‘Please be more considerate’: The photo that has Melbourne shoppers fuming

Finding a parking spot can be a challenge, especially in busy shopping centres, but some choices go beyond mere convenience and into outright disregard for others.

One Melbourne shopper recently exposed a parking incident that has ignited frustration online.

Many are now calling for stricter action against those who misuse accessible spaces.


Securing a parking spot at a shopping centre can be a test of patience, but some drivers take their search too far, disregarding rules meant to ensure accessibility for those who need it most.

A Melbourne shopper recently called out a motorist for their ‘inappropriate’ parking, sharing an image online to highlight the issue and spark a conversation about consideration in public spaces.

The photo showed a car parked in the middle of two designated accessible parking bays, blocking the space meant for safe entry and exit.


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Shopper slams driver for ‘inappropriate’ parking. Image source: Reddit


The post explained that these areas, officially known as Designated Accessible Parking Bays (DAPBs), are specifically designed to help people with disabilities access the community.

‘The DAPBs with two vehicle parking bays are separated by an area with painted hash lines on it and usually a large steel yellow pole to prevent vehicles entering. This is known as the shared area and no vehicles are to park there. This allows safe access to the vehicle and the community. The photo shows totally inappropriate parking,’ the user wrote.

They pointed out that while the vehicles in the DAPBs had the correct permits, the car in the shared area appeared to have been parked by someone who simply saw an open space and took it.

‘This prevented people who need more space to access their vehicles or the shops. Please be more considerate and think of others,’ they added.


The post resonated with many, with commenters expressing frustration over how common this issue had become.

‘Infuriating. My mum is in a wheelchair and having recently become her carer, I never realised how difficult it was to find accessible parking. There’s never enough spaces. And then there’s selfish twats like this to make it even harder for people,’ one person wrote.

Another shared a personal experience, admitting they once made a similar mistake but quickly changed their behaviour after learning why these spaces exist.

‘I’ve ridden motorbikes for a really long time and when I first started riding, I’d park wherever the hell I wanted to. When I parked in one of these striped sections once, someone came over to me and explained why they existed: to give the disabled space next to them room for wheelchairs and just to manage a big car often used for that. Totally changed my mindset and now I yell at other motorbikes and scooters (UberEats scooters are objectively the worst offenders) when they do it,’ they said.


Some were more direct about what they thought should happen to the driver.

‘I don’t vouch for towing a car, but this person deserves to get their car towed,’ one comment read.

‘Notify centre management and have them towed,’ another agreed.

Accessible parking bays are meant to provide ease of movement for those who require additional space, but when drivers ignore the rules, they make an already limited resource even scarcer.


In a previous story, another parking dispute made headlines when a driver didn’t take too kindly to a fine left on their vehicle.

Their reaction sparked debate over whether the penalty was justified or an overreach.

Read more about the heated exchange that had everyone talking.

Key Takeaways
  • A Melbourne shopper exposed a driver for parking in a shared area between two accessible bays, blocking essential space for people with disabilities.
  • The post explained the purpose of Designated Accessible Parking Bays (DAPBs) and how the shared area allows safe access, urging people to be more considerate.
  • Commenters expressed frustration, with some sharing personal experiences about the challenges of finding accessible parking and learning the importance of these spaces.
  • Many called for action against the driver, with some suggesting towing as a consequence for those who misuse accessible parking areas.

Parking etiquette can make a big difference, especially for those who rely on accessible spaces.

Have you ever encountered a situation like this at your local shopping centre?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
 

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Tow them no question, I was reading a post from the USA she said that keying is rife even this happens.
Not the answer but very tempting
 
I am no longer on Facebook however there are some Facebook sites in regards to taking a pic of car and locality and shame them by splashing the pic on Social media.. You are not naming them only showing a pic of their car. Some don't appreciate it but who cares, we don't appreciate the entitled twats thinking they are something special and don't have to abide by the rules like others.
 
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Reactions: jsan
They should have been towed away, charged, taken to Court and HEAVILY fined. Sick of these entitled mongrels.🤬
It is a very, very selfish act by the offender. Perhaps he didn’t even know what those yellow diagonal lines meant, but no excuse anyway.

Owners of ‘private property’ have NO AUTHORITY to fine anyone. Only police can do that and only in the event someone has been hurt as a result. Owners can REQUEST a person to move on, but even that cannot be enforced. It is up to the offender to agree to move their car.
 
I dislike when people with NO disabled parking stickers park in designated disabled parking spots, as they are too lazy to find another spot. Along comes a car with a disabled person and clearly displaying their sticker and they have to find somewhere else to park. These selfish drivers should remember that one day they will be old and perhaps have a disability and require one of these parking spots, but cannot get one because of selfish drivers. I feel so bad for persons with someone in a wheelchair, walkers, etc and cannot get a disabled parking spot. It is not good enough and these parking areas should be policed so that disabled
persons can get a spot to park.
 
same with what few senior parks there are if ny. Young people parking there. A lot of seniors don't qualify for disability, but that does not mean they can cope walking very far for all sorts of heath issues.
My husband recently had to have a word with the trolley boy, he was sitting in his car having his lunch in a seniors bay !!!
 
I dislike when people with NO disabled parking stickers park in designated disabled parking spots, as they are too lazy to find another spot. Along comes a car with a disabled person and clearly displaying their sticker and they have to find somewhere else to park. These selfish drivers should remember that one day they will be old and perhaps have a disability and require one of these parking spots, but cannot get one because of selfish drivers. I feel so bad for persons with someone in a wheelchair, walkers, etc and cannot get a disabled parking spot. It is not good enough and these parking areas should be policed so that disabled
persons can get a spot to park.
Do what I do put a note under the wipers ,with = This is a disabled park you A/hole next time you will be towed away .you don’t have to be polite to these selfish people.
 
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Reactions: Veggiepatch
same with what few senior parks there are if ny. Young people parking there. A lot of seniors don't qualify for disability, but that does not mean they can cope walking very far for all sorts of heath issues.
Unfortunately it is just a courtesy to supply pram and senior parking. It is not like the disability parking which is law. No sticker no parking
 
Unfortunately it is just a courtesy to supply pram and senior parking. It is not like the disability parking which is law. No sticker no parking
I always thought the pram ones were legal until I came on SDC 2years ago and found they weren’t, now I will Parkin one occasionally when no disabled parks available, after all having a baby doesn’t make you unable to walkabout.
 
jsan you re so right Disabled parking area is definitely “ FAIR GAME “ and like you
When I called the council we were not as lucky as you where you had the infringement form
To fill out.. I was told “ next time phone us and we will send someone down “ what is the point
When the driver is likely to have driven off by the time the Council Sheriff decides to get there?
I did offer photographs which needless to say was a waste of time .
“ DISABLED PARKING “. does not mean a thing to some people .
 
jsan you re so right Disabled parking area is definitely “ FAIR GAME “ and like you
When I called the council we were not as lucky as you where you had the infringement form
To fill out.. I was told “ next time phone us and we will send someone down “ what is the point
When the driver is likely to have driven off by the time the Council Sheriff decides to get there?
I did offer photographs which needless to say was a waste of time .
“ DISABLED PARKING “. does not mean a thing to some people .
They are selfish lazy people,no consideration for the disabled, one day they may be in the same position and realise what their actions did to others. One can only hope.
 
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Reactions: Veggiepatch
Same old thing, see it often at our local shopping centre. Some do have bollards to stop people going it to these extra space areas. The other thing is the shopping centres never book people. Our centre has big signs saying the carpark is not theirs. (If that makes sense) Its all a bit too much sometimes.
 
Lost count of the number of times l see people with no children park in spots for mother's and babies.
I am one of those people. I looked and looked for a free disabled park. There were 20 spots for YOUNG mums and 6 for disabled. There was no choice for me than to park in a YOUNG mum's spot. Nothing stopping them from walking further, and, no real reason why there are so many of their spots so close to the shops.
 
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Reactions: Kevin. A.

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