Logic behind parent and child parking spaces?

Question

I can understand that parents with prams may need more room at the side of the car to get the baby in and out.
But WHY do parents with children who are able to walk use these spaces?
Surely with the number of overweight children nowadays it would make more sense to have them walking further rather than encouraging their (and their parents) laziness.
Does anyone disagree?

Answer 1

I don't disagree. I think those spaces are not meant for walking children but for those who have children that need strollers and shopping carts to get them around.

Answer 2

I think you have raised a valid question here. I don't disagree with you that a lot of people abuse the right to use these child parking spaces. I think whether a parent should use these spaces depends on the age of the child. If it is like under 5 years old, I can happily accept that there's a need for the parent to park his/her car closer to the shop. It's sometimes difficult to keep an eye on an active child in a car park and accidents are something we don't want to see happen. However, a child older than this should be expected to behave sensibly in a car park.

I can't agree more with the person who says he/she feels resentful about people who abuse the right to use disable badges. I know people who keep their disabel badges on the car long after they have recovered from their injury or operation. The NHS doesn't seem to know that they don't need their disabled parking badges anymore. I wouldn't want to use it if I'm perfectly fit to walk. It pricks my conscience and seems to be inviting bad luck

Lastly, I would like to point out that senior citizens need easy access to shops. Why are supermarkets doing nothing about this?

Answer 3

The more vehicles they have to take their toddlers past to get into the store increases their chance of getting run over. Many of these people have more than one little one and cannot easily manage to keep hands on all of them.

I don't have a little one, but don't have any problem with the parent/child spaces. I do remember how hard it is to control the toddlers. They are short and not easily visible by someone looking in their rearview mirror.

I DO however resent people having disability permits, then get out of the car in their gym clothes and virtually sprint into the store. Whazzup with that? Not all by any means, but enough to make me wonder what the criteria are.....Saw it just yesterday. Are family members "borrowing" someone's sticker? I know there are occult reasons, but I also know in my heart this is abused. The real handicapped people need those spaces.

As for myself, I always make a habit of parking as far away as possible, loading my own groceries and always take the basket back to the STORE. We could all use that little bit of extra physical activity, plus, then it is easier to leave the parking lot, not waiting for people who are awaiting the absolute closest parking space. Many of them are obese or potentially obese, with that mindset.

Answer 4

I would suggest that they park at the far end of the parking lot. That way the kids can be told they are "heros" to allow older people a place to park closer, and yes, in the process more energy is burned off with the walking and with plenty of room around the vehicle since no one else seems to park that far away anymore.

Answer 5

Because the parents can get away with it. Just as cars park in disabled spaces and Motorcycle spaces. They should be named and shamed.

Answer 6

How dull your life must be to even care who parks where.