The Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority recently announced the addition of over 30 back-in angled parking spaces in downtown Cheyenne.

A dozen new back-in parking spaces are located on 20th Street between Bent Avenue and the railroad tracks. Another 19 have been added on 19th Street between O'Nell and Bent avenues.

In a post announcing the new parking spaces, the DDA cited a Hoboken, New Jersey governmental website on the alleged advantages of back-in parking;

-improved visibility and better vision because motorists are better able to see oncoming traffic as opposed to backing out of parking spaces.

-fewer collisions, related to the improved vision.

-better safety for children because "Car doors open in a manner that directs children to the back of the vehicle, ushering them towards the sidewalk rather than the street."

-better safety for cyclists because ""Car doors that open will not result in “dooring” of cyclists, and as vehicles exit their parking stall, they are able to see cyclists in the roadway."

-improved loading and unloading

But not everyone on social media was so enthusiastic about the new approach to parking. Numerous people commented that despite the claims of the back in angled parking being safer and easier, in the real world just the opposite is true.

Some motorists consider having to back into parking spaces cumbersome and argue that it tends to inhibit the smooth flow of traffic. Some also argue that "if it ain't broke. don't fix it" and that implementing back-in parking is a solution in search of a problem

So what do you think? Is back-in parking safer? Or is it a case of trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist?

 

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