Please Mr. Ennis. Please stop trying to defend reverse parking by insulting Cape Charles drivers. Please face the fact that insurance records, DMV decisions, and the design of cars all completely disagree with you. Just exactly what else do you need ?
How many towns and cities are there in this country. Like 40K ? And you can maybe come up with a complete list of 100 that are “experimenting” and abusing their citizens with this reverse angle parking ? Whoop de doo !
Do you have better vision in your mirrors or in your windshield ?
Do you know the stats on what % of accidents occur when people are backing up ?
Do you know how many commercially licensed drivers are instructed by their employers to NEVER back up ?
Do you realize that most states make “backing up on a highway” one of the most serious violations you can perform while driving ? And it gets heavy points ? Gee, why is that ?
Wouldn’t it make sense for the DMV to start telling everyone to drive in reverse all the time if the idea worked so well ?
When is the last time you drove 20 miles in reverse ?
Safety is of the utmost importance when driving a motor vehicle. There are no statistics available anywhere that say backing up is ever more safe than driving forward in any situation.
I have a CDL. I drive all the time. I never have accidents. NONE ever. 50 years with a license. I understand that being unique and celebrating personal freedom is a wonderful thing. Doing so while driving a car in reverse must be done as little as possible due to reduced visibility.
A car driving straight in at an angle takes up the same space as a car backing in. Why risk public safety ?
please stop kidding yourself and all of us.
Peter Ennis says
Jack, so if I follow what you’re saying, reversing in a vehicle is so inherently dangerous, that you propose we let people back out into a lane of travel where other vehicles are driving (nose in parking).
Jack Trump says
Yes Peter. That’s correct. Back out into the lane of vehicular traffic. Don’t just use your mirrors if at all possible. Get a line of sight through your windows and proceed with caution. Just like probably 99.9% of the rest of the parking spaces in this country. CONGRATULATIONS !!! You just passed the parking portion of your DMV driving test. Good Job ! Just please remember that almost everywhere else you go, the DMV and the police want you to drive forward and while looking through the windshield. It keeps your accident rate down, your tickets, and your insurance premium down as well. Still don’t want to believe me ? Ask the police and your insurance agent.
Peter Ennis says
Jack….”DMV and the police want you to drive forward and while looking through the windshield”
except when backing into a travel lane, right? Which is the exact same as backing into a parking space…except, you know, no oncoming traffic in a parking space. You make no sense, heathen.
Jack Trump says
Well Thank You Peter for informing myself and the readers of this “paper” that I am a heathen. Which from what I understand, means I am not a part of any recognized religion like Muslim, Jewish, or Christian. Or it could mean that I am a pagan and worship false gods.
Wow…..
Well you are certainly an insightful fellow who has the ability to judge people, do I even qualify as a people ? and let them know they therefore have no right to be in such a discussion, eh ?
Personally , I don’t know how you could think you know that about me, are in a position to make that judgement of me, or would think that this sort of emotional and slanderous comment has anything to do with this conversation.
In other words, I think you have swerved off course.
I’m wondering if road rage is next and you will then insist on backing into parking spaces after this unpopular law/rule is revoked…….
I’m sorry. You’re right. I have absolutely no right to express my opinion, which is the same as I’ve guessed, 99.5% of all of the other towns in this country. All of us should change our opinion of what has been decided to be safe for 120 years of Model T’s because your opinion of “the fact” that I am a heathen is more accurate, safe and correct.
Lock Your Church door. I’m lurking right outside.
God Bless America.
Paul Plante says
Just because you are a heathen in no way, shape or manner makes you a bad person!
And he may be calling you a heathen merely because you do not go along with the orthodox view in Cape Charles that this is the best parking system ever devised by mankind.
Mike Kuzma, jr says
There is no reverse angle parking in philly.
There is center of the road parking, parking 3 deep in south philly and parallel throughout the city.
Peter Ennis says
Mike, yeah…you might want to check into that, cause you’re wrong.
Mike Kuzma, Jr. says
OK, according to the Philadelphia Parking authority, and the City of Philadelphia, I am correct. POTTSTOWN, Pa has reverse angle parking.
Philadelphia does not.
Ask Chevonne at the PPA, or the operator at the State number.
Of course, driving into Philly at least once a month, I kinda knew that.
Paul Plante says
Should that be Siobhan, Mike?
Diamond Jack says
‘Jack….”DMV and the police want you to drive forward and while looking through the windshield”
except when backing into a travel lane, right? Which is the exact same as backing into a parking space…except, you know, no oncoming traffic in a parking space. You make no sense, heathen.’
Who died and left you in charge?
Jack Trump says
I am not a fan of reverse angle parking. It’s just dumb. It may be easier than parallel parking. I’ll concede that. however it is not as easy as nose in angle parking, that is the standard method of parking. PERIOD. To sell it by only comparing to parallel parking is simply misleading and disingenuous. HOWEVER, the problem shown in this photo is not the result of the degree of difficulty in parking. This destroyed fender was caused by pure reckless stupidity. That p/u must have hit that Acura while travelling at least 20 m.p.h. That’s not a 5 m.p.h. bumper bump. If I was the officer on the scene, I would have issued a sobriety test and a summons for careless driving.
Mike Kuzma, jr says
Looks to me like the guy pulled out and just cut right too soon, taking the bumper with him.
Jack Trump says
Since we now hear that this driver was pulling out and not backing in, it sure is sad that this photo was presented to us as an example of backing in. Be that as it may………a picture is for sure worth 1,000 words, eh ? Who wants to start the fun…..?…… I’ll guess at this point it’s presented as a game…..P/U driver actually has a license ? Concentration span ? Perception problem ? Addicted to texting ? etc. etc etc etc. Still got both knee caps from after the Acura owner got there ?
Mike Kuzma, Jr. says
Paul,
I specifically asked the young lady to spell her name for me so I could accurately transfer her information.
Nothing else was implied, or inferred.
A bien tot, mon ami.
Madam X says
Siobhan-Chavonne. Let’s call the whole thing off, including opinions re parking in CC. It’s so inane.
Paul Plante says
You are always so pleasant when you come in here, Madam X, that quite literally you have the whole world smiling with you and wanting to join you in singing Kumbaya in three-part harmony.
And inane is in the eye of the beholder.
Paul Plante says
Enjoy the weekend, Mike!
Julie says
Is it an option to make Mason Avenue one-way? That would facilitate backing out, because you only have to consider traffic coming from one direction.