Monday, November 23, 2009

Making Etiquette Easy: Parking Lots


As we gear up for the season of good cheer (and lots of turkey!) we will start to see the influx of people in parking lots nationwide. Tis’ the season, right? So how do we practice good etiquette and friendliness while we’re out and about during some of the most stressful and chaotic times? For some reason, parking lots become feeding grounds for instant-anger and loud horns. Here are a few tips:

  • Follow all the legal ramifications of the lots, including speed limit, one-ways, and not utilizing handicapped parking spaces if you don’t need them.
  • Be wary of pedestrian crosswalks—that parking space isn’t worth taking out someone’s leg. Besides, they do have the right of way, no matter how many of them there are!
  • Keep moving—lulling about waiting for a spot to open up only blocks others and creates danger. It also communicates ‘laziness.’
  • Leave the best spaces for less able visitors. Yes, there are less able visitors than you.
  • When you find a spot, parking correctly is crucial. If you park appropriately in the center of the lines, you leave less room for your car (or others) to get dinged.
  • Only use your horn if you fear you are going to get hit. Otherwise, your seemingly ‘justified’ action can be taken as a lack of grace. And what are they really learning from your loud interjection, anyhow?

Park-on my friends & remember, no one really enjoys a crowded parking lot!

Making Etiquette Easy,

Susan K. Medina

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