Why do drivers in Atlanta back into parking spaces?

👋🏽 Kristal here.

Back in October, I was parking my car near a coffee shop when my passenger, Axios publisher Nicholas Johnston, asked a question that seemed to come out of the blue: "Why does everyone back in here?"

Zoom in: At first, I didn't know how to answer Nick, who lives in Washington, D.C., because I never thought about it.

• After backing into the space and putting my car in park, I noticed nearly every vehicle had been backed in by drivers.

A few days ago I was scrolling on social media and came across a reel of someone hating on drivers who back into parking spaces and it reminded me of Nick's question.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized drivers in Atlanta do back into parking spaces quite a bit.

• When I was driving a two-door Honda Civic, I rarely backed into a parking space. I now drive a four-door Honda Accord and I almost always back into parking spaces.

Yes, but: Backing in makes it easier to leave a busy function or depart if something pops off (this is what I told Nick when he asked).

• It also makes more sense if you have a larger car, or if you're parking in places that have narrow spaces.

(Don't come at me complaining about how much time it takes; the more you do it, the more efficient you become at backing in! Plus, waiting another 30 seconds won't kill you.)

Flashback: When I was little, seeing a person back into a parking space added a certain kind of swagger to the driver.

• In my juvenile eyes, a person was cool if they could back into a parking space (AND parallel park, which I can do).

But I want to hear from you, Atlanta. Do you back in or drive forward into parking spaces? Why (or why not)?

• Or do you scream at the top of your lungs when you're behind a driver who insists on backing in?
• Hit reply and tell us!