Women and disabled parking spaces

[Woodlandwitch]

I recently visited somewhere with a large carpark in the South East of England.

There was two rows of parking that were for women & disabled.

There was no men and disabled.

There was no disabled only.

Have only ever seen this in Europe and parts of the USA, never in the UK - they’re meant to be so that women don’t have to walk a long distance from buildings across a quiet, dark carpark at night where they might be at risk of attack. I think they’d need better publicising before becoming mainstream here.

I’m struggling to believe that’s been put there by an official person.

The wheelchair is facing the wrong way for a start.

It’s in a business carpark. Parking for that company or company visitors only

What’s the business name?

I.imagine they would cause all kinds of problems if they became mainstream ,.

I agree @ComtesseDeSpair - the company I worked for in the US had these and it was exactly as you say, so that women didn't have to walk across a dark car park alone but instead were parked close to the door.

It was the BMW/MINI factory in Oxford

Wow

I wonder if it's a really bad joke about giving women more space because we're supposedly bad drivers?

Can’t believe that’s for real.

I live in the SE.
I don't think that is real and never seen it before.
Doesn't look like an official person has put it there....

I think they’re good, but I’m from a country where they’re needed.

It’s not just one space. The whole row were like that and they weren’t new.

Woman-only parking spaces are very common in Germany, so not surprised this is a German company. I'm of the opinion that if a car park is not safe for women to walk across, it's not safe for men, either, and they should be focussing on improving lighting and security, not signs for women.

That’s my thoughts too.
Not all men are immune to being targeted or attacked in a dark car park the same way as women

How much further is society going to dilute what constitutes a person with a disability?!

It seems that:

You have a buggy = disabled
You have a temporary injury= disabled
You’re pregnant = disabled
Big expensive car = disabled

Now being a woman is equal to being a disabled person?!

The very reason that disabled access even exists is because DISABLED people fought, begged, petitioned and won a teeny, tiny concession to allow SOME to actually access a life. It is NOT so entitled people can appropriate the hard fought for concessions, which absolutely includes women.

If activists identify an issue which leaves women at a deficit then they should and must fight for their own adaptations NOT appropriate that of disabled people’s.

Well said @pinkyu

Exactly PinkyU you articulated what I was thinking much better than I could

[Shock] That's disgraceful.

Surely it can't be lawful? They have to provide blue badge spaces, they don't have to provide spaces for women. There's bound to be more women working/visiting there so the likelihood of a disabled person using one is greatly reduced.

If there are two rows of these spaces, I don't have a problem with it. It's a factory, so very unlikely to have that many disabled workers. There will be night shift workers, so they're offering them for anyone that doesn't feel safe walking across the car park alone in the dark.

If there were only a few spaces I'd agree it is wrong. But if they've made more than enough available for all, it's the sign of a thoughtful employer.

There's a Wikipedia entry about this:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_parking_space

Are only women going to feel unsafe walking across a car park at night then?

And why does it being a factory mean there aren’t going to be many disabled workers? Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes and factories have a whole host of jobs.

Anyway surely any man can identity as female for the time they are parked and use them anyway!

I'm of the opinion that if a car park is not safe for women to walk across, it's not safe for men, either, and they should be focussing on improving lighting and security, not signs for women.

Women are far more likely to feel unsafe and nervous crossing a dark car park than men are. Provided there are enough spaces for disabled employees/visitors I can't see a problem with it. Given it's a factory and there will be shift workers it's far less offensive than doubling up on disabled/parent & child like my local Sainsbury's has.

@MrsMaiselsMuff do factories only allow a certain amount of disabled people to work there, is there a quota or something?

Or are you being ignorant and small minded?