Residents of Hönö island near Gothenburg disagree about car parking distances on local ferries. Some drivers leave large gaps between vehicles. Others park close together. The debate affects traffic flow during rush hours.
Longtime resident Palle Hultsbo says early risers park best. People who arrive for traditional office hours leave bigger spaces. Local Facebook groups show photos of large gaps with comments like 'Not okay.'
But some residents argue wider spacing improves safety during possible evacuations.
Transport Administration official Jonas Abrahamsson supports closer parking. He said cars should park 'as close as possible.' His ideal distance is 20-30 centimeters between vehicles.
'Most cars have parking sensors today,' Abrahamsson noted. 'People should manage this.'
The spacing issue means fewer cars fit on each ferry trip. During peak times, this creates significant delays.
Abrahamsson explained the impact. 'Sometimes we talk about meters between cars. If people parked closer, we could fit 4-5 more cars per trip. That would equal one extra ferry per hour.'
Safety concerns about tight parking are unfounded, according to the official. The important safety distance is between cars side-to-side, not front-to-back.
Both Hultsbo and Abrahamsson say this is a recent problem. Previously, island cars often had distinctive dents in front license plates from tow hooks. This showed how closely people used to park.
'When most travelers worked at Volvo, there was always 20 cm between cars,' Abrahamsson recalled. 'There was different discipline then, with less traffic. Getting everyone aboard mattered more.'
The official cannot explain why spacing has increased. He suspects car vanity and changed habits play roles.
'People might care more about their cars today,' Abrahamsson suggested. 'After parking, people look at their phones instead of their surroundings.'
This straightforward parking issue reveals changing attitudes toward shared public resources. Island communities depend on efficient ferry service, yet individual concerns about vehicle damage create collective transportation problems.