Pickup truck/SUV owners intentionally blocking electric charging spaces in parking lots

[LSUmiss]

Only truck drivers that are idiots. Luckily, they tend to advertise how idiotic they are, so they can be avoided.



Up here in the north, the right side of the road can be littered with tire-popping hazards, potholes, etc. So cyclists can ride toward the middle of the road to stay safe. No one has more of a right to the road - cyclists or motorized vehicles. Who cares if they are going slowly?



Sounds like some sensible rules - you don't have a ticket to the game - what do you do, sit in the parking lot and get drunk? I think that would be a huge liability!

Here many ppl sit in the parking lot & watch the game on huge TVs at their RVs etc. Sometimes it’s ppl who wanted to tailgate but don’t have a ticket, sometimes it’s grandparents staying behind to watch the kids or leave a take the kids home, or sometimes ppl tailgate & leave before the game, etc. Thankfully our campus has not implemented that rule. I’d say on any given game day, about 1/3 of the ppl we tailgate with dont have a ticket for one reason or another.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Sounds like some sensible rules - you don't have a ticket to the game - what do you do, sit in the parking lot and get drunk? I think that would be a huge liability!

Yeah unfortunately recent years, including a death in the stadium parking area, have kinda heightened it. The NFL themselves have kinda put out suggested guidelines and whatnot spurring it on. The death happened back in 2013 but a wrongful death lawsuit just settled (well not sure if it's officially been approved) this summer on it. The fan had been drinking but then just up and disappeared during the game. He went out to the parking lot leaving the actual stadium and I guess was intoxicated enough that he didn't know where his car was. He had actually went into an unlocked vehicle (which I guess looked similar enough to his own) and people still out in the parking lot thought he was breaking into the car (which is a concern in general actually) and beat him up. He died from the injuries. The lawsuit really stemmed from the thoughtprocess that there wasn't enough security out there to help him out.

On the one hand tailgating is such a big thing, ingrained in our culture, on the other hand it's lost money for the stadium and team and increases chances of things happening.

It's a delicate balance that's for sure. I personally don't know many people who tailgate but don't have a ticket (though I know there are enough folks that do that because of tradition of just tailgating) but I do know some people, especially when the Chiefs aren't doing well lol, who would tailgate most of if not the whole game in the parking lot rather than going into the game. But now those people, when they really really start to enforce the rules will have to go to their seats or leave the parking complex. I think the point really is to lessen the amount of people in the vast parking lots and grassy areas (as every available space gets used). But on the other hand I'm hoping that it doesn't lead to more drunken people in the stadium themselves as they've been pre-gaming for hours already.

 

[Klayfish]

But there are so many car themed stereotypes.

Truck = redneck
Truck with a lift kit = compensating for a small ....
Subaru = Lesbian couple
Lincoln = grandma or grandpa that should have had their license taken away 10 years ago
Minivan = man who’s life is basically over due to kids. He has given up
Full size van = painter or carpert layer
High end sports car = middle aged divorced bald guy. Woman be careful
Honda Accord or Toyota Camry = boring person
Prius = environmentalist

They go on and on.

Yes, that's by far the main factor of the SUV craze. Minivans have a stereotype and nobody wants to be caught dead in one. SUVs are inferior to minivans in pretty much every practicality measure, and really don't do anything particularly well. Even if a buyer doesn't have kids to haul around, they want to portray an active lifestyle image and look that a minivan or sedan just doesn't have. It's all about image.

 

[bcla]

Yes, that's by far the main factor of the SUV craze. Minivans have a stereotype and nobody wants to be caught dead in one. SUVs are inferior to minivans in pretty much every practicality measure, and really don't do anything particularly well. Even if a buyer doesn't have kids to haul around, they want to portray an active lifestyle image and look that a minivan or sedan just doesn't have. It's all about image.

Depends. A lot of the smaller SUVs are more efficient yet have cargo room that minivans don't have unless you can take out seats. Still - the modern compact SUVs are really more like the modern equivalent of the station wagon. The Subaru Forester essentially got taller with about the same utility factor.

 

[bcla]

Yeah unfortunately recent years, including a death in the stadium parking area, have kinda heightened it. The NFL themselves have kinda put out suggested guidelines and whatnot spurring it on. The death happened back in 2013 but a wrongful death lawsuit just settled (well not sure if it's officially been approved) this summer on it. The fan had been drinking but then just up and disappeared during the game. He went out to the parking lot leaving the actual stadium and I guess was intoxicated enough that he didn't know where his car was. He had actually went into an unlocked vehicle (which I guess looked similar enough to his own) and people still out in the parking lot thought he was breaking into the car (which is a concern in general actually) and beat him up. He died from the injuries. The lawsuit really stemmed from the thoughtprocess that there wasn't enough security out there to help him out.

On the one hand tailgating is such a big thing, ingrained in our culture, on the other hand it's lost money for the stadium and team and increases chances of things happening.

It's a delicate balance that's for sure. I personally don't know many people who tailgate but don't have a ticket (though I know there are enough folks that do that because of tradition of just tailgating) but I do know some people, especially when the Chiefs aren't doing well lol, who would tailgate most of if not the whole game in the parking lot rather than going into the game. But now those people, when they really really start to enforce the rules will have to go to their seats or leave the parking complex. I think the point really is to lessen the amount of people in the vast parking lots and grassy areas (as every available space gets used). But on the other hand I'm hoping that it doesn't lead to more drunken people in the stadium themselves as they've been pre-gaming for hours already.

I haven't actually been to an NFL game in a while, but I have been near a game and encountered the aftermath. One time I was taking the train home, where I transferred to the Bay Area's BART system at the Coliseum/Airport station in Oakland while there was a Thursday night game. It was right about halftime and I saw a woman who was completely wasted but still awake being carried by her friends into the BART station. It was kind of sad. I don't know if they actually attended the game, because it would be unusual if 8 people would have tickets and leave at halftime. I think they might have simply attended a tailgate and were heading home.

 

[tvguy]

Yes, that's by far the main factor of the SUV craze. Minivans have a stereotype and nobody wants to be caught dead in one. SUVs are inferior to minivans in pretty much every practicality measure, and really don't do anything particularly well. Even if a buyer doesn't have kids to haul around, they want to portray an active lifestyle image and look that a minivan or sedan just doesn't have. It's all about image.

We have rented a lot of mini-vans over the years and I was always amazed at how little leg room the second and third row seats had. But I'm 6'2", my son is 6"4" and my daughter is 5'11". That is what has always tipped the scales towards and SUV for us, more comfortable seating. I purchased a Ford Flex in June. I'm not really sure what it is. Ford lists it as a truck, it looks like and SUV, but it really is a mix of a mini-van and an SUV.

 

[Wendy31]

Yes, that's by far the main factor of the SUV craze. Minivans have a stereotype and nobody wants to be caught dead in one. SUVs are inferior to minivans in pretty much every practicality measure, and really don't do anything particularly well. Even if a buyer doesn't have kids to haul around, they want to portray an active lifestyle image and look that a minivan or sedan just doesn't have. It's all about image.

As a driver of a mini-van, I don't get the mini-van hate.

Sure, yeah, a flashy little sports car or sleek, posh car is probably more fun to drive than a mini-van, &, some day, I'll have a BMW.

However, I don't get what makes driving a lumbering SUV better than or less "humiliating" than driving a mini-van - depending on the mini-van, of course.

I just don't get how the SUV looks any cooler than a later model mini-van.

I think my XLE 2017 Sienna looks better than most SUVs.

 

[Jdbsfw]

If I see a guy driving a minivan I just figure he’s a decent guy that’s doing what’s practical for his family despite the “stigma”. I have an SUV that’s been “leveled out” but I could never go with anything more than a 3” lift (more like 2”) simply because I don’t wanna do anything to my vehicle that isn’t 100% practical, and I don’t like looking “brutish”

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Up here in the north, the right side of the road can be littered with tire-popping hazards, potholes, etc. So cyclists can ride toward the middle of the road to stay safe. No one has more of a right to the road - cyclists or motorized vehicles. Who cares if they are going slowly?

Who cares? Pretty much EVERYONE stuck behind the jerk who doesn’t care he or she is impeding the flow of traffic. If a farmer who NEEDS the road to transport equipment from field to filed during his 17th consecutive 16-hour work day can have the decency to pull over for faster traffic, a cyclist who is only out there for their own enjoyment can damn well do the same.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Yes, that's by far the main factor of the SUV craze. Minivans have a stereotype and nobody wants to be caught dead in one. SUVs are inferior to minivans in pretty much every practicality measure, and really don't do anything particularly well. Even if a buyer doesn't have kids to haul around, they want to portray an active lifestyle image and look that a minivan or sedan just doesn't have. It's all about image.

Yes & no. Aside from the lack of sliding doors and a slightly reduced cargo area (complimented by a slightly reduced rear overhang), our Acadia is pretty much exactly a minivan inside. More importantly, unlike most minivan models, it’s AWD.

 

[Yarbogash]

We’ve been looking for a new bigger car for our family. I was really surprised to learn the Prius V has roughly the same storage capacity as a Ford Escape. I look at how much some people I know pay for gas to drive around in their giant trucks and suv’s and it boggles my mind. And they all say the same thing, ‘I need my truck.’
99% of the time they are using it as a basic commuter but they ‘need’ it. Makes little sense to me.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We’ve been looking for a new bigger car for our family. I was really surprised to learn the Prius V has roughly the same storage capacity as a Ford Escape. I look at how much some people I know pay for gas to drive around in their giant trucks and suv’s and it boggles my mind. And they all say the same thing, ‘I need my truck.’
99% of the time they are using it as a basic commuter but they ‘need’ it. Makes little sense to me.

They need it to haul stuff for that do it yourself room addition they're meaning to get around to but never do.

 

[Jennasis]

We’ve been looking for a new bigger car for our family. I was really surprised to learn the Prius V has roughly the same storage capacity as a Ford Escape. I look at how much some people I know pay for gas to drive around in their giant trucks and suv’s and it boggles my mind. And they all say the same thing, ‘I need my truck.’
99% of the time they are using it as a basic commuter but they ‘need’ it. Makes little sense to me.

Yay! I'm finally the 1%!!!

 

[JaxDad]

Dang. I’m a dude who drives a mini-van. I knew I was sort of lame, but I didn’t realize everyone else knew! It’s just such a great vehicle for student carpooling, dog hauling, and packing and riding during trips. Oh well.

@Jennasis, I used to have an F-250 with the old 7.3 liter turbo diesel. Oh man, what a great truck! I never blasted cyclists with smoke, but I did haul bikes and pretty much everything you could imagine for myself and friends. It could pull anything. Stupidly, I did not get the crew cab, and it became too impractical for my growing family.

And @LSUmiss, I went to grad school at UF. I remember the LSU fans rolling into Gainesville and setting up tailgate parties. They were great! And that was a road game! I went to several of the parties while scalping my student tickets. Good times!

 

[Jennasis]

Dang. I’m a dude who drives a mini-van. I knew I was sort of lame, but I didn’t realize everyone else knew! It’s just such a great vehicle for student carpooling, dog hauling, and packing and riding during trips. Oh well.

@Jennasis, I used to have an F-250 with the old 7.3 liter turbo diesel. Oh man, what a great truck! I never blasted cyclists with smoke, but I did haul bikes and pretty much everything you could imagine for myself and friends. It could pull anything. Stupidly, I did not get the crew cab, and it became too impractical for my growing family.

And @LSUmiss, I went to grad school at UF. I remember the LSU fans rolling into Gainesville and setting up tailgate parties. They were great! And that was a road game! I went to several of the parties while scalping my student tickets. Good times!

I love my 250, but when you have a truck and haul a lot (4 horse gooseneck trailer) you dream of having ALLLLL the power you can get. LOL. Mmmmmm...350 King Ranch edition....

 

[fla4fun]

We’ve been looking for a new bigger car for our family. I was really surprised to learn the Prius V has roughly the same storage capacity as a Ford Escape. I look at how much some people I know pay for gas to drive around in their giant trucks and suv’s and it boggles my mind. And they all say the same thing, ‘I need my truck.’
99% of the time they are using it as a basic commuter but they ‘need’ it. Makes little sense to me.

I actually have a Prius v, and I love it! I traded in a Ford Focus wagon for it. The Focus and the Prius v have about the same cargo space, but the v gets much better mileage. I looked at SUV’s before I bought the v and just couldn’t get past the poor mileage on the best rated SUV’s. I am hoping by the time I am ready to trade in the v, that will have changed.

I haven’t really been harassed by anyone because I am driving a hybrid but then the v doesn’t scream Prius since the shape is slightly different.

 

[LovesTimone]

Living in Florida, and I live in Winter Garden which is right behind WDW... So with the tourist, snowbirds, and tons of transplants... You should see how people park... We have parking for bikes, motorcycles, golf carts, electric cars, compact cars, handicap, expectant mothers, employee of the month, RV/motor-home( aka Land Yacht )... OMG... At Cracker Barrel a couple of weeks ago... in the RV parking spots people parked their cars 3 or more to 1 space then the cars in the middle couldn't leave... At one of my local grocery store they had to re-do all the parking spaces making golf cart, and the other spots wider so that when the snowbirds come back there aren't as many wrecks in the parking lot. I was at this store a few days before Christmas... I watched a lady pull into a spot with her caddie, and hit the car in front of her... and she just got out and went in the store like nothing happened... I did let the manager know in case someone came in about it... He said Thank you and that's only the 3rd fender bender today...on the same note instead of parking in the golf cart parking they park the golf carts in the Handicap spaces... on the way out I stood in disbelief as a lady in a small hybrid pulled into 2 spots - cross ways... and man starting yelling at her, she just gave him the international hand signal for love and walk into the store... that was only one quick trip to the store...

I drive a large SUV... I park away from the pack... a few extra steps is fine...

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Dang. I’m a dude who drives a mini-van. I knew I was sort of lame, but I didn’t realize everyone else knew! It’s just such a great vehicle for student carpooling, dog hauling, and packing and riding during trips. Oh well.

@Jennasis, I used to have an F-250 with the old 7.3 liter turbo diesel. Oh man, what a great truck! I never blasted cyclists with smoke, but I did haul bikes and pretty much everything you could imagine for myself and friends. It could pull anything. Stupidly, I did not get the crew cab, and it became too impractical for my growing family.

And @LSUmiss, I went to grad school at UF. I remember the LSU fans rolling into Gainesville and setting up tailgate parties. They were great! And that was a road game! I went to several of the parties while scalping my student tickets. Good times!

LOVE Gator tailgating!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I love my 250, but when you have a truck and haul a lot (4 horse gooseneck trailer) you dream of having ALLLLL the power you can get. LOL. Mmmmmm...350 King Ranch edition....

Step-father-in-law is a truck person though in fairness they almost always have used it for hauling something (boat, flat bed trailer-used that a ton for moving stuff, horse trailer,etc)

When I first met them he had a Tundra, then an F150 then another F150. A lil over a year ago they ordered a custom (took a few months to get) F350 King Ranch. That thing is a behemoth. I'm short so getting in and out of it is a task even with the step lol. But they traded in their F150 for the F350 because they bought a custom 5th wheel (they drove up there to get it either in MN,WI or MI can't remember). The 5th wheel attachment in the bed of the truck takes up a good amt of space but still enough space to use the bed of the truck. It is a nice truck but his last F150 had heated seats in the back and because of all the customizing they did with the F350 they decided to forgo the heated seats in the back..it was nice to have those though lol.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think the people parking in the Tesla charging stations and Coal Rollers are also people who are in denial about climate change and are doing their stupidest to show they hate people who are trying to do better for the environment, because if it was real, they'd have to change their lifestyle and not drive their big trucks anymore.......or something