I know I’m going to get slammed for this, but here goes…
I generally don’t double park either. I agree that (legalities aside) it is rude, inconsiderate and thoughtless regarding the well-being of your fellow man (or woman).
That being said, there is one occasion where I regularly double-park.
My mother is disabled. For her, walking more than a few steps comes at a fairly high price (pain-wise). So, when I take her home from my house (she comes to visit fairly often), I will double park in front of her building (and help her into the building) if I can’t find a close spot.
Fortunately, she lives on a very wide one-way street. Even with my minivan double parked, there is more than enough room for a garbage truck, school bus or other similarly large vehicle to pass. About the only things that might have trouble are tractor trailers or tanks — both of which are seen very rarely (if at all) on that street.
(And yes, when I do double park, I try to do it in a way that no one is blocked in. And, if it must be that way, then I’m always checking to make sure that the blocked-in people aren’t there and need me to move.)
The Wolf