Funny, the other day when I was parking at Everybodys, I thought — I bet Will posts about this parking situation soon! Sometimes it’s so bad I just cruise through the parking lot and leave for HyVee instead. They’ve got to fix those lines. I wonder how many fender benders they’ve had since they re-painted — it’s kind of terrifying parking there now.
The parking situation there is so bad that’s it’s comical. I wish I had my camera last Sunday.
I pulled in an parked in a space and Dawn said I was blocking someone in. I was like, “how can *I* be blocking someone in? I’ve just parked in a space”. Then I noticed that the guy in front of me, the opposite space, was pulled forward about 2 feet over the line into my space, and another car had pulled in behind him!
I don’t know if it is the meditation, a badly designed parking lot or what, but it’s insanely funny or frustrating depending on your mood.
LOL Will!
I was elated when they were redoing the parking lot because I thought it was unsafe before!!!
I agree with Missy - it is terrifying now!
the parking lot has always been a source of frustration for me. even when I worked there.
The question is - are the parking issues due to the lot or a segment of the people that shop at Everybodies?
For instance I never see this at say HyVee.
HyVee’s lot is well designed. The parking lot is so poorly designed that it is laughable (and truly dangerous). It should not be the responsibility of the people parking to bring sense to the design.
The new traffic flow (no arrows) is not indicated, the parking lanes are too close together, the parking spaces are oddly sized, many parking lanes feel like dead ends and entry/exit is not clearly indicated. None of this is aided by the fact that the surface is not flat.
If Fairfield had any codes or regulations, this surely would be a violation of them.
The fun that ensues inside is another question.
I drive a humongous Dodge Ram, club cab, long bed pickup truck, and parking at Everybody’s is pure hell for me. I need to get something like a Toyota Yaris as much for the Everybody’s parking lot as for the high gas mileage.
I think it’s mostly the traffic flow through the lot (in other words, the design), but the users don’t get off entirely. I’ve seen a lot of people just pull in wherever with no awareness of anyone else whatsoever, in vehicles they obviously have no idea how to operate properly. (oh, just noticed the part about a redesign. So my comments may not be valid there.)
It’s even worse down here. Some days, I don’t even *try* to pull in to the parking lot of the supermarket down the street. I park at the far side of the back lot. And here, design is (usually–there’s one notable exception we deal with a lot) not really a factor. It’s not unusual for someone to stomp on the wrong pedal and launch their car (usually a Crown Vic or the like) through a store window–happens once or twice a year in our neighborhood alone.
Alex: that is why we love our Yaris so very much.
I agree that the lot is poorly designed. But a lot of the problem lies with the patrons. I went to Everybody’s around 10 this AM, pulled in from 2nd St., and the straight ahead lane was partly blocked by someone who hadn’t pulled in his pickup truck all the way, and was completely blocked by someone going the wrong way! I turned right and found a place to park. When I was leaving, I backed out and was about to go forward when someone pulled in front of me in the lane, going the wrong way to try to get to a parking place.
I suggest printing this and posting this at Everybody’s, or at least giving it to Paul at Everybody’s.
The parking lot today.
When you’re through with the one in Fairfield, Will, can you come back out to Seattle and pick any parking lot with more than 2 spaces and hold a similar seminar? I’ll join you for the lesson on “How to open your car door without scratching paint off the car next to you.”
That photo makes me groan Stokes ;)
lol Andrew. That would be a great topic. I’m afraid I don’t notice the scratches anymore there are so many. The day I stopped noticing scratches on my car was the same day that the guys at the detail shop (the place you take your car to be pampered) ripped off the door guard on the driver’s side of my car :(
I asked Paul at Everybody’s how many complaints he has had regarding the parking lot and he said too many. In next months source ad there will be details of a contest. I guess who ever designs the best parking lot will win 300 dollars. So start thinking about how you would remedy the situation.
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