Parking my car in car parks holds no fears for me at the moment as I am waiting for my dents to *every panel* to be repaired after my STi8 getting vandalised a month ago. Unfortunately as I don't have £3K going spare I have to go through the insurance.

 

Having 2 children warrants you parking in a disabled spot ?

**** me. Kids are a lifestyle choice *you* made - as is driving a car. Deal with it you selfish **** and park further away or take the bus/taxi/bicycle.

Deano

[Edited by dsmith - 12/22/2003 6:08:01 PM]

 

IF you have a choice of parking spaces, try to find one with the next-door car parked nose outward on the side of you which would take the nose-swing if he were parked nose first. If you can visualise what I mean.
So, in my Sainsbury's, if you back out of the space in order to leave, you'll do left-hand-down = Nose out to the right. So I try to put a tail-first parked car on my left.

Not foolproof,but reduces the odds.....


Phil

 

dsmith,

I think that DJ Watts had some fair comments ..... But you have blown them out of all proportion !!!!!!!!

I bet you would not like a parent with a child opening up their car door onto your car door (if you would like, I can arrange for me to do this for you with my 4WD!!) trying to get the car seat/child out of the car. Disabled people think that the picture of a child sitting in the trolley means disabled !!! As I said in my earlier post, some old bag even commented on me being there whilst getting my daughter out of the car. [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

Nate.

 

CHARLIE STI WRX

i see your in surbiton,dont suppose you know a decent body repair
place in the area?

by the way,wot does YHM mean?...im a bit new to all this.

Cheers

 

WTF are some people on ?

So you and your child are more worthy of a "convenient" space than someone with a disability ??? Its a "child" not a disability I'm sure she'll manage a walk across the car park.

Deano

 

andyman2003

YHM - You Have Mail

 

Thaks for the colourful words you choosed dsmith and No it does not warrant me being there but i guess you have never had to spend £800 getting your car repaired by this sort of thing happening to you or else you may see it differently.

And did you read this:

I have tried other things and they do not work. AJ on here parked his car in safeway a while back well away from anyone but when he came back to his car someone had parked right next to him and dented his doors.
And do you seriously expect me to be taking my 2 children on bikes when neither of them are old enough to ride one.
Let alone the unsafe value i would get from having them do this if they WERE old enough.
And a taxi, well sainsbury is far enough away from me for this to cost me in excess of £16 both ways!
And as for a bus well i would have to change buses twice and its hard if you have kids my age to be carting them round on a bus as anyone that has children knows this. Obviously not you dsmith!

So here we are again with the dilema. Do i now have to be persecuted because i cannot protect my car and my property and children?

Did i also mention the reason why there are parent and child parking spaces?
You think there just there for the ease with the children?
Well a bit maybe but i like to think that the closer i am to the store the less i have to walk to take the children, thus removing them from a dangerous situation as what a car park is.
So to end i do not enjoy doing this, nor did i say that i did but its hard to know what is best to do when there has been enough damage to my car that results me in taking extreme measures that i don't take very lightly.

Oh and like *nate* said, what about when disabled people park in the parent and child. You think that is fair to us family people on here for them to do this but not the other way around?
Double standards is it now?
And like i said there is a danger if i have to park my car a distance from the store as i will have to be vigilant watching my children not getting run over.
And what if the worst did happen and one of my children got hurt because i could not get in a parent and child space because of a disabled person. Is that ok then as long as they get their space?
You think what you want dsmith as i know what i am doing is not the best solution but until there is an alternative i will protect my car and my family the best way i can.
You have children btw dsmith? Sounds like you don't so i really dont expect you to understand anything i have said but maybe one day if you made-a-lifestyle choice as you so wittingly put it then you might have a tinkle of where i am coming from.

Oh and *nate* thanks for you kind comments on the situation.

[Edited by DJ WATTS - 12/23/2003 5:42:52 AM]

 

dsmith,

I now volunteer myself to go shopping at the same time as you , park in a non parent and child/disabled bay next to you and see what damage I cause to your car. So could you get back to me with a date and time ?

I don't/wouldn't expect my 14 month old to walk across a car park, but it seems that you would , are you stupid? Or maybe you should know ALL the facts before you make your comments !!!!.

I think you should 'specialise in designing car park networks' and iron out all the wrinkles with this problem , as you seem to be a very well educated person to be using that kind of language towards people you don't even know !!!

Nate.

PS I don't know if DJ WATTS is available to park the other side of you ??

 

Oh boy!!

Firstly:

Disabled parking spaces are there as part of accessibility requirements by law. Mother and baby spaces are provided by the super market under their own steam to try an be helpful. If you don't have a blue bagde in your car and you park in a disabled spot, your car should be towed, period.

Now don't get me wrong, I question some blue badge holders real need to use a disabled parking space. My "father in law" has a blue badge, his knees are shot to bits and he needs a walking stick to get about and can't walk very far, but in general he still parks in a normal parking space as he does not feel it is right for him to take up a space that could be used by somebody who really needs it.

I also totally agree with comments about the disabled person staying in the car when the able bodied one goes in to the store as being wrong.

I know we all take pride in or cars and having it dinked is bloody annoying, but it is a fact of life. Car parks need to make spaces bigger to give people a reasonable amount of room to get in and out.

People need to take some responsibility for their own actions and make sure that they and their children, passengers etc do not damage other cars.

Parents need to take responsibility for their kids and stop them running about the car parks like they are a playground, pushing trollies and letting go of them so they bounce off half a dozen cars (I have even seen adults just pushing a trolley away as they can't be bothered to walk it back to a trolley park and it bounces off other cars).

This is not a personal attack on Parents - so please don't come back saying "but I don't do this" or "I wouldn't let my kids do that", I am not saying you would, I am GENERALISING based on observation over many years in various car parks.

So until the world sorts itself out, try setting an example by acting responsibly, parking in a space appropriate to your situation and don't hinder other people or park in 2 spaces etc, this just makes the situation worse and as people have found, if you park in 2 spaces, somebody in an old knacker will park right next to you and bounce their doors off yours just to **** you off.

Rant over

 

DJ WATTS

I have read the other thread and I agree that what has happened to you is unpleasant, but you DO NOT have a valid reason for parking in a disabled parking space. The ONLY valid reason for parking there is that you have been registered disabled and have a supporting blue (they are not orange anymore) badge to go with it.

This attitude of me and more car are more important than others is just so self centered. If you are that worried about damange to your car, park it in the garage and don't take it out. What do you do to stop your car getting stone chips while you are out driving? Cars will get damanged, it is a fact of life, cars cost a lot of money, if you want a car then it goes with the territory. Yes when it gets damaged it is bloody annoying but deal with it, claim on your insurance, the other parties insurance or the super market if that is where it happens.

I suggest you go and chat to a few para or quadra plegics and ask if they would rather have thier legs, a Subaru and the odd dink in the door or be in a wheel chair the rest of their life.

Oh and while you are knicking disabled parking spaces, why don't you go and remove the ramps from the front of buildings to the disabled can't get in them as well!

 

I try and plan ahead, the Tescos near me is open 24 hours. So going at 8-10pm avoids most of the traffic and allows me to find 2 spaces far away from the entrance. I know I shouldn't take up 2 spaces, but I don't want to have to repair a 22b wing (front ones are over £2.5k I've been told). If I can't find the spaces I want then I leave, and go back later.

Its my problem that I want to protect my car, I can't change other peoples attitudes towards opening doors on other cars so why bother getting all stressed about it, lifes too short.

Dave.

 

Don't forget that if your no-claims is knocked back it will affect you for the next three years until you have regained your current level. (Depending on where you start and whether you have protection etc.)

Say 60% NCB of £2000 policy, they will knock you back to 30% next year, and you build up 10% a year for the next 3 years. Total cost = £1200 plus excess plus increased premium because you have a claim

But OTOH if you don't claim and then have another incident you have lost your NCB anyway Decisions, decisions ...

 

Phil Harrison - good points, responsible driving, thinking of others and trying to minimise damage without inconvenice others - fair play!!

Well put DaveW!

DJ WATTS
Yup - absolutely fair, disabled sapces are protected by Law, mother and baby spots are not. If the disabled spots are taken (probably by people like you) then I would expect somebody with a disablity to use the next closest available parking spot. You, an able bodied person, who can get about, would rather they had to struggle from the other side of the car park, just so life is that bit easier for you?

*Nate*

Oh but because you are priveledged and have a car, you shouldn't have to use your legs??? But it is OK for disabled people to struggle across a car park? It is fine for all those people who can't afford a car and have to walk or get the bus to struggle with their kids?? Just not you? What makes you so special that you "out rank" everybody else? If the kid is 14 months old, pick it up and carry it if it is that much of an issue. Try carrying a fully grown adult across a car park!

 

Know a good bodyshop in Surrey (Sunbury on Thames) who will do a grand job for not alot of money. Don't go to the insurance until you speak to this chap.

Drop me a mail for the details.

 

I don't think any person on this site would cause a disabled person any intentional inconvenience.

While I would never use a disabled space personally I would like to ask the following question.

How many people using these spaces and displaying a valid badge actually have a valid reason for using the space on that day?

The problem is that a high number of badge holder have them because they or there family are the primary career for the disabled person, these people then use the space when ever they feel like it with out the intended person being present in the car.

Is this right?

I would have thought somebody in that situation should know better than all of us!!

If the holders of these badges used them in the way they were intended for then maybe others would treat the spaces with a little more respect.

After all if the badge holders abuse the system why shouldn’t we all!

 

Scooby300 - I agree in principal with what you are saying, however we have a number of people here who freely admit to parking in disabled spaces for no other reason than they think their car will be safer there. Oh they may claim that I only do it if there are some other spaces free at the time, but if they are in the super market and those spaces get filled up, either by valid disabled people or other ignoramae, then what happens, a disabled person will then be inconvenienced. I admit, it is possible for all the sapces to be filled by genuienly disabled people and another one can then turn up and have to park elsewhere, but that still does not excuse thier actions.

However it is the disabled person that is issued with the blue card. They can then use it in their own vehicle or any other vehicle they are a passenger in. A familiy member may not use the card unless the disabled person is in the vehicle.

I do agree that some blue card holders and their families may use disabled spaces when they may not actually need to, however, as things stand (right or wrong) it is black and white, you have a valid card and the card owner in the vehicle and you can park there, you don't have a card or the owner in the car and you can't.

I do think the allocation of blue cards needs to be looked at, it seems that people can get them very easily when they are not really entitled.

However just because the system is in need of review does not give others the right to take the ****. These are the sort of people who (if they could ever lower their standards enough) would get on a bus, would sit in the seat reserved for the eldery & disabled and then would refuse to get up if an elderly or disabled person got on the bus. It is just classic of the "Me me me" syndrome in this country.

[Edited by OllyK - 12/23/2003 10:07:31 AM]

 

What about having wider car spaces available but make them further from the entrance?

Therefore if people are genuinely concerned about damage to their cars they could park here. If only careful drivers parked there, it would further reduce the risk of damage.

Of course if these people just park in the disabled because they are too lazy to walk across the car park then it would make no difference.

Personally I usually park at the furthest point from the store entrance as you know that the morons and door bangers always park as close as possible. Wayne and Waynetta Slob couldn't manage a few hundred yeards across the car park.

 

The car parking nightmare is one of the reasons I kept the shopping car when we got the scooby and the 911. It's worth about 1k, but worth its weight in gold when it comes to parking in Stainsburys at busy periods. It will happily park anywhere and doesn't complain when someone adds another dent to the door.

 

LOL at all the replies,i am thinking of buying a cheap baby seat so i can park in the wide spaces,it's got to be cheaper than the bodyshop.
bluenose.

 

Just how many times you had your car pinged OllyK?

If like me and have had it done 3 times and claimed everytime on your insurance i would not be here writing on the Scoobynet forums as my premium would be sky high. Speedking got this one spot one!
And how the hell can you claim on the supermarket when your car IS: PARKED AT YOUR OWN RISK!

I see some of your points though and i was trying to say this too but there is no other way im afraid so lets just leave it at that.

So who else is going to look after my car. The general public will not for sure!

Maybe if someone had dented my knees as much as they have dented my doors i would need these ramps also.

Funny as ive NEVER EVER seen any of these unfortunate people ever at a supermarket or in any disabled parking.
What i have seen is plenty of more than abled persons get out of a car with a badge in a disabled space and casually walk into a store like they have no disabilty so they are obviously abusing their right.

So once again with reagards to these people that flaunt the law with their permits...

But thats ok for them and again we have double standards!
Just like if they park in the parent and child, so there not governed by law but they are written in a plain sign with parent & Child but hey sod the thought hey.

Oh and i cannot see EVER sainsburys or any other parking place for that matter to be made wider so that will never happen.

[Edited by DJ WATTS - 12/23/2003 11:03:25 AM]

 

Every car I have ever owned and some many times over. It is part of owning a car, just like stone chips. So what I do? Pay dent devils £80 or so and get them to do it, if the car is worth fixing. Why? I prefer to do that than go through the insurance as it is less than the excess anyway. OK, I'd prefer people didn't "ping" my car, but I don't belive that gives me the right to park in a disabled parking space. What do you do about stone chips? Drive on the pavement perhaps to protect your precious car?

1) As perviously mentioned they have public liability insurance, they will put up a fuss about it, but press on and you will get there in the end
2) If you see it happen, report them, get their details, make their insurance pay.
3) If the risk is too great for you - don't take your treasured car there. Walk, bus, taxi, get a lift, buy a cheap knacker. If you really have to use every last penny to buy a scoob (and I assume run it leaglly) then maybe you have chosen the wrong car?

Absolutely right - live with it. If you can't, get rid of the Scooby or leave it in the garage.

Probably coz there is nowhere for them to park coz you are in the disabled spaces. I see plenty of them in Loughborough and regularly see a guy with a custom 3 wheeled bike that has his wheel chair on the back. He sits in his chair and drives the bike around. A mate of mine has a porker 911, he lost both his legs in a car accident and he still manages to get to the Super Market, try opening your eyes.

On something we finally agree on, sort of, and as previously stated, the issue of disabled badge issuing needs to be reviewed in my opion. But right or wrong they have been issued the badge, via thier doctor and they then have a right to use that space, you do NOT.

No, if they have the permit (whether you belive they are entitled to that badge or not) they are not flauting the law, if you park there, however, you are.

Again probably because inconsiderate ignoramae have parked in the disabled parking.

Nope me either, live with it, see previous comments.

 

I agree with Olly K on this subject. I've had my car dented by some useless inconsiderable t**t but this doesn't condone the use of disabled and parent and child only spaces for able bodied people without hinderance. If you do have a child then you should only use parent and child only spaces or the nearest space available excluding disabled spaces. My car was damaged a month ago and will cost be £215. Annoying as this is to me, im effectively taking it out on the people with real needs instead of the culprits who caused the damage!! My previous car has been damaged parked on the side of a street, car parks etc but i still take my car out knowing this could happen again. It part and parcel of owning a car.

 

PMSL

So Nate - you are physically incapable of opening a door without bashing the car next to you ? Perhaps you could post your reg and car details - I'me sure there are afew people eager to know who's dinked their car.

Oddly I went to a supermarket this morning. Parked between 2 cars. openend my doors without hitting another car walked to the supermarket all without a hitch. Something I got the impression was pretty impossible. Even walked back and checked - still no damage.

The world's gone mad. If you find supermarkets so friggin hard to deal with, with your 14month old disablilty with you why the **** dont you just use tesco's direct. - But then I guess you wouldn't be able to answer the door with 14 month old either. its a CHILD not a disability.

Deano

 

Well said alwong!

I think it is important to point out that, apart from a small minority, I don't think most people intentionally set out to dent somebody's door. It happens by accident when they knock it trying to load the car up, or get a child out of the back or because the wind catches the door. The reality is most people go "Oh $h1t" and walk away and hope nobody notices as they don't want to have to pay for the repair. Sad state of affairs but the reality.

Just because somebody has been inconsiderate or thoughtless to you, that is no excuse to do the same thing to somebody else who had nothing to do with the original incident. You may as well go and kick in the doors of your neighbours car for all the good it will do.

And a final point - why do you think disabled spaces are wider? It is for people with wheel chairs so that they can get them along side the car to get the disabled person out. I would think you stand a better chance of getting you car bashed next to a wheel chair being loaded up than in a normal parking space!

 

dsmith - right on!

 

What a clever statement.. gave me a chuckle...

Thats just the reply i expected from you and i expected you to put this in your post...

Again you miss my point. You carry on as if i love having to make a very awkward descision and carry on as if i dont care, WHICH I DO!

The majority of the time i do use the parent & child spaces but under some instances i may use a diabled space which is my last choice over a parent & child.

Your attitude may be But my attitude is to try and better the situation and not stand for it. Nor should we have to put up with it as you have so quaintly put it.

quaintly
: unusual or different in character or appearance : ODD <figures of fun, quaint people -- Herman Wouk> b : pleasingly or strikingly old-fashioned or unfamiliar
synonym see STRANGE

[Edited by DJ WATTS - 12/23/2003 2:22:31 PM]

 

Glad you are finding it funny, both actions are illegal, illegality is not a case of degree!

Well you did set yourself up for it, you admit to parking in disabled parking spaces, so it follows that if you are there, somebody who has a right to be can't be, this isn’t rocket science.

Classic, PMSL. "I really do care about all these people I am inconveniencing and the fact that I am breaking the law, I really do, but f**k 'em I am going to carry on doing it anyway!"

It isn't an "awkward [sic] descision", you are just plain wrong, there is no debate here, you are breaking the law and putting yourself before other people who are in reality more deserving.

Have you got 2 brain cells to rub together?? You really think that breaking the law and inconveniencing disabled people is going to stop cars getting bumped in car parks?? You are away with the fairies.

If it worries you that much, and it obviously does, how many times have you written to Sainsbury’s to express your concerns? How many times have you written to your local council, your MP?? Please post up copies of the letters you have sent to try and "better the situation". I am sure we would all love to see them.

Fact is, you haven’t have you?? I haven’t, I admit that, because I will put up with the odd dink now and again. I’ll swear and curse and pay to get it fixed. Yes it is annoying; it is frustrating for your car to get damaged. It doesn’t just happen in car parks though it can happen anywhere, it worries me what other stupid and inconsiderate behaviour you exhibit on the roads in the defence of your car, or does it only count in car parks?

It sounds to me like you would be better off on the bus or with an old knacker. The stress you must suffer every time you get in your car is going to put you in an early grave, unless a disabled person beats you to death with their crutches first for parking in a disabled spot

 

there really are some selfish ******* on this bbs.

oh and not all blue badge holders have outwardly noticeable disabilities.

i have two 5 week old babies and pushing them accross the car park when parent spaces are full hasn't caused me any grief yet, i'm sure the 14 month old should be fine.

oh and as for threatening people with your four by four doors..... ****.

 

DJ Watts, i know it is annoying for you and for everyone else who returns to their vehicle with a dent but how are you making the situation any better?? OK, you have more room by taking a disabled space but somebody could quite easily become annoyed seeing an abled bodied person doing this and scratch your car. The fact is, anytime you have your car out of your garage there is a likely chance of damage to your vehicle. I think we should all look out for people who do cause damage and take their registration plate, make and model and place it onto the persons car who has been affected as said previously in the thread.