Ah, the good old days.
When people would talk to each other instead of text. When if you missed a show on TV, you actually missed it. When picking up the milk meant bending down to get a glass bottle off your doorstep. And when your mom, kids in tow, used to walk a couple of miles to the store and back for groceries.
The latter of those yawns into yesteryear popped up this week on the Richmond News’ Facebook page (that’s a virtual page, not a real one, made of paper).
It was in the context of a Richmond dad of a newborn, lamenting the loss of parent/child and disabled parking spots near the entrance to Superstore on No. 3 Road, in favour of express pick-up online customers.
After the new father contacted the News, Loblaws, Superstore’s owner, reversed the parking spot removal, blaming it on “contractor error.”
However, it sparked an interesting online debate about the merits and justifications of preferential parking spots at big box stores and shopping malls.
Indeed, the opinions expressed on the News’ Facebook page varied widely.
There was rage at the loss of disabled spots and there were some questioning whether siblings of those with disabled decals should be allowed to use the spaces.
There were a few saying it was perfectly legitimate to have wider spots, near the entrance, for new parents and expectant moms.
And then there was the one who guffawed at the mere suggestion of parent/child priority parking and harkened back to when his mother used to hike with the little ones for miles to get the weekly supplies.
Fair play. I’m also guilty of dipping into the “when I was your age” story archive on occasion.
Double-bagging it, on a school day, as an 11-year-old newspaper delivery boy, at 6 a.m. — into the teeth of a west coast of Scotland wind/rain storm — is a particular favourite.
But we also used to think our planet was flat and used to shove 10-year-olds up chimneys with a brush.
Neither were correct. And I think, and sincerely hope, we’ve moved on a tad.
So if a soon-to-be mother, who is showing signs of being ready to give the gift of life, or a new parent could benefit from a wider parking spot a little closer to a store or mall entrance…so be it.
As for the disabled spots, well, that’s a no-brainer and I can’t entertain any arguments to the contrary.
If some are abusing that privilege, I guess it’s a small price to pay for the ones who genuinely need it.
It all boils down to the “haves” and “have nots.”
I am NOT expecting a child. I do NOT have a newborn or toddler and, thankfully, do NOT have a physical disability.
Therefore, I do NOT need a preferential parking spot and have no issue with those that do.
