Disabled parking bays

Galstonian

Can't say I've seen too many M&C spaces, most (all?) around here are Parent and Child.

"Also, children DO open up car doors without looking properly"

that is why child locks were invented and I would suggest you use them for children of 6 and 2.

Believe Safeway have a number of stores with creches, not sure what will happen now Morrisons. Worth the extra cost as opposed to Tesco? Up to you, I guess.

Fran

When my kids were young, apart from needing to get the door open wide for a baby seat etc. I had older toddlers. I always thought one of the reasons for Parent and Child spaces near the door was because they could run under a car. That would be my main concern. There is no "safe" pathway from the other end of a car park.

Furniture_man

>:( >:( >:( >:(Outside my business there are old yellow faded lined which years ago used to indicate parking for disabled drivers.

This is no longer the case and has not been a designated area for years.

However, it amuses me to see cars park, place their disabled sticker in the window, and run to the shop next door when it is raining.

I would also like to thank the unknown person who, thinking these spaces were still for disabled, carried out a one man crusade and stuck offensive notices to windscreens criticising able bodied drivers.

It took me days to get rid of this notice.

Of course there are genuine disabled drivers, whi I have the greatest of sympathy for. but as in all walks of life, there are those who abuse this sysytem

trafalgar_2

My husband is disabled , when he is with me we use the disabled bays
when he's not I don't and I understand why people get annoyed when they are misused

Mother and toddler bays I also agree with , it is hard enough keeping an eye on all dangers when kids are around without getting into arguments with people cause I need the door open wider to get the grandkids out and they worry about getting their car scratched in NORMAL bays

These days everyone has differant needs and differant priorities

maybe we should just  try to accommodate each others needs and priorities ;D

Even if it does mean walking a few more feet if you can

wirm

The thing about it is. A parent could if space is needed double park in spaces leaving them with enough room that is needed.

Where-as a disabled parking bay is ALWAYS near to a shop etc. somewhere that leaves the person with little or no walking to do!

People really do need to be more considerate with disabled parking bays!

AND STOP FRICKIN PARKING IN THEM!

cathy_3

call me daft  but why on earth are there parent and child parking bays anyway?? I assume the parents are young  the kids are young   so why do they need parking near the shop??

disabled I can understand,  wheelchairs and walking difficulties and all that

but  my two are grown up now and I dont ever remember getting or needing a special parking bay near the shop


what really gets up my nose is people like the guy I saw last week who left his trolley in the disabled parking bay

PIG

IvanOpinion

I have posted this on another thread which had a link to this thread so just to get my stars up am posting it here as well.

Just to open up the discussion a bit. I have used a disabled spot on a couple of occasions. Once when my wife was literally just out of hospital - but she just had to get out to the shops. The second time is a very long story (which I will post if necessary) but suffice to say I was using it purely to load the goods I had just purchased into my car.

On both occasions I was questioned by at least one person. In the first instance my reason was deemed to be acceptable and on the second instance the woman had a massive chip on her shoulder, she was not interested in fact and simply wanted to make a scene (she even threatened to hit me with her crutch - as I said a very long story - suffice to say even my wife (who does not normally swear) gave the woman a mouthful that would have made a navvy blush).

I don't know why our car parks are designed the way they are. In America most car-parks have spaces that are at 45 degress to the flow of traffic. It is much easier to get in and out and due to their very nature there is more space around them.

I do agree with with the disabled space system but have still not quite made my mind up about the Parent/child simply because they are abused (generally by parents). The original idea was for parents with children in prams (this I agree with), the problem is that many parents with older children use them including parents who intend leaving their children in the car while they shop (these are the ones I disagree with).

Ivan

lisyloo

but why on earth are there parent and child parking bays anyway?? I assume the parents are young the kids are young so why do they need parking near the shop??

If they are young children then it can be dangerous for them to talk a long walk around a car park where there are lots of dangerous cars.

Ideally the parents would have thenmunder control if they are not old enough to cross roads by themselves, but you don't have to be genius or a parent to see that in practice it's very difficult to totally control small children, especially if there are several.

Another problem is getting small children/babies in and out of the car.
If they are very small or babies then there needs to be enough room for the adult to lean in i.e. a wider bay.
If the children are old enough to open the door for themselves but not old enough to appreciate the value of cars then they can easily do damage to nearby cars.

Again ideally the parents would be in total control of their children causing damage. However I can see that this is next to impossible if you have several kids.

On Sunday I saw someone let go of a trolley and leave it rolling into a group of trolleys.
It hit the group of trolleys and one of them started rolling downhill towards a car and put a dent in it.

I was on the phone at the time (broken down) so I didn't see who did it, but my advice is don't park downhill or downwind of any trolleys because you can't expect consideration unfortunately.

System

I'm 33 and have multiple sclerosis, I'm still walking (just) but I have a blue disabled badge. I'm sick to death of people assuming that because I'm not over 60 or using a wheelchair that I can't possibly be entitled to park in disabled bays. I've had abusive notes left on my car, complaints made to supermarkets customer services and people yelling abuse at me for daring to park there.
As a matter of fact as a family we are entitled to 3 badges (husband has arthritis of the spine and 11 year old son is autistic) but the minute we park in a bay the comments and looks start. It's a pity that the system is abused but why can't people check the facts before causing grief? MY badge is clearly displayed at all times (we didn't bother actually getting the other 2) but noone even looks at that.
And yes we do DIY, a lot slower than most people but it's still quicker than waiting for jobs to do themselves

lisyloo

I have used a disabled spot on a couple of occasions. Once when my wife was literally just out of hospital - but she just had to get out to the shops. The second time is a very long story (which I will post if necessary) but suffice to say I was using it purely to load the goods I had just purchased into my car.

I understand your reasons in both cases.
I have been in the first situation myself and could only just about walk.

However I can't help feeling that what you've done is wrong.

If we all parked in disabled spaces when we felt we had a justifiable reason then it would cause hardship to a number of disabled people.

Personally if I was in your situation I would drop my partner at the supermarket door and then go and park.
In the second situation I would find somewhere else nearby to park. I would go with a partner so that one of us could stay with the car, but I wouldn't park in a disabled space.

I'm not sure you can justiy using disabled spaces just because you think you need them.

Could you really not have carried your shopping.
If I buy furniture that I can't carry then I ask the staff in the shop for a trolley or ask them to help. I've never been refused help by the shop.