Bay Park Manoeuvre - The Bay Parking Manoeuvre
The Bay Park / Bay Parking Manoeuvre is a reverse manoeuvre that you might be expected to perform on your Practical Driving Test
The Bay Parking manoeuvre is a relatively simple manoeuvre as long as you follow the rules
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre. Please forgive me for this, but whenever I go to a supermarket I always see the people in the car park that do not have a clue how to park their own cars in a parking bay. I see them take any amount of tries at bay parking only to end up driving off to find a slot that they can drive into forwards. The Bay Park / Bay Parking Manoeuvre is not an art form.
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
This is not the only relevent Bay Parking method available
The method that you will see for Bay Parking on this page is not the only available method for the Bay Park manoeuvre. For example: where I teach pupils to pull up parallel to the end of a parking bay (in this example), it is just as valid to pull the nose of the vehicle out at an angle to the parking bay. The most important part of this Bay Parking page is the advice on "What we are looking for in the Bay Park manoeuvre" at the bottom. If the method for Bay Parking that you have been taught fits within that advice then you are probably fine to park in a bay correctly. If you have not been taught to Bay Park then please rest assured that the method for Bay Parking laid out on this page works perfectly, at least after a little practice.
Bay Park Manoeuvre - The Bay Parking Manoeuvre
Bay Parking - The Aim of the Bay Park / Bay Parking Manoeuvre.
The aim of the bay park/ bay parking manoeuvre; is that when you go shopping and have to park on a car park with bays you are not one of the very many drivers who take several attempts to get their car into a bay.
The ability to bay park is a skill that you may use regularly. When shopping at supermarkets or using a multi-storey car park your bay parking ability will be tested.
We all develop slightly individual styles for bay parking which is not a bad thing but please, do not allow yourself to become lazy on the observations. Observations whilst performing a bay park manoeuvre are essential whether on test or not.
Bay Park - The Bay Parking Manoeuvre
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
The briefing for the Bay Park manoeuvre.
The examiner will ask you to pull up near to the parking bay (they will be quite specific about where they wish for you to stop). Examiners have their own style but they will ask you to perform the Bay Park manoeuvre with a brief something like this.
"I would like you to choose any an available bay and reverse park your vehicle into it in a safe manner please".
Bay Park - The Bay Parking Manoeuvre
Bay Park / Parking - Key points for the Bay Park manoeuvre
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
Where to stop before the reversing
Move forward until your vehicle is one car width away from the parking bay that you wish to reverse park into and one car length past it. This will give you sufficient room to manoeuvre, and fit in effective observations.
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
When to turn once reversing
As you reverse you will get used to a reference point that is different for every vehicle (your instructor will show you the relevent reference points for their vehicle). When your reference point is in line with the first line of the parking bay that you have chosen, or the corner of the parked vehicle in the next bay, turn quickly to full lock.
As you reverse around towards the bay, make any minor steering corrections that are necessary.
Just before you are completely parallel in the parking bay straighten up. I say just before because it takes a second or two to straighten up from full lock.
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
Control of Speed during the Bay Park manoeuvre
Obviously the speed for the manoeuvre is to be dead slow. Control the speed with the foot pedals making sure that you do not have one foot on the gas pedal and the other one on the brake, ever.
Bay Park / Bay Parking - Performing the Bay Park manoeuvre
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
Moving off
Your car is stationary so the driving plan is P.O.M.
Preparation - Clutch down, first gear, gas and biting point.
Observation - All around to check for pedestrians as well as moving vehicles.
Manoeuvre - Move away when it is safe to do so.
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
When to stop.
Move forward until your vehicle is one car width away from the bay that you wish to reverse into, and one car length past it. This will give you sufficient room to manoeuvre, and time to fit in the necessary observations.
As soon as you your vehicle is stationary, apply the parking brake and select reverse gear.
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
The short reverse.
Preparation - Gas and biting point.
Observation - All around to check for pedestrians as well as moving vehicles.
Manoeuvre - Look over the appropriate shoulder, release the parking brake and reverse when it is safe to do so.
Perform another all around observation before turning.
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
When to turn.
As you reverse (looking over your shoulder of course) you will get used to a reference point that is different both for every vehicle and for each direction. When your reference point is in line with the first line of the bay that you have chosen, turn quickly to full lock in the same direction as the bay.
As you continue to reverse slowly around into the mouth of the bay, make sure that you do one more all around observation and any minor corrections to the steering that are necessary.
Just before you are completely parallel in the bay straighten up (remember to glance at the wheel to make sure that it is properly straight if you are not sure). I say to begin straightening the steering just before being straight on in the bay because it takes a second or two to straighten up from full lock.
When you are suitably straightened up and fully into the bay then bring your vehicle to a halt, apply the handbrake, and select neutral.
Take your feet off the pedals and relax. Smile... You've done it.
Bay Park - The Bay Parking Manoeuvre
What are we looking for in the bay parking manoeuvre
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
Co-Ordination.
You will have to co-ordinate the speed and the timing of the steering in a smooth manner so that the manoeuvre can be performed in one smooth attempt. Less speed is always good especially in a car parking situation where pedestrians of all sizes can be expected to come at you from any angle.
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
Observation.
There will have to be several all around observations to ensure the safety not only of ourselves but of other users of the car park also.
Before moving off - so that you have checked for pedestrians moving between the vehicles.
Before you turn - even though it is only a second or two from the last one. Some pedestrians really do not look out for themselves.
While you reverse into the bay - look over your shoulder to make certain that there is no-one behind you and that you know exactly when to bring your vehicle to a halt.
The Bay Park / Bay parking Manoeuvre
Accuracy.
You will have to reverse into the bay and stop between the lines in a reasonable parking position.
