Every morning is Shark Week in EC parking lots. Especially those lots on Crenshaw Boulevard, the frenzy is at its peak from roughly 8-11 a.m.
Everyone has their own method for hunting down a spot. Some cars lurk in strategic spots while others choose to circle around.
Inevitably, when everyone gets their schedule figured out, you’ll start to see the same cars chasing spots and the same students leaving daily, so it’s best to stay on good terms with everyone. It could save you or someone else from another tardy.

Here are five unofficial rules to help prevent you from being the parking lot jerk:

5- Just ask. As students get out of class and trickle into the lot, drivers perk up and start following these students to potential open spots. Instead of being a creeper and awkwardly following someone, roll down the window and say something. It’s more than likely that the student will be happy to let you know where they’re parked and save their spot for you. You might just make a new friend.

4- Hit those corners sharp and slow. It’s early, the clock’s ticking and the only reward for finding a spot is going to class; It’s natural to get impatient, but a fender-bender is going to make it hard to have a good week. The corners in the parking lots are blind for the most part. Make sure to slow way down and avoid making wide turns. Even a close call is bad. It’s too early for that kind of excitement.
Read why even now minor collisions are costing big bucks here.

3- Nobody likes a tease. There’s nothing worse than getting excited because you see someone climbing into their car only to realize minutes later that they’re just digging in their backseat for a textbook and heading back to class. Meanwhile, another spot opened up and got taken. If you’re going to your car but not leaving, give a heads-up to those hoping to get your space.

2- Make it snappy. OK, so you’ve finally found a spot and that person is actually leaving. Victory. Until they decide it’s time to fix their hair, find the perfect song on the radio, shoot off a couple text messages and and calculate how many miles until their next oil change. If somebody’s waiting for your spot, get out of there in a timely manner.

1- It’s not that serious. Unlike sharks hunting in the ocean, the parking lot game is not life or death. Another spot will open up eventually. Everyone is here for the same things: parking and getting to class. Sometimes you get here and a spot is just waiting for you, other times it can take over 20 minutes. If there’s a dispute, let it go. If someone was clearly waiting for a spot, don’t try to snake it. And always say thank you to those that let you have their spot.