Inspired by that other thread about backing in to parking spaces.
I’ve never seen one of those signs, but I drive a pickup and could suggest the issue is a sidewalk. Backing a truck into a spot can cause the bed of the truck to overhang whatever you’ve backed into, which could block a sidewalk or other walking path. Typically there is less overhang from the front of a vehicle to the front wheels than there is from the rear of the vehicle to the rear wheels, so pulling into a space forward wouldn’t impede any walking path as much.
Even without the sidewalk. Tons of trucks back in and take the front of the space behind them, basically turning them into compact only spaces.
For sure, it’s really annoying how far a pickup can intrude over the sidewalk. Especially with a tow hitch, and a tow hitch can be painful in the shins.
There a general problem in the US where we’re so car-centric that many don’t seem to expect people will ever walk, even on the sidewalk.
Or maybe it’s the recent loss of empathy
If the front of a parking space butts up against a residential area, people don’t want their homes hit with exhaust particles every time someone starts their car.
I suspect that some paid places use automated license plate readers to check for non-payment, or could be checking manually but having all the cars front-in could still save the manual checker the labor of walking around cars.
edit: In recent years I’ve actually been in parking garages and seen seen a hapless security guard walking car to car, photographing the back of each one. (I’ve also seen ‘meter-readers’ doing the same thing in paid street parking areas.) I wouldn’t be surprised if a car-mounted version also existed, which is what I meant when I speculated about automation.
I think this is it. I’ve only ever seen those signs in parking garages. Not all states require front plates, so I think they want to be able to easily see the back of everyone’s car.
Is there a footpath there? Often tow hooks extend over the curb and can be a hazard and difficult for folks with mobility issues
Yes, that makes sense. There are also light poles and things people might back into.
I’ve seen this in underground or undercover parking spaces where there’s a vent in the wall.
In addition to the sidewalk issue other have mentioned, I’ve seen these signs in apartment garages for spots where hazards from the ceiling exist. Often the hood of the vehicle fits under the hazard, but the back of a van or a truck with a canopy would hit it.
I’ve mostly seen them in parking garages so I assumed it’s for throughput.
- if you back into a spot, you’re holding up everyone behind you. If an impatient driver is too close you may back into them
- by fronting in, there’s essentially no wait, no risk of backing over that tailgater. When you want to back out, you wait until traffic is clear rather than block them
Because all those guys who go on about how great reverse parking is are terrible at reverse parking.
Unless you mean parallel parking, because then it makes sense.
