Why do supermarkets provide wider parking bays for parents&kids while the rest of us have narrow little bays?

Question

Now the paintwork on my car is as valuable as anyone else's and I get fed up with returning to my car to find a 'ding' in the side where someone's opened their door too wide. So I really get naffed off when supermarkets place extra-wide parent and child parking places ... and right next to the front door too. So everyone else has to park miles away in the rain and get a dinged car door!
Mr. GorgeousFluffpot and I always park in these parents&child places and we don't have any little fluffpots.
Do you agree that the parent&child places should stay, or should we just make all supermarket parking a bit wider anyway?
By the way, I never ever park in a disabled bay but see many parents&kids who do!!

Viking, good answer, I'm in agreement with you. Let's block up those parent and child places and let the little ankle-biters walk to the shops!

Answer 1

Oh you poor, poor thing Travis. I hate to break this to you but parents have been taking kids shopping for generations without any special parking spaces and have done just fine thank you very much. I had 2 infants to take shopping so I can relate. The parents who want wider spaces to be coddled should have to park way out in the north forty so they have the room to take precious little Johnny out of the car. For those of us who have paid our dues, we deserve the front row.
I agree with the asker....I will take Miss GeorgeousFluffpot and park in whatever bay I choose....except for the handicapped bays and fire lanes.

Answer 2

It is possible that in addition to stray carts, the main reason cars get dinged are by parents getting their infant seat out of the next car. As the door is wide open it is most likely to ding another car, especially because the attention of the parent is on baby. They don't have the space to make enough wide spaces everywhere--most jurisdictions mandate the number of spaces a business must have--so it is an attempt to help somewhat just like the little cart corrals that everyone should use not only to protect cars but as courtesy to the store.

I feel your pain. My car has 8 different dings caused by NOT ME!

Answer 3

To get baby carriers out, for children to swing the door wide open as they do and because children are dangerous in car parks. The closer they are to the entrance the better. I agree supermarket parking bays could be a bit wider especially for those who can't park straight.

Answer 4

I used to think the same as you until I had kids.... and then realised that they are wider NOT to protect your paint, although this does help.... It actually protects the car next to you, as the kids fling the doors open on to the car next to it!
I think the main reason is that when you are trying to get a baby/toddler strapped into a car seat safely and securely, it is very difficult to do if you are unable to open the car door. If you can open the doors a bit wider, and not bash the car next to you then this helps.
The other reason would be if you have a toddler, and are also pregnant expecting another.... it is very difficult to squeeze out of a car door that does not open very far!
I now do not park in parent and child spaces, and leave them for those that are deserved of them.

Answer 5

everyone should have wider spaces, but until they do this then parents need them.
just think, the dings in your car probably came from parents trying to cram kiddies into child seats whilst some prat on the other side parked to close and someone else had parked in the wide bays who didnt need to!!

Answer 6

Well, if you and/or Mr. GeorgeousFluffpot had ever tried to take care of your shopping necessities while attempting to wrangle an infant out of a car seat and simultaneously keeping a reign on a precocious sibling or two you would probably consider cutting those folks a break.

Not only do they deserve consideration when it comes to parking, I believe a special medal of honor should go to those who survive it until their kids become old enough to be "civilized".

Answer 7

I couldn't have put it better myself! :o)

My cars a mess from supermarkets, thing that gets me is people that complain about dings in their doors but if you watch them they swing their doors open regardless of other peoples cars! I always make the effort not to even gently touch another persons car no matter how small the gap.

Is there no respect for other people left in this country!?

But back to your point, I think it would be better if there were fewer but larger spaces. I know supermarkets like to pack them in, but personally I'd go to a shop with bigger spaces - more custom not less surely?! Hmmm...

Xx~xX

Answer 8

I think that they should just get over themselves and make all the car parking spaces bigger, i mean its not going to be be the end of the world is it??? at least i dont think it is. anyway i thinbk it is unfair that the ordinary person just has to get a dent in their car, while parents get to keep them nice and clean! anyway to answer your original question, they get bigger parking spaces so they can lift the prams of kids out without having to squeeze. But ur right it gets REALLY annoying when u come bak and find paint gone from ur car.

Answer 9

It's cause a) little children who can open the door will often open it too wide
and b) so parents can transfer babys from the car seat to the pram/trolley

Answer 10

because parents need to get kids out the back of their cars,
therefore need more space to do this than if an adult was to simply open his/her door