About time parking bays were made wider!

[Boxster5]

I’ve been saying this for a long time but nothing seems to get done.
As cars are much bigger than the 1970’s when the current regulations were enforced, why on Earth have these not been increased to reflect the increase in size.
I cringe when I go to our local retail park and watch incompetent drivers of all ages (but predominantly elderly of both sexes) who struggle to drive into a space - woe betide them if they try to reverse! There are the exceptions to the rule but it is absolutely shocking how incompetent drivers are.
I have just been today and reversed into a space (which I always do - I’m a decent driver and use both mirrors, sensors & reversing camera - it’s not difficult). I sat in the car whilst my wife popped in and this elderly couple came back to their VW Passat next door to ours and bang, his door hits the front passenger door. I jump out to confront him and he says “I said sorry” which I’d find hard to hear since I was inside. His wife pipes up “accidents will happen” to which I exploded saying “show some respect. Let’s hope this teaches you a lesson when you park here in future”.
I am paranoid about parking here but needs must - I always pull the car out to let my wife in rather than risk the door hitting something but unfortunately not everyone is as considerate as me.
Unbelievably, after inspecting the door panel there was no damage which is hard to believe after the bang it made. If it had been our BMW, I can guarantee there would have been a dent.

[Dingu]

You’ll then have people complaining about fewer spaces and not being able to park.

[Cockaigne]

or don't make cars so stupidly massive?

[oldaudi]

I wouldn’t worry about it. The councils are doing their best to remove parking spaces , I suspect In a few years the size of the space will not be the main concern. Finding one will be the problem

[Cylon2007]

Cockaigne said:

or don't make cars so stupidly massive?

This, make cars smaller instead

[Grumps.]

Boxster5 said:

I’ve been saying this for a long time but nothing seems to get done.
As cars are much bigger than the 1970’s when the current regulations were enforced, why on Earth have these not been increased to reflect the increase in size.
I cringe when I go to our local retail park and watch incompetent drivers of all ages (but predominantly elderly of both sexes) who struggle to drive into a space - woe betide them if they try to reverse! There are the exceptions to the rule but it is absolutely shocking how incompetent drivers are.
I have just been today and reversed into a space (which I always do - I’m a decent driver and use both mirrors, sensors & reversing camera - it’s not difficult). I sat in the car whilst my wife popped in and this elderly couple came back to their VW Passat next door to ours and bang, his door hits the front passenger door. I jump out to confront him and he says “I said sorry” which I’d find hard to hear since I was inside. His wife pipes up “accidents will happen” to which I exploded saying “show some respect. Let’s hope this teaches you a lesson when you park here in future”.
I am paranoid about parking here but needs must - I always pull the car out to let my wife in rather than risk the door hitting something but unfortunately not everyone is as considerate as me.
Unbelievably, after inspecting the door panel there was no damage which is hard to believe after the bang it made. If it had been our BMW, I can guarantee there would have been a dent.

What car were you in?

Your Boxster?

[Boxster5]

Cylon2007 said:

Cockaigne said:

or don't make cars so stupidly massive?

This, make cars smaller instead

I totally agree but I think they initially increased in size to account for increased safety zones. Now it’s due to the fact they need to carry massive battery packs around in the case of EV’s. Think Porsche Taycan or Audi eTron which are stupidly massive - the first time I thought that was when the Audi Q7 was introduced - it doesn’t even fit in a normal space.
My wife’s previous car was a BMW 4 series Gran Coupe (not a “massive” car in the grand scheme of things). She has dodgy joints and what made it difficult is the depth of the door pockets especially if you’re in a normal parking space with a car next to you. Ended up getting rid of it (much to my displeasure) and now have a Formentor which is higher up but easier access with narrower door pockets.

[Fermit]

Our local Lidl, which was built circa two years ago, has wider spaces than historic ones.

[Boxster5]

Grumps. said:

Boxster5 said:

I’ve been saying this for a long time but nothing seems to get done.
As cars are much bigger than the 1970’s when the current regulations were enforced, why on Earth have these not been increased to reflect the increase in size.
I cringe when I go to our local retail park and watch incompetent drivers of all ages (but predominantly elderly of both sexes) who struggle to drive into a space - woe betide them if they try to reverse! There are the exceptions to the rule but it is absolutely shocking how incompetent drivers are.
I have just been today and reversed into a space (which I always do - I’m a decent driver and use both mirrors, sensors & reversing camera - it’s not difficult). I sat in the car whilst my wife popped in and this elderly couple came back to their VW Passat next door to ours and bang, his door hits the front passenger door. I jump out to confront him and he says “I said sorry” which I’d find hard to hear since I was inside. His wife pipes up “accidents will happen” to which I exploded saying “show some respect. Let’s hope this teaches you a lesson when you park here in future”.
I am paranoid about parking here but needs must - I always pull the car out to let my wife in rather than risk the door hitting something but unfortunately not everyone is as considerate as me.
Unbelievably, after inspecting the door panel there was no damage which is hard to believe after the bang it made. If it had been our BMW, I can guarantee there would have been a dent.

What car were you in?

Your Boxster?

No “luckily” my wife’s 5 month old Formentor (although someone did once ride over my Boxster scuffing the entire front bumper - clearly didn’t see it as it so low!)

[Boxster5]

Fermit said:

Our local Lidl, which was built circa two years ago, has wider spaces than historic ones.

Costco is the only safe place to park….

[Boxster5]

oldaudi said:

I wouldn’t worry about it. The councils are doing their best to remove parking spaces , I suspect In a few years the size of the space will not be the main concern. Finding one will be the problem

Not actually a bad thing in my view - why can’t they all be the size of the “parent & child spaces”? Of course that would probably finish all of the dent removal companies in one fell swoop!
Councils don’t give a monkey’s about car owners - don’t get me started on highways engineers again….

[leef44]

Boxster5 said:

Cylon2007 said:

Cockaigne said:

or don't make cars so stupidly massive?

This, make cars smaller instead

I totally agree but I think they initially increased in size to account for increased safety zones. Now it’s due to the fact they need to carry massive battery packs around in the case of EV’s. Think Porsche Taycan or Audi eTron which are stupidly massive - the first time I thought that was when the Audi Q7 was introduced - it doesn’t even fit in a normal space.
My wife’s previous car was a BMW 4 series Gran Coupe (not a “massive” car in the grand scheme of things). She has dodgy joints and what made it difficult is the depth of the door pockets especially if you’re in a normal parking space with a car next to you. Ended up getting rid of it (much to my displeasure) and now have a Formentor which is higher up but easier access with narrower door pockets.

It's what the consumer wants even if the driver does not want it. The passengers are used to having bigger space and many drivers who don't really care about cars just comfort. It's a bit like going to cinema with big seats and room for your legs then you never go back to a tight one.

So after safety then battery, we are not going to get smaller cars.

My local Tesco parking is so tight I use door defenders

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doordefender-removable-pr...

[Grumps.]

oldaudi said:

I wouldn’t worry about it. The councils are doing their best to remove parking spaces , I suspect In a few years the size of the space will not be the main concern. Finding one will be the problem

I think most retail parks are privately owned.

[Boxster5]

Grumps. said:

oldaudi said:

I wouldn’t worry about it. The councils are doing their best to remove parking spaces , I suspect In a few years the size of the space will not be the main concern. Finding one will be the problem

I think most retail parks are privately owned.

The problem is the Government planning regulations - just like modern housing estates that have “garages” that a car can’t even fit in (so everyone clutters the estate with cars parked on driveways, roads & pavements) - it’s easy for a family to have 4 cars once little Tarquin & Tabitha “need” a car.
Why is nothing happening?

[djc206]

Cylon2007 said:

Cockaigne said:

or don't make cars so stupidly massive?

This, make cars smaller instead

The size of modern cars is a common complaint on here but last month I was in the Franschhoek motor museum admiring all the lovely old vehicles they have in the collection and the thing that struck me about most them was their sheer size. Massively wide, far longer than any modern vehicles and with huge wheels. Everything pistonheads hates. Large cars are not a modern phenomenon and we shouldn’t long for the days of woefully inadequate crash protection and small load spaces in order to solve an issue that’s far easier to solve with a tin of paint.

[Grumps.]

That would only remove one car per house wouldn’t it, with potentially three still needing parking space.

The government isn’t to blame for everything.

[jeremyh1]

why do people in the UK need big cars anyway . They all drive hatchbacks in France and they have more ground to cover than us

[CraigyMc]

jeremyh1 said:

why do people in the UK need big cars anyway . They all drive hatchbacks in France and they have more ground to cover than us

They only retreat anyway.

[Pica-Pica]

Basildon Town car park had its bay width increased back in early part of this millenium.

[bloomen]

Weight is another one.

Most multi storeys were built when the average car was around a ton or under.

Filling one to the brim with 2.5-3 tonners may not make it too happy.