Parking spaces are too small. I am stating that as a fact. It seems like being able to open your car doors all the way in a parking lot requires parking is a deserted area or having a four-door compact car and being lucky enough to be parked next to a curb, landscaping, or a motorcycle. The lots that give you the “double lines” are generally better as they help guide people to the center of the space but even those can be too small depending on your car. According to 30 seconds of internet research, the width of the common parking lot space varies between 7.5 feet and 10 feet. Now if people would stop parking their massive trucks next to the passenger side of my car (forcing me to contort my body in order to squeeze my son’s massive car seat through the tiny space left between the vehicles) I might say that 10 feet is sufficient. Since that doesn’t seem probable…
Parking spaces in public parking lots must be drawn with a minimum width of 11 feet and include the “double line” design designating parking space and circulation space.
Opening your car door should not be a privilege. I don’t care if the problem is a lack of parking skill, an oversized SUV, or a two-door sports car with giant doors. Everyone needs to be able to get in and out of their vehicles safely and easily. I realize that come Black Friday you may be cursing my name because there are less spots in the parking lot, but I’ll take one day of things being worse for 364 days of easy vehicle access. I know the other car seat toting mothers out there are with me on this one at least.
As always I remain your all-powerful and benevolent Queen of the World,
Marisa
It gets a little better when you don't have an infant seat anymore but I agree.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I think the solution in urban areas is to have more levels of parking garage rather than smaller spaces. - Andy W.
ReplyDeleteWe could all just be forced to drive little clown cars like in Europe?
ReplyDelete