Parking at shopping centres can be a hassle at the best of times, but for Australians with disabilities, it can be a downright nightmare.

A recent incident at a shopping centre highlighted a serious issue that many may overlook.

However, it's a daily struggle for those with mobility challenges that can't be ignored.

A Sydney local named Nadine expressed frustration over the ‘poorly designed’ disabled parking bays at the Castle Towers Shopping Centre.

This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it's a glaring problem for anyone who relies on wheelchairs, walkers, or crutches to get around.

The issue came to a head when Nadine's sister attempted to pick her up from the shopping centre.

The more expansive disabled parking spaces were taken, leaving only three cramped spots available.

Sydney resident Nadine showed three cramped parking spots at the Castle Towers Shopping Centre. Image Credit: Facebook/Nadine

Nadine—who’s temporarily disabled due to injuries—could not get into the passenger side of the car on her crutches.

‘She had to drive out of the park for me to get in as they were tight,’ Nadine shared.

Upon closer inspection, these disabled spots were an afterthought—squeezed into a cramped area just to meet legal requirements.

The spots also had a trolley collection point, with trolleys often spilling into the bays, narrowing the limited space further.

When Nadine shared photos of the parking spots with ‘no care factor’ on social media, many others echoed her dismay with the parking spots.

‘I’m struggling very badly with spaces like this as I cannot get my wheelchair out,’ one wrote.

‘[They're] completely inaccessible for those of us with mobility aids.’

While some argued that these spaces were better than others, 'better' is not enough regarding accessibility.

Craig Brown, the General Manager of Castle Towers, responded to the concerns Nadine and other shoppers echoed.

He emphasised that accessibility was ‘incredibly important’ for the centre and boasted about 96 dedicated accessible parking spaces.

‘Our accessible parking spaces are marked and sized in accordance with Australian Standards to provide adequate space for people with disabilities to move safely in and out of their cars,’ he stated.

‘Our car parks are regularly patrolled by our dedicated security team along with our car park management contractor to ensure spaces are kept clear of obstructions and only utilised by customers displaying a valid disability parking permit.’

However, Nadine's experience is not an isolated incident.

She highlighted the frequent misuse of disabled parking spots by people without permits and the obstacles created by cluttered yellow crisscrossed areas next to larger mobility parking bays.

Delivery vehicles parking over the extra space and the casual abuse of these spots add to the daily challenges faced by disabled individuals.

Retired paralympic swimmer and president of People with Disability Australia Marayke Jonkers confirmed this is an Australia-wide problem.

‘For people with disabilities, we get used to these things, and that's not right,’ Jonkers stated.

‘There's also a big role for the community to play—allowing parking spaces that are accessible to remain that way.’

In related news, a ute occupied three parking slots in Melbourne—one of which is a dedicated parking spot for disabled drivers and passengers.

Social media users and residents expressed anger towards the practice, which led to calls for restrictions and special licence tests for drivers of oversized vehicles.

Key Takeaways

• A Sydney resident criticised the design of disabled parking bays at Castle Towers Shopping Centre, describing them as ‘poorly designed’ and too cramped for users with mobility aids.
• She highlighted the issue with trolleys and obstructions in the disabled parking bays, emphasising the broader challenges disabled people face in finding adequate parking.
• Castle Towers' management responded that they adhere to Australian standards for accessible parking and that they have security measures in place.
• People with Disability Australia president Marayke Jonkers stressed the nationwide problem of inadequate disabled parking and the community's role in meeting the needs of people with disabilities.

Have you had the same struggles while parking in public places? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

 

[tabbycat2505]

some shopping centres have the disabled parking bay next to the shoppig trolly return bays leaving more room for the trolleys to end up in the disabled parking bays by unthinking shoppers.Also a lot of disabled parking bays are being replaced with the red people with babys insignia,also fellow sopping motorists seem to speed up when you are attempting to exit a disabled bay,Disabled bays always seem to be designed in a way that you have to reverse out in ,of course one of the busiest areas of the shopping centre namely close to the entrance for the disabled persons convenience,which is very good if felllow motorists were understanding of the presence of the disabled bays and more thoughtful of the situation,but of course everybody is in a hurry.I went to a local hospital here in Queensland once and they had disabled bays that you drove forward to get in to and then were able to drive forward to exit,what a pleasant surprise.Maybe shoppng centres could take a leaf out of that book Regards Bernard

 

[Jeffroo]

A few years ago I drove into a small shopping centre to drop my dog of for his monthly grooming. The car parks were very full.
I have an authority to use disabled parking.
When I approached the disability parking with had 3 parks this truck was parked side ways across all three disabled parks,just sitting there. So I had to park on the street which was a far hike back for me. I went into dog shop and 2 men were in there,so I asked them about truck. Which they replied Oh we had a heavy item to deliver. I said but your parked across 3 disabled parks preventing disabled people from parking so they can do their shopping. They said they won't be long. I said it's been parked there for over 30 minutes can't one of you just move it. Yes when we finnish. I said your illegality parked. They just didn't care. So I put my dog in and left.
One of them followed me and was trying to wind me up,By saying I was nothing but a winger. By then both men were there,trying to wind me up. So I left them feeling intimated by them. That truck stayed there for another 20 minutes.
Go figger.

 

[PattiB]

I’ve noticed that at most of the supermarkets near me have their disabled spots placed so that you reverse out into a thoroughfare with cars racing by. It seems to be very unfair on those with a disability. I don’t think that whoever plans these places ever consider the problems that a lot of people have as a lot of people on walkers, crutches etc can still drive safely but don’t have nerves of steel to deal with ignorant drivers & pedestrians. I am not disabled so have no need of these spaces but a few of my friends do & some refuse to use them because they don’t feel safe.

 

[Arkycray]

I live in a country town and nearly everyone has a 4 X 4 something. The current need is buy the largest you can get. These vehicles need at least 2 normal parkings spaces and to confuse other parkers, some are 5M long and over 2M high and 2.3M wide. So they are too large for the OZZ standard parking bay apart from being over 5M long and stick out. The size also means that when they throw the door open the car parked next to where these behemoths park get damages to windows, roof, mirror and other high areas. Then you find that you can't get in your car due to nearly 4 tonne of metal next to you.

 

[marni]

A few years ago I drove into a small shopping centre to drop my dog of for his monthly grooming. The car parks were very full.
I have an authority to use disabled parking.
When I approached the disability parking with had 3 parks this truck was parked side ways across all three disabled parks,just sitting there. So I had to park on the street which was a far hike back for me. I went into dog shop and 2 men were in there,so I asked them about truck. Which they replied Oh we had a heavy item to deliver. I said but your parked across 3 disabled parks preventing disabled people from parking so they can do their shopping. They said they won't be long. I said it's been parked there for over 30 minutes can't one of you just move it. Yes when we finnish. I said your illegality parked. They just didn't care. So I put my dog in and left.
One of them followed me and was trying to wind me up,By saying I was nothing but a winger. By then both men were there,trying to wind me up. So I left them feeling intimated by them. That truck stayed there for another 20 minutes.
Go figger.

Should have taken a photo and sent to Snap Send Solve. The police would be most interested

 

[BellaB18]

Due toy disabilities, l am no longer driving. My husband and l find there is really not enough disabiled parking spots where we shop. It is a small centre and has eleven disabled spots. There are more elderly people who shop there and need the disabled spots. We have found on a Sunday a lot of cars park in the spots with no disabled tags on display. That really makes me cross. I have great difficulty walking. I use a walker and by the time we have done the shopping l am in agony so if we have a long walk l am bent over the walker, and struggling.
And yes normal sized parking bays are not wide enough for people with disability to climb in and out of a car. We only have a small hatchback and l find it very difficult to get in and out of the car trying to never hit another car. When we are lucky enough to get a disabled spot l always say thanks.
Please think twice before taking a disabled spot if you are not disabled. One never knows what is around the corner for any of us one day you might need the disabled spot.

Kind regards to all Vicki

 

[Cheviegirl]

Yes I have, many times To get in our car I need the door fully open. So many times someone has parked so close I cannot get in. So hubby has to back out so I can get in, that means we are parked over the roadway which is dangerous. So many people are just thoughtless, also as well I find lately I have waited outside a disabled toilet & then find the person that comes out is a very abled person lately it has been younger guys in their work clothes so they are not disabled. Why do they do it? So many times this has happened.

 

[Wendyfraser]

It’s so frustrating when the few disabled bays are full, and when there’s no disabled sticker on the car. We need more designated disabled parking spaces.