Publicity-Hungry German Mayor Designates Difficult Parking Spaces as ‘Dude-Only’

So this is happening in the world — Gallus Strobel, the mayor of a German town called Triberg, has told the local paper Süddeutsche Zeitung that he hopes to “challenge political correctness” by designating dude-only parking spaces. How, might you ask, does this new policy glove-slap political correctness across the face? The parking spaces will be for guys only because they’re apparently harder to get into.

The gendered parking spots are marked with standard gender symbols, with guy spots sandwiched between huge cement pillars that force the driver to test his familiarity with The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift by throwing his automobile in reverse and trying very hard not to hit anything while maneuvering into the narrow parking spot. The lady spots, conversely, are in well-lit areas and closer to lot exits. “Men,” said Strobel, explaining his new scheme (which I’m sure taxpaying town residents are just super excited about), “are, as a rule, a little better at such challenges.” As a male someone with a pathological fear of parallel parking on crowded streets (pedestrians can be super judgey), I can say that Strobel’s driving worldview is a little, um, stupid.