Protecting asigned bays

Edwood_Woodwood

ben_m_g wrote: »

One of my biggest gripes in motoring is parking, bad parkers, inconsiderate parkers and the worst, those that use designated bays without need nor right.

It is pretty obvious why we have disabled parking, but parent and child parking seems to be ignored or not understood,

Is there anything we can do?

Yes, stop moaning.

Do you realise people have been parents for thousands of years and got by?

Even on busy weekends most supermarket car parks have plenty of unused bays. Why can't you just go to the ones that are empty and then walk?

Why are you considering yourself as having the same needs as the disabled?

Pathetic.

Strider590

ben_m_g wrote: »

but parent and child parking seems to be ignored or not understood

True that, many seem to think it's "mom and child" parking, my brother has had verbal abuse several times for parking in these spaces when taking my nephew to the shops. On top of that you get BMW/Merc/Audi drivers parking in the disabled bays (usually straddling 2-3 spaces, so the disabled park in the parent/child bays instead.

stator

I resent P&C spaces, as if they are more important than the rest of us.

If you have mobility problems but don't qualify for a blue badge you would resent having to park further away too.

MysteryMe

I have no problem with dedicated spaces for P&C but there is no particular reason they need to be close to the store entrance. Those spaces are rightly reserved for those with restricted mobility. Having the P&C spaces located in a less populated part of the car park might be safer in any case. There is often mayhem with cars, pick ups and shoppers close to the entrance. At least in a quieter area the parents have the time and space to get themselves sorted and children safely under control before walking to the store.

Strider590

Let em have the spaces next to the entrance, anyone who doesn't want their motor damaged can then have the parking haven at the back of the car park.

HMB1981

I haven't a clue why people have a problem with parent and child spaces or why they seem to think they're fair game to use without kids.

I have kids, of qualifying age, but don't use parent and child, as I can manage without the space currently, and I'd prefer to leave spaces available for those who need them more than me, maybe a young single mother with an exciteable toddler.

If you're able bodied and without kids, just park somewhere else, leave the marked bays for those who need them....that's the considerate thing to do right?

force_ten

ben_m_g wrote: »

Parent and child spaces are needed for a number of reasons, the main two for me are;

Access, those without children may not realise, but getting car seats in and out of cars can be physically impossible in normal spaces. You need the door fully open for enough space.

Safety, even best behaved children can forget the rules of the road or just be too young / immature to understand. With a P&C space, a child can be taken out of the car, kept with you whilst you manoeuvre pushchairs / get coats etc.

that just says to me that 90% of car parking spaces at a supermarket or any other car park for that fact are not fit for purpose IE to small and because of that people will inevitably abuse the use of larger spaces

where you need to start your campaign is to get the supermarkets to make the bulk of parking spaces larger

not everybody has tiny cars that fit in these stupid spaces, I have a full size family car and one supermarket i go to the car overhangs the space lengthwise and to get out you have got to touch the car next to you with the door to get out, this is not acceptable and is the sole reason that your larger spaces are abused

maurice28

My wife and I have a four month old baby, and we were discussing this very issue on Saturday while parked in the P&C section of Asda car park!

We go to Asda every week, and in the four months we have been going and taking the baby (not every time, but most) I think we have got a space in the P&C section three times. In probably half of the cars you see in the P&C section as you walk past, there is zero evidence of a child (car seats or bases, booster seats etc).

But when we can't get in the P&C section, we just shrug and park in a normal space. Even between two cars there tends to be enough room to get the car seat out, it's just a bit more awkward (and you sometimes have to stop and start as a car next to you moves away or pulls in).

It really annoys me when people park in P&C when they don't need to, but I see them as a nice to have, not essential to shopping with a baby, so I don't let it ruin my day.

ben_m_g

I struggle to grasp how people don't get this, stage 1 car seats are big, big things need room to take in and out of cars.

Sleeping children need room to be maneuverer in and out of cars, Unless you like having an overtired screaming child following round the shops.

Neither is possible in regular spaces. That is why there are P&C spaces. Not for lazy people who think they own the space, and not those who use legal scripture to hide their own selfish behaviour.

However, they are in the wrong place, the distance to the shop is not an issue, move them to the back of the car park next to a path and that would be fine, less people abusing them and more room.

JP08

ben_m_g wrote: »

stage 1 car seats are big, big things need room to take in and out of cars.

Even more reason, as an earlier poster said, to leave the thing in the car when in a carpark. The trolley has a seat for all bar the smallest of sprogs.