Here’s What a Handshake Symbol on a Parking Space Means

Here’s What a Handshake Symbol on a Parking Space Really Means

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, it can have a very practical purpose—and it's something more online shoppers and sellers should know about.

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.

These spaces may be called Safe Trade Zones, Buy and Sell Exchange Zones, Safe Exchange Zones, or similar names, depending on the police service or community operating them.

The basic idea is simple:

Instead of arranging to meet a stranger at your home, their home, or an isolated parking lot, you can choose a designated public location specifically intended for person-to-person exchanges.

One example can be found in Pembroke, Ontario, where the Upper Ottawa Valley Ontario Provincial Police launched Project Safe Trade at its detachment at 77 International Drive in December 2022. The initiative was created to move online transactions away from secluded parking lots and private residences and into a public setting.

And Pembroke isn't the only place using this idea.

Police services in communities including Ottawa, Hamilton, Peel, Niagara, Brantford, and Halton have established their own designated spaces for online transactions.

So if you've ever spotted a strange handshake symbol painted on a parking space, there's a good chance you've found one of these exchange areas.

Why Were These Parking Spaces Created?