perching
pp. While in a car in a crowded parking lot, waiting for, and possibly following, a person who is going to exit the lot and thus free up a parking spot.
Examples
2012
By the same token, don't hover around waiting for shoppers heading to their cars. There's a term for this: perching.
—Angel Streeter, “South Florida parking specialists offer holiday parking tips,” Sun-Sentinel, November 21, 2012
2011
"Perching" on someone who is about to exit a parking spot adds stress for both parties. Begin the parking search in a lot that is farther from the door.
—“5 Tips: Black Friday Car Safety from Ourisman Kia in Chantilly, Va.,” Today's Auto News, November 23, 2011
2008 (earliest)
Now, instead of bees, think of humans parking. The parkers in the
Montana lot who followed the "perching" strategy had evolved a very
speci?c optimal strategy: They knew that near the top of the hour, as classes emptied, spots would become available, but it was better to search for the exiting driver than the spot.
—Tom Vanderbilt, “Traffic,” Knopf, July 29, 2008
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