Screamed at in Whole Foods parking lot for where I parked

[Tradd]

I was at WF Sunday for something specific. They have spots for electric cars and then spaces for fuel efficient cars. I drive a Focus. So I parked in the fuel efficient spot. As I was unlocking my car a soccer-mom looking type in an SUV stopped right behind my car and started screaming at me. She had a major issue with the fact I was driving “only” a gas powered car and dared to park in the spot I took when she’s driving a hybrid SUV and her vehicle is more fuel efficient than mine!.

My response? I laughed, told her to F off and get a life. She drove off in a huff. :devil:

[catherine]

Wow.. Yeah, she should get a life.

I do have to say that when I used to drive DH to a local medical clinic for a regular outpatient procedure, they had similar parking spaces for fuel-efficient cars. I drive a Prius, and I can't tell you how often I couldn't park there because of the big gas-guzzling cars sitting in the spots. Grrr.. Frankly, a couple of times I almost left notes. It does sound like a petty thing, but it would really annoy me.

I think that because your Focus is a small, relatively fuel-efficient car, I probably wouldn't have even noticed your car. But, strictly speaking, I do think those spaces are for hybrids and electrics. If they were for any small cars, they'd have to save a LOT more spaces in the parking lot!


ETA: I just looked up the mpg of various hybrids, and I don't consider hybrid SUVs to be that great. Maybe vs standard SUVs, but I'm quite sure that your Focus gets better gas mileage than 27-28mpg. My Prius gets 47-50mpg

[Tradd]

My Focus gets about 35 mpg.

If they want only hybrids to park in those spots, then it should specify that on the sign. There are separate spots for electric vehicles, complete with chargers.

[catherine]

My Focus gets about 35 mpg.

If they want only hybrids to park in those spots, then it should specify that on the sign.

I agree. The sign is very ambiguous.

[Williamsmith]

Wow.. Yeah, she should get a life.

I do have to say that when I used to drive DH to a local medical clinic for a regular outpatient procedure, they had similar parking spaces for fuel-efficient cars. I drive a Prius, and I can't tell you how often I couldn't park there because of the big gas-guzzling cars sitting in the spots. Grrr.. Frankly, a couple of times I almost left notes. It does sound like a petty thing, but it would really annoy me.

I think that because your Focus is a small, relatively fuel-efficient car, I probably wouldn't have even noticed your car. But, strictly speaking, I do think those spaces are for hybrids and electrics. If they were for any small cars, they'd have to save a LOT more spaces in the parking lot!


ETA: I just looked up the mpg of various hybrids, and I don't consider hybrid SUVs to be that great. Maybe vs standard SUVs, but I'm quite sure that your Focus gets better gas mileage than 27-28mpg. My Prius gets 47-50mpg

Your Prius gets 47-50 mpg? That’s friggin fantastic!

[sweetana3]

My Civic with its regular engine gets 35-40 and lets me know continuously so I can figure out the sweet spot for good mileage,

[bae]

My Mini Cooper seems to reliably get 35-40mpg on the highway, ~30 or so in the city. I think I put gas in it every couple of months.

[pinkytoe]

DD gave me a bit of advice that has worked like a charm in situations like this. She advised to just blow them a kiss rather than engaging them in further heated discussion:)

[Selah]

Our Kia Niro hybrid gets, on average, 47-53 mpg. We love it!

[SteveinMN]

But, strictly speaking, I do think those spaces are for hybrids and electrics.
I park my Jetta diesel in those spots. 40-44 mpg around town; mid-50s on the highway? I don't need two motors. :)

[Miss Cellaneous]

We don't have those kinds of signs around here, at least not that I've seen. Why even have them? It's not like the signs for pregnant women, who may have a legitimate need for a space close to the doors. And none of these special parking spaces are remotely like the handicapped parking spaces, where it is against the law to park in them if you don't have the appropriate placard/sticker.

I highly doubt a store will ban you if you park in one of those spaces with the "wrong" kind of car. So I don't understand why someone would get so upset to the point of screaming at another person for parking there.

I have to admit I see those signs as suggestions, not orders. If it's pouring rain and there's an empty spot close to the door that isn't a handicapped spot, I'm taking it. No matter what sign the store management may have seen fit to put there.

[SteveinMN]

I have to admit I see those signs as suggestions, not orders. If it's pouring rain and there's an empty spot close to the door that isn't a handicapped spot, I'm taking it. No matter what sign the store management may have seen fit to put there.
Those signs/policies are an attempt to offer a benefit for what is considered (by at least some) a collective good (polluting less per mile; having offspring). One can decide that they agree with the intent or decide to consider it a "personal virtue".

In some places here I do see signs for "Compact cars only". People apparently have a very vague idea of how big their vehicles are, if the number of pickups and Chryslers I see in those spots are any indication. But they designate those spaces not because they think people should drive smaller cars but because larger parked vehicles make it difficult for everyone to negotiate the parking area. It's not the same as restricting parking spots to high-mpg or low-emissions vehicles and the rule doesn't have the teeth of handicapped-parking spots but it's more than a suggestion and probably should not be regarded as a "personal virtue".