Drive thru ATM Etiquette (2024)

Go to the ATM last night, there are two machines and two distinct lanes. Guy in front is parked dead centre straddling the lane divider line waiting for the first car to finish. Pleanty of room for me to go around in the right lane, so I zip around in a defined lane.

He loses his mind starts honking and yelling becasue I chose a lane and it worked out while he was left straddling his line of indecision when the car ahead pulled away.

Was I wrong? even if i was I can tell you i had a little chuckle.

If nobody is behind you, sure, wait and pick the line that is the best flow, but I dont think you can park cars behind you waiting in this situation.

"I suppose this is the most basic kind of everyday ethical problem: if there is an established social order (where the rules are universally understood), is it ever O.K. for someone to break the unspoken agreement everyone else has made, particularly in situations in which very little is at stake?

This specific question, like most of this variety, has a technical answer and an actual answer."

-The Ethicist @ The New York Times

Read the "technical" answer and the "actual" answer here http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/magazine/impatience-takes-a-number.html?_r=0

Obviously... your mileage will vary.

If he was waiting and waiting, even though the other lane was open I don't see an issue.

However, if he was in the middle and the other lane just happened to open up and you hit the gas first to beat him to it, then it's the equivalent of cutting in line....tough call...

suzuki2000 said:

Go to the ATM last night, there are two machines and two distinct lanes. Guy in front is parked dead centre straddling the lane divider line waiting for the first car to finish. Pleanty of room for me to go around in the right lane, so I zip around in a defined lane.

He loses his mind starts honking and yelling becasue I chose a lane and it worked out while he was left straddling his line of indecision when the car ahead pulled away.

Was I wrong? even if i was I can tell you i had a little chuckle.

If nobody is behind you, sure, wait and pick the line that is the best flow, but I dont think you can park cars behind you waiting in this situation.

See Also

How to Use a drive-thru ATM

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Does the same rule apply when you're waiting for a urinal?

MarcosSantiago said:

"I suppose ...http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/magazine/impatience-takes-a-number.html?_r=0

Obviously... your mileage will vary.

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That is just a litle too deep..

mimico_polak said:

If he was waiting and waiting, even though the other lane was open I don't see an issue.

However, if he was in the middle and the other lane just happened to open up and you hit the gas first to beat him to it, then it's the equivalent of cutting in line....tough call...

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no cutting in line, I agree that would be wrong. i just chose to pick a line, and lucked out that as I came behind the car currently at the ATM, they were conclusding their business and began to pull away. Was this advantageous to me yes, but only by pure dumb luck.

Both are in the wrong.

The lanes at the ATM are like grocery store lines. You pick one and you wait. You don't "reserve" two or more lanes so you can pick the fastest one at your convenience. There are defined lanes. It's not a bank line-up where everyone waits for the first teller to open up.

However, two wrongs don't make a right. If buddy in front of you has been waiting longer than you have, you don't have a right to bud in.

I've seen multi-lane drive thru's have signs that say 'choose the lane with less cars' and some grocery stores are doing the bank lineup thing where you go to next available cashier.

Were you right or wrong? Opportunistic sounds like.

You both acted like *****.

You're welcome.

nobbie48 said:

Does the same rule apply when you're waiting for a urinal?

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This is the correct answer. There are not multiple lanes leading to multiple machines like at a supermarket. There is usually one lane leading up to a couple machines. IMO you were in the wrong.

shinrai said:

This is the correct answer. There are not multiple lanes leading to multiple machines like at a supermarket. There is usually one lane leading up to a couple machines. IMO you were in the wrong.

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Ever been to a gas station?

sonnythebull said:

I thought you meant the other kind of ATM

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lol - as reliable as a clock

klr_guy said:

lol - as reliable as a clock

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You are welcome!

mikbusa said:

You don't get to camp in all lanes. What would he do if there were 3 lanes, park across all of them?

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This is my point. There were two defined lanes leading up to two ATM's. in this case, two lanes, two machines. Camping across multiple lanes is wrong IMHO. What I did was a dick move, but I did it for purpose. I wanted him to realize just how big a dick he was being What would be the response if this same person was parked in rush hour traffic straddling lanes waiting to determine if one lane might move before then other?

suzuki2000 said:

This is my point. There were two defined lanes leading up to two ATM's. in this case, two lanes, two machines. Camping across multiple lanes is wrong IMHO. What I did was a dick move, but I did it for purpose. I wanted him to realize just how big a dick he was being What would be the response if this same person was parked in rush hour traffic straddling lanes waiting to determine if one lane might move before then other?

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No wonder lane splitting is illegal. If we just solved the ATM lanes, it would all make sense!

Oh, good comparison! i agree.

Is okay, i'd have done the same thing. I'd have pulled up behind him and honked, if he doesnt choose a lane then, its game oN!

suzuki2000 said:

This is my point. There were two defined lanes leading up to two ATM's. in this case, two lanes, two machines. Camping across multiple lanes is wrong IMHO. What I did was a dick move, but I did it for purpose. I wanted him to realize just how big a dick he was being What would be the response if this same person was parked in rush hour traffic straddling lanes waiting to determine if one lane might move before then other?

Click to expand...

nobbie48 said:

Does the same rule apply when you're waiting for a urinal?

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Yes, and under no circ*mstance can a grown man use the midget pisser. Just hold it and wait.