AIBU to suggest parent and child spaces should be changed?

[Timandra]

It feels like it would be better to just have wider parking spaces for anyone who needs to use them, rather than spaces for specific people who then get wound up because someone else needs or chooses to use one.

They should be away from the door so people don't use them if they don't need them, preferably in places where you can get to the side of the building relatively easily and walk along a safe path to the door.
There should be as many of these wider spaces as possible to reduce competition while still providing adequate parking.

Blue badge spaces should stay near the door as usual with lots of normal sized spaces around them.

Then everyone can choose whether they need the wider space or to be close to the door. I think few people would be in desperate need of both and won't qualify for a blue badge.

I agree. A lot of people need wider spaces but not necessary a parent and child space eg pregnant women (because although they technically have their child with them, people still complain), people with an injury, some old people and probably loads more I haven’t thought of!

Also, cars are getting bigger (and peoples parking skills seem to be getting worse), I think they should just make all the spaces bigger. Or as many sensible possible anyway.

There are already far too many entitled arseholes who park where they like. This would only serve to make it far worse.

They should have more wider spaces but they should be further away from the shops to stop people who just park to be close, and that might free some up.

Otherwise supermarkets could police it more (for example issuing fines or refusing service for people who abuse them). I also think people that have temporary issues eg broken leg, pregnancy with sciatica etc. could have some sort of certificate to enable them to park in a parent and child space or possibly disabled space temporarily

But to be honest I think there are a million other priorities for businesses and law makers now

I agree but it won’t happen because supermarkets want parents to shop there because they are big spenders

I quite like it as it is. I use parent and child spaces with my child and on days where I'm out and I'm alone I use a normal space.

I never use a disabled space because I'm not disabled. In short I tend to play by the rules.

Agree there should be wider spaces but they should be chargeable because they will take up more spaces, therefore reducing the number of spaces for those of us with small cars that fit in normal spaces.

Also agree they should not be close to the door. Sometimes people say their kids have SN which means they need to be near the door, well they should be able to get blue badges with the changes to the bb scheme. Anyone else, you just need to hold onto your child(ren).

I also think people that have temporary issues eg broken leg, pregnancy with sciatica etc. could have some sort of certificate to enable them to park in a parent and child space or possibly disabled space temporarily Agree with this too.

It's not going to change due to the fact it's a huge marketing ploy to attract parents.

I think spaces should just be wider in general, rather than trying to cram as many spaces as possible in.

However, even if that happened there would still be P&C spaces as they are a marketing tool. It’s all about the £££, hence why some supermarkets have started putting P&C spaces closer to the door than BB spaces despite the fact BB spaces are the ones they legally must have.

In addition to your suggestion, I think that the standard parking space should be wider generally.
Cars have got wider over the last few decades. The size of most parking spaces doesn’t seem to have increased along with that.

Ds is one of those who prior to having his bb did need width ( to get him out of the car safely) and closeness ( because he wouldn't walk far/ had meltdowns when walking) but I would still rather have them further away as they would be more likely to be available.

I absolutely think they should be changed to priority spaces. Not all parents need the extra room and not all people who find it difficult to walk or get in and out of the car have a blue badge.

Although a grumpy note whilst we are on the subject I think there should be a campaign to make Tesco stores move their P&C spaces.

In the 4 Tesco stores nearest me their parent and child spaces are closer to the door than their disabled spaces! I know its not just these 4 stores that have the same layout as I've seen others mention it on threads before.

I agree. My DH car is a 2 door - and the doors are long, it is really difficult getting out in the narrow spaces - we do tend to park a long way from the shop as there is usually less cars and we can happily walk, but then you come back having parked with no cars within a 500m radius to find one has parked right next to ours. Even though the rest of the car park is empty

A multi storey I park at has 'spaces for bigger cars' on one of the top floors, they are always filled with minis and fiestas.

I used to have a car with sliding rear doors and it made such a difference when the DC were younger.

Nope. Parent and child spaces are needed.

It would be easier to just make ALL parking spaces bigger.
Then you wouldnt need designated spaces for M n T or blue badgers. Common sense springs to mind. Take out grass verges for the extra room thats needed.

I agree with Tesco’s being awful for having p and c spaces closer than blue badge. Ds has a blue badge but if I take him to Tesco we park in the p and c spaces because they are much better positioned.

Then you wouldn`t need designated spaces for M n T or blue badgers

Works for parent and child but not blue badge holder. as well as needing the space they do need to be as close as possible to the venue in a lot of cases. Having to walk across a car park could make a trip impossible for many

Yes. I would put P&C spaces at the back of the car park, provide a large, covered trolley space right next to them and a safe, wide, covered pavement/walk way with railings all the way to the store.

Lots of disabled, blue badge only spaces right next to the store. With CCTV.

I am not yet disabled enough to qualify for a BB. I would be happy to be able to park in a wide space far away from the store, because once I have struggled out of the car I can walk fine on the flat, with my stick. Getting out of the car in a narrow space is impossible for me.

It's ghastly that P&C spaces are closer to the supermarket doors than disabled spaces. Utterly frustrating and clearly all marketing.

I personally think the P&C concept should be retained, purely because of the legal requirement parents have to carry their child in a car seat. If that car seat is going to be taken out of the car? It involves needing width to remove it.

So as far as I'm concerned as a user, they are a good idea. They can however be relocated to stop them being envied or coveted as "premium wide spaces" by owners of cars who believe they also have an entitlement to the acreage offered.

if p & c bays are nearer to the door than bb bays surely BB holders park in them? I would if I needed a BB. BB should always be close to the door.

I absolutely think they should be changed to priority spaces. Not all parents need the extra room and not all people who find it difficult to walk or get in and out of the car have a blue badge

Agree with this 100%. I'm one of those people who finds it hard to get in/out of the car without extra space (RA) but does not qualify for a BB. Would also benefit the elderly and pregnant women with no DC in tow.

Ooh, and people who are temporarily on crutches!

Agree, both my elderly parents went through a phase were they were very frail but were worried they weren't frail or ill enough to get a badge so didn't want to apply despite much persuasion on my part. It was really difficult when I was taking them shopping. They couldn't go on their own, they were no longer driving, wobbly on their feet, difficulty getting in and out of the car, breathing and sight issues etc but still wanted to do it and they got both enjoyment and a sense of independence from it. I occasionally parked in the parent and child spaces. On more than one occasion comments are made even though it was very obvious how frail they were. On one occasion a woman was absolutely foul to us, shouting and berating us and made my mum cry. She wouldn't let me report it to security and just wanted to leave. On another occasion a horrible note was left under my windscreen. My mum got a blue badge after this (dad had died) but it was really difficult to persuade her to come out after those 2 incidents

Its not the spacing at fault. The cars are getting bigger