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Topic ID 4558

20/07/2009 by boltona

Teeny weeny car park spaces

Why are car park spaces so small in Hertford? It doesn't matter whether using the Bircherley Green or the A414 multistorey the parking spaces are ridiculously narrow & short for that matter on the 414. On Sunday I went to Loch Fyne with my daughter and baby for a spot of lunch, and to be able to park within the lines I had to stop and unload a 3 month old baby and 2 year old toddler before I could reverse into a space and still get out the drivers door. This is madness. I do not have a particularly large car, but the number of spaces where the concrete pillars obstruct opening doors is staggering - and anyone trying to get a baby seat out of a car will know that the door has to open a good distance. Then if you want to get anything out of your boot (assuming you reverse in - driving in forwards would mean you can't get out of the drivers door!) even only leaving 2-3" behind you the front of the car protrudes over the white lines significantly! Maybe I am just being a grumpy old man...?


0 replies

Archived Replies

Reply ID 65367

20/07/2009 by teddylad

On the radio the other day that there is a minimum and maximum size for a car parking space. If this space doesn't meet these requirements and you are ticketed then the ticket is invalid. Discussed on the five live show last Friday with a guy from a parking ticket avoidance website. Sorry cant remember the full details. Google here we come.


Reply ID 65373

21/07/2009 by Marilyn

I thought it was just me.........................and then there are the pipes coming down in a lot of them which mean you can't get an estate car to the end of the bay..............I now have to drive round to find a space that is wide enough so my mother can open the door one side, she is not disbaled but is 85 so can't squeeze out or a tiny gap and I can open the one the other. My car is not a huge 4x4 just a atandard estate but it can be tricky even with that. I think they want us all to have "Smart" size cars they seem to fit OK!!


Reply ID 65374

21/07/2009 by Frenchie

I think we should have more Child and Parent extra large parking spaces located conveniently around town and in the local car parks.


Reply ID 65376

21/07/2009 by shunt

quote:
Originally posted by Frenchie
I think we should have more Child and Parent extra large parking spaces located conveniently around town and in the local car parks.
[}:)]


Reply ID 65378

21/07/2009 by Drama Queen

The other obvious reason is that the multi-storey and other carparks were built in the 1960's/70's and cars were not as large as some are now.. Look at garages for homes built in the 60's and you;ll find them quite small in comparison and that's the answer. Nothing sinister just thats the truth..


Reply ID 65379

21/07/2009 by Steve

Smaller spaces = more spaces = more revenue


Reply ID 65381

21/07/2009 by Woody

quote:
Originally posted by Marilyn
My car is not a huge 4x4 just a atandard estate
The assumption that 4x4's take up greater parking bay space by width appears untrue [:0], taking the small sample to compare below: Width of a Landrover Discovery 3 = 1915mm http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/land-rover-discovery3-range-1004039.html Width of a Mini Cooper = 1925mm http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/land-rover-discovery3-range-1004039.html Width of a Ford Mondeo Estate = 2078mm http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/land-rover-discovery3-range-1004039.html (the width is stated at the foot of each article)


Reply ID 65383

21/07/2009 by shunt

quote:
Originally posted by Steve
Smaller spaces = more spaces = more revenue
You could probably add to that:- Smaller unsupported structure between pillars+crude pre-stressed concrete technology=cheap build cost. I don't think the cars are getting bigger theory works. I have 1968 car which is 6'6" wide,(admittedly unusual), but even in an Escort MK1, a Herald, or a Scimitar, or any of the cars of the era, it would still be difficult to get out (and was, as I remember). The pillars are exactly in line with the space the doors of the car need to open into. If they had been further to the outside of the building or nearer the centre, there would be no problem. It's just a pitiful design error which should have resulted in legal action against the architect at the time, but probably didn't because some idiot approved the drawings.[V]


Reply ID 65391

21/07/2009 by night owl

Hi Woody I think that they have got the width,s wrong, I do not think that a mini is 10mm wider than a land rover discovery?


Reply ID 65393

21/07/2009 by Woody

quote:
Originally posted by night owl
Hi Woody I think that they have got the width,s wrong, I do not think that a mini is 10mm wider than a land rover discovery?
Maybe they have but I'm not going to go round with a tape-measure to double check.


Reply ID 65395

21/07/2009 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by Woody
quote:
Originally posted by night owl
Hi Woody I think that they have got the width,s wrong, I do not think that a mini is 10mm wider than a land rover discovery?
Maybe they have but I'm not going to go round with a tape-measure to double check.
You don't need to. You can check the spec on the Land Rover web site where the following dimesnions are given. Width with mirrors folded: 2009 Width with mirrors out: 2190 http://www.landrover.co.uk/gb/en/vehicles/discovery-3/features-and-specifications/technical-specifications.htm


Reply ID 65398

21/07/2009 by Woody

Lies . . . damn lies . . . and car statistics. [:I]


Reply ID 65434

22/07/2009 by Mr P

quote:
Originally posted by shunt
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
Smaller spaces = more spaces = more revenue
You could probably add to that:- Smaller unsupported structure between pillars+crude pre-stressed concrete technology=cheap build cost. I don't think the cars are getting bigger theory works. I have 1968 car which is 6'6" wide,(admittedly unusual), but even in an Escort MK1, a Herald, or a Scimitar, or any of the cars of the era, it would still be difficult to get out (and was, as I remember). The pillars are exactly in line with the space the doors of the car need to open into. If they had been further to the outside of the building or nearer the centre, there would be no problem. It's just a pitiful design error which should have resulted in legal action against the architect at the time, but probably didn't because some idiot approved the drawings.[V]
Feel free to offer me out on this, but isn't your car a USA import..? I seem to recal this from other posts. If so, much car-related activity must be tricky over here.[:)]


Reply ID 65441

22/07/2009 by shunt

quote:
Originally posted by Mr P
quote:
Originally posted by shunt
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
Smaller spaces = more spaces = more revenue
You could probably add to that:- Smaller unsupported structure between pillars+crude pre-stressed concrete technology=cheap build cost. I don't think the cars are getting bigger theory works. I have 1968 car which is 6'6" wide,(admittedly unusual), but even in an Escort MK1, a Herald, or a Scimitar, or any of the cars of the era, it would still be difficult to get out (and was, as I remember). The pillars are exactly in line with the space the doors of the car need to open into. If they had been further to the outside of the building or nearer the centre, there would be no problem. It's just a pitiful design error which should have resulted in legal action against the architect at the time, but probably didn't because some idiot approved the drawings.[V]
Feel free to offer me out on this, but isn't your car a USA import..? I seem to recal this from other posts. If so, much car-related activity must be tricky over here.[:)]
[:D]Not currently. The 6'6" vehicle to which I referred was built in Devon and is a two seater. I didn't ever expect to be able to park easily, or try to use public car parks in my Chevy trucks. I considered them commercial vehicles bought for a specialist task, rather than for shopping trips. I have parked all the cars that I used in my example in this car park in the past though (yes, I really am that ancient) and can confirm the problem was always as it is now.


14 replies