I semi-apologise in advance for this rant, but at the same time I don't because I think something needs to be done about it. Mind you, I have NO idea who to take this kind of issue to.
Can I just say... I am SO SO SO fed up of people parking me out of my car! On a weekly basis now I will go somewhere and come back to my car to go home (usually feeling quite sore and sorry for myself from being on my feet for however long) only to find someone has parked so close to me that I can't fit through the door to get in my car and go home. I have been stuck for hours if I haven't been able to find a way to track the car owner down (ie getting Woolworths to put a call over the PA system or something, and yes, I've done that to the horror of the car owner but too bad).
It makes me so cranky and is a constant source of frustration for me. Why aren't there more mother and baby parking spots in Australia?!?! And how come pregnant women aren't allowed to use them? I understand why the mother and baby parks are there but I still think pregnant women should be allowed to use them too.
Two years ago when I lived in England I remember a pregnant friend hitting her third trimester and applying for a parking pass to be able to use the mother and baby parking spaces, which she was entitled to do due to the stage of her her pregnancy. It made her life a lot easier when it came to going out and about. Where we lived in was a permit system and it was policed.
Why can't they do something like this here? Its not like Australia is exactly short on space in comparison to England yet they manage to do it just fine...
In the meantime, I'm seriously considering sticking a gigantic sign in my window begging people not to park too close to me and explaining exactly why! SO FED UP!
I totally get your frustration, not only for PG women but i am quite a big girl and often get stuck outside my car, once i had to get in through the passenger side and climb across.. now for anyone who's met me i am also quite tall and have a smallish car... it would have been quite a site!
The carparks in general should just be made a bit wider, i know tiny friends who still have problems getting in
Petition to your local shopping centre, speak to your council or maybe put a story in the local news paper?
I could do, but the problem is bigger than just where I live if ykwim? I think that's what bugs me. I think it's GREAT that the parks exist and I think its very important to have these parks available for people with kids and prams, but I just get so fed up.
I actually just tried climbing over from the passenger side, 33 week preggie belly and all! Must have been quite a sight, and no, I didn't make it lol. I just had to stand there and wait. I might write to some of the pregnancy magazines... I don't want to do anything that means photos though. Having worked in the media I am very wary of it (doesn't really help my cause, does it?!).
PG mags could be good... the local council could possibly make it a bigger issue IYKWIM.
Just buy some of those bright witches hats and pop 1 in each of the parks beside you
I never thought of that! Maybe you could park just far enough over the line that no-one can use that space? Bit norty, but the average space isn't that big, you gotta do what you gotta do!
God I know what you mean!!! It is sooooooo frustrating!!
I'd suggest local council. They would be able to at least let you know where to go from there. I totally agree with you that it's not fair for us. I find it hard enough getting in and out of my car when there isn't anything next to it let alone when people park too close!!! There is never enough parents with prams spaces and I have used one before (the only other parks were soooooo far away from the shopping centre, I felt like crap and was 33 weeks pregnant!!) and got majorly glared at!!!!! We need passes or something like disabled people do!
Good luck with it!! I definitely think you should take it somewhere
I think they need to make the spaces wider on the whole and stop trying to jam so many cars in.
Like Keike said you could park just over the loine or like the people with hotted up cars park well over the lin so no one can use the other park (and no I am not saying all people with hotted up cars do this)
I'm so glad to know it's not just me that has my knickers in a twist about this. MrsBexie - I hear ya on the getting in and out thing... both for me are a slow process that generally involve a lot of huffing and puffing, sweating, grunting and the occasional swear word and belly grab if I manage to pull something :-/ My parents are meant to be visiting at Christmas and I know full well they will expect me to drive them around and spend days out shopping with them. If I'm feeling like this at 33 weeks I think at 37 weeks I'll be telling them to get stuffed
I was parking across the line a bit for a while even though its naughty but now with Christmas so close finding a park is such a nightmare as it is, let alone a place where I can be naughty and park across the line! Am getting in touch with the local council for sure but wouldn't it be great if the space issue was raised at a higher level? Ah, we can live in hope.
Cars are getting bigger, and the spaces seem to be getting smaller! At my local grocery shops the parents with prams spots are actually narrower than the normal spots- its insane!
Good on you for doing the PA announcement! I did something similar when a woman who didn't have any children with her parked so close that i couldn't get DS into the car, but she hadn't gone in yet so i just asked her if she could move her car over. Huffy b!tch was not happy! I could have just scratched her car up, but i thought it was better to ask her to move her car...
FWIW, i wouldn't look twice if a heavily preggers woman parked in the parents with prams section, in fact i would probably smile at her!
I totally understand what you mean, I've got spd and can't walk far at all, now Christmas is around the corner you have to park miles away. I've now resorted to only going if dh can go with me, he drops me at the door parks & then meets me. I had someone park so close to me I couldn't get in my car & had to ask someone to get my car out for me. We should be able to use the parents parking spaces!
I know what you mean. I remember being heavily pregnant with my 2nd and had my toddler in a pram after shopping came back to the car to find there was no way i was going to be able to open the door to put my toddler in, and I could only just squeeze into the drivers side. Luckily i had had mum with me, so she stood to the side with my toddler, i got in the car, reversed it back and blocked the lane and took my sweet time putting my toddler, pram and shopping in the car. No cars actually came up the lane, but i was ready for an arguement so its lucky for them no one challenged me...lol!
Its rare i go out with my 2 boys by myself, so most of the time I try to park as far left/right (depending which kid i have with me) with out going over the line, yet still being aware the other person has to get in their car too. I also try to park next to poles or gardens too.
I also find those parent with prams spots no bigger then the normal parks and most of the time they're full anyway, cause there is usually only 2 or 3 available. They definitely need more and make them a fraction bigger.
I like the idea of the sign on the back window though, will keep that in mind if/when I'm pregnant again.
Last edited by Frangipani; December 3rd, 2010 at 08:20 PM.
Here in Germany they have parking spaces for females only. Sexist? Yes, but they are wider than normal and are as close as the disabled parking spaces. Fantastic for pregnant women. There are actually always MORE of the female parking spaces than disabled and are almost always there. We also have Parents with prams spaces, but they aren't so common.
Being pregnant and car parks [vent]
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or like the people with hotted up cars park well over the lin so no one can use the other park (and no I am not saying all people with hotted up cars do this) 
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