How do you drive in alleys? (Chicago, Phoenix: to rent, house, buying)

[TheDuchess]

I'm sorry if this seems like a dumb question but here it goes.... I am moving to Chicago from Phoenix with my husband and young daughter. We have decided to rent a small house for a year while we get to know our way around the city. We found a house that we like but the garage is at the back of the home in an alleyway. The alley is only accessible from one end so it is essentially a two way street with room for only one car to pass. The thought of having to back down the alley when someone else is coming is very intimidating. Although it seems silly to give up such a great house over something like this. Is there a system or method to alley driving? Since they don't get plowed will we be snowed in? Would it be better to park on the street and use the garage for storage? Of course street parking means I will have to learn to parallel park. I have been driving for 15 years (1 speeding ticket 10 years ago and 0 accidents) and I have never ever had to parallel park except when I took my drivers test. The thought of driving in the city is giving me hives. I'm sure I sound crazy but driving in Chicago is so different from the wide and spacious Arizona roads. Thank you for the help...and not laughing too hard.

[Manigault]

One just drives down the alley -- only rarely will a person have to back down. If there are two cars in the alley at the same time, one either moves to the side or backs to let the other one out first. The alley also will get plowed after a snow storm but it is a low priority.

Try to time your comings and goings so they do not intersect with the garbage truck emptying dumpsters in the alley. Garbage trucks are very hesitant to move to let someone out of their garage.

[WhaThe]

Originally Posted by TheDuchess

The thought of driving in the city is giving me hives. I'm sure I sound crazy but driving in Chicago is so different from the wide and spacious Arizona roads.

I'm just the opposite. I despise long straight roads now. I remember when I would enjoy it once upon a time. Just been in Chicago too long now I guess. I could cruise around the city all day.

[TrainingDay]

Originally Posted by TheDuchess

I'm sorry if this seems like a dumb question but here it goes.... I am moving to Chicago from Phoenix with my husband and young daughter. We have decided to rent a small house for a year while we get to know our way around the city. We found a house that we like but the garage is at the back of the home in an alleyway. The alley is only accessible from one end so it is essentially a two way street with room for only one car to pass. The thought of having to back down the alley when someone else is coming is very intimidating. Although it seems silly to give up such a great house over something like this. Is there a system or method to alley driving? Since they don't get plowed will we be snowed in? Would it be better to park on the street and use the garage for storage? Of course street parking means I will have to learn to parallel park. I have been driving for 15 years (1 speeding ticket 10 years ago and 0 accidents) and I have never ever had to parallel park except when I took my drivers test. The thought of driving in the city is giving me hives. I'm sure I sound crazy but driving in Chicago is so different from the wide and spacious Arizona roads. Thank you for the help...and not laughing too hard.

lol! may i ask exactly what part of the city you are moving too?

[WyoNewk]

If you like the house otherwise, go for it. You might want to practice backing a little before you're forced into it. You're only talking about a one-year rental. It might be different if you were buying....

[Chicago60614]

if the alley is a dead end, there probably aren't many cars that will be coming down it, and the chances of actually running into another car coming at you are very slim. If it's really THAT thin that two cars can't pass each other, I'm assuming the car turning into the alley will pause if he sees you trying to exit out onto the street.

Having to drive down an alley to park is the LAST reason I would pass on getting a house. I'm not sure why you'd ever be backing down an alley.

[jwaiter]

After a large snow event what happens is the larger vehicles/big SUV's/trucks drive in the alley and pack the snow down, then all I do is shovel the small area in front of my garage door. Then I can get out and down the alley even in my little Civic.

Regarding two cars in the alley at the same time, don't even worry abt it, everyone works around each other, it's never an issue. Believe it or not, two cars going in opposite directions can pass in the alley, but one of the vehicles has to pull tight against a garage while the other goes around. Really, don't worry abt it.

[jwaiter]

Rare things come up... like the time I was leaving to have Christmas with the family in the suburbs and we had so much snow some a**hole abandoned his/her car right in front of my garage door preventing me from getting out of my garage. Idiot.

[Thepreacherswife]

Really not a big deal. Please don't honk incessantly to announce your presence like a lot of idiots in this city. Just slow and yield at all the intersections and you should be fine.

[nidex]

I don't see how having to move would be intimidating. Either you back out which is not usually necessary, because you can squeeze up against someone's garage while the other person goes through. I usually go by whoever is already driving down the alley has the right of way. If someone is just turning into the alley and you're coming down, just keep going and they will move.

Alleys are a part of Chicago and it would be foolish to turn a place down because of it. I don't "honk incessantly", but if there is a blind corner in an alley sometimes I will tap my horn ever so slightly.

You'll get used to it.