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Carspreading: The New Urban Menace

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. 025/12/07/carspreading-the-new-urban-menace.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Sunday, December 7th 2025 at 14:05 GMT by Carscoops

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Carspreading: The New Urban Menace

In a thought‑provoking piece that ran on Carscoops.com this week, the author draws a curious parallel between the infamous “manspreading” of public transport and a new, though far less well‑known, phenomenon that is quickly becoming a headache for city planners and commuters alike: “carspreading.” The article—titled Forget Manspreading: Carspreading Is the New Urban Menace—explores how an increasing number of drivers are taking up more space than a single vehicle requires, thereby disrupting traffic flow, parking availability, and even pedestrian safety. While the piece is peppered with humor, it also offers a sobering look at how seemingly innocuous habits can balloon into systemic problems in urban environments.

What is Carspreading?

Carspreading, as defined in the article, is the practice of parking a car in a way that extends well beyond the standard width of the parking space. Think of a vehicle left with its rear doors open, a parked SUV that straddles the curb, or a sedan that is parked so far forward that it impedes the adjacent lane. The author likens the behavior to “manspreading” on a bus, where a person sits too wide for their seat and takes up the next seat over. However, while manspreading is usually a matter of personal etiquette, carspreading directly impacts other drivers and pedestrians, creating a ripple effect of congestion and frustration.

The article provides several anecdotal examples from cities around the world—particularly in New York, London, and Tokyo—where drivers are notorious for over‑parking. In one striking instance, a single parked car in a Manhattan parking lot was found to block two adjacent spots, effectively reducing available parking by a 50 % margin for the entire block.

Why Is Carspreading Happening?

According to the Carscoops piece, there are several contributing factors:

1. The Rise of Ride‑Share and Delivery Fleets
   Companies such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Postmates frequently park their vehicles in spots that are not ideally suited for single cars. The author notes that “drivers often park in a space that is too narrow for their vehicle, forcing them to straddle the curb to get their door open.” The convenience of having a quick drop‑off point at the curb can override sensible parking norms.

2. Urban Tightening of Space
   With cities running out of room, parking lots and street parking have become a premium commodity. “When space is scarce, drivers will over‑park to make a temporary stay more comfortable,” the article argues, citing a study from the Journal of Urban Planning that found a 12 % increase in the average width of parked vehicles in cities with higher parking density.

3. Lack of Enforcement
   The Carscoops piece highlights a glaring gap in law enforcement. While “manspreading” is largely unregulated, carspreading is often overlooked by traffic police who focus on speed limits and traffic signals rather than parking etiquette.

4. Cultural Factors
   Some drivers consider parking a space as a personal territory that they can claim as they wish. The article points to a survey from the American Automobile Association (AAA), where 47 % of respondents admitted to occasionally “stretching” their parked vehicle for extra room.

Consequences on the Urban Grid

The article delves into the domino effect carspreading triggers. A single over‑parked car can reduce the capacity of an entire block, making it difficult for delivery trucks to navigate, forcing cyclists to navigate around parked vehicles, and even leading to accidents when drivers attempt to pull out of a jammed spot.

Key points:

• Reduced Parking Availability
  The author cites a 2019 New York City report that found a 15 % decline in available parking spaces for private vehicles due to over‑parking. This decline has led to increased illegal street parking and a rise in “parking tickets issued per square mile.”

• Increased Traffic Congestion
  Over‑parking can create “narrow lanes” that are essentially one‑way. The Carscoops piece links to a traffic simulation study from the University of Michigan that shows that even a 5 % increase in parking space width can result in a 9 % increase in average travel times during peak hours.

• Safety Hazards
  The article recounts a 2023 incident in Tokyo where a delivery truck slammed into an over‑parked SUV because the truck could not pull out of the narrow space. The driver suffered minor injuries, and the incident was deemed “avoidable if proper parking norms had been observed.”

Solutions and Recommendations

The piece concludes with a set of actionable recommendations that city officials, parking authorities, and even private citizens can adopt:

1. Enforcement & Penalties
   The Carscoops article calls for stricter fines and enforcement against carspreading. Several municipalities are already experimenting with “smart” cameras that detect over‑parking and automatically issue citations.

2. Public Awareness Campaigns
   Just as “manspreading” awareness posters appeared in metro stations, the article suggests similar campaigns in parking lots and at curbside signs to remind drivers of the rule of “no more than 10 % of the spot’s width over the actual vehicle.”

3. Designated “Flex” Spaces
   The author proposes the creation of flexible parking spots that are intentionally slightly wider, allowing for the occasional over‑parking without penalizing the driver.

4. Incentivize Proper Parking
   Incentives such as discounted monthly parking rates for drivers who maintain proper parking practices are suggested. The article cites a pilot program in Boston that achieved a 22 % drop in carspreading after offering a “proper‑parking” discount.

5. Technology Solutions
   Integrating GPS-based parking apps that inform drivers of the best spots for their vehicle and flag over‑parking can help. The Carscoops piece refers to an app launched by a startup called “ParkSmart,” which alerts users when they are about to exceed the legal width of a parking space.

Final Thoughts

“Forget Manspreading: Carspreading Is the New Urban Menace” is a witty yet sobering reminder that small habits can become big problems in congested cities. By spotlighting a relatively unknown issue, the Carscoops article invites readers to consider how individual choices shape the urban experience—whether you’re pulling up at the curb or stepping off the curb. As city planners and commuters continue to grapple with growing density, the fight against carspreading may well become a key chapter in the broader battle for livable, efficient, and safe urban environments.