Curb parking. These two words make every new driver nervous. I remember it was a big challenge for me when I first started driving. So, how to park next to a curb like a pro?
Many years of both driving and parking helped me learn some helpful tips to make it easier. And I am sharing all of them with you right now.
Parking next to a curb is very intimidating for most drivers because it does require precision, steering in reverse, and a couple of skillful maneuvers. The great thing is, it’s not unlearnable.
It just takes some practice and you’ll be parking like a pro even in the smallest parking spots.
This is something you should become an expert in, especially if you live in a big city. Also, it is a part of your driver’s test. But don’t despair!
With this little help, parking next to a curb will be piece of cake, and it will save you time and energy.
By the end of this article, you will have all the information you need to start mastering this skill.
Table Of Contents
What you will need to follow this tutorial
There are two ways on how to can park next to a curb:
- On your driver’s side
- On the opposite side
The steps you need to follow for both cases are exactly the same:
1.Find a parking space
For the first few times, I recommend finding a wider parking space, approximately three feet longer than your vehicle. If there is a car behind you, signal that you want to park so they go around.
2.Pull the vehicle alongside the space
Position your vehicle so the rear bumper is aligned to the front of the desired parking space and then stop. Put it in reverse while keeping your foot on the brake.
3.Back up
Now you can start backing up so you can park. The backing up has to be done at a 45-degree angle. Check your mirrors at all times, so you don’t scrape any surrounding cars.
4.Straighten
When you get near the curb, in order to straighten out your vehicle, begin turning the wheel on the opposite side of the curb, in this case, your left. Your vehicle should now be parallel to the curb. And that’s it.
How To Park Next To A Curb: Step-by-step instruction
To better understand the aforementioned steps, here is a short photo presentation of every step you need to follow.
Step 1 :
Pull alongside the parking spot. Here you need to indicate that you will be parking, turn ON your indicator light to signalize that you will be parking. Throw a look in your mirrors and make sure it is safe to start parking. Pull your car up alongside the vehicle parked in front of the free space, staying parallel about 16 to 24 inches away from it.
Step 2 :
Stop and put your car in reverse, and look back over your right shoulder behind you. Turn the wheel completely to the right and slowly start to move backward. As your car swings in toward the curb, keep the steering wheel turned to the right until the rear driver’s side corner of your vehicle is in line with the front driver’s side bumper of the car behind you.
Step 3 :
At this point, begin turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction while continuing to back up. Straighten the wheels of the car as you are slowly pulling into the parking space and pull forward or backward if it’s needed to leave enough space in front and behind your car. Lastly, before setting the parking brake, make sure your wheels are within 12 inches of the curb. If they aren’t, you may need to pull the car forward and back in again while turning the steering wheel to get closer.
Also, if you want to see a video on how to park next to a curb, watch this:
Now that we covered the steps, let’s look at some rules concerning parking in general because it’s just as important to know where you are allowed to leave your car as it is to learn to park it.
Painted curbs
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Green
Limited time parking. There is always a sign with the time limit posted next to the green zone.
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White
Only for pick up/drop off.
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Red
No stopping or parking.
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Blue
Parking is only allowed for people with disabilities.
Extra tips
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Blind spots
Another crucial thing to remember when parking at a curb is that there are always blind spots. When your mirrors are positioned the right way, you will not be able to always see the curb and you need to be super aware of your surroundings.
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Drive into space
You will save yourself a lot of time and trouble if you find a parking space long enough that you can drive right into. However, if this is not possible, always stick to the steps I’ve shown you above.
Conclusion
These kinds of tutorials were very helpful to me when I first started driving, and I think I’ve perfected the curb parking by now. Follow the steps carefully and you will learn this skill in no time. You can watch a couple more videos to get an even better understanding of the process. Remember to practice because you know what they say – practice makes perfect.
