Ahhh! The perennial question every holiday Christmas season—to “park and walk” or “cruise the lot” for the best parking space?
Leave it to researchers to analyze the efficiency of these two strategies to find a parking space in terms of time saved. According to this article “Parking Space Roulette” at Science News Online:
…in their model, the “park and walk” approach takes an average of 61 seconds, from entering the lot to reaching the mall entrance, whereas the “cycling” [cruise the lot] strategy requires an average of 71 seconds. The first approach usually involves more walking, but you tend to get to your shopping faster.
I wonder if their model included a factor for congestion of moving cars (and people) in the parking lot. The article implies that they did not. That would greatly increase the time for the “cruise the lot” strategy.
Anybody who has had to park at a Wally World Super Center knows to avoid the area nearest the entrance like the plague, even at midnight. Besides taking an eternity just to drive through that area to find a parking space, they make you wait a second time just to leave.
Hmmm…reminds me about my prayer for patience…