I know some people that read this blog (and there's not many people reading it) are parents, in fact I'm sure that if I looked into it I'd find out that everyone who reads this blog is a parent, and this rant is not directed at parents.
In fact, scratch that, it is slightly directed at parents - all will become clear.
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| A typical parking spot |
In our local shopping center and our local supermarket the spaces are designed so that you can open your doors fully without damaging the car in the next space, which is useful when you consider that our car is a three door and therefore the doors are excessively long.
The provided spaces are also close to the entrance to the shop/shops, also useful as little one doesn't need to be subjected to the wild British weather too much until she's older.
Here's the problem though. As these spaces are so close to the entrances they tend to get parked in by people that shouldn't park in them.
Disabled people for example. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that disabled people shouldn't be allowed to park close to the entrance. No, that would be wrong (though there are many many people that claim to be disabled that clearly are not, but this isn't the place to go into that!). There is probably a law that states how many disabled spaces there should be - a number that is disproportionate to the amount of disabled people driving no doubt - and the people that park in said spaces is controlled by the ownership of a blue badge. So, you know, park in a disabled space.
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| hkpp.org |
The people that really get to me are the ones that are not disabled and have no child. Why do they feel the need to steal parking spaces meant for parents with young babies? Have they no conscience? I suspect they are the kind of people that would let pregnant women and the elderly stand on a crowded bus.
There of course are two other types of people that annoy me in this situation.
Parents who have a baby seat but no baby. Why do they feel they are entitled to use these spaces? When you don't have the baby you lose your right to park in that space.
Also, when that baby gets to about 8 years old, possibly younger, you really don't need that space either. Sometimes I see people parking in parent and child spaces with kids that are anything up to 15 or 16. That is just taking the proverbial.
So, if you have a small child or baby and you see someone using these spaces who probably shouldn't ... please say something to them so next time they reconsider.
Thanks for reading this disjointed rant, to reward you here's an image I stumbled across that I think is a good idea:
Totally agree with you however you should have ranted a bit more and with a few swear words thrown in too (sorry thats just me!)it makes my blood boil when non-parents park in these spaces....well written....thanks
ReplyDeleteAs a non-driver myself, I don't know whether I am in a position to share my opinion... but I'm going to anyway! I think people who clearly don't have a legitimate claim to said spaces should get fined. That'd stop them! I remember that former England captain and father of the year, John Terry, was fined for parking in a disabled bay a couple of years ago. What a nice man he isn't. I digress. If the space is designated for certain users, it should carry the same penalties for those who abuse the system. So there!
ReplyDeletetotally agree with you. I've been pulling into a car park with my other half and my one year old and seen a woman in a sporty car drive right into my parent and child space *the only one left* and look straight at me as she gets out picks her handbag off the back seat and walk off.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've also argued til I'm blue in the face with a middle aged woman and her mother in a wheelchair over a space because the parent and child spaces were ever so tiny bit closer to the entrance.
Well said rant!
By the way I think that a car park only has to contain 10% parent and child spaces. I don't know about disabled
Totally agree - nothing annoys me more than some lazy person, with clearly no young children, utilising spaces that they don't need!!
ReplyDeletehttp://hatingbecauseicare.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/rant-1.html A good post on Parent Parking...
ReplyDeleteI do wish that the places that have these spaces would monitor them in some way. I complained once, at Sainsbury's , that these spaces were unavailable to me, due to a couple who had parked there in their sports car - but the 'customer service' desk told me that there was nothing they could do (or perhaps were willing to do), to prevent mis-use of these spaces. And BTW, if I ever see these people, I ALWAYS let them know about their offences - politely, but firmly, of course.
ReplyDelete