Misuse of disabled parking spots

somesoldiers · 17-10-2017 08:11AM

Well there's an element of safety about it from my experience. They are generally closer to the shops, less chance for the child to get hit by a car,particularly where one parent has two to deal with, they are wider allowing side access to transfer car seats to buggies.

Would have no problem with an older or anyway infirm person using them, just the a$$holes that use them to get to the shop 20 seconds quicker.and the ones that used the disabled when they don't need to are the lowest of the low

peteb2 · 17-10-2017 08:13AM

Jawgap wrote:

Btw, if you have an elderly parent, who is a bit wobbly on their feet but doesn't have a disability permit, is there anything really wrong with using a parent and child spot to get them a bit closer to the door?

The benefit of the child and parent spots isn't that they are closer to the door. In most cases they aren't. It's the ample space you get to open the back doors of the car to manoeuvre a small person into a car seat.

Jawgap · 17-10-2017 08:17AM

peteb2 wrote: »

The benefit of the child and parent spots isn't that they are closer to the door. In most cases they aren't. It's the ample space you get to open the back doors of the car to manoeuvre a small person into a car seat.

....as I said, a convenience not a necessity......and in no way comparable with disabled parking.

jester77 · 17-10-2017 08:24AM

You get the regular parking fine and an additional fine on top of that if you do that here in Germany. It seems to work as the spaces are rarely occupied.

CeilingFly · 17-10-2017 08:27AM

Parent and child spots in private carparks are there as part of their marketing strategy - they have no meaning in reality but decent motorists will leave them for parents with young children.

Disabled spaces in private carparks, whilst they are there as part of the plannign permission, there is nothing gardai can do and no ticket can be issued (that may change). If clamps are being used a notice that is clearly visible must be displayed, but such action is rarely used as shops still wants those as customers.

So until legislation changes are made, (proposals are in the senate I think) very little can be done.

greenttc · 17-10-2017 08:30AM

Jawgap wrote: »

....as I said, a convenience not a necessity......and in no way comparable with disabled parking.

Its not a convenience!! Sometimes when parking in a normal spot you have no room whatsoever to open a door to get the child seat into the back. You are either left sitting waiting ages for the car owner beside you ro return so you can get the baby in or you have to ask and trust someone to hold your baby while you reverse out enough to give you rooom. Or just leave them on the ground. Nightmare. Hate selfish feckers who take th p and c spaces and leave me in that predicament. Also wish the parent and child spots were at the furthest point away from the front door so there is less chance of them being taken.

Kintarō Hattori · 17-10-2017 08:32AM

Jawgap wrote: »

...I am.....on so many levels.....and far too often.....

The way I understand it - people really don't have much of a choice when it comes to suffering a disability.....they do when it comes to children, they can choose not to have them, they can choose how many to have and they can choose to bring them shopping or not......the parent and child spots aren't a necessity, they're a sop and I don't see why a parent's convenience should trump anyone else's.

Btw, if you have an elderly parent, who is a bit wobbly on their feet but doesn't have a disability permit, is there anything really wrong with using a parent and child spot to get them a bit closer to the door?

Jawgap wrote: »

....as I said, a convenience not a necessity......and in no way comparable with disabled parking.

they can choose how many to have and they can choose to bring them shopping or not......the parent and child spots aren't a necessity, they're a sop and I don't see why a parent's convenience should trump anyone else's.

Spoken like a person who doesn't have kids. Yes you can choose not to bring them to a shopping centre but sometimes you do need to bring them. Perhaps you need to go to a pharmacy, perhaps you need to go to the doctor and so on.

As you may well tell I do have a child and I do bring them to the shopping centre. I've never had the luxury of parking in a parent and child spot as there are very few in my local SC and they are always occupied. I'd very much so appreciate the luxury that they afford as unloading a car seat can be quite a handful as is putting them back in when you're leaving. You then also have a pram to load into the boot. While it's handy for me there's also the factor that when doing all this the door is typically wide open and in a normal sized space there's always a risk of scraping a parked car beside you.

While I and other parents in no-way would demand a space, it's simply thoughtful that the planners have people like us in mind. It's being decent and thoughtful of others. In no way whatsoever would I say and no-one on this thread has said, that a parental space is as important or necessary as a disabled space. There should always be loads of disabled spots and parking in them should be enforced. No-one compared one with the other.

i know u know · 17-10-2017 08:36AM

A friend of mine always says she's going to bring around paper and glue and stick it to to the Windscreen of cars parked in disabled spaces with no blue badge. I do hope shes joking but I feel shes not...... her theory is that then they'd have to explain to whoever asks about the paper stuck to the window that they illegally parked

padser · 17-10-2017 08:41AM

I think the real issue here is that disabled people always seem to get the best spaces.

It's completely discriminatory and the able bodied folk are just fighting back in their own way.

Simple solution, reserve spots for handicapped people but put them at the far end of the car park...then they wouldn't be so god damn enticing!

peteb2 · 17-10-2017 08:42AM

Jawgap wrote:

....as I said, a convenience not a necessity......and in no way comparable with disabled parking.

Neither is some auld doll who isn't disabled. But there you go.

sweetlikejelly · 17-10-2017 08:42AM

I had a disabled parking permit for bringing my wheelchair bound Mother places and I would never even consider using it if I did not have her with me. However, I was astounded by the amount of people who asked to borrow it so they could park when going shopping etc.

They seemed to think it was there to be shared around for everyone's convenience and gave no thought to the genuinely disabled people who need the short supply of accessible spaces.

When I refused to hand it over I was seen as a pedant who was just being difficult. Honestly, the selfishness of some people will never cease to amaze me.

Donal55 · 17-10-2017 08:44AM

Can't see why the DDA don't just change the colour of their permits every few years similar to the way the car tax disc is changed.

Far too many permits are so old and out of date that they're more faded than my Levi jeans!

Jawgap · 17-10-2017 08:49AM

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Spoken like a person who doesn't have kids. Yes you can choose not to bring them to a shopping centre but sometimes you do need to bring them. Perhaps you need to go to a pharmacy, perhaps you need to go to the doctor and so on.

As you may well tell I do have a child and I do bring them to the shopping centre. I've never had the luxury of parking in a parent and child spot as there are very few in my local SC and they are always occupied. I'd very much so appreciate the luxury that they afford as unloading a car seat can be quite a handful as is putting them back in when you're leaving. You then also have a pram to load into the boot. While it's handy for me there's also the factor that when doing all this the door is typically wide open and in a normal sized space there's always a risk of scraping a parked car beside you.

While I and other parents in no-way would demand a space, it's simply thoughtful that the planners have people like us in mind. It's being decent and thoughtful of others. In no way whatsoever would I say and no-one on this thread has said, that a parental space is as important or necessary as a disabled space. There should always be loads of disabled spots and parking in them should be enforced. No-one compared one with the other.

Actually I do have kids - not so much children anymore, and yes I used to bring them shopping and yes I enjoyed the convenience of a parent and child space when they were provided and available.

.....I never saw them as anything other than a convenience - part of the 'offering' to lure in parents, which was fine I was willing to be lured.

Now I take my mother and, occasionally, my mother-in-law shopping (not together) - neither are great on their feet and one of them uses a frame - is it ok to use the parent and child bays then so we've extra space to open doors and get walking aids in and out?

It's ridiculous to compare them to disabled bays which are, in fact, a necessity.....

.....and if @greenttc sees them as not being a convenience, then does that not imply they regard them as a necessity (when they were the two options offered).....and is that not placing them on the same level as disabled bays?

If you want/need more space park where there's more space......or get them to change the law around the parent and child bays.

Samaris · 17-10-2017 08:50AM

Tbh, with parent and child spaces - I wouldn't park in them. Sure, they'll get abused, but my abusing them too isn't going to help matters, is it? Yes, it's not a legal requirement, but if the only thing that has one showing a little courtesy to fellow people is the law, that's your own personal character flaw.

I'd be okay with using one for the sake of an elderly parent who may not be too steady getting across the carpark and/or might have difficulty getting out of the car in a normal space though. I'm not totally unreasonable, but able-bodied lazy people can take a running jump.

Jawgap · 17-10-2017 08:53AM

peteb2 wrote: »

Neither is some auld doll who isn't disabled. But there you go.

ah, pride can be a terrible thing......not everyone who deserves something is willing to accept it when they've spent their lives living off their own efforts

Jawgap · 17-10-2017 08:57AM

Samaris wrote: »

Tbh, with parent and child spaces - I wouldn't park in them. Sure, they'll get abused, but my abusing them too isn't going to help matters, is it? Yes, it's not a legal requirement, but if the only thing that has one showing a little courtesy to fellow people is the law, that's your own personal character flaw.

I'd be okay with using one for the sake of an elderly parent who may not be too steady getting across the carpark and/or might have difficulty getting out of the car in a normal space though. I'm not totally unreasonable, but able-bodied lazy people can take a running jump.

To be clear......I don't park in them unless I need to. I'm not out there waging a one-person campaign against parents

:D:D

But if I feel I need to use one (if it's lashing/snowing/icy or I'm picking up something bulky and don't want to hike it too far) and there's a spot going I'll temporarily occupy it......the rest of the time I park a bit away from other cars to avoid the dings.

Will I Am Not · 17-10-2017 09:00AM

LordSutch wrote: »

I've had a few run-in's with childless drivers parking in parent & child bays. Wish they wouldn't do it, but some do! You might as well talk to the wall as argue with them.
That type always have an excuse.

But what excuse could they have if there's no child?

greenttc · 17-10-2017 09:00AM

Jawgap wrote: »

.....and if @greenttc sees them as not being a convenience, then does that not imply they regard them as a necessity (when they were the two options offered).....and is that not placing them on the same level as disabled bays?

If you want/need more space park where there's more space......or get them to change the law around the parent and child bays.

I never said they were as important as disabled spots, they are an absolute necessity. Why are we even trying to rank them in order of importance though, are you saying that we should also rank the level of abuse each spot gets?

As I said in my post I wish they would put them as far away from the front door as possible to minimise abuse. No point in me just parking at the far end of the car park, it doesnt stop people from parking close next to me , I have tried it.

To the person who thought disabled spots should be far away, that doesnt make elsense and you have no understanding of the range of disabilities out there, its not jist about wheelchairs or needing space to get in and out it is also that people just need to be close to the shop.

And jawgap if you did want to start you ranking that would be one reason disabled spots are a bit more important.

Jawgap · 17-10-2017 09:08AM

greenttc wrote: »

I never said they were as important as disabled spots, they are an absolute necessity. Why are we even trying to rank them in order of importance though, are you saying that we should also rank the level of abuse each spot gets?

So what are disabled bays - a contingent necessity

Not at all - there's no ranking to be done - parent and child bays are just paint. They carry no force of law, and they are just part of a company's marketing - if they were important shops and car park operators would post warning signs and clamp people for using them without their kids but they're not going to shoot themselves in their corporate foot that's why there's no enforcement of them (at least that's my experience, ymmv).

greenttc wrote: »

As I said in my post I wish they would put them as far away from the front door as possible to minimise abuse. No point in me just parking at the far end of the car park, it doesnt stop people from parking close next to me , I have tried it.

To the person who thought disabled spots should be far away, that doesnt make elsense and you have no understanding of the range of disabilities out there, its not jist about wheelchairs or needing space to get in and out it is also that people just need to be close to the shop.

And jawgap if you did want to start you ranking that would be one reason disabled spots are a bit more important.

Dtp1979 · 17-10-2017 09:08AM

greenttc wrote: »

or you have to ask and trust someone to hold your baby while you reverse out enough to give you rooom.

Seriously, it still shocks me that people are stupid enough to drive into spaces. Do it properly and reverse in to the space.

Will I Am Not · 17-10-2017 09:09AM

I was waiting for my OH outside a dentist a few months back. It's on the main street and there are 2 disabled spaces right outside it and 3 regular parking spaces a little further back. I was parked in the one furthest away, all other spaces occupied.

I was there for 10 minutes before this car pulled up beside me and started beeping the horn and gesturing for me to clear off. It was an elderly couple and they were pointing at their disability badge with disgusted heads on them.
I wasn't in a disabled space, the disabled spaces were being used by other (I assume) disabled people.
If they weren't so rude and angry, I probably would have just moved anyway but f*ck that attitude they showed.

Icemancometh · 17-10-2017 09:10AM

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Seriously, it still shocks me that people are stupid enough to drive into spaces. Do it properly and reverse in to the space.

My local supermarket has angled parking spaces rather than square ones. I see people reverse into these all the time:pac:

foxatron · 17-10-2017 09:11AM

I'm all for the parent and child spots but only because I don't like the idea of a back door whacking off the side of my car when a parent is trying to strap in their kid!

Gerrup Outta Dat! · 17-10-2017 09:13AM

i know u know wrote: »

A friend of mine always says she's going to bring around paper and glue and stick it to to the Windscreen of cars parked in disabled spaces with no blue badge. I do hope shes joking but I feel shes not...... her theory is that then they'd have to explain to whoever asks about the paper stuck to the window that they illegally parked

I want to marry her

I love this girl

greenttc · 17-10-2017 09:17AM

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Seriously, it still shocks me that people are stupid enough to drive into spaces. Do it properly and reverse in to the space.

I reverse in when I dont have a buggy to take out if the boot. But anyway reversing doesnt mean I am any less penned in by cars either side of me.

Also many spaces near.me are at an angle and not meant for reversing.

People who dont reverse are not stupid anyway!

LordSutch · 17-10-2017 09:20AM

Jawgap wrote: »

So what are disabled bays - a contingent necessity

Not at all - there's no ranking to be done - parent and child bays are just paint. They carry no force of law, and they are just part of a company's marketing - if they were important shops and car park operators would post warning signs and clamp people for using them without their kids but they're not going to shoot themselves in their corporate foot that's why there's no enforcement of them (at least that's my experience, ymmv).

Thing is, if you park in a parent & child bay (without child or car seat) you risk the rath of genuine child bay users like me! An unfortunate situation I've been in a few times, whereby I'm heading for a bay with my two kids in the car only to find some fella or couple getting out of a car, looks exchanged, verbals too, heated words, then usually remorse that my kids just witnessed that - not nice.

So we carry on looking for another spot further away which us a pain in the are when you have a car seat, buggy or pram!

greenttc · 17-10-2017 09:22AM

Jawgap wrote: »

So what are disabled bays - a contingent necessity
v).

I meant disabled spots are a necessity

Your whole set of pists are trying to rank importance whether you realise it or not

You know what, you are just one if those people who just dont care, look out for yourself and not someone else who needs a little help in their day.

Try and be less selfish in future

I wont be replying to anymore of your posts

Dtp1979 · 17-10-2017 09:22AM

greenttc wrote: »

I reverse in when I dont have a buggy to take out if the boot. But anyway reversing doesnt mean I am any less penned in by cars either side of me.

Also many spaces near.me are at an angle and not meant for reversing.

People who dont reverse are not stupid anyway!

The majority are people who simply can’t reverse. I see endless halfwit drives driving in to spaces, usually parking over the lines and struggling to reverse out, holding up traffic. Then there’s the cases where reversing out leaves the driver completely blind to oncoming traffic putting people in the back seats, usually kids in danger of being hit first. How these people got their license in the first place is beyond me

Kenny Logins · 17-10-2017 09:23AM

Deleted User wrote: »

That's mainly why I bring my mum to the shops, so I can get into those parent and child spots with a clear conscience.

Does childish count? Didn't know that. :pac:

I love Sean nos · 17-10-2017 09:23AM

Gerrup Outta Dat! wrote: »

Nothing fills me with more rage

Sorry OP, I can't read any further than this emotional rubbish.

Misuse of disabled parking spots

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