Expectant Mother Parking (tornado, live, prices)

[Jake Ryan]

Has anyone been to the Harris Teeter lately and seen the "Expectant Mother parking" or "Mother with Child Parking"? What are the rules for these spaces? I know it's not anything legal like the Handicapped spaces, but there should be an unwritten rule right?

My wife is pregnant and due in June. We went to the Harris Teeter yesterday and there was one last "Expectant Mother" spot and a older gentleman by himself, I checked to make sure there was nobody else in the car with him, parked at the spot and ran in to the store. This left me having to let my wife off at the front, since we were in tornado conditions, and me walking from the end of the lot to the store.

Not a big deal or anything just a minor inconvenience (frankly I need the exercise). Since Harris Teeter was thoughtful enough to set these spot aside for people I think people should obey them right?

[Doorway]

Originally Posted by Jake Ryan

Has anyone been to the Harris Teeter lately and seen the "Expectant Mother parking" or "Mother with Child Parking"? What are the rules for these spaces? I know it's not anything legal like the Handicapped spaces, but there should be an unwritten rule right?

My wife is pregnant and due in June. We went to the Harris Teeter yesterday and there was one last "Expectant Mother" spot and a older gentleman by himself, I checked to make sure there was nobody else in the car with him, parked at the spot and ran in to the store. This left me having to let my wife off at the front, since we were in tornado conditions, and me walking from the end of the lot to the store.

Not a big deal or anything just a minor inconvenience (frankly I need the exercise). Since Harris Teeter was thoughtful enough to set these spot aside for people I think people should obey them right?

My husband thinks they should put aside spots for "middle Aged Bald Men" parking. We've come up with a few others as well. I agree, people should honor the intention of Teeters good deed, however, for the prices they charge, they should offer free valet parking to people in need of it so that others don't have to park a block away. Just a thought. Everyone wins!!!

[Seattlemom]

That's horrible that anyone would park in that spot that wasn't pregnant! I would have called him out on it! I have seen people park in those spots and point out to them - you know that spot is for pregnant women.
There are some shopping centers in Seattle that have family parking for mothers or fathers with young children. I, myself, have 2 young babes. I have gone to park in a spot & seen a perfectly able body person take a family parking spot and of course no children. I rolled the window down and told them that spot for was mothers with children. They acted like on I didn't see the big sign above the spot. Gotcha

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Doorway

My husband thinks they should put aside spots for "middle Aged Bald Men" parking. We've come up with a few others as well. I agree, people should honor the intention of Teeters good deed, however, for the prices they charge, they should offer free valet parking to people in need of it so that others don't have to park a block away. Just a thought. Everyone wins!!!

Sadly, people don't always honor parking restrictions that are not backed up w/ the teeth of an ordinance. Yes, you would think this would matter to most people . . . and people would honor it as a courtesy to pregnant women and women w/ small children . . . but some people just don't care. And I doubt the manager of the store is gonna say much b/c the parking is for customers and simply relies on a courtesy system from customers. Maybe the old dude thought he was as infirm as a pregnant mom so he was due the courtesy that day.

[joanchris2000]

So many people don't honor Handicapped parking, where it is possible to get ticketed and fined, I've seen this MANY times, especially when someone is "just running in" somewhere. Where DD's doctors office was in CT there were only 2 spots on that end of the lot, but right in front of the 2 spots was a Package Mailing center AND a bank, I can't count how many times I was looking for a spot (dd uses a wheelchair), there were none, so I just hung out nearby for a few mins....sure enough almost EVERY time some able bodied person would come jogging out of one of those locations and hop into their car and be gone.
It is unfortunate that people don't pay attention the the signs. I hope everyone faired well in the rain and wind yesterday. Unfortunately there are rude people everywhere

[GirlTravels]

Being 9 months pregnant with twins, I have learned that those expectant mother spots are like gold!!!!!

I would have knocked on the guy's window and and pointed to my gigantic belly!!!

GT

[Doorway]

Originally Posted by GirlTravels

Being 9 months pregnant with twins, I have learned that those expectant mother spots are like gold!!!!!

I would have knocked on the guy's window and and pointed to my gigantic belly!!!

GT

He probably would have said "hey, I didn't do it". Anyone who would park in a spot designated for someone in need is a real jerk. Plain and simple.

[anifani821]

Well, I am sorry . . . have to interject something here.

The parking places are a courtesy. If someone chooses to take that space then yelling at the person who did it, writing a nasty note, whatever - seems totally tacky and uncalled for. Just my opinion. Let's suppose that person lives alone, has recently had surgery or is infirm in some way and can't walk well . . . now really . . . maybe he/she needs a close spot to go run an errand that is physically challenging.

I think it is a really nice gesture for managers of retail establishments to set aside parking spaces for moms to be or even for moms w/ small kids. But it is still "first come, first serve" and if five moms w/ kids or three women who are preggers show up at the same time . . . someone is still outta that coveted spot.

I will tell you . . . the first time I saw or found out about an altercation in my parking lot, if I were a manager of one of those stores, I would take the sign down and forget about the courtesy parking designation.

Getting all hyped and ugly and causing a nasty exchange in a parking lot over a parking space . . . now really . . . isn't that pretty ridiculous???? Who the heck would do that? The same people who sit down on their horns at traffic signals? The same people who yell out their windows at other drivers? Come on, people.

I agree it is not thoughtful when someone takes those designated parking spaces but really . . . escalating it into a shouting match or accosting someone and making an issue out of it . . . come on.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by Jake Ryan

Since Harris Teeter was thoughtful enough to set these spot aside for people I think people should obey them right?

That has as much possibility of happening as having people obey stop signs.

[superk]

For what it's worth, since my wife is disabled, we of course, use the designated handicap parking spaces when they are available. However, when I'm doing something by myself, since I'm healthy and don't have any problems walking, I will avoid the spots that are up front or nearest to the doors. I think about other people I know who don't qualify for handicap parking, but may be pregnant or be dealing with diabetes or arthritis, and maybe need to walk as little as possible.

My pet peeve is with those individuals who park in the fire lanes along the curbs directly in front of the stores with impunity.