So, I stopped by Best Buy the other night, and they have these parking spots up front marked “Fuel-efficient Vehicles Only.” You see all sorts of cars parked there, usually imports – people just assume import equals good gas mileage, right? I’ve even seen an Avalon in there, which is decent, but hardly what I’d call fuel-efficient. Honestly, I blame the store for such a vague sign. What even qualifies? Is a hybrid Escalade fuel-efficient for its size? What about my Corvette? It gets 30 MPG on the highway, but most people think “gas guzzler” when they see it.
Anyway, I was driving my Volt, and I figured if anything fits the bill, it’s this car. A spot opened up, and I parked right up front. But then I started wondering, do I look like that guy now? You know, the one who thinks he’s saving the planet and deserves special treatment? It made me think, should I even park there? Maybe I should park next to the spot when some less efficient car is taking it up! What would be a better sign anyway? “Vehicles EPA rated at least 30 MPG combined”? And is someone going to key my car for parking there?
These are mostly just thoughts running through my head, but it was a new feeling. For once, I felt like I actually qualified for one of these spots, and in a way, made a little statement: “My car is Fuel-Efficient!”
So, I’m curious what you all think about these fuel-efficient parking spots. Do you use them if you can? Especially if you drive a Volt or another really efficient car?
Cheers,
-Bob
