Charging for parent & child parking

ash28

GracieP wrote: »

They only started appearing when carseats of a specific safety standard became mandatory. People managed well before they existed as they didn't have carseats.

Child car safety seats have been around well over 40 years.

My kids are 30, 31 and 32 and we had 3 car seats in our 2 door Escort Estate when they were very young.

By the time I had my children car seats were readily available.

But there weren't as many cars and hardly anyone had 2 cars,

kingfisherblue

[QUOTE=Lotus-eater;54177927]And parents like using them because...... they are easier? Otherwise they wouldn't be bothered and the shops wouldn't do it.

If you'd all like to come down to a local shop of mine that doesn't have them and has small spaces. You can park next to my car, while I repeatedly bash your car with my door, while I try to lift my DS out of my car. With my back hurting with the twisting I'll probably be in a bad mood as well.
I bet you'd complain about that as well. I can almost hear it now. "disgusting, they should have special places for them, so they don't damage our cars" , "Err, oops"[/QUOTE]

You said it! They are easier. This does not make them essential.

As for complaining, well, it's not me who is doing that. Also, as a mother of three, I know exactly how difficult it can be to park and have enough room to open the doors - but although it is inconvenient, it isn't essential.

I park my car a few bays away from the supermarket and walk across. The only exception is when I have my 14 year old with me - I use a disabled bay then, as he is a Blue Badge holder and severely disabled. Incidentally, before anyone wonders, I never use the BB if my son is not in the car with me. I never have, and never will, because it would not be right.

seven-day-weekend

I think P&C spaces are a privilege not a necessity and I think £1 for a year's parking is neither here nor there.

How did we manage thirty years ago? I got INTO the car with my son, got him fastened in, then got out of the back and got in the front. Simple.

Bambam

I wholly disapprove of Parent and Child parking spaces. I managed to get my children, car seat, disabled relative, shopping etc., out of the car without the need for extra space years ago.

I have on 2 occasions only used P & C parking spaces when I had my nephews baby with me. On both occasions I returned to my car without the baby (no, not lost but returned to parents) only to be met with abuse from young parents; how I had the audacity to take up a P & C parking space when I didn't have a child with me (the mere fact there were plenty of P & C spaces surrounding us seemed to have escaped them.)

P & C spaces? In my opinion, totally unnecessary!

Skintski

I don't have kids but I'd gladly pay a quid for a years parking in a bigger space right outside the store.

embob74

I would happily pay £1 for a permit to park in a parent-and-child space. Although I would be taken aback to be asked to pay if it meant the parking is monitored I'd pay ten times that amount!

I'm quite shocked at the response to P&C parking spaces. I rely heavily on them as I have 2 children under 2. Yes I manage if there isn't a space available but it does make life immensely easier.
If I park in a regular space then my doors both sides will usually have to touch the cars beside me in order that I can get the kids out.

embob74

Bambam wrote: »

P & C spaces? In my opinion, totally unnecessary!

Please feel free to take my kids shopping with you for the day. Find a space that hasn't been parked in by somebody who has no need of extra space. Then decide whether to struggle with a baby and a young toddler to where the suitable trollies are (usually a long way away from where the normal trollies are). Then hold onto the toddlers hand while putting a wriggling baby into the trolley and fastening it with one hand.
Or you could leave two kids in the car and hope nobody steals the car while you leave them for 5 minutes to get a suitable trolley.

And when I have accidentally scratched your car as I have to access both sides of my car to get the kids in I'm sure you will find claiming on my insurance totally unnecessary?!

Person_one

embob74 wrote: »

Find a space that hasn't been parked in by somebody who has no need of extra space.

I think this is part of the issue some people have with the spaces.

I don't doubt that people carting children about appreciate extra space, I do it myself regularly, but they seem to breed this weird assumption that only parents could possibly appreciate it or benefit from extra space.

Its not an issue so much with the P &C ones, but when people start arguing in favour of special parking spaces for pregnant women it all gets a bit silly.

embob74

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I think P&C spaces are a privilege not a necessity and I think £1 for a year's parking is neither here nor there.
How did we manage thirty years ago? I got INTO the car with my son, got him fastened in, then got out of the back and got in the front. Simple.

Absolutely it's a privilege and I thank goodness every time I get to park in one! I have taken to online shopping as it's so difficult to park somewhere to go shopping. As an aside....is it me or are car spaces generally getting smaller....or cars are getting WAY bigger?!

I used to manage with my 2 older children but then I don't recall parking be such the issue it is now. There are just so many more cars about.
As for what was ok 30 years ago.....my grandad used to drink and drive as there was no legal drink drive limit - I happen to think progress happens for good reason

embob74

Perhaps the answer (apart from paying £1 for a permit to be able to park in a special place!) is to have bigger spaces generally?
I do think there is just not enough regard to parking space nowadays and it seems to be such a big issue whether shopping or at home.