I would like some computational evidence in favor of my observation that one can park a car in tighter (parking lot) spaces by backing in rather than nose in. I have been doing this successfully for some 15 years, but see few others trying this.
So, the model is a rectangular parking space, orthogonal to the side of the lot, and a second row of cars blocking the way, opposite the space. A car has fixed wheels in back, maybe at 1/4 the length, and turning wheels in front, maybe also 1/4 the length, I don't know. I see people going in and out trying to get into spaces (nose in) that I would have gotten first try. If there were no second row of cars narrowing things, of course they could, essentially make a turn and then simply drive in a straight line into the space. But that is not how parking lots are made. A given car has a minimum turning radius, but the main point is that the center of the circle may not be where one expects.
In the long run, I would love to have something I can show to Berkeley Bowl West and Trader Joe's suggesting that they put up signs "Consider parking by backing In."