Being pregnant and car parks [vent]

[Yarrawin]

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!

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

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?

[Yarrawin]

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?!).

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

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

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

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!

[MrsBexie]

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

[indie24]

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)

[Yarrawin]

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.

[appletree]

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!

[*Efjay*]

One thing you could try (but yes time of year you kinda have to grab what you can) is try & park so your driver side is near a poll. I will often park so the big pillars that run through the underground parking are on my drivers side. It gives me plenty of room then & no one can actually park too close.
I have to avoid parking with my nose out. Because with out fail some big 4WD will park so close tot he back of my Van I can't get that back open to put the pram away. So as nice as it is to park with my nose forward I just can't do it if I have the pram. I know I wont be able to put it back in the car when I get back! Its ok if its a sedan as I still have enough clearance but its always 4WD's!

Not sure what else to suggest but I think your sign would be good. Im sure if it was polite & maybe a little humours people will move the car a bit if they think its too close. If not, just keep going back & having the owner called over the PA system.

eta - Suggestion for a sign " Heavily Pregnant Driver - Please be considerate & leave enough space for this beached whale to open her door to get back in the car" Along with a funny picture to draw attention. Im sure people would have a giggle & make sure there was room.
BUT problem is most drivers might not look to the left & you would be replying on them having a passenger who noticed your note.

[Yarrawin]

One thing you could try (but yes time of year you kinda have to grab what you can) is try & park so your driver side is near a poll. I will often park so the big pillars that run through the underground parking are on my drivers side. It gives me plenty of room then & no one can actually park too close.
I have to avoid parking with my nose out. Because with out fail some big 4WD will park so close tot he back of my Van I can't get that back open to put the pram away. So as nice as it is to park with my nose forward I just can't do it if I have the pram. I know I wont be able to put it back in the car when I get back! Its ok if its a sedan as I still have enough clearance but its always 4WD's!

Not sure what else to suggest but I think your sign would be good. Im sure if it was polite & maybe a little humours people will move the car a bit if they think its too close. If not, just keep going back & having the owner called over the PA system.

eta - Suggestion for a sign " Heavily Pregnant Driver - Please be considerate & leave enough space for this beached whale to open her door to get back in the car" Along with a funny picture to draw attention. Im sure people would have a giggle & make sure there was room.
BUT problem is most drivers might not look to the left & you would be replying on them having a passenger who noticed your note.

You know, that's pretty much exactly what I had in mind for my sign! I figured, hey, it can't hurt and it might give some people a giggle too!

[ss_storm]

I think you can actually be issued an infringement notice for parking over the lines...so I'd be a bit wary about doing that, especially this close to christmas!
Are there spots you can park at the end of a row or next to a trolley bay, a pole, or something so you'll only have a car on one side?

[*Efjay*]

You know just thinking, I would put a Massive sign on your rear window & your drivers window when you leave your car. I think there would be more chance of the one in the rear window being noticed.
OR when you park your car with plenty of space, go find a trolley & put it next your car. Maybe people wont go to the effort to move the trolley to park there & just move on to somewhere else.

eta - or purchase some witches hats & put them along the side of your car LOL. People would be less likely to move those.

[toomanyshoes]

People just need to learn to park!

I had a woman the other pull into the empty car spot next to me while I was loading up the boot, she was over the line into my space looked me up and down and walked off...silly cow!

[Yarrawin]

People just need to learn to park!

I had a woman the other pull into the empty car spot next to me while I was loading up the boot, she was over the line into my space looked me up and down and walked off...silly cow!

Gosh, that's so rude!!! I would have lost it... but then again my current hormonal state has made me slightly scary

[tinkerbelle]

I have so had the same thoughts about the mother and baby bays and pregnant women!!! Especially when you get to the end of your pregnancy, it would be so nice to be able to park close to the shops in one of the mother and baby bays to reduce how far you have to walk to just go in and pick up a couple of things you need.. when the shops are busy, its the worst having to park miles away and a real struggle to walk to the shop entrance without feeling like baby is going to fall out any second!

[~*familyof3*~]

OMG i feel your pain Yarra! Im so so ova it hey its driving me mental to the point il avoid the shops.Some people r just so ride and dont care.

[toomanyshoes]

It's funny, at our shops I actually think there are too many specialised parking spots, theres a gazillion and 1/2 are almost always empty.

Parents with prams
disabled
seniors
60 min parking

I know they are necessary but its gets frustrating driving around and around and around and around waiting for a spot yet 1/2 of the "specialist" ones have no one in them! I've never ever seen more than 60-70% of them used! But realistically our shops need at least 50% more normal car spots.