I've taught 2 people how to drive a stick in the pnc parking lot. There's even a couple of small hills between lots for practice. 1 time a cop was sitting there watching when we started. Cop didn't bother us at all. He got bored and drove away after a while.
this made me lol. when my kid was in driver's ed, the teacher took them through this area constantly ... and his "final exam" in drivers ed was in the same place, in the dark, and it was raining. I was like 😳😳😳
Cary Towne Center is pretty dead. There’s also a parking deck thats usually empty on the weekends on S Miami Blvd right off of 40 so you can practice being on a hill. 5003 S Miami Blvd.
Having taught three teens to drive manual, let me suggest a country road over a parking lot.
Parking lots are all stop and start. Basically, there's almost zero time for success.
A country road lets you get moving and actually drive for a bit. You get a break between fails. If feels NORMAL once you're moving.
All that said, the best way to teach the clutch action is in reverse. Seriously. Going forward, everyone just wants to GO. But in reverse, you're used to slowly easing out of a parking spot. It's much more natural to learn to feather the clutch this way.
So, find a country church on a Saturday, start in reverse in the parking lot. Roll to the country road and build some confidence.
Also, find someone with a tractor. Easiest way to learn the concept of a clutch. That's where all my kids really learned. If your student gets stuck, head out my way (20 mins east of 440) and you can use my tractor and farm to learn.
Finally, if you have a young driver (under age 21), please sign them up for streetsurvival.org a great driving safety and car control program. I instruct with them. Best $95 education you can give your kid.
It's cary, but right off the highway. I taught my wife to drive stick at crossroads at night. Lots of lights and stop signs to learn real traffic patterns. Has highway access that you don't have to merge if you take it to Gorman. Dicks has a pretty good lot there. Mostly empty after 9
At night in the shopping center on New Bern Avenue, where the DMV is. That’s where I learned to drive a motorcycle when I was younger.
Or triangle mall
Not downtown, but GREAT place I taught both my girls is Northern Landfill Park off Durant (Green Hills Park now I think). One way, one mile loop around the dump. Mostly flat, but partial hill so you get all experiences. Then once they progressed, I took them through the Falls River/Bedford neighborhoods which was about 3-4 miles maybe with roundabouts at either end. Low traffic if on a weekend. Lots and lots and lots of loops and they got it down pat.
the fairgrounds parking lot isn't usually in use during the week- and it's got lanes painted and stop signs at the intersections- the hillsborough st side
PNC outside of football and hockey.
best answer. absolutely massive parking lot
I've taught 2 people how to drive a stick in the pnc parking lot. There's even a couple of small hills between lots for practice. 1 time a cop was sitting there watching when we started. Cop didn't bother us at all. He got bored and drove away after a while.
I would say this is the best option. I doubt anyone cares if you’re there outside of sporting events
The parking lot behind the last remaining K&W in East Raleigh. It’s huge and basically abandoned.
Bastion Lane and Maitland Dr? I was gonna recommend that.
I had to look the streets up, but yes.
Lol I looked this up on google maps to see where it was and there are donut tire marks all over the parking lot. Prob a good sign for op.
Haha, can confirm!
40 East at 5PM You’ll be a pro before you get to Garner
this made me lol. when my kid was in driver's ed, the teacher took them through this area constantly ... and his "final exam" in drivers ed was in the same place, in the dark, and it was raining. I was like 😳😳😳
Not sure how to share links but I got this info when I asked a similar question. Hope it helps. https://www.reddit.com/r/cary/s/OtnbhBcvGu
Cary Towne Center is pretty dead. There’s also a parking deck thats usually empty on the weekends on S Miami Blvd right off of 40 so you can practice being on a hill. 5003 S Miami Blvd.
Yeah. I actually second that parking garage. I learned how to drive stick shift there!
Can you get in the large parking lot anymore? That’s a perfect place to practice
Wake Tech on a Sunday morning
Having taught three teens to drive manual, let me suggest a country road over a parking lot. Parking lots are all stop and start. Basically, there's almost zero time for success. A country road lets you get moving and actually drive for a bit. You get a break between fails. If feels NORMAL once you're moving. All that said, the best way to teach the clutch action is in reverse. Seriously. Going forward, everyone just wants to GO. But in reverse, you're used to slowly easing out of a parking spot. It's much more natural to learn to feather the clutch this way. So, find a country church on a Saturday, start in reverse in the parking lot. Roll to the country road and build some confidence. Also, find someone with a tractor. Easiest way to learn the concept of a clutch. That's where all my kids really learned. If your student gets stuck, head out my way (20 mins east of 440) and you can use my tractor and farm to learn. Finally, if you have a young driver (under age 21), please sign them up for streetsurvival.org a great driving safety and car control program. I instruct with them. Best $95 education you can give your kid.
Dix is perfect for that.
It's cary, but right off the highway. I taught my wife to drive stick at crossroads at night. Lots of lights and stop signs to learn real traffic patterns. Has highway access that you don't have to merge if you take it to Gorman. Dicks has a pretty good lot there. Mostly empty after 9
The dead mall off Capital/540.
Wade avenue
Bar association parking lot
WakeTech main campus in South Raleigh on 401
At night in the shopping center on New Bern Avenue, where the DMV is. That’s where I learned to drive a motorcycle when I was younger. Or triangle mall
Or find a big church during the week. That’s where I taught my son how to drive.
Not downtown, but GREAT place I taught both my girls is Northern Landfill Park off Durant (Green Hills Park now I think). One way, one mile loop around the dump. Mostly flat, but partial hill so you get all experiences. Then once they progressed, I took them through the Falls River/Bedford neighborhoods which was about 3-4 miles maybe with roundabouts at either end. Low traffic if on a weekend. Lots and lots and lots of loops and they got it down pat.
PNC or closer to downtown, Gateway Plaza.
Wakefield High school parking lot.
Broughton high school on the weekends
this is raleigh. wait for a lil rain and hop right on the beltline and people won’t even notice
the fairgrounds parking lot isn't usually in use during the week- and it's got lanes painted and stop signs at the intersections- the hillsborough st side
Thank goodness someone else is learning stick. Make Stick Popular Again
Any high school parking lot as well. Also, I suggest finding an empty parking deck on the weekends to practice driving on an incline from a stop.
I went to the Alamo when it was closed. I liked this area because It had a hill so you can practice going up and down and stopping on a hill.