I’ve bought plenty of things online over the years—from vintage vinyl records to quirky home décor—and while finding the perfect item can be exciting, there’s always one part I don’t particularly enjoy.
The meetup.
You’ve found something you’ve been searching for forever. You’ve messaged the seller, agreed on a price, and now you have to figure out where to exchange the money and the item.
Suddenly, the excitement can turn into a little nervousness.
You’re meeting someone you’ve never met before. You don't know exactly what to expect. And even if you've chosen a public parking lot, you may still wonder whether it's actually the safest place for the transaction.
That's why I was so intrigued the first time I heard about parking spaces marked with a handshake symbol.
What exactly does that little handshake mean?
As it turns out, the symbol can have a very practical purpose.
What Does the Handshake Symbol on a Parking Space Mean?
A parking space marked with a handshake symbol can designate an area intended for people meeting to complete online marketplace transactions.
The idea is simple: instead of arranging to meet a stranger anywhere you happen to find convenient, you can choose a location specifically intended to make these exchanges safer and more predictable.
One example can be found in Pembroke, Ontario, where designated spaces outside the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment at 77 International Dr. have been used as community safety zones for online transactions.
The concept addresses a problem that has become increasingly familiar in the age of Facebook Marketplace, classified ads, and other online buying-and-selling platforms.
You find the item.
You agree on the price.
Then comes the question:
“Where should we meet?”
A designated exchange area gives both parties another option.
Why Were These Parking Spaces Created?
Online marketplaces have made buying and selling secondhand goods incredibly convenient.
But convenience comes with one obvious challenge: you often have to meet a stranger in person.
That can be uncomfortable, particularly when you're exchanging something valuable or carrying cash.
A designated meeting location can help reduce some of that uncertainty by giving buyers and sellers a recognizable public place to meet.
Instead of saying:
