back to *pea*ality
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
Posts: 3,149
Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
|
Post by back to *pea*ality on Jul 26, 2014 20:45:55 GMT
Before my back surgery, I was in such pain and discomfort. I had sciatica and literally dragged my right leg when I walked. Thinking back, I was probably eligible for handicap parking but never requested it. With the exception of a handicap spot, I park first come, first serve. The placards for other than handicap are another indication of how entitled our society has become.
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Jul 26, 2014 20:49:15 GMT
I will tell you one place that really annoyed me a bit when someone used the "stork parking", though.
It was at a woman & children's hospital, right near the doors for the ob/gyn & perinatologist offices. v These are the same doors a laboring woman would enter at delivery time in most circumstances as well.
There was one full line of handicapped parking near the curb to the right of the door, and one full line of stork parking to the left of the door.
One day late in my pregnancy we arrived and someone parked in the 2nd to last stork parking spot. (We got the last spot.) And as the couple got out of the car, the man was arguing with the woman a bit. He said "We're visiting a baby, so we can use stork parking". Now the signs clearly asked that they be left for pregnant woman or newly postpartum women. It was clear they weren't for visitors of the babies.
And it did bug me. Because they had tons of regular parking and trams that would pick you up from various spots in the parking lot and bring you to the curb. I just thought "Dude, really, you won't leave a spot for an enormously pregnant woman or someone coming back with a newborn for a Dr's visit?".
Now, perhaps one of them did have a problem and the walk from a regular spot to a shuttle bench (They had trams that brought people to the curb from all over the parking lot.) would have been a problem, but it was his tone. He just sounded pretty arrogant about it. So, maybe it was hormones, or worrying about my own issues, but that day I felt like Judgey McJudgerson about that guy, even if I try not to be like that most times.
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Jul 26, 2014 20:53:13 GMT
Before my back surgery, I was in such pain and discomfort. I had sciatica and literally dragged my right leg when I walked. Thinking back, I was probably eligible for handicap parking but never requested it. With the exception of a handicap spot, I park first come, first serve. The placards for other than handicap are another indication of how entitled our society has become. Sciatica pain was actually why I liked those spots when I was pregnant, so I understand your pain. And I understand why you choose to use any close spot you can find. But I do see the spots as a courtesy not an entitlement. People used to give up seats for pregnant women on public transportation, and we considered it good old-fashioned manners. If someone was in pain, no one would expect them to offer their seat. But someone who could easily stand would often choose to do so. That's how I see the spots. If I can walk further, then I choose to leave the spot for someone who cannot.
|
|
JerseyJenn
Junior Member
Posts: 70
Jun 26, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
|
Post by JerseyJenn on Jul 26, 2014 21:21:21 GMT
There is a shopping center near my home that has a pet store. It is a busy shopping center and parking is often difficult to find. Adjacent to the pet store there are six parking spots that are designated as "reserved for pet lovers." So...does that mean you need to be shopping at the pet store to park there? Or do you just need to love pets? Anyone's pets. I don't have pets of my own, but I love other people's pets. I don't think they can enforce the pet-lover parking, but I never park there and those spots are often open when the rest of the lot is full. Would you park in a pet-lover spot even if you were not traveling with or shopping for your pet? No other spots in the lot are marked for any of the other stores, either (no grocery-eater parking, no salon-perfect hair appreciator parking, no hardware-affectionate parking, etc.)besides the normal handicapped parking and these 6 pet-lover spots.
|
|
|
Post by disneypal on Jul 26, 2014 22:38:03 GMT
I agree - I wouldn't have a problem with her parking in a family spot. We used to have family spots in almost every parking lot and most have done away with them. As far as I know, there is just a few in my area now and as far as I have seen most people don't pay them any attention. If is available, people park there just like any other spot.
|
|
|
Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jul 26, 2014 22:50:57 GMT
I figure if a store offers little perks to people to encourage them to shop there (under the guise of making it easier to shop with your kids), well, what real difference does it make to me if someone gets a privileged Parking spot that I don't? I've still got disposable income even if I don't have kids. (Or maybe BECAUSE I don't have kids.) So how come no one offers me perks to shop in their store?
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Jul 27, 2014 3:04:38 GMT
I figure if a store offers little perks to people to encourage them to shop there (under the guise of making it easier to shop with your kids), well, what real difference does it make to me if someone gets a privileged Parking spot that I don't? I've still got disposable income even if I don't have kids. (Or maybe BECAUSE I don't have kids.) So how come no one offers me perks to shop in their store? The offer you a parking lot so that you don't have to search for parking on the street or walk or take public transport. Kidding. Although I bet when the first stores with parking lots did start popping up across suburbia the customers really did think it was a perk!
|
|
|
Post by Judie in Oz on Jul 27, 2014 5:30:43 GMT
I park in the family spots when I am having a bad day. With fibromyalgia and arthritis there are days when it's difficult to walk properly. I have not applied for a disabled sticker even though my Dr has encouraged me to do so. I'll leave that until it gets really bad. This. I have RA/PA. No problems parking in these spots either. I won't parking in handicap spots. I qualify for it and can get a sticker. I am just not ready to do it yet. I hope this is not rude, but what does the PA stand for? I have psoriatic arthritis and am wondering if that's what you mean.
|
|
|
Post by heartcat on Jul 27, 2014 11:02:35 GMT
The handicapped parking spots are a legal issue and must be set aside by law. The other 'reserved' spots are at the discretion of the property owner/lease holder.
I wouldn't park in either if they were not meant for me. It doesn't matter to me whether or not I think something is 'necessary' or 'silly'. A business has the right to designate parking for its patrons at it chooses. I can shop there or not, but if I do, I am going to respect that.
I'm not going to get all up in arms if someone else disregards a marked spot and uses it for a purpose other than the one it was intended for. It's not illegal. But I wouldn't do it and don't really understand the mentality of 'I don't agree with something, or it's not important to 'me', so I'm not going to follow it.'
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Jul 27, 2014 11:27:42 GMT
I used them on occasion when my twins were babies, primarily because I had the nasty big bulky twin stroller and the family spots right by the front sidewalk let me put the stroller somewhere safe while loading them in and out of the car, as the stroller didn't usually fit between cars in the lot, and it is a little scary to leave it in back of the car in a parking lot with one twin in it or to maneuver two twins around in your arms. Not impossible, and I did manage at the vast majority of stores that didn't have such spaces, but it was a nice courtesy. I didn't use those spaces with any of my other kids because I haven't otherwise found the logistics difficult, so wanted to leave the spots for people who would benefit more. I also never used the pregnancy spots at Babies 'R Us because I had easy pregnancies, and knew a lot of pregnant women for whom running errands was pretty tough.
I don't think it is a big deal to have or not have the spaces. I don't really get why a perfectly healthy and unencumbered person would take one, though.
|
|
Country Ham
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,314
Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
|
Post by Country Ham on Jul 27, 2014 12:38:44 GMT
I can see a need for them, I guess, but whether I agree with them or not is moot. If a store sets aside spots for a certain segment of society, whether it's for eco cars, new parents or red heads, I'm not entitled to park there just because I think the conditions are stupid. I kind of agree with this. Whether I think it's stupid, entitled etc if the store has designated that parking for a certain group of people then it's for those people. There have been many many threads over the years where people have responded "my house my rules" for example. What's the difference here? And who are really acting like entitled ones? The families the spots were created for or those without young children who complain about them? For me having babies didn't make life that difficult. I could walk just fine, do my housework, cook my meals etc. I guess some do struggle more then others though. I don't think I have ever even seen pink parking around here though.
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Jul 27, 2014 12:51:54 GMT
I didn't need the spots when I had kids, either, but I know 2 different women who had twins and a singleton back to back, and schlepping around 3 kids under the age of 2 could be tricky business. Especially since you can't fit all 3 into a standard cart, which are the types I tend to find sitting in cart corrals just waiting to help me out. I don't begrudge them a closer spot.
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Jul 27, 2014 12:55:24 GMT
Oh, and I just saw the special spots for electric cars for the first time ever around here. At a dr's office, no less. I thought it was an odd place to reward people for driving a more environmentally friendly car. Every one of them was empty, but I passed them by and parked elsewhere. DH wishes more people would remember that people arrive at stores on bikes, too, and put in a bike rack. But we're a very non-bike friendly area, unfortunately.
|
|
|
Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jul 27, 2014 13:20:28 GMT
I finally opened this thread today out of curiosity since it had gotten to two pages.
And all I have is... some of you spend waaayyyy more time worrying about parking spaces than I do.
|
|
|
Post by juliet on Jul 27, 2014 13:27:37 GMT
I wouldn't park in either if they were not meant for me. It doesn't matter to me whether or not I think something is 'necessary' or 'silly'. A business has the right to designate parking for its patrons at it chooses. I can shop there or not, but if I do, I am going to respect that. I'm not going to get all up in arms if someone else disregards a marked spot and uses it for a purpose other than the one it was intended for. It's not illegal. But I wouldn't do it and don't really understand the mentality of 'I don't agree with something, or it's not important to 'me', so I'm not going to follow it.' I agree with this. Over here, the family parking spots are not necessarily closer to the store, but they do tend to be a bit wider. If we have to park in a regular spot (and we bring the baby), there is no way I'm able to open the door far enough to get the baby carrier out. So we only use them if we bring the baby. And also, over here the energy efficient cars have special parking spots because that's where the rechargers are located. So I don't think it's very nice to park there if you aren't in need of a recharger.
|
|
|
Post by Miss Ang on Jul 27, 2014 13:50:56 GMT
I didn't think that having children should entitle you to a special privilege either. Kids are a choice, not like a physical handicap. Oh my gosh, YES!!! And I do have children (now teenagers) and I always found those places reserved for pregnant women or families ridiculous. It's almost like some people with children think they deserve to be catered to as if they are providing some sort of special service to our country by being a parent. [/end rant]
|
|
|
Post by Tamhugh on Jul 27, 2014 14:17:01 GMT
Now I could totally get behind a Have my Period space! [/quote] Oh, me too. Believe me, for a multitude of reasons, stores and their patrons want me in and out fast when I have the very occasional periods at this point in life. We don't have family spots around here but a few stores have one or two for expectant mothers. I was a high risk pregnancy with both kids but I never really needed the spots and didn't use them.
|
|
jennifer
One Post Wonder
Posts: 1
Jul 9, 2014 2:32:16 GMT
|
Post by jennifer on Jul 27, 2014 15:27:06 GMT
In my town we have a pregnancy or with family parking spot at our Best Buy. My husband and I always argue over parking there.
I say yes because we have the kids with us, but even if it was just my dh and me, a childless family, we are still a family. He says no that I'm reading to much into the sign, that it is for people with small kids or pregnant ladies.
Jennifer
|
|
rodeomom
Pearl Clutcher
Refupee # 380 "I don't have to run fast, I just have to run faster than you."
Posts: 3,670
Location: Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma
Jun 25, 2014 23:34:38 GMT
|
Post by rodeomom on Jul 27, 2014 15:35:58 GMT
I agree that they are courtesy spots. If you need them because you are pregnant or are shuffling several small children, then I truly hope one is open for you. It's one of those things that was not available when my mom had kids, but was available by the time I had them, and I appreciated them from time to time. Just because I could do without them doesn't mean that I can't be glad someone thought to make them available now. I think they are a nice gesture. I used them more when I was pregnant than when I was shopping with small kids. I had issues with both pregnancies that made it very helpful to me to use the closer spot. I think it's a bit rude or mean to use them if you don't need them just because legally you can. Legally I can shut the door in the face of a woman holding the hands of 2 kids, too, but isn't nicer to hold the door open for her? Same idea in my mind. HOWEVER, I absolutely agree that if someone who has another difficulty wants to use those spots when a handicapped spot is not available or if they do not yet have a placard, or even if they have a very temporary issue,etc, that I would have no issue with that. To me those spots are the store's way of saying to their customer "Hey, look we know that not everyone with a difficulty is actually in need of a handicapped spot, so please leave a few close spots available for customers who can really use them." And I hope that most people who have no need of them at all would be courteous enough to leave them open for someone who might really be significantly helped by the availability of one. Sometimes it's nice to just be nice. And those spots are one of those opportunities in my mind.
|
|
|
Post by anxiousmom on Jul 27, 2014 15:56:36 GMT
Disclaimer: I haven't seen very many family parking spots in my area.
But, I suppose that if my kid is the one driving, I shouldn't park there-because...well...the kid in question is driving?
Although, he gets all flustered when parking so maybe it would be safer for everyone if we did park in such a space as they are (presumably) a little bigger and therefore easier to park in?
Because we ARE a family with kids...and if you have ever driven with a new driver, you might sympathize with my desire to have the boy finally park and let me peel my myself from the ceiling of the car in relief to be stationary.
|
|
|
Post by heartcat on Jul 27, 2014 16:45:17 GMT
I am genuinely curious about this attitude. Such spots did not exist when my children were small, and I likely wouldn't have used them if they did. But I don't drive and never went anything with them in a vehicle without dh so I always had help.
Was there some movement on the part of entitled parents at some point demanding such spots for their convenience? IF so, I missed it. These spots just sort of showed up at malls around here, quietly and without fanfare, and I always got the impression that they were result of businesses just trying to stay competitive and attractive shoppers.
I assumed that they simply recognized that perhaps having certain wider spots, or spots closer to the entrance, set aside of pregnant women or people with small children might attract those shoppers, and their money, to their establishments. But maybe it was the result of parents banding together and saying they deserved such spots, and I just never heard about it.
I have heard a few people mention over the years that they are convenient, but I've never ever heard anyone express entitlement over them. Again, maybe that's just the people I talk to.
So what have others seen or heard that precipitates this attitude or backlash towards people the spots are set aside for?
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 12:28:23 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2014 17:18:39 GMT
The handicapped parking spots are a legal issue and must be set aside by law. The other 'reserved' spots are at the discretion of the property owner/lease holder. I wouldn't park in either if they were not meant for me. It doesn't matter to me whether or not I think something is 'necessary' or 'silly'. A business has the right to designate parking for its patrons at it chooses. I can shop there or not, but if I do, I am going to respect that. I'm not going to get all up in arms if someone else disregards a marked spot and uses it for a purpose other than the one it was intended for. It's not illegal. But I wouldn't do it and don't really understand the mentality of 'I don't agree with something, or it's not important to 'me', so I'm not going to follow it.'
|
|
|
Post by welshjenni on Jul 27, 2014 18:37:39 GMT
Here they are called Parent/child spots (for parent read accompanying adult), usually with a sign showing an adult holding a child's hand and/or pushing a stroller. I found them a boon when my 2 were little. I wanted them out of the car park and into the store as quickly as possible - for safety reasons. The parking bays are usually wider than normal to accommodate easier access between the cars for strollers and young children instead of having to walk along the roadway where you are competing with cars driving along or moving into, or reversing out of, a parking bay. If you are removing a child seat, complete with baby, you do need extra bay width. Generally I feel that these should be left vacant for the appropriate users however I would turn a blind eye if it were night time and most children should be tucked up in bed and maybe if there were lots of vacant space and there was a heavy storm!
|
|
|
Post by welshjenni on Jul 27, 2014 18:48:11 GMT
Here they are called Parent/child spots (for parent read accompanying adult), usually with a sign showing an adult holding a child's hand and/or pushing a stroller. I found them a boon when my 2 were little. I wanted them out of the car park and into the store as quickly as possible - for safety reasons. The parking bays are usually wider than normal to accommodate easier access between the cars for strollers and young children instead of having to walk along the roadway where you are competing with cars driving along or moving into, or reversing out of, a parking bay. If you are removing a child seat, complete with baby, you do need extra bay width. Generally I feel that these should be left vacant for the appropriate users however I would turn a blind eye if it were night time and most children should be tucked up in bed and maybe if there were lots of vacant space and there was a heavy storm!
|
|
|
Post by miss_lizzie on Jul 27, 2014 19:12:41 GMT
I've seen parking spots reserved for seniors, and the older I get, the more I like the idea. :-)
|
|
|
Post by smokey2471 on Jul 27, 2014 21:39:14 GMT
Ours say expectant mother and as I am always expecting my kids to do something(usually to irritate me) I park there.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 12:28:23 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2014 22:09:13 GMT
I wouldn't park in either if they were not meant for me. It doesn't matter to me whether or not I think something is 'necessary' or 'silly'. A business has the right to designate parking for its patrons at it chooses. I can shop there or not, but if I do, I am going to respect that. I'm not going to get all up in arms if someone else disregards a marked spot and uses it for a purpose other than the one it was intended for. It's not illegal. But I wouldn't do it and don't really understand the mentality of 'I don't agree with something, or it's not important to 'me', so I'm not going to follow it.' I agree with this. Over here, the family parking spots are not necessarily closer to the store, but they do tend to be a bit wider. If we have to park in a regular spot (and we bring the baby), there is no way I'm able to open the door far enough to get the baby carrier out. So we only use them if we bring the baby. And also, over here the energy efficient cars have special parking spots because that's where the rechargers are located. So I don't think it's very nice to park there if you aren't in need of a recharger. That's the same here in the UK. Now that I don't have to get a baby/toddler out or into their seats I don't park there. I know what it's like to try and get a baby strapped into their car seats when you don't have room to fully open the door and avoid touching the car parked next to you or having to twist your body and squeeze in a much smaller space. BTDT when some idiot parked so close to me I couldn't even open the door more than about six inches let alone have enough room to manoeuver a baby into the car.
|
|
|
Post by chances on Jul 27, 2014 23:00:25 GMT
I think it's a bit rude or mean to use them if you don't need them just because legally you can. Legally I can shut the door in the face of a woman holding the hands of 2 kids, too, but isn't nicer to hold the door open for her? Same idea in my mind. I completely agree with this! A little consideration goes a long way. I also think it's way more entitled to disregard the store's policies out if spite (rather than need).
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Jul 27, 2014 23:07:28 GMT
The handicapped parking spots are a legal issue and must be set aside by law. The other 'reserved' spots are at the discretion of the property owner/lease holder. I wouldn't park in either if they were not meant for me. It doesn't matter to me whether or not I think something is 'necessary' or 'silly'. A business has the right to designate parking for its patrons at it chooses. I can shop there or not, but if I do, I am going to respect that. I'm not going to get all up in arms if someone else disregards a marked spot and uses it for a purpose other than the one it was intended for. It's not illegal. But I wouldn't do it and don't really understand the mentality of 'I don't agree with something, or it's not important to 'me', so I'm not going to follow it.' I agree. But then I'm also one of those crazies who stops and lets them check my receipt on the way out.
|
|
|
Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 28, 2014 0:05:47 GMT
Family spots are a courtesy, but anyone should feel free to use them. I would have had no prob with her using a family spot.
|
|