Shut The Gate. Question on Gate Ettiquette.

pegaxs on 07/05/2019 - 19:27

Need a change of pace and something other than insurance and fines to talk about. So, it's all about shutting the gate.

I went out on the weekend for a sport of sport shooting at paper targets. At the range that I arrived at, there is quite a large gate that has to be opened and closed after entering.

Upon arriving at the gate, I noticed that there was another car that arrived at the same time. I stopped, got out, opened the gate and drove my car through and up to the office, leaving the other car to close it as they came through after me.

When the other car arrived, the driver opened their window and verbalised me about not stopping, waiting and closing the gate and was threatening to report me to the range manager. He said "If you open the gate, you have to close the gate." Meaning that he wanted me open it, drive through, park, get out again, let him past and close it. Mind you, there were 3 adults in his car and I was on my own.

So, what I am asking is, was I in the wrong? Is it a case of "you touch it, you own it"? Is is considered polite to double handle the gate, or is it the responsibility of who ever comes through last, they have to close it?

Do the rules change regarding the amount of people travelling in each car? ie: If car one passenger opens the gate, car one lets everyone past and closes the gate?

PS: I'm not talking about arriving on your own. Rules there are, if it was open, leave it open, if it was closed, close it. I am talking about 2 or more cars arriving at the same time…

Poll Options

  • 176
    First car opens, last car closes.
  • 10
    If you open it, you close it.
  • 1
    Other/see comments.
  • 0
    Last car opens and closes.
Automotive

Comments

  • bobbified on 07/05/2019 - 19:34
    +38

    He said "If you open the gate, you have to close the gate."

    That ungrateful prick - I would've asked him to reverse back out so that I can close it and then he can get out and open it himself.

    • ronnknee on 07/05/2019 - 19:54
      +7

      Yea what an idiot. Next time this happens, OP should just get out of the car and close the gate on the other guy. That'll learn him.

      • AustriaBargain on 07/05/2019 - 20:53

        Wouldn't OP have to actually block the road to do this stopping his car very close to where the gate shuts, to stop the other car just following them through?

        • Almost Banned on 07/05/2019 - 22:54
          +3

          Like so many things in life it depends on which way it swings

    • p1 ama on 07/05/2019 - 23:06
      +9

      Agreed, there are two possible solutions.

      1) You go in, then shut the gate directly after. If he wishes to open the gate, that's his business.

      2) You go in, and leave it open as a courtesy. Closing it now is his business as you've just saved him the trouble of opening the gate.

  • mbck on 07/05/2019 - 19:34
    +10

    Maybe you can just point at the gate and motion 'close', then walk away.

    But in anycase, i thought it was those unspoken rules, you're the last one to leave a room, turn off the light.

    • pegaxs on 07/05/2019 - 19:58
      +3

      That’s what I said to him through fits of laughter.. “if you turn up late, you shut the gate..”

    • gooddealmate on 07/05/2019 - 20:17
      +5

      Same situation on the job site with my radio, I'm not going to switch it off if I'm not last one on the site as I don't want to leave them in silence, but of course I'd expect them to turn it off as they leave.

      Kinda obvious.

      • AustriaBargain on 07/05/2019 - 20:56
        -3

        What's the matter with leaving it on, the energy cost of leaving it on overnight must be incalculable for a job site.

  • qwerty on 07/05/2019 - 19:36

    Depends on what the etiquette at the gun club / range is maybe all members open the gate and wait for the cars to pass them idk but without knowing that option 1

  • nocure on 07/05/2019 - 19:38
    -3

    If that's the SSAA range, there should be instructions on the gate, but normal etiquette is you open it, you close it.

    • pegaxs on 07/05/2019 - 20:01
      +1

      Never noticed any note about the gate procedure. Most times it’s open when I get there. I will look next time. The range manager just laughed it off.

      • papachris on 08/05/2019 - 21:07
        +3

        If the manager just laughed it off, I suspect the other guy is known as a prick…

  • thatonethere on 07/05/2019 - 19:50
    +2

    Generally my limited rural experience was the first car opened the gate and made sure the following car would get thru as well. Following car would endeavour not to cover you in dust. First car would close up.

    • Kangal on 07/05/2019 - 20:42
      +2

      That only works if there is space for him to park his car to the side, which leaves enough space for other cars to drive on through.

      If there is, it makes sense that first car opens gate and parks to the side, the next few cars drive through without needing to get out, then first car closes gate and drives on.

      But either way, the second/fifth car has no right to demand the first car opens and closes the gate… that's just lazy and stupid.

  • Halo375 on 07/05/2019 - 19:54
    +1

    I think its just a miscommunication, if you were travelling with friends they would know to close the gate. This stranger thought you didn’t know what you were doing and that you would have left it open even if you were by yourself. Forget them and move on.

  • AustriaBargain on 07/05/2019 - 20:51
    +2

    Who even cares. Tell him to blow it out his ass.

  • Gandalf the Thrifty on 07/05/2019 - 21:02
    +7

    A shooting range seems a strange place to verbalise or make threats to someone…

  • RockyRaccoon on 07/05/2019 - 21:18
    +1

    Very simple.

    Open the gate
    Drive thru
    Stop just past the gate
    Get out of car
    Hey you now "see" the other car (you can even act surprised for effect)
    Indicate by sign etc do they want to left open
    If they ignore you, shut it, move on.
    Otherwise leave it open and wave at them.

    That way they know you know the gate should be shut but leaving it open to save them reopening it.

    I think Halo375 above has correctly assessed the issue here

  • spackbace on 07/05/2019 - 22:03
    +3

    What did the gate say when you asked it…?

    😂

  • try2bhelpful on 08/05/2019 - 06:54
    +2

    The fact that you would need to get out to close it again means the second guy, probably, should’ve closed the gate. You’ve saved him having to do this twice. The guy is obnoxious but it isn’t worth worrying over. Maybe next time go back to the car behind and say you will leave them to close it before driving off.

  • magic8ballgag on 08/05/2019 - 08:26
    -1

    Does this question even need to be asked?

    • pegaxs on 08/05/2019 - 11:21
      +1

      Would you rather we go back to "parking fine disputes" and "had no insurance in accident" HowTo guides?

      • magic8ballgag on 08/05/2019 - 11:50

        I'd rather people try and make their own decision on what is acceptable adult behaviour.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2019 - 09:20
    +1

    "I did close the gate".

    "No you didn't and I'm going to report you. Profanity profanity profanity."

    "So if I have to close the gate, it means you have to open the gate to get in. You got in, ergo, you opened the gate. If the gate is still open, that means you didn't close the gate."

  • Plug on 08/05/2019 - 11:11
    +1

    Bloke in tbe second car was a dick.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2019 - 12:41

      How'd you know it was Richard?

  • Lockieasy on 08/05/2019 - 11:19
    +1

    Because you were alone, then the second car should shut the gate imo.

    If you weren't alone then etiquette would be your passenger would open the gate and wave all cars through before closing it and getting back into your car assuming you could pull over somewhere convenient.

  • skyva on 08/05/2019 - 11:35

    Last person through closes the gate. If you have to close it, it should be closed immediately after you enter, and the car behind you then opens and shuts the gate. Unless it is the Queen I guess. Maybe it was Her Majesty? Certainly sounded like they were entitled enough.

  • 82norm on 08/05/2019 - 21:05

    The other driver was a jerk off, just ignore him. Having opened a shut many a gate on farming properties, general etiquette if more than one car, is, first car drives to gate, opens it, passes through, allows other cars to follow through and you (or ideally passenger of first vehicle shuts the gate). Other vehicle reciprocates should another gate is encountered further ahead.

    In your instance, as you were travelling solo, common sense and courtesy, they should have closed it for you, given they had other passengers. Maybe as others have said, verbal or hand signals as some form of acknowledgement or intent may have alleviated the situation. Again, the other guy was a (profanity).

  • original15 on 08/05/2019 - 21:41

    He’s in the wrong, but be careful bringing it up if it happens again or you see him again. Wouldn’t entertain an argument at a gun club lol

    • bobbified on 08/05/2019 - 21:45

      Wouldn’t entertain an argument at a gun club lol

      Nothing wrong with that if you're the one holding the bigger gun! 🤭

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