Have you ever noticed how much effort goes into getting a really good parking spot? We all want to be right by the entrance to whatever place we are going. The best spaces are the ones closest to the spots reserved for the handicapped. In fact, I have known a few folks who go to significant lengths to get their own handicap placard for their car—even if it means taking one their aged parents or grandparents have when they don’t drive anymore.
I have seen others honk and scream and give the #1 sign (middle finger up—I think that is what that means?) while trying to get into a space that they believe was theirs I have also seen people leave nasty notes on a car that was parked over the lines, so as to make it difficult—or impossible—to park in the spot next to them. Some other people will circle the lot near the building three or four times, hoping that someone will be coming out to open a spot they can grab. I’m pretty sure most of us have seen—or participated—in some form of this behavior. Hopefully it never got you arrested, or beat up!
Several years ago I was dealing with parking issues in a shopping center my company built. We had a fitness company as the major tenant and a lot of smaller tenants that always complained about the fitness clients taking up the entire parking lot during the morning and evening hours of peak traffic. It made it difficult for the customers of other businesses to find parking.
The discussion with the fitness company owner was enlightening, even funny as I thought about it. He told us how odd it is that people will pay a monthly fee—sometimes a significant amount—to come to the gym and work out, but they always wanted easy parking close by. It’s a little ironic, he said, to think they are coming to work out, but are worried about having to walk 50 extra yards to get there. I wondered if any of his clients ever had that thought cross their mind.
Having this discussion made me rethink the issue of where I park and why. It also led me to create a system where I find the best parking space every time. I’ve decided to share my secret with others. Here it is.
Whenever I go to a grocery store or big box retailer or even a restaurant, I notice that in most instances there seems to be a lot of parking available on the edges of the lot, away from the entrance. Out there, I can often park so that no one is in either spot next to me This limits the possibility of a kid swinging the door open and giving my car a nice dent, like my kids have done to others in the past.
The really cool thing about these great parking spots, is the additional benefit I get from them—for free. (I can get a little geeky at times with this kind of stuff, so try and follow along with my story problem). I figure if I park an average of 50 yards away from the entrance, and walk in and then back out after shopping, I have walked about 300 feet each visit. If I visit one of these places 3 times per week, that is 900 feet of walking times 4 weeks in the month which equals 3,600 feet of walking per month. Multiply 3,600 feet by 12 months, that is equivalent to 43,200 feet of walking per year. (Almost done). I looked up how many feet in a mile (because I thought I had forgotten from 5th grade—but I was right!), and it equals 5,280 feet. So divide 43,200 feet by 5,280 and you get 8.18 miles! WOW!
Now most of us think that probably isn’t far considering it is over the space of a full year, but I don’t think you can argue—no matter how much you work out—that it is 8+ miles more than you walked last year! I started wondering how much money those gym users could save if they just parked their car a mile away from the gym door, then walked or jogged to the front door and turned around and walked or jogged back to their car! And just think how many more parking spaces would be available at the shopping center for other customers! I think I just solved two problems with one solution!
Lots of you will think, sure that seems good, but it is 110 degrees (or 0, depending on where you live), and I am not going to walk one step more than I have to! Well, that’s all good, but don’t complain to me about your pale skin and vitamin D deficiency from lack of sunlight, or your common cold which doctors agree is caused by contaminated air (mostly from indoor areas) and not by the temperature outside.
I could be wrong, but I’m starting to think walking that distance in the heat or the cold—or both—may end up being the very thing that keeps you from getting what you currently think is the best parking spot. The handicap one! Just saying.
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Jerry is the author of “Partners with God, Using His Teachings and Example to Raise Our Kids” and has been a guest speaker at numerous gatherings, firesides and organization events, as well as working as a facilitator for individual families.
Jerry and his wife Melanie are the parents of 12 children and currently have 13 grandchildren.