Drivers Have Little Love for 'Back-in Angle' Parking

In one part of downtown Syracuse, motorists are now forced to park by backing into diagonal spaces.

1 minute read

October 28, 2008, 2:00 PM PDT

By Judy Chang


"The city is moving toward 'back-in angle' parking rather than 'nose-first' diagonal parking or parallel parking for several reasons. Driscoll says the 'back-in' method makes it easier for a motorist to pull out of a parking space safely. Studies in other cities have found a reduction in collisions with bicycles, pedestrians and other vehicles. And backing in is safer for children because kids who exit a backed-in car are more likely to move toward the sidewalk than into traffic.

The diagonal system also allows room for more spaces than parallel parking. The city added eight spaces to two blocks of Erie Boulevard East.

Motorists who encountered the new stripes Friday said they appreciated the extra spaces, but had less favorable reviews for the back-in method...calling the reverse-angle parking 'ridiculous' and 'absurd.' Several drivers either overlooked or ignored the prominent parking signs and swung their cars around to pull into the spaces nose-first."

Monday, October 27, 2008 in The Post-Standard

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up on BLM sign on Continental Divide Trail in Rawlins, Wyoming.

BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule

The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.

April 20 - Public Domain

Calvary Street bridge over freeway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path

Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.

April 20 - Smart Cities Dive