Depending on where you live, you may have access to a parking garage. Sometimes this is attached to the apartment directly, and other times it is detached. Finding the right apartment is more than just finding the correct number of rooms, the size bathroom or kitchen you want. Sometimes it is about having access to parking on site. Many people find this more desirable than having to park on the street. The reason is that they know they will have a place to park when they get home. When parking on the road, you do not know if you will be able to park close to your house. This can be a bit of a problem when you are trying to get things into the house. At any rate, I, Mark Roemer, am going to share some etiquette tips with you for navigating your parking garages.

Parking Straight

You must keep your car within the lines of the parking stall. This will allow the maximum amount of people to park in the garage. I am sure there has been a time in which you have seen someone park across two spots. Do you remember how irritating that was? You don’t want others to look at you the way you looked at that person. So, for the sanity of all your neighbors, heed your mother’s advice and stay within the lines.

Additionally, you will want to make sure that you are not parked too close to either line. This will make it hard for others using the structure. It will also lead to having dents and dings on your vehicle. So, when you park, exit your vehicle and check that you are well within the lines to allow others to pass before you turn your car off. 

Finally, don’t ever park a vehicle in a spot it was it was not designed. Meaning, if you have a full-size car, make sure not to park it in a compact parking spot. This will make it so that others are unable to park in the structure. This tends to make people upset.

Speed limit

While there is not an enforceable speed limit in most private parking garages, you will want to keep the speed down. There are many dangers in a parking garage, and you need to be prepared for all of them. Most of the time, they are small cramped areas. This means you will not have the time to react or maneuver if someone backs out of their spot suddenly.

Additionally, there is a potential for children or pets to be in the parking structure. Again, the time and space you will need to react may not be available to you. In my parking structures, I suggest that people keep it at a reasonable 15 miles per hour. This may sound excessive, but since enacting a speed limit, I have not had any accidents happen on my property. When in doubt, go slow. Your neighbors will thank you for it – even if they are in a hurry and behind you.

Technology

 While we do live in a time where technology is at our fingertips at all times, it is essential to wait just a little bit longer before engaging in this activity. This goes equally for drivers and pedestrians. If you are paying attention to your phone, then you are not paying attention to where you are driving or walking. This makes for a dangerous situation. The time you will spend in the parking garage will be minimal. Just wait that few extra seconds before jacking into the internet.

I am sure that you have heard stories of people that have been run over while they were listening to their music or texting while walking. It is for this reason that you should wait until you are clear of the parking structure before engaging your technology.

Noise

No matter if the parking garage is attached or not, the sound has a way of resonating in these structures. Acoustically, the concrete bounces sound more than an empty house or building. The large flat surfaces are facing each other in close proximity. This means that any noise you are making will be amplified.

Landlords and tenants alike, know that people work and play on differing schedules. There is nothing wrong with that. Just make sure that you keep the noise to a minimum. When starting your car in the morning, make sure you are not revving your engine or turning the music up too loud. Likewise, when you are coming home after a night of partying, make sure that you and anyone that is accompanying you keep the conversation as quiet as possible. There is no need to be loud in the parking garage.

Traffic Laws

I specifically mentioned speed a few paragraphs above. However, you want to make sure that you are following all traffic laws as if you are outside the parking structure. This means that you should be using your blinker, putting on your seatbelt, and checking your mirrors. You never know if someone or something has snuck up behind you. I don’t mean this in a “someone is going to kill you” sort of way. It merely means that cars are quieter than they used to be.

Additionally, the sound that penetrates our cars has been minimized as well. When you combine those two, it is a recipe for disaster. So, in addition to checking your mirrors before exiting your vehicle, you should always check them before pulling out of your spot.

Conclusion

If you follow the tips that I, Mark Roemer, have provided you above, you will have a pleasant experience with parking structures. If you feel there is anything that I have missed, do not hesitate to let me know. I am always interested in ways to improve my parking structures. Drop a comment below or use the contact form and send me a message directly. I wish you the best of luck in finding an apartment with a parking structure. They are a dying breed.