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-   -   How do I remember my parking spot in huge parking lots (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/273511-how-do-i-remember-my-parking-spot-huge-parking-lots.html)

I have a peculiar issue, maybe some of you have also face this. When I park my bike in my office parking (which is huge), its difficult to spot the bike while going back home. Remembering pillar number on daily basis is struggle (is it age ?!). Sometimes, I keep wandering in the parking alleys like a thief or not knowing what I am there for. Does someone know of any way to attach a beep (like a car, not a preferred solution) or a Bluetooth tracker?

Apple Tag could be an option but not efficient in basement.

Thoughts?

Our office car park has 11 floors (including basement). If I forget where I parked, I have to wander a lot of floors to find my car. Bikes are on 2 floors only, so that's a little easier.

So, I have a 2 pronged approach to solve this problem.

First, I send a WhatsApp message to my wife everyday with the pillar number and parking level immediately after turning off the ignition.

Second, I try and park in the same general area of any floor. If a slot in my preferred area is not available, I go up to the next floor.

Not a very techie solution but it works 99.9% of the time.

Take a photo of the pillar and WhatsApp it to yourself.

Cheers, Doc

This happens to me all the time, I always click the pictures of the nearest pillar that says the floor/ pillar, and in a larger mall, even the picture of the lift entrance (they usually have numbers) lol:

Glad I am not the only one :D

Me too :thumbs up. I always take a picture! Storage is anyway dirt cheap today.


You can also try Airtags or their Android version. It will have its limitations, but also serve as a useful tool in case your car / bike ever gets stolen.

If you remember the floor, I guess all the cars have that feature on their key fob when used, will flash their hazard lights few times. My 2010 Figo had it, and by now all the cars should.
Probably some cars may honk too.

You can just tell Android Assistant to remember where you parked.

https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/7382429

The offline solution is to take a photo of something distinctive nearby which you will then show to the guards / staff who should be able to guide you to the right place. Malls etc. I see have grid-style numbered pillars that should help in this.

Send a message to yourself on whatsapp or use google

https://support.google.com/maps/answ...form%3DAndroid

As others have said, clicking a picture of the pillar helps. But do make a note of the floor as well. It also helps to note which lift no. / entrance name or no. you're closest to, since parking lots tend to be very spread out horizontally.

Avoid anything that requires a data network, since most basements have patchy coverage.

WhatsApp allows you to message yourself. Stop spamming your wife! :D

Glad to know that I am not the only one with this issue. lol:

I try to remember the number on the pillar where I am parking and also try to memorise the shops near the mall entry which I take, so that I can backtrack from there. Clicking pictures is a nice idea indeed, but I guess I haven't been able to do that thinking that it may cause other people to ostracize me. :D I know, I know we shouldn't care what others think of us, but I think most of us at some time or the other have been guilty of trying to fit in/appear cooler than we actually are.

Worst case scenario, I hit the lock button twice on my keyfob and my car chirps. I hate the chirping sounds of the car in general and would prefer a system where my car never chirps as compared to a system where my car chirps during every lock and unlock. This implementation by Ford is a nice middle ground and I end up thanking them every time, this feature helps me in locating my car. No such luck with the Jetta which only flashes its lights.

Mine is a standard slot on the 5th floor at work, the only confusion I end up doing is park on the 4th floor in the same slot :D

I photograph the slot in mall parking plus try to lock from keyfob so the indicators will flash.

Do Airtags work on a grain level? More than basement parking, am looking for something that'll help when parking during trips.

Taking pic is the easiest so that's that. Here's other options; pick what works for you
- Try to park as close to a pillar/location that appeals to you (e.g. a pillar number that matches yours/family member's birthdate or your favorite number) and you won't forget.
- (In case you get the luxury of an empty parking lot) park at one designated location every day. Something that is easy to obtain or gets filled last (e.g. a slot closest to the lift or a corner spot away at the end, etc).
- Park next to some unique stationary object that you can recollect (e.g. a lift / staircase/entry-exit point, etc).

I used the last option a lot when working at a client location overseas (US parking lots - huge amounts of space); used to park next to a cycle stand everyday which became a easy landmark to look for in a sea of cars when returning back to home.

Usually relevant for large malls for me but can apply to large apartment / office complexes as well.

I do the following:

- Take a picture of the pillar and WhatsApp it to myself.
- Include floor in the whatsapp message to return to the correct parking level.
- I also take a picture of the store closest to the lift which I used (when in large malls) so while returning, I’m using the same lift to reach the parking. Minimises a longer walk in the parking lot hunting for the same pillar.

I take a snap whenever I end up parking the car in parking lots of malls and such. Easy to figure out later.







Started doing this as my earlier car (Polo) did not have the beep while locking/unlocking.

Thank god, I haven't yet reached the level of forgetting where I have parked my car.