Parent/child car spaces painted blue in Shopping centre

crusier

I'm not a fan of these as I think ordinary spaces should be bigger and I also don't believe they have any standing in law but painting them blue appears to give them the same standing as wheelchair spaces which IMO is wrong as it undermines the wheel chair space and will result in parents thinking they can use wheelchair spaces, I parked in it today out of thickness and got a dirty look from a mother, I've a few of them kids myself but didn't have them with me. Please only attack me one by one!
Mods!,Meant to put this in Galway city forum or wherever you think, thanks

maneno

In the grand scheme of things,you are being petty, undermining wheelchair space because they have the same colour?😂😂quote="crusier;98802497"]I'm not a fan of these as I think ordinary spaces should be bigger and I also don't believe they have any standing in law but painting them blue appears to give them the same standing as wheelchair spaces which IMO is wrong as it undermines the wheel chair space and will result in parents thinking they can use wheelchair spaces, I parked in it today out of thickness and got a dirty look from a mother, I've a few of them kids myself but didn't have them with me. Please only attack me one by one![/quote]

Lellostag

crusier wrote: »

I'm not a fan of these as I think ordinary spaces should be bigger and I also don't believe they have any standing in law but painting them blue appears to give them the same standing as wheelchair spaces which IMO is wrong as it undermines the wheel chair space and will result in parents thinking they can use wheelchair spaces, I parked in it today out of thickness and got a dirty look from a mother, I've a few of them kids myself but didn't have them with me. Please only attack me one by one!
Mods!,Meant to put this in Galway city forum or wherever you think, thanks

I don't have any issue with that, in fact I think there should be more of them. I do however agree with you that the normal spaces should be wider, an extra foot or so would make a big difference.

markpb

crusier wrote:

I'm not a fan of these as I think ordinary spaces should be bigger and I also don't believe they have any standing in law but painting them blue appears to give them the same standing as wheelchair spaces

If ordinary spaces were wider, there'd be less of them.

They're painted blue to draw your attention to the special nature that the owner of the car park has given them. If they just had the markings printed on them, it would be very easy to accidentally park on them or not to realize your mistake until you're halfway into the space and need to drive back out.

aaakev

If people learned to park properly the normal spaces would be fine! They don't need a legal standing, people should just use a bit of cop on but id hazard a guess that the same people who would park in them when they dont have small kids with them are the same people who would park in a disabled space

Oafley Jones

aaakev wrote: »

If people learned to park properly the normal spaces would be fine! They don't need a legal standing, people should just use a bit of cop on but id hazard a guess that the same people who would park in them when they dont have small kids with them are the same people who would park in a disabled space

Car park spaces do need to wider for everyone. Cars have gotten a fair bit larger since most of the spaces were set out. I can also tell you most of the current ones are a total balls if you're trying to get a baby seat into its base.

To Elland Back

I wouldn't park in or near Parent & Child spaces. No was am I having yummy mummy and her spawn banging their car doors & trolley off my car

Toyotafanboi

To Elland Back wrote: »

I wouldn't park in or near Parent & Child spaces. No was am I having yummy mummy and her spawn banging their car doors & trolley off my car

The reason they make the spaces so wide is to avoid that very problem.

I worked for years in a supermarket and the parent and child spaces are definitely the safest ones going.

Guy:Incognito

Their car park, their rules

Doesnt need any basis in law. It's just common decency to follow the rules of the owners of anywhere you visit. You're free to not go there if you dont agree with their rules.

Bicycle

I have a son on the autistic spectrum (Aspergers). When he was smaller he was a bolter. Would run away from places if he was stressed, would not see any dangers. And while I tried to avoid taking him into supermarkets most of the time, there were times when it was unavoidable.

I used these spaces because they were nearest the supermarket doors - often nearer than the disabled parking spots. They were much safer. And I felt better parking in the parent and child spaces than the disabled spots, because I felt there were others more deserving of the disabled spaces.

The issue with disabled parking spots is that there is an assumption that only those with mobility issues need them. There are many "hidden" disabilities. Autism is one. Visual impairment (passengers not drivers!!) is another. And often people with intellectual impairments can be challenging to get in and out of cars.

Thankfully our son has matured and displays fewer and fewer difficult tendencies as the years go on (although he did run away in a wildlife park in Europe a couple of years ago when he was 14 - we had a very scary 15 minutes). But those parent and child spaces were a godsend for me when he was younger (e.g. up to about age 12 or so).

Jack Killian

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

The reason they make the spaces so wide is to avoid that very problem.

I worked for years in a supermarket and the parent and child spaces are definitely the safest ones going.

Why not avoid it in every space ? I remember when spaces had a U shape (2 lines) which allowed for car door opening; newer ones are crazily tight even for normal hatchbacks and are guaranteed to either make you have to squeeze out or get a dent or ding from the obnoxious moron who doesn't give a **** and gives your car a whack with their door. It's the reason I wouldn't ever buy a new car again.

shietpilot

Jack Killian wrote: »

Why not avoid it in every space ? I remember when spaces had a U shape (2 lines) which allowed for car door opening; newer ones are crazily tight even for normal hatchbacks and are guaranteed to either make you have to squeeze out or get a dent or ding from the obnoxious moron who doesn't give a **** and gives your car a whack with their door. It's the reason I wouldn't ever buy a new car again.

One problem is that in general the size of cars has increased dramatically. Pick any big size car that you remember from the 80's and compare it to a current day hatchback. No doubt the modern hatchback will be higher and wider.

goz83

To Elland Back wrote: »

I wouldn't park in or near Parent & Child spaces. No was am I having yummy mummy and her spawn banging their car doors & trolley off my car

Doesn't seem to matter. If you park in the arse end of a near empty car park, within 15 minutes, you're still guaranteed to have some numpty parked right up beside you, making it hard for, the other, or both to enter/exit the vehicles(s).

The spaces are way too narrow. Most Irish motorists have no respect for other peoples property and so it's understandable why people prefer to use the wider spaces of the parent and child spots.

Me, I use the disabled ones instead.
because i'm disabled and have a badge

Knine

Bicycle wrote: »

I have a son on the autistic spectrum (Aspergers). When he was smaller he was a bolter. Would run away from places if he was stressed, would not see any dangers. And while I tried to avoid taking him into supermarkets most of the time, there were times when it was unavoidable.

I used these spaces because they were nearest the supermarket doors - often nearer than the disabled parking spots. They were much safer. And I felt better parking in the parent and child spaces than the disabled spots, because I felt there were others more deserving of the disabled spaces.

The issue with disabled parking spots is that there is an assumption that only those with mobility issues need them. There are many "hidden" disabilities. Autism is one. Visual impairment (passengers not drivers!!) is another. And often people with intellectual impairments can be challenging to get in and out of cars.

Thankfully our son has matured and displays fewer and fewer difficult tendencies as the years go on (although he did run away in a wildlife park in Europe a couple of years ago when he was 14 - we had a very scary 15 minutes). But those parent and child spaces were a godsend for me when he was younger (e.g. up to about age 12 or so).

There is no issue with Disabled Parking Spaces. Either you qualify & have a Blue Permit or you don't. If you don't then you don't park in a disabled bay. Autism alone does not qualify for a permit.

At Supervalu in Blanchardstown village there are 4 Disabled Parking Bays. Last week there was only one car out of the 4 parked there who had a Permit. Mine. Disgraceful.

icv1111

It's just trying to be accommodating and convenient for people with children. I don't know why so many people, mostly men and people with no children, seem to take such issue with them.
Alls it takes is some common courtesy. Drive 10 meters down the carpark and park there, there should be no issue with that?

It's just rude to park in them unless you need them so getting dirty looks is to be expected

Duke O Smiley

"why are you parked there? You don't have a child"

"I am a child of God"

Or something like that?

aaakev

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Car park spaces do need to wider for everyone. Cars have gotten a fair bit larger since most of the spaces were set out. I can also tell you most of the current ones are a total balls if you're trying to get a baby seat into its base.

O think you mistook my point, im all for parent and child spaces! My point is for people with no kids, normal spaces are fine of you park properly

Voodoomelon

A bizarre phenomenon i've noticed recently is developments putting parent and child spaces closer to the door than disabled spaces! There's a row of ten or more of them in Tesco Dundalk right by the door and all the disabled spaces are located ten metres behind them. Mind boggling. And insulting to the disabled.

markpb

Do you know any disabled people who are actually insulted by that or is that just proxy outrage?

galljga1

Do not assume that people parking in parent and child spaces without children in the car have no children. Could they not be picking up the wife/husband and kids?

mansize

markpb wrote: »

Do you know any disabled people who are actually insulted by that or is rude just proxy outrage?

Most of the disability issues would be around mobility- so you would assume they would be closer

galljga1

Recently I have noticed, at two different Lidl shops, people parking beside the door at a time when the car park is practically empty. Less than 10 meters away, there are plenty of spaces. Bizarre.

Pinch Flat

galljga1 wrote: »

Recently I have noticed, at two different Lidl shops, people parking beside the door at a time when the car park is practically empty. Less than 10 meters away, there are plenty of spaces. Bizarre.

Some people would literally park in the store if the front door was wide enough. Pure laziness.

Indricotherium

Voodoomelon wrote: »

A bizarre phenomenon i've noticed recently is developments putting parent and child spaces closer to the door than disabled spaces! There's a row of ten or more of them in Tesco Dundalk right by the door and all the disabled spaces are located ten metres behind them. Mind boggling. And insulting to the disabled.

I have kids and am able to park, but to get the kids in and out of the car you need to open the door fully so the wide spaces are a godsend.

If I were designing a carpark I would have the spaces widen gradually the further from the shop door you were. I think and this is just my own opinion, but I think there is a big crossover between people who can't park and who whack doors into other people's cars, and people who want to park as close to the shop as possible.

My system would mean if you were willing to walk 100 metres or so you would get a nice wide spot.

crusier

This is my point, I have great respect for disabled bays and would never park in one but now these parent/child ones seem to have the same status. Maybe the parents are better spenders and this is the motivation of having them near the door. The more I think of it it's a commercial decision.

MarkR

crusier wrote: »

This is my point, I have great respect for disabled bays and would never park in one but now these parent/child ones seem to have the same status. Maybe the parents are better spenders and this is the motivation of having them near the door. The more I think of it it's a commercial decision.

It's definitely a factor. Parent with kids means more stuff bought, and repeat business. If you don't like the store's parent and baby spaces, hit them where it hurts, and shop elsewhere.

Knine

crusier wrote: »

This is my point, I have great respect for disabled bays and would never park in one but now these parent/child ones seem to have the same status. Maybe the parents are better spenders and this is the motivation of having them near the door. The more I think of it it's a commercial decision.

They don't have the same status. You will be clamped in many places if you park in a disabled bay without a permit.

goz83

aaakev wrote: »

O think you mistook my point, im all for parent and child spaces! My point is for people with no kids, normal spaces are fine of you park properly

Some are fine, but some places they are just stupidly narrow and you then see a series wher 10 spaces are taken up by 7, or 8 cars because the spaces really are so narrow. And there are a huge amount of people who cannot park. They are often found going backwards and forwards for ten minutes blocking the lane and endangering pedestrians and bumping parked cars. Or they park at the back of the car park, inches from the driver who left his car there not to be dinged. But hey, what's another ding from an idiot who can't park their car and have no respect for yours.

Indricotherium

MarkR wrote: »

It's definitely a factor. Parent with kids means more stuff bought, and repeat business. If you don't like the store's parent and baby spaces, hit them where it hurts, and shop elsewhere.

Also as I said before. When you're lifting a child out of a car you really do need to open the door the whole way.

Knine

Indricotherium wrote: »

Also as I said before. When you're lifting a child out of a car you really do need to open the door the whole way.

Not at the expense of whacking the car beside you.

I managed perfectly fine with my first daughter in normal spaces. My daughter with the disability is a whole different story.

Indricotherium

Knine wrote: »

Not at the expense of whacking the car beside you.

.

Obviously

Knine

Indricotherium wrote: »

Obviously

Unfortunately for many though it is not obviously. My car has the dings to prove it.

Indricotherium

Knine wrote: »

Unfortunately for many though it is not obviously. My car has the dings to prove it.

Maybe it's your parking?

MarkR

Indricotherium wrote: »

Also as I said before. When you're lifting a child out of a car you really do need to open the door the whole way.

Believe me, I'm also a parent, and I think that these spots should only be used by those they are intended for. I don't think they should be right outside the door however. I think they work better when they are slightly away from the door, less of a choice for the really lazy. Better for the kids as well, being in a quieter area.

Indricotherium

MarkR wrote: »

Believe me, I'm also a parent, and I think that these spots should only be used by those they are intended for. I don't think they should be right outside the door however. I think they work better when they are slightly away from the door, less of a choice for the really lazy. Better for the kids as well, being in a quieter area.

100% agree.

Putting them near the door is nonsense.

Knine

Indricotherium wrote: »

Maybe it's your parking?

Eh no. Maybe it is the inconsiderate people who feel it is ok to damage other people's property. Are you one of these people if you feel it is someone elses parking that is to blame?

goz83

Indricotherium wrote: »

Maybe it's your parking?

Are you serious? Regardless of how poorly someone is parked, the only person to blame for damage caused is.....well....let me think........oh yes, the person who caused the damage! (that means parents taking responsibility for their children)

If you can't open your car door without damaging someone elses property, you really should just stay at home with oven mitts taped to your hands.

andekwarhola

Spaces should be bigger generally, especially as cars are often bigger these days combined with people that can't or won't park properly.

I don't really go out of my way to use the parent ones myself (I have young kids) because being close to the entrance isn't essential as myself and my kids have legs and none of us will rust in a rain shower but I'm not opposed to the concept of them.

A lot of Irish people only have to see a facility that even nominally excludes them to be filled with almost pathologically righteous desire to use it.

Plus the business that owns the spaces can designate them as they see fit, and paint them luminous paisley if they choose. Shop somewhere else if you don't like it.

bagels

galljga1 wrote: »

Recently I have noticed, at two different Lidl shops, people parking beside the door at a time when the car park is practically empty. Less than 10 meters away, there are plenty of spaces. Bizarre.

Happens all the time at my local Lidl, those drivers don't give a damn Its often impossible for the disabled and mothers with children to wheel a trolley between those vehicles so they have to go around them, in the process stepping into the line of traffic. I always try to squeeze through the gaps between the offending vehicles and if the trolley happens to touch the cars then I'm not too bothered.

whomitconcerns

bagels wrote: »

Happens all the time at my local Lidl, those drivers don't give a damn Its often impossible for the disabled and mothers with children to wheel a trolley between those vehicles so they have to go around them, in the process stepping into the line of traffic. I always try to squeeze through the gaps between the offending vehicles and if the trolley happens to touch the cars then I'm not too bothered.

And here is the attitude that causes all these issues. "Not my property so I'm not bothered"

To simplify for you, your a vandal

H3llR4iser

icv1111 wrote: »

It's just trying to be accommodating and convenient for people with children. I don't know why so many people, mostly men and people with no children, seem to take such issue with them.
Alls it takes is some common courtesy. Drive 10 meters down the carpark and park there, there should be no issue with that?

It's a complex story, but it mostly stems from the fact that a certain subset of (young) parents carry on with a specific mindset that uses the children to excuse their own poor manners and lack of courtesy - and then they expect everybody else to make extra arrangements and/or have courtesy for them.

From this point of view, these spaces are just a concession to these kind of people - the "I have more rights than you because I've got children!" types. Which may or may not be correct, there'll be plenty of very decent parents who could use the extra room at the side; Plus, these spaces will (should, at least) keep the nasty "I'll smash this door into yours, how else will I get little Kayden out?" people and their offspring away from your own car, saving the inevitable dings and markings.

If I'm a business, I'm well entitled to paint my parking spaces and designate them whatever way i f*cking want (disabled spaces laws notwithstanding).

Got an issue? shop someplace else.