[Will.]

Do you think it's okay for people without children to park in them?

[Kizzy]

Not really no, if pedestrian walkways were configured better in the planning of car parks so it was easier to navigate to spaces further away from the store then maybe.

[Toy Soldier]

If there are plenty of spaces available then I don't really care if others park in them. Like later at night there are 20 child spaces sitting open at supermarkets, they're obviously not all needed. However, able-bodied adults taking the LAST space is a dick move. I'd be OK with a blue badge holder taking it though, if all the disabled spaces were taken.

That said, have you looked at the layout at some supermarkets? At our local Asda, half of the parent and child spaces are FURTHER from the door than some of the normal spaces . Bizarre.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

If there are plenty of spaces available then I don't really care if others park in them. Like later at night there are 20 child spaces sitting open at supermarkets, they're obviously not all needed. However, able-bodied adults taking the LAST space is a dick move. I'd be OK with a blue badge holder taking it though, if all the disabled spaces were taken.

That said, have you looked at the layout at some supermarkets? At our local Asda, half of the parent and child spaces are FURTHER from the door than some of the normal spaces . Bizarre.

Why does parent parking need to be near the door? I thought the point was there have wider bays to accommodate prams and buggys being taken in and out of a car

[smudgie]

I agree with them, getting a buggy out of the car for a child needs extra space, the same as getting a wheelchair out.
As Cherie said above though, I don't see a particular need for them to be right next to the doorway. If kids are in a buggy the distance makes no difference to them.

[Withano]

I agree with them and I think those that use them who dont fit the criteria are a bit dicky

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Why does parent parking need to be near the door? I thought the point was there have wider bays to accommodate prams and buggys being taken in and out of a car

I'm pretty sure one of the major reasons for them is to have less kids running about / crossing the vehicle area of a potentially busy car park (bad for the kids AND other motorists). Most parent child spaces I've seen aren't bigger than regular spaces... They don't have the yellow crosshatched "keep clear" area around them that disabled spaces have. A buggy just comes out of the boot (where there is always space... If you can get shopping in, you can get a buggy out) and then a child can be moved into the buggy. The reason disabled spaces have extra room is, for one, a wheelchair needs to be set up at the side of the vehicle so that the person can go straight into it (not needed with a buggy) and secondly because some vehicles for disabled people are specially adapted.

[Cherie]

Parent parking in some stores is just as big as disabled bays with hatch marking its not about getting the buggy in and out the of the boot it's about parking the buggy/trolley with kid in while you lock up so it isn't in the road, same for a wheelchair they probably differ from store to store, as for kids running around once they are out of a buggy they should be learning road sense and parental responsibility kicks in at some point as well, you shouldnt need to have to park near the door with 6 year olds surely

[Cherie]

So in answer to your question Will I agree but only for young children really

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Parent parking in some stores is just as big as disabled bays with hatch marking its not about getting the buggy in and out the of the boot it's about parking the buggy/trolley with kid in while you lock up so it isn't in the road, same for a wheelchair they probably differ from store to store, as for kids running around once they are out of a buggy they should be learning road sense and parental responsibility kicks in at some point as well, you shouldnt need to have to park near the door with 6 year olds surely

Well no but apparently most children aren't born aged 6

[Toy Soldier]

They should more clearly specify an age limit though... My mother in law has been known to use parent and child spaces with my sister in law. She's 21 .

[Livia]

If I've got twenty minutes between meetings and I'm starving, I'm going to have to park in the next borough while women who have pretty much all day can park right outside the store. I would never, ever park in a disabled bay... but if the only space left is a parents and child bay, I'll park in it. Parents themselves abuse it. I've seen people with kids pretty much grown who'll use it, or a single adult who happens to have a child seat in the car.

[Niamh.]

meh I don't do it myself but it's not like parking in a disabled space either, i don't even think parent and child spaces were a thing when my kids were small and I managed to go to the shops etc without too many problems

[AnnieK]

My local supermarket has a sign that only parents with children under 12 can park in the Parent and Child spaces. If there is one free I'll use it but if not I don't get pissy if someone else without kids have used them,

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

meh I don't do it myself but it's not like parking in a disabled space either, i don't even think parent and child spaces were a thing when my kids were small and I managed to go to the shops etc without too many problems

It's a marketing gimmick really, they should be for parents with very young children 0 to 5 max

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

If I've got twenty minutes between meetings and I'm starving, I'm going to have to park in the next borough while women who have pretty much all day can park right outside the store. I would never, ever park in a disabled bay... but if the only space left is a parents and child bay, I'll park in it. Parents themselves abuse it. I've seen people with kids pretty much grown who'll use it, or a single adult who happens to have a child seat in the car.

Not you assuming full time mums don't have busy schedules.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Not you assuming full time mums don't have busy schedules.

Not busier than mine if they're at home all day.

Hey Marshy! x

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Well no but apparently most children aren't born aged 6

But why do you need to park near the door if you are going to put a baby in a trolley, you park near the trolley park of which there are many

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

Not busier than mine if they're at home all day.

Hey Marshy! x

Have you tied the knot yet?

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

If I've got twenty minutes between meetings and I'm starving, I'm going to have to park in the next borough while women who have pretty much all day can park right outside the store. I would never, ever park in a disabled bay... but if the only space left is a parents and child bay, I'll park in it. Parents themselves abuse it. I've seen people with kids pretty much grown who'll use it, or a single adult who happens to have a child seat in the car.

Good points.

Like yourself,I've too seen single and even 2 adults, parking in the spaces with a child seat in the car but no sign of any child/children whatsoever.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

They should more clearly specify an age limit though... My mother in law has been known to use parent and child spaces with my sister in law. She's 21 .

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Have you tied the knot yet?

No, next year. We both have work commitments. I'm going over there in a couple of weeks and we're going to see venues.

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Livia

No, next year. We both have work commitments. I'm going over there in a couple of weeks and we're going to see venues.

Wow, congratulations Livia.