Why do we have these .....

1)For space to get kiddys in and out of prams (so you have not got people parking right up to ur door so you have to climb through another door to get you child in ).

2)so children are not walking all over the carpark so closer to pavement.

3)if you do have a lot of shopping and a pram just that little bit easier .

So my quetion is why do people not understand what these spaces are for.
I would not dream of parking in these spaces if i did not have my kids with me, or even with just my son who is 4 and does not have a pram i would not park there.

Aslo the upraw what would happen if there were no spaces for the parents and baby so they choose to park in the disabled ???
yes it would make people go crazy
but.....
its okay for the disabled to park in the family spaces ...(please not not aimed at everyone )

Thats is not as much of a problam as people with no kids or teenagers (who like to class themsleves as adults anyway) park in these spaces....

i have to agree with you there, ive only got a little car and when i go out with my mates two young kids, we have a nightmare finding spaces. some people think cos they have those stupid stickers they can park there - half the time the kids not with em. Its bad enough going anywhere with kids without this prob too

I wish all spaces were that wide to save car doors getting knocked and, of course to give women drivers a wide berth ;)

(runs away!)

you better run mate, im an ace driver and an even better parker

oh this gets right up my nose this does, my sister has a two year old & even tho she dosent take her shopping very often when she does she cant get parked & finds it dificult to get my niece out of teh car, also my niece has a habit of kicking at the moment (all kids go thru stages like this dont they?) & so if my sister cant find a parent & child space, she parks in a normal one, the number of times now my niece has been kicking & screaming & she has kicked someones wing mirror or door. my sister always leaves a note with number & it costs her but if she could get parked in mother & child it wouldnt happen as there is quite abit of space for her to get my niece out of!

one memberable time, i was with my sister just palked up, uper tier central car park murderhell, i saw this woman park up in a dreaded 4 x 4 with no child, not only did she park in a P&C space, she parked lengthways across two bays. we watched her for a second & she got out & proceeded to walk over towards the staff enterance. i shouted to her politely as tho i wanted directions, then started to ask why she had parked in a parent & child space when there was a carpark with spaces! i told her she was an ignorante, selfish lazy person with no consideration, i made her feel really small! she deserved it!

What makes me mad is the fact that a 1/3 of carparks are devoted to disabled spaces. So whilst the majority (able bodied people) struggle to find car parking spaces, they are squillions of empty disabled spaces.

Originally posted by NATALIESHEFF
you better run mate, im an ace driver and an even better parker

(apart from me of course) My mum is the best driver I know. An exception to the rule though, it must be said :D ;)

Originally posted by Skatiechik
What makes me mad is the fact that a 1/3 of carparks are devoted to disabled spaces. So whilst the majority (able bodied people) struggle to find car parking spaces, they are squillions of empty disabled spaces.

Perhaps you should consider having a disability to make your life easier then ?
Perhaps you could have your legs removed ?

Originally posted by Skatiechik
What makes me mad is the fact that a 1/3 of carparks are devoted to disabled spaces. So whilst the majority (able bodied people) struggle to find car parking spaces, they are squillions of empty disabled spaces.

I agree with this - they should just make all the spaces wider and put a handful of disabled and parent/child near the front then, no matter where you park, you have ample space to get in and out.

Outside Argos in Meadowhall, there are far too many disabled spaces for instance. I have to take heavy goods out to people's cars and there is nowhere they can legally stop (if able bodied that is) for 10 mins.

I'm sure two spaces could be sacrificed for loading really.

Originally posted by nick2
Perhaps you should consider having a disability to make your life easier then ?
Perhaps you could have your legs removed ?

I normally just shop somewhere else if they is nowhere for me to park.

If the shops car park planner isn't able to work out the ratio of disabled:able bodied people sensibly then its their tough luck they will lose my custom.

I can't believe you guys begrudge disabled people having parking spaces near the shops. And moan that you have to carry "heavy" things to your car. At least you are able to carry things to your car.

Originally posted by nick2
I can't believe you guys begrudge disabled people having parking spaces near the shops. And moan that you have to carry "heavy" things to your car. At least you are able to carry things to your car.

I don't carry all the goods, I use a trolley and think there should be a couple of spaces for loading of heavy goods.

I don't begrudge disabled people being able to park near the shop, its the sheer volume of spaces that are allocated to them that are never used that annoys me. You could make a decent size garden outside Argos at Mhall and still have plenty of spaces for disabled/loading.

I'm deeply considering raising the issue of loading spaces to the bigwigs at Mhall

Originally posted by dinp
I don't begrudge disabled people being able to park near the shop, its the sheer volume of spaces that are allocated to them that are never used that annoys me. You could make a decent size garden outside Argos at Mhall and still have plenty of spaces for disabled/loading.

The same here too, of course I don't begrudge them spaces, they are there for a reason, however if 99 spaces out of a 100 are denoted to a disabled person and only 1 to an able bodied person it gets frustrating (yes I know I have over exagerrated just trying to make a point)

Originally posted by Skatiechik
The same here too, of course I don't begrudge them spaces, they are there for a reason, however if 99 spaces out of a 100 are denoted to a disabled person and only 1 to an able bodied person it gets frustrating (yes I know I have over exagerrated just trying to make a point)

Out of all the (thousands of) parking spaces at Meadowhall, how many do you think are disabled ?
Where I work we have a car park for about 250 cars, but only 4 spaces are disabled, perhaps thats too many ?

There's over 12,000 parking spaces at Meadowhall according to their site, would be interesting to learn how many of them are disabled.

I doubt its in ration proportion with the local population though.

Originally posted by nick2
Out of all the (thousands of) parking spaces at Meadowhall, how many do you think are disabled ?
Where I work we have a car park for about 250 cars, but only 4 spaces are disabled, perhaps thats too many ?

I wouldn't know about Meadowhall, think i have been once in the past 2/3years.

I was thinking about supermarkets where whole aisles are devoted to the disabled.

Putting my architects head on, and not wanting to sound pedantic, it's the planning dept. of the local council that dictates the amount of disabled car parking spaces. Off the top of my head it's around 20% of the total spaces. And generally it seems that there is a hell of a lot of them, but it's only because they are situated close to the buildings.
I know exactly where you are coming from as I've 2 children myself.
Anyone that parks in spaces not designed for them should be hung drawn and quartered.

Originally posted by Skatiechik
I wouldn't know about Meadowhall, think i have been once in the past 2/3years.

I was thinking about supermarkets where whole aisles are devoted to the disabled.

So you have to walk a bit further, whats the problem ?

Originally posted by nick2
So you have to walk a bit further, whats the problem ?

There isn't a problem for walking further I don't mind.

The problem is when I can't actually park anywhere within a 3 mile radius of the shop I want to go to because the carpark is empty with disabled spaces and not enough room denoted to able bodied people.

Originally posted by ladyovmanor
So my quetion is why do people not understand what these spaces are for.

I just think it's a bit of a lame-ass reason for getting good parking and I also don't go with this pregnant parking either.

Jesus, what next?! Spaces for people who are a bit tired cos they were on nights?

It beggars belief.

Originally posted by nick2
Perhaps you should consider having a disability to make your life easier then ?
Perhaps you could have your legs removed ?

thats is not whats this is all about i am on about all the people that park in both lots of spaces that are not designed for them i would not dream of parking in a disabled space but would i would like to see is bigger spaces

Originally posted by nick2
Out of all the (thousands of) parking spaces at Meadowhall, how many do you think are disabled ?
Where I work we have a car park for about 250 cars, but only 4 spaces are disabled, perhaps thats too many ?

i truley think you see this as a aim at disabled people but never said that its when you see all the spaces empty and peope that have no badges parking in them

Originally posted by smedley
I just think it's a bit of a lame-ass reason for getting good parking and I also don't go with this pregnant parking either.

Jesus, what next?! Spaces for people who are a bit tired cos they were on nights?

It beggars belief.

yer but if you can see if you was doing this day in day out

Originally posted by smedley
I just think it's a bit of a lame-ass reason for getting good parking and I also don't go with this pregnant parking either.

Jesus, what next?! Spaces for people who are a bit tired cos they were on nights?

It beggars belief.

just a question if you was in a car with a disabled badge on it would you use a space for disabled knowing you was fully fit not to ?????
please note i am not saying you would as i dont know u , just a question

Originally posted by nick2
I can't believe you guys begrudge disabled people having parking spaces near the shops. And moan that you have to carry "heavy" things to your car. At least you are able to carry things to your car.

This isn't always the case though nick. We have a man in our factory who drives a car which was obtained through his disabled mother (and it's an Audi, no less). He drives it to and from work everyday (and, no, his mother doesn't work in our factory) and he uses it to go to Sainsbury's, parks it in the disabled bays and also goes into town and parks it on double yellow lines simply because he can get away with it as the car has a disabled sticker. I was always under the impression that the disabled person had to be in the car in order to utilise the benefits.

I see many people coming in and out of 'disabled' badge cars in our local tescos and they show no outwards signs of any disabilities. Presumably some of these are using them as the man in our factory.

Had to start this topic, I'm sure there are those of you that will be with me here and I'm sure there are plenty of you who abuse the system.

Speaking as a parent, don't you just HATE with a vengance those people that park in the 'parent and child' spaces, at supermarket's, Meadowhall etc, who clearly don't have a child, just because the spaces are closer to the shop - in fact sometimes (and I refer to a local Tesco) the spaces are where they are, so that young children are not walking across a busy car park. As you all know, the are also wider so, with ease, you can get a child out of their seat in the rear of the car, without worrying about your door hitting another parked vehicle. I can't remember the last time I parked in such a space, because they're never available - usually occupied by a disabled person, a white-van-man, someone in a new or particularly expensive car, or someone nipping to the cash point.

What if they were monitered in the same way disabled spaces were - with a badge in your screen - if you don't have a child under, say 5 years old, you don't have a valid badge/certificate and you can be clamped, fined or asked to move. Excellent idea!

I get so mad - especially when I miss a space cause some 'single' man/woman has nipped into the space before me. I verbally abuse them, try to embarrass them in the street, attract attention to them, they don't like it, but then neither does my wife, she hates in when we go shopping, cause she knows I'll say something to someone.

If I was'nt such a law abiding citizen I could be tempted to 'key' someone's precious paintwork.

Before you jump down my throat, no I don't automatically assume that someone with a 2 door coupe (or similar) is not a parent - mainly because, once I returned to my car (Peugeot 307 Coupe Cabriolet), with my daughter, and found a note on my windscreen, from a fellow shopper asking me to note that "these spaces are for people with children" - if only the had the brains to look through the window and see the car seat... However, I know someone who has a child's booster seat in his car, simply so he can use these spaces without question - he's single.

Matt

Originally posted by fierysatsuma
Had to start this topic, I'm sure there are those of you that will be with me here and I'm sure there are plenty of you who abuse the system.



I don't particularly care. There's no legal protection for Parent and Child parking spaces. They're just put there by the supermarket or shopping centre to pander to people who want to bring their kids shopping with them.

You have no more right to a bigger space closer to the door than does a single man in a car.

Parent and Child spaces didn't exist when I was younger and my parents took me shopping and we managed fine without them.

I understand the difficulties of shopping with children and I appreciate that parent and child spaces make it easier. However I don't think that there's anything wrong with other people parking in those prime spaces near the store.

My opinion on disabled parking spaces is different. People who park in disabled spaces illegally should face mandatory fines for the inconvenience that they cause to disabled people.

At some branches of tesco you need to be a kids club member to park here

Any system is always open for abuse, this topic has been covered on this thread (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20855&highlight=parent) also :)

Here we go again...'Happy clappy parents' ...
..my child is perfect you must alter your life to suit it.

We are all equal.
Using disabled spaces is the worst thing to do..those spaces are needed for genuine reasons.

Originally posted by cruella
Here we go again...'Happy clappy parents' ...
..my child is perfect you must alter your life to suit it.

We are all equal.
Using disabled spaces is the worst thing to do..those spaces are needed for genuine reasons. I'd rather the parents and thier 'luggage' parked in their own spaces so that my doors don't get dented during the strapping in exercise. And I notice how many people with a slight limp are prepared to take the last disabled space too!!!!

Does nobody have any consideration anymore??

Originally posted by Strix
I'd rather the parents and thier 'luggage' parked in their own spaces so that my doors don't get dented during the strapping in exercise. And I notice how many people with a slight limp are prepared to take the last disabled space too!!!!

Does nobody have any consideration anymore??
I could not agree more..my car was Emaculate..perfect..then some chuff came along and put a dint in my rear pannel. Obviously from the back door being opened.. by a sloppy kid!

Its not a case of 'if you're a parent you don't give a toss about other peoples cars. If you drive an 'old banger' have have no regard for you own car/property, then you will have no regard for other peoples cars/property. Although I am a parent, I have a nice car, that I look after and I have the same respect for other peoples property. Its the kind of people (irrelevant of whether they are parents) who regard their car/vehicle as simply a box on wheels that gets them from A to B (usually cause it cost them £300 quid, who have no regard for the property/vehicles of others. Whereas those who pride themselves in their property - I.e. spend 20-grand or more on a car, know what its like to own something valuable and therefore respect the property of others. for example, I will drive round Meadowhall for ages trying to find 2 decent cars to park between - would never park between an old 'G reg' fiesta and a Nova.

Matt

Originally posted by fierysatsuma
If I was'nt such a law abiding citizen I could be tempted to 'key' someone's precious paintwork. Matt I don't think letting people's tyres down counts as criminal damage though
:hihi: ;) :rolleyes: :thumbsup:

Originally posted by cruella
I could not agree more..my car was Emaculate..perfect..then some chuff came along and put a dint in my rear pannel. Obviously from the back door being opened.. by a sloppy kid! Yeah, so stay out of the kids spaces! Nothing to do with altering peoples lives.

Originally posted by fierysatsuma
I will drive round Meadowhall for ages trying to find 2 decent cars to park between - would never park between an old 'G reg' fiesta and a Nova.

Matt How do you tell if they're company/hire cars that the 'owner' doesn't care about either????

Originally posted by Strix
Yeah, so stay out of the kids spaces! Nothing to do with altering peoples lives.

How do you tell if they're company/hire cars that the 'owner' doesn't care about either????

Cause we all know salesmen/reps/company car drivers, drive Mondeo's, Audi A4's, Vauxhall Vectra's etc. Plus they park in two spaces cause it's too much like hard work turning into a space properly.

Matt

Well im tempted to park in the parent places now on purpose... should avoid getting anymore dints on my car due to all the extra space either side.

Originally posted by cruella
Well im tempted to park in the parent places now on purpose... should avoid getting anymore dints on my car due to all the extra space either side.

well I hope you have a child seat in the back - or a footpump in your boot, you'll need it on those cold winter nights when you're laided down with your xmas shopping, walking briskly to your car, thinking about that hot cuppa coffee you're gonna have when you get home and, ****, you realise you're gonna have to pump up a couple of tyres first, but hey, look on the bright side, you won't have the dents in your bodywork. hehe.

Matt

Originally posted by fierysatsuma
Cause we all know salesmen/reps/company car drivers, drive Mondeo's, Audi A4's, Vauxhall Vectra's etc. Plus they park in two spaces cause it's too much like hard work turning into a space properly.

Matt I often park straddling two spaces after spotting a child seat in the car either side. And I drive a Zafira. Not your average rep's car though! And I do it out of consideration for somebody trying to reload their children.

Some of the guys in work have been issued MG convertibles as hire cars whilst in this country, so watch out ;)

** Sarcastic **
Guys guys, you can't expect these overprotective parents to park their 4x4's in small spaces can you?
They need the extra space to be able to maneuver into the slot.
Don't you see parent and child spaces help stop your car being dented by some tank driver in a 4x4 that they can't handle their oversized vehicle.
And as for you lazy ******** that just have to park right next to the door, get a life, go for a walk, go to the gym.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Originally posted by fierysatsuma
Its not a case of 'if you're a parent you don't give a toss about other peoples cars. If you drive an 'old banger' have have no regard for you own car/property, then you will have no regard for other peoples cars/property.


Got to say this is Bull. I drive a 8 year old astra estate diesel. It has had an hard life, 135k miles on the clock. Cost me £1400 a couple years back. It doesn't look its best.

Now to me this is transport for the 20 mile trip to work. Although it goes through Bertie Bubbles every 2 to 3 weeks its always mucky within 2 days.

I could afford a newer / better motor but while this is not giving me problems and is perfect for the job I give it. it stays.

Now this argument came up a few months back at work. The well off tech guy (self employed, works hard, deserves everything he has) decides to buy a brand new Nissan 350Z.

Due to layout of the carpark there is one extra wide space next to the doors. Now if this space is free I'm in there. If its not I will park in the easiest space available.

Now the guys start to moan saying I should move my car so he can park there. I refuse and ask why. All he could come up with was the new car, don't want it scratched idea. Now my car isn't new but I dont want mine scratching. I'm always carefull not to scratch anybody elses car (old or new) when I open my doors, why should I put my car at more risk to protect his.


Now to go to the other end of the scale to yourself. The £300 "old banger" guy you mention is in a low paid job. Maybe he spends what he has on more important things like the rent, food and clothing for the kids etc. The "Old Banger" does what he needs it to. Its transportation on the cheap, it gets him to work, it takes the kids for days out at the weekend (can't afford the exotic foreign holidays that you are used to).

He parks at tesco's perfectly. Along comes Mr £20k motor. Master £20k motor flings the back door open into the old banger cracking the paintwork. The bottom of the door rusts quickly spreading to the sill. 6 months later it's MOT time. FAILED. can't afford the repairs. Kids stay at home at the weekends.

Now tell me who appreciates His car the most????

I agree with everybody that says parent child spaces are a waste of time, parking close to the shop is like a little stroke of luck not some priviledge you should have because you have a child.
Yeah so getting your child into the back seat is difficult, so what? There's more things in life that are harder, get over it.

I only paid £600 for my car and to imply that I care less about it is ridiculous. I would be inclined to say that if you can afford to pay £20,000+ on a car then you can afford the repairs too
Whatever next? In store parking perhaps because your childs tired? Next to the veg section should be a good start , why not let parents take their cars around the aisles? Ffs.

Getting back to pampering kids, Is anybody else in there thirties amazed ther is any of us left.

For a big percentage of my youth the shopping was done using the Asda Bus. If we were driven there where no special parking spaces.

I never had a mobile so I could be checked on but in the summer Holidays from about the age of about 8 Me and My mate could be "missing" in the woods from 9am to 7pm (even later as we got older) and we never got into any problems.

We would walk to school, even along BUSY roads.

We where encourage to go out on our bikes.

Well I came through it without too many scars.


And before you say that there are too many kids attacked these days, statistics show that the amount of kids attacked as been static since the 50s. The only difference today is the media coverage. A missing child would only be reported in the local papers. If this did turn out to be a murder or sex attack then this would probably get one report in the nationals and maybe another if someone is caught.

Originally posted by SlimboyFat
Got to say this is Bull. I drive a 8 year old astra estate diesel. It has had an hard life, 135k miles on the clock. Cost me £1400 a couple years back. It doesn't look its best.

Now to me this is transport for the 20 mile trip to work. Although it goes through Bertie Bubbles every 2 to 3 weeks its always mucky within 2 days.

I could afford a newer / better motor but while this is not giving me problems and is perfect for the job I give it. it stays.

Now this argument came up a few months back at work. The well off tech guy (self employed, works hard, deserves everything he has) decides to buy a brand new Nissan 350Z.

Due to layout of the carpark there is one extra wide space next to the doors. Now if this space is free I'm in there. If its not I will park in the easiest space available.

Now the guys start to moan saying I should move my car so he can park there. I refuse and ask why. All he could come up with was the new car, don't want it scratched idea. Now my car isn't new but I dont want mine scratching. I'm always carefull not to scratch anybody elses car (old or new) when I open my doors, why should I put my car at more risk to protect his.


Now to go to the other end of the scale to yourself. The £300 "old banger" guy you mention is in a low paid job. Maybe he spends what he has on more important things like the rent, food and clothing for the kids etc. The "Old Banger" does what he needs it to. Its transportation on the cheap, it gets him to work, it takes the kids for days out at the weekend (can't afford the exotic foreign holidays that you are used to).

He parks at tesco's perfectly. Along comes Mr £20k motor. Master £20k motor flings the back door open into the old banger cracking the paintwork. The bottom of the door rusts quickly spreading to the sill. 6 months later it's MOT time. FAILED. can't afford the repairs. Kids stay at home at the weekends.

Now tell me who appreciates His car the most????

the only £20k car owner who flings his door open into someone elses car is a company car driver WHO DOES NOT ACTUALLY OWN THE CAR. I respect you for what you say about respecting other peoples property, but there are plenty of people who work hard for their £20k car (myself included - very hard) and plenty of people with 'bangers' who don't care a toss about their car or anyone elses in the car park - Their financial situation has nothing to do with it- i'm not suggesting that people who drive old cars are poor.

Thats why I stated it wasn't the owner that flung the door open. It could be one of the kids (not saying its the kids fault, these things happen) or Mr £20k hasn't quite got hold of the door right when its blown by a strong wind.

I'm also not stating the Mr £20k is you. It's just that your first post made it sound like all £20k drivers are respectfull and all £300 drivers are scum. This is definately not the case in both instances.

There are plenty of £20kers that dont give a toss about other peoples property and plenty of £300ers that do.

QUOTE: Their financial situation has nothing to do with it.

When buying a car, the financial situation has everything to do with it. When deciding to have no respect for other people then it has nothing to do with it.

Please don't take any of these remarks personally. They are not aimed at you. I just had to disagree with some of te points you seemed to be implying.

Give this a break! Thank you all you ignorant morons who have shouted abuse at me, a sole driver in my car, parking in a 'parent and child' parking space. You are so lucky I've not got out my car before now and come over and punch the living daylights out of you, the only thing stopping me (apart from being arrested) is that I am usually meeting my wife and child in the supermarket.... Yes, the same wife and child I droppped off 10 minutes ago before I went to fill up the car with petrol.

Whilst we are on the subject of parking where you shouldn't in supermarkets, maybe the complainers are the ones that sit for hours in the 'dropping off' space or like to sit blindly in queues in the car park not noticing that sometimes giving way to other vehicles may make getting out of them a damn site easier.

There are worse problems in the world than parking in parent and child spaces, get a life and address these before moaning about trivial, insignificant things.

I'm not a parent but I agree that these parking spaces are a good idea, although there seems to be billions of them, unused in Coles, Rockingham Gate and Tescos every time I go. I find that very frustrating when I have to drive to the roof even though there are 6 spaces available and another 6 in use at Coles and then the parents will still use the lift, same as I do from the roof.
Wide spaces will undoubtedly be very useful but if anyone did a reasonable amount of research on the amount of car parking parents with children who actually NEED these spaces I suspect the difference would be quirte substantial.
Equally there are always lots of disability parking spaces at Meadowhell and various other places whenever I go. These spaces are needed by people with disabilities I agree but how does a company choose how many to have?
I don't want my car dented by another driver and I wouldn't want the struggle to fit my child in the car while watching my bag and shopping and trying to keep the trolley from rolling away and simulataneously trying not to hit the next car. What a headache.
However - a tip I find useful in case a car is parked very closely to mine and I haven't got room to examine the side of my car, I use my camera phone to take a picture which includes their licence plate number and how close they are to my car which could provide any evidence required to prove damage.
I like my car as it is!

++++++++++++++++++++++

Originally posted by fierysatsuma
Its the kind of people (irrelevant of whether they are parents) who regard their car/vehicle as simply a box on wheels that gets them from A to B (usually cause it cost them £300 quid, who have no regard for the property/vehicles of others. Whereas those who pride themselves in their property -

Matt

My car IS a box that gets me (and my kids) from A to B, it needs a clean at the moment, a few crisp crumbs on the floor etc HOWEVER I have the utmost respect for other peoples' property whether it's a 20K cruiser or a £300 banger.

Also I don't think anyone has mentioned the safety aspect ie. children are short and so less likely to be seen by a reversing driver. They don't have the same sense of danger and no matter how careful a parent is an accident could happen. Some people drive far too fast in car parks anyway.

I give looks that could kill to people that park unnecessarily in parent and child spaces but then such an inconsiderate person probably wouldn't give a toss.

The thing I think is important to mention is the fact that in the first post it is assumed that disabled spaces are enforced, (and parent and child spaces are not) while it is often not the case. I have a disabled badge but in some places all the disabled spots are took up by cars without badges and nobody enforces them. For example, everywhere around Centertainment, and also at Sheffield College it is a problem, various retail parks etc.

I'm not sure how the supermarkets enforce them, but it certainly isn't by clamping or tickets which I think should be the case. I think its more like some kind of polite note. I know in Ikea, they simply read out an offending car registration plate over the tannoy asking them to move the car, then appealing to the person's conscience to go and do this, so really there is not enough of n incentive to do it.

Therefore if people do not even mind about parking in disabled spots when they shouldn't, I'm not surprised they have even less worry about the parent and child spaces. I think they are a nice idea but only insofar as people respect the scheme which clearly not everyone does so its really just a case of being lucky or not, and if not well never mind. Like its been said before, we never used to have these things.

Yes the disabled person does have to be in the car to use these spaces. The card is for the person not the car, the disabled person owns it and if travelling in someone elses car can use it, but their relatives certainly cannot.

Unfortunately it's difficult to report misuses although it does happen. Normally a traffic warden has to see a non disabled person using the badge and ask to see the badge to check it is for them and if not then then fine them and report them to car badge section of social services who record it was misused. If this happens again they could remove the badge.

Also in reference to the complaint about too may disabled spaces at Meadowhall, and whether this reflects the population etc... one should bear in mind that because Maedowhall is indoor, all the floors are level (no curbs etc) good lift access etc etc it is a lot easier for a wheelchair user to shop there than say in town where there's lots of other obstacles and I know some disabled people even go there as like a day trip or take disabled relatives becuase of the good access. So there's likely to be a higher proprtion of disabled people needing to park.

Sorry, Killian, I have been thinking about your last post again.
I think you should report the man you mentioned to Social Services Car Badge dept on 2734897 or if you can't get through on that one the main social services number is 2734908.

At the very least if you know the name of the man's mother or her address then I think they would give her a ring or write to inform her of correct use of the badge etc.

We try to use the Parent and Child spaces when we shop, we dont have a big expensive car just a small modest family car, But the main reason for using these spaces is the saftey aspect.
I have a toddler and a nine year old who is classed as mentally disabled, the added space round these spaces gives me the peace of mind of knowing that either of my two children are less likley to run into the busy carpark or damage anybody elses car.
I allways have a good grip on my youngest but somtimes the eldest can have lapses in concentration and has been known to wander close to moving cars in carparks luckily I have allways been able to grab him and pull him back, this has usually happens when we have been unable to find a space in the Parent and Child spaces. Not that I am blaming anyone for any of these problems these things happen, I have just joined the mother and baby club at tesco, this will give me a little sticker to display in our car so we can use the specially set away from the rest of the carpark spaces, (brill idea) so we wont have to drag both of the kids round the edge of a busy carpark.
I went to medowhall at the weekend we arrived early to aviod the busy period and we managed to find a space in the parent parking (somthing we have never managed before) as we were getting out of our car loading up the kids in to push chairs ect some woman in a huge minibus type car (8 seats) pulls up takes up two of these spaces no children to be seen in her car , gets out locks the car has a look at her poor parking skills then has a quick look at the sign to indicate the use of the spaces, then scuttles off to shop, grr I declined to say anything as my partner gave me that look to say Dont! but I was dying to tell her she had forgotten her children.
Unfortunatly People of today seem to have this sod you attitude and I think its making the world a nasty angry place to live in, every day I lose a little more of my faith in mankind.

Originally posted by ladyovmanor
i truley think you see this as a aim at disabled people but never said that its when you see all the spaces empty and peope that have no badges parking in them

I couldn't quite work out what you're saying here, but if you think I'm having a go at disabled people you are very wrong.
I don't drive so what spaces are for who is of no importance to me I just think the child/disabled parking spaces close to the shop doors is a very good idea.

Killian, report the guy, it's obviously eating you up that he has got a free Audi and can park it wherever he likes, you can then comfort yourself with the thought of his housebound mother.

Originally posted by Zebra
However - a tip I find useful in case a car is parked very closely to mine and I haven't got room to examine the side of my car, I use my camera phone to take a picture which includes their licence plate number and how close they are to my car which could provide any evidence required to prove damage.
I like my car as it is!

Well I think this is a BRILLIANT idea! No point in moaning AFTER somethings happened, is there? And the picture is easy enough to delete after you've checked your car! I think this is a bit of excellent forethought.

Perhaps this should be merged with the very similar thread in General Chit Chat ?

Originally posted by SlimboyFat
I never had a mobile so I could be checked on but in the summer Holidays from about the age of about 8 Me and My mate could be "missing" in the woods from 9am to 7pm (even later as we got older) and we never got into any problems.


My dad used to drive us to Riverlin on his way to work, drop us off there with a packed lunch, and pick us up on his way home.
We had the whole day left to our own devices, it was great.

now thats just plain sad! dont u ppl have lives? better things to do? better things to moan about? [/B][/QUOTE]

Why is it sad? Do you own a car which which took you two years to save for? Do you own a car which is currently in almost imaculate condition and you would like to keep it that way? Do you have a car which is useful to you in your business as it helps you to maintain a business like approach when arriving with equipment for a client?
I delete photgraphs as soon as I know my car is fine. All I'm doing is making sure that anyone who batters my car will pay for it and I don't see why I should pay for someone elses carelessness.
So in answer to your question - yes I have a life, and a car and I have some self respect about maintaining both of those, how about you?

Originally posted by Deejay
Any system is always open for abuse, this topic has been covered on this thread (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20855&highlight=parent) also :)

MOD:Thanks for that, saves me looking for it. :thumbsup: Threads merged.

I am sorry if this is in the wrong area but I am very new to posting on here.....sorry in advance.

Dont want to upset anyone but wanted to ask peoples thoughts on the following?

How many times do we see inconsiderate people pulling in car parks and aiming for the parent and toddler spaces, they get out of the car and havent even got a chid! and what age is classed as a toddler? 0-5? 15? what do people really think?

And this is usually just because the spaces are wider for their brand new cars or CLOSER to the shopping centre/supermarket because they are too lazy to walk!!!

And what about the disabled parking facilities that are being misused in the same way?

You'll get told off for not using the 'search' facility. There's some huge great long threads on that topic on here

was walking out of meadowhall after work on saturday, thru debhanams (sp?) and was astonsihed at how many people were parked in disabled spots with NO badges. isnt it illegal to park in a disabled spot if your not?????

these were big fancy cars too!!

just cos u own a merc dont mean to say you can take the ****

(p.s i was making my way to the tram stop, just in case someone says well what car do you own.....)

i would have thought that the "child" spaces would have been better further away - the gov't keeps saying they aren't exercising enough.
i think that in private car parks it is down to the landlord i.e meadowhall to move the cars or clamp them.But because they don't want to offend people spending money they seem a bit loathe to do anything.

No willman, the child spaces near the supermarket's entrance are noticeably larger than your average parking space. This is to to ensure the four year old driver can reverse into the space safely without pranging any other vehicle.

Seriously, the only way to stop people abusing the system is to police it better and to issue larger fines. Either that or insist the person goes round the supermarket again - that'd be enough for me!

This topic is one that really gets on my wick!

When we go shopping to morrisons in ecclesfield on a thursday all of the parent and child spaces are full (many of which do not have chirldren!) and so we end up parking all the way across the other side! my 18month old can walk but i wont let her walk across a busy car park so i have to carry her n she is very heavy!

And its exactly the same with the disabled spaces!

so i just wish people would be a bit more considerate to others, but i doubt that'll ever happen in a million years!

Hold on...

Is this not a form of discrimination against those without disabled stickers or children?

... I already hear the "Ahh, but this is different..." cries...


Discrimination is discrimination whether positive or negative so either accept it and allow it across the whole of society or ban it.


</rant>

its not about discrimination, its about providing help for the people who need it. Those that are able bodied and perfectly capable of walking across a car park are using the spaces provided for those that are not.

And as for the parent and child spaces, a pesron without a child is taking up a space nearer the shop and so a person with a child has to park further away and let their child walk across a busy car park, which is not safe.

there is no discrimination

Sorry - preferential provision of parking spaces - is that not discriminating?

How about if I said it was for white people or immigrants only - that would be discriminatory wouldn't it? What's the difference?

I think there has even been a court case on this, where someone successfully took a council to court.

We cannot discriminate against anyone, therefore you cannot stop able bodied people from parking in them! The same goes for the spaces for people with children.

I for one don’t park in these spaces and get very annoyed with people who do.

One way to stop it is to put the spaces in the middle of the car park. The people who park in them who don’t deserve them are only doing so because they are bit fat lazy gets!

I heard the story of a disabled mother of two who found all the disabled parking spaces at her local supermarket filled by people without the correct badges on display.

She parked in the last empty "Parent & Child" space and began the arduous task of getting two small children out of her car when an able-bodied mother pulled up and shouted abusive language at her, insinuating that as she was disabled she had no right to the space and should park in the disabled spaces provided.

Disabled spaces, which as I mentioned before, were filled by able-bodied drivers.

Can't please some people.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by x_LoUiSe_x
[B]This topic is one that really gets on my wick!

When we go shopping to morrisons in ecclesfield on a thursday all of the parent and child spaces are full (many of which do not have chirldren!) and so we end up parking all the way across the other side! my 18month old can walk but i wont let her walk across a busy car park so i have to carry her n she is very heavy!

And its exactly the same with the disabled spaces!
I go to the same supermarket.I cant get in the disabled bay for people using them with no badge.I have a disabled child.Customer services at morrisons couldnt care less when you mention it as i once did.
so i just wish people would be a bit more considerate to others, but i doubt that'll ever happen in a million years

It sums up the society in which we live. Our culture is obssessed with every -ism and -ation going. As another person posted, it isn't a question of discrimination at all - it's to help a section of society. And think on: one day it could be you who requires a parking bay near the building (I very probably will).

When my children were smaller we used the parent and child parking bays and they were very handy. Now my children are able to walk themselves I park with every other Tom, Dick and Harry. I wouldn't dream of using the P & C bays, or disabled ones.

As Erasure pined in 1988: give a little respect.

Sorry xlouisex .Iv done that wrong somehow and mixed my thread with yours.:loopy:

Originally posted by Ousetunes
it isn't a question of discrimination at all - it's to help a section of society. And think on: one day it could be you who requires a parking bay near the building (I very probably will).

When my children were smaller we used the parent and child parking bays and they were very handy. Now my children are able to walk themselves I park with every other Tom, Dick and Harry. I wouldn't dream of using the P & C bays, or disabled ones.
Well said.

Personally, I used the "normal" parking bays, even when I had two small children with me, because I could manage OK anyway. My wife however always struggled and would have loved to have used the P+T bays (if any had been empty, thanks inconsiderate people).

As Ouse' says, it's about consideration, and yes, safety, not about US and THEM. :rant:

Originally posted by Litotes
Sorry - preferential provision of parking spaces - is that not discriminating?

How about if I said it was for white people or immigrants only - that would be discriminatory wouldn't it? What's the difference?

While I know perfectly well that this post is only intended to start a flame war, I thought I'd respond anyway.

The difference is clear:

An able bodied white person has no more reason to park close to a supermarket than an abled bodied black or Asian person.

A disabled person in a wheelchair, say, on the other hand, is slower moving (usually), has trouble with steps, and takes up more floor space when moving (cannot duck between cars when traffic approaches). It therefore makes sense that a this person would be better served with a space closer to the shop. Even a person who is disabled in another way (e.g. deaf) is better served closer to the shop as crossing a carpark can be hair raising even when you can hear what's coming.

People with children have similar problems. A child is very capable of legging it and most adults are simply incapable of keeping up. It's a fact of life. So, the best way to solve it? Put them closer to the store with no roads to cross. Sorted.

The wider spaces? Consider getting a wheel chair, crutches, or a screaming 2 year old into the car. Are you better of cramped into 6 inches, or with the door fully open?

If I happen to park next to your car because someone else has taken all the parent and child spaces, is it alright for me to smash in the side of your car to serve my own purposes? No. So why is it alright for you to take up a space specifically designed to remove that problem? It isn't.

Anyway, what the hell happened to common courtesy, FFS! I suppose if a person on crutches comes in behind you through a spring loaded door you let it smash into their face? After all, it's discrimination if no-one held it open for you...

You miss the point.

All I am asking is "Is it not discriminatory"

And what you have said is "yes"

Now you could have been slightly more succinct...

or I could have come back with the arguement that wheelchair users have wheels and therefore are able to carry bags of shopping more easliy than single people staggering under bags of shopping.

Parents with children could put the bags in the pushchairs...


</whatever>

Children should be banned from Supermarkets and Meadowhall.Then there would be no need for preferential treatment.

Originally posted by Litotes
You miss the point.


I miss the point of you asking if it is discriminatory if you don't want to discuss it...


All I am asking is "Is it not discriminatory"

And what you have said is "yes"


It is not discriminatory in the same way as black only/white only parking would be. Not all discrimination is bad. Paradoxically, positive discrimination is as bad as negative discrimination (it merely indicates direction) but there is... wholesome discrimination. Like courtesy.


Now you could have been slightly more succinct...


I could, but I was answering your second question: "What's the difference?"


or I could have come back with the arguement that wheelchair users have wheels and therefore are able to carry bags of shopping more easliy than single people staggering under bags of shopping.


You could, but everyone would ignore you.

:rolleyes:



Parents with children could put the bags in the pushchairs...


I put the bags under and on the back of the pushchair. I put the children in the pushchair. You know, just to be a free radical...

Okay....,

Let's put everyone in a wheel-chair for the London Marathon. Afterall, the wheelchair athletes have an advantage over the other runners in that their chairs go faster. We can't be doing with this discrimination, can we?

There's loads more room in Baby Change Facility toilets. Therefore, we should all be able to use them. It's obviously discriminatory not to let us;

Cheaper car insurance for women? Discrimination. Woman's Hour on Radio Four? Discrimination, not to mention sexism. The words manhole and blackboard, sexist and racist accordingly.

I'd continue, but I'm falling asleep with the sheer silliness of this post.

Oh, and if anyone's going to Tesco in their wheelchair, any chance my kids can have a free ride. Afterall, you have it SO easy don't you?

:loopy:

Originally posted by Ousetunes
Let's put everyone in a wheel-chair for the London Marathon. Afterall, the wheelchair athletes have an advantage over the other runners in that their chairs go faster. We can't be doing with this discrimination, can we?

:D


I'd continue, but I'm falling asleep with the sheer silliness of this post.

Oh, and if anyone's going to Tesco in their wheelchair, any chance my kids can have a free ride. Afterall, you have it SO easy don't you?


Makes you wonder why they need to park at all. I mean, what with the speed of a modern wheel chair, who needs a car ;)

So, it looks like we are all in agreement then.

It is discriminatory.
and
It is unneccesary.

So we can all now park in those spaces with no guilt.

Originally posted by Litotes
So, it looks like we are all in agreement then.

It is discriminatory.
and
It is unneccesary.

So we can all now park in those spaces with no guilt.

Hooray! Everyone's a winner. Obviously, you don't know what ;) means, but you've claimed a victory anyway. Jolly good.

Muppet.

Anyways, I'm going to stop poking this dead dog of a thread now in case it's carcass pops and gets all over the place...

Just to let you all know my frustrations...I have a 7-month old...to get the carseat or the baby out of the car...we generally need more room...the parent and toddler spaces ON THE WHOLE have more room...the normal spaces DON'T...that does not make me lazy just because I don't want to dent somebody's car door...and yes...they should be closer because carrying a baby in a carseat is heavy and is not easy from one side of the car park to the other...Jeez, when I didn't have the baby, I stayed clear from disabled and parent and toddler spaces

As far as disabled spaces go...if disabled people park in parent and toddler spaces (which they often do WITHOUT kids) - then surely parents and babies can park in disabled spaces....

This really annoys me too...like you said before, you get the big fat geezer driving up in a merc and parking in the parent and toddler space or the disabled space when HE is the one who should be parking the other side of the carpark and walking.

Finally - if you are taxi as well...don't park in parent and toddler spaces...

I had to get on this thread because this annoys me as it does you guys!

Originally posted by unners
Children should be banned from Supermarkets and Meadowhall.Then there would be no need for preferential treatment.

I had that attitude too before I had my daughter...but unfortunately, supermarkets don't have creches and the one in Meadowhall doesn't take babies...One day if you are lucky enough to have kids, that view will change!

The one thing I would say though - babies and kids shouldn't be in Meadowhall in summer and hot days and at weekends! Take them to local parks and go walking!!!

So how often has anyone ever actually done anything about it?

Have you ever gone up to someone parking in the wrong space and said so?

Originally posted by Litotes
You miss the point.

All I am asking is "Is it not discriminatory"

And what you have said is "yes"

Now you could have been slightly more succinct...

or I could have come back with the arguement that wheelchair users have wheels and therefore are able to carry bags of shopping more easliy than single people staggering under bags of shopping.

Parents with children could put the bags in the pushchairs...


</whatever>

I think spiffeymonkey got it right!!
What a muppet, have you ever tried to carry shopping bags and negotiate a wheelchair at the same time. Just think about this thread if you ever do !!!
:rolleyes:

deecee,

what you should do is to put the shopping bags in the wheelchair as suggested above :)

Originally posted by Litotes
So how often has anyone ever actually done anything about it?

Have you ever gone up to someone parking in the wrong space and said so?

yes, once saw a woman parking in a parent & todler on the upper central carpark murderhell in a 4x4, as i watched her while my sister got her daugher out i saw the woman had no child with her & told her she shouldnt be parking there. what frustrated me was not the fact that she swar at me but the fact that she worked in murderhell

Originally posted by Litotes


what you should do is to put the shopping bags in the wheelchair as suggested above :) [/B]

Litotes
What a total ingnorant plank you must be

I think there are two different issues here.

I agree with Disabled spaces for people with real disabilities that affect their mobility or their ability to safely traverse a busy car park. That goes without saying. I think people who park in them just because they are closer to the shops should be clamped and have to pay a nice big fine that should go directly to a charity to help people in these situations. That’ll learn’em!

Unfortunately, shops and businesses are too worried about loosing one "ignorant" customer, than helping the large number of disabled people!

What I don’t agree with is these huge mother and baby spaces. A disability is not voluntary, having children is. I'm already paying you hand over fist Child Allowance, tax relief and schooling costs. Why should you get all the best parking spaces too!

Let the verbal abuse begin!

Originally posted by Litotes
Sorry - preferential provision of parking spaces - is that not discriminating?

How about if I said it was for white people or immigrants only - that would be discriminatory wouldn't it? What's the difference?

grow up

Originally posted by serapis
I think there are two different issues here.

I agree with Disabled spaces for people with real disabilities that affect their mobility or their ability to safely traverse a busy car park. That goes without saying. I think people who park in them just because they are closer to the shops should be clamped and have to pay a nice big fine that should go directly to a charity to help people in these situations. That’ll learn’em!

Unfortunately, shops and businesses are too worried about loosing one "ignorant" customer, than helping the large number of disabled people!

What I don’t agree with is these huge mother and baby spaces. A disability is not voluntary, having children is. I'm already paying you hand over fist Child Allowance, tax relief and schooling costs. Why should you get all the best parking spaces too!

Let the verbal abuse begin!

One good suggestion - re. payment to charity shops.

No verbal abuse. Your comment and the way it was said regarding children being a choice is totally ridiculous yet right. It is the best thing ever and if people can't see how difficult it can be sometimes then they are as ignorant as your comment portrays you to be! As my father-in-law often says to people "One day...when you eventually grow up...you may understand"

You are not paying my child allowanc, tax relief or schooling costs. Myself and other half are totally self-reliant...Very hard working and sturdy salaries. No doubt I have or will contribute to your sickness or unemployment at some point.

Originally posted by Liose
No doubt I have or will contribute to your sickness or unemployment at some point.
...and my, and your children will contribute to our, and serapis' pension, and welfare in times to come.

That's how it works, we pay for the current pensioners, and our children pay for ours.

If you begrudge paying for todays children, will you equally refuse the benefits they provide you with in later life?

can i just add that the reson why alot of parents use the parent and child spaces are due to the size at the side to be able to get ur child out without knocking a car or something .
What really gets me is when there is not parent and child spaces and we have to use the normal spaces that we struggle to get in but then you come back to the car and find that some ar** has parked right up next to ur childs door when they can see a car seat there and you have to climb in the other door and break ur back to get ur child in the car seat .
Why why why can you not just think of others .

It isn't just children that need more space - many other people do. When I take my mother/father to the shops they need just as much (if not more) space than a parent and child.


Although thinking about it, I am the child of my father/mother and therefore could park in those spaces...

Originally posted by Litotes
It isn't just children that need more space - many other people do. When I take my mother/father to the shops they need just as much (if not more) space than a parent and child.


Although thinking about it, I am the child of my father/mother and therefore could park in those spaces...

yer so you could not drop them off 1st
you cant excatly leave you kids stood at entrance could you

Originally posted by Litotes
Although thinking about it, I am the child of my father/mother and therefore could park in those spaces...
Impeccable logic, well done.

We can't slip one past you can we.

:rolleyes:

Originally posted by Skatiechik
What makes me mad is the fact that a 1/3 of carparks are devoted to disabled spaces. So whilst the majority (able bodied people) struggle to find car parking spaces, they are squillions of empty disabled spaces. There would be if people without a disabled badge stopped using them:(

Originally posted by ladyovmanor
just a question if you was in a car with a disabled badge on it would you use a space for disabled knowing you was fully fit not to ?????
please note i am not saying you would as i dont know u , just a question Well i wouldnt .We keep the badge in the car but only use it if the person it belongs to is with us.You cant moan about other people if you were doing it yourselve could you.

Originally posted by foo_fighter
...and my, and your children will contribute to our, and serapis' pension, and welfare in times to come.

That's how it works, we pay for the current pensioners, and our children pay for ours.

If you begrudge paying for todays children, will you equally refuse the benefits they provide you with in later life?

Foofighter - It wasn't I refusing to pay for my children...I was responding to a quote made by Serapis.

Originally posted by Liose
Foofighter - It wasn't I refusing to pay for my children...I was responding to a quote made by Serapis.
Liose, sorry, read it back to myself, that came across slightly wrong. I was agreeing with your sentiments.

The third line,

"If you begrudge paying for todays children, will you equally refuse the benefits they provide you with in later life?"

wasn't to "you", it was to everyone (well, maybe aimed a little at serapis actually), a sort of global "you".

Sorry for any confusion caused.