Car Parks

Mattp

Member
Messages
501
The QP is quite a large car, but I think these spaces are verging on taking the micky!

y4miQe6H6etHx-UmYZ6YbsC2d--hgmLZgS6_E9Ze8IYX0CASqT1thQx2k-AavXehruD6zLO-5oq7PDw4LgO6dzjYCQoEF0yQEyxAJkquy5bQvYQ7tbiqRWsk2acuJrTsgOdzRY39647yURc-dZ6N8eFucldcZio5XA9L1bgG_saXLmiRRzZ5S0WXpKMvBjJwz6jdN-rtmapBP8-wBifAep3EA


My local council multi story, not only was the space microscopic, but I also nearly failed to fit round the bend to escape the place! I don't think ill be parking there again... Irrespective of the acoustics when inside! ;)
 

iainw

Member
Messages
3,386
The QP is quite a large car, but I think these spaces are verging on taking the micky!

y4miQe6H6etHx-UmYZ6YbsC2d--hgmLZgS6_E9Ze8IYX0CASqT1thQx2k-AavXehruD6zLO-5oq7PDw4LgO6dzjYCQoEF0yQEyxAJkquy5bQvYQ7tbiqRWsk2acuJrTsgOdzRY39647yURc-dZ6N8eFucldcZio5XA9L1bgG_saXLmiRRzZ5S0WXpKMvBjJwz6jdN-rtmapBP8-wBifAep3EA


My local council multi story, not only was the space microscopic, but I also nearly failed to fit round the bend to escape the place! I don't think ill be parking there again... Irrespective of the acoustics when inside! ;)

I hate multi-storey car parks.
I got my GTS stuck in a Tescos one. It would not go around the corner on the way out.
I did get a guard of honour though as the decent parking attendants closed the car park entry and escorted me out of the Entrance. If it had been a different Italian car they may have left me to destroy my alloys even more I am sure.
 

MrMickS

Member
Messages
3,951
That is ridiculous. You'd struggle to fit a smart car in that spot.

As cars are getting larger, especially with the number of SUVs on the road these days, car park space sizes need to be revisited and old car parks remarked with lower capacity. That's not going to go down well with car park owners but really needs to be done.
 

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
The even better news is that the parking ustazi would try and issue a parking fine for incorrectly using/ parking in the space.
 

agooner

Junior Member
Messages
103
On a positive note. The new Lexicon shopping centre in Bracknell have increased the space between parking spaces. Instead of the normal 3 inch wide strip, the spaces are separated by a blue line over 1 foot wide. It certainly makes access easier with large cars. The one issue I have drivers who use the marked pedestrian path through the car park as a parking space. It's a 5 foot wide blue path but someone always parks on it because they need to be near the stores.
 

Mattp

Member
Messages
501
The even better news is that the parking ustazi would try and issue a parking fine for incorrectly using/ parking in the space.

Your right, they do state that you must park inside the space on the terms!

On a positive note. The new Lexicon shopping centre in Bracknell have increased the space between parking spaces. Instead of the normal 3 inch wide strip, the spaces are separated by a blue line over 1 foot wide. It certainly makes access easier with large cars. The one issue I have drivers who use the marked pedestrian path through the car park as a parking space. It's a 5 foot wide blue path but someone always parks on it because they need to be near the stores.

The new Asda by me has done the same, a good foot and a half separation space painted between each bay, that with the fact fuel is 4p per litre cheaper than Sainsbury's has altered my shopping pattern
 

Doohickey

Velociraptor
Messages
2,496
Q Parks have remarked their car parks to make the spaces between them much bigger (and presumably lose revenue as a result) but it's a much better place to park.

Quite a few of the supermarkets now specify 2.5m x 5m parking bays instead of the standard 2.4x4.8m now to reflect the majority of SUV driver's inability to get their vans into a space.
 

Jnismith

Member
Messages
284
I noticed that in ASDA Hatfield yesterday, nice wide spaces and cheap fuel. Didn't stop the driver of a black Ghibli parking illegally across the diagonals in front of the door though.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,511
That does look particularly short and the fact its looks like its blocking the path its almost temping some moppet to bang a trolley into it.
 

RSM Masser

Member
Messages
2,437
Costco - nice big spaces - plenty of room, but you cant fit much in the boot so need to take the SUV instead.

My biggest grip is why does the wife insists on trying to get as near to the door of the store as possible - I head for the spaces in a half empty aisle and park right in the middle. we just need to walk for another 2 minutes.
Now I have to drop her off and collect the car on the return, a small price to pay for peace and quiet - with no door dings.
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,758
Car Parks seem to be going in opposite directions, a lot of the Supermarkets moving to larger spaces with more room in between where as people like NCP appear to be trying to squeeze more revenue spots regardless of access or space.

Must admit we have a blue badge for our disabled son and the extra space that disabled spaces get is much appreciated, although the poor little lad gets dragged to loads of shops so that we can access his parking benefits.
 

agooner

Junior Member
Messages
103
..... the poor little lad gets dragged to loads of shops so that we can access his parking benefits.

Know where you are coming from. Although not quite the same, more than happy to take some of the grandkids with us to use the parent and child spaces. Not sure the kids appreciate it though, but they do get a drink and a muffin (no expense spared here).
 

RSM Masser

Member
Messages
2,437
Know where you are coming from. Although not quite the same, more than happy to take some of the grandkids with us to use the parent and child spaces. Not sure the kids appreciate it though, but they do get a drink and a muffin (no expense spared here).

We just leave the grand-kids car seats in the back - then look round in horror as forgetful oldies if anyone asks where the kids are (saves on drinks and muffins)
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
One of the Bristol city car park has a floor for wide cars but is always full of Fiat 500s.
 

TridentTested

Member
Messages
1,819
we just need to walk for another 2 minutes.

Not even two minutes, usually you are talking about seconds to walk to the next aisle.

I was that person, seeking and seeking the nearest space to the door; it drove my partner mad. Owning bigger, and more precious, cars has taught me the lesson of parking a little further away. You also save a bucket of time in the actual parking manoeuvre; drive straight into a bay in one move instead of faffing around squeezing in.

The QP is a big beast and can make heavy work of multi-stories.
 

TridentTested

Member
Messages
1,819
We just leave the grand-kids car seats in the back - then look round in horror as forgetful oldies if anyone asks where the kids are (saves on drinks and muffins)

My daughter's child seat is permanently in the car - but no one can see it (or her) through the privacy glass :)
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
Have to admit that I use parent and child slots when I shop they are the only ones that are designed for cars.
 

agooner

Junior Member
Messages
103
....... You also save a bucket of time in the actual parking manoeuvre; drive straight into a bay in one move instead of faffing around squeezing in.

Fully agree. I'm all for as little stress as possible. If it means parking further away then fine. But some people seem to be so driven by being close they will park on the cross hatching (showing its not a parking spot) simply because its the closet to the door.
 

D Walker

Member
Messages
9,827
My daughter worked at Asda before Uni, she used to borrow Mums car to get there and back, she used to park in the furthest spot from the door hard up to a wall(reversed in) so that anyone who parked in the next bay would not ding the car. It was a Fiat 500. She sent me a photo one day, someone had revesed in, over the white next to her car, she couldn't get in and was contemplating climbing in through the hatchback, just as the lady turned up with her trolley.....lets just say on a mission my daughter can be a formidable force of nature, just wish i'd been in the car park. Was sure I had the photo somewhere....
 

Mattp

Member
Messages
501
My daughter's child seat is permanently in the car - but no one can see it (or her) through the privacy glass :)

I've had the glare of death before due to the very same situation... I took the last parent bay, in my big shiny QP, got out, looking suave as always! A bloke in a stereotypical family car passed really slowly, he looked as though he was ready to get out and teach me a lesson... even as I was unbuckling jr from the back seat...