Women-only parking bays spark gender row on Twitter as people say they’re sexist to men
The bays are well lit and nearby the security post so women can feel safer when returning to their cars alone
PARKING bays for women only have caused outrage on Twitter for being sexist towards men.
The well-lit area near a security post was designated to women by Bolton council to help make them feel safer when returning to their cars alone.
Although installed by the council in the Bow Street multi-storey car park back in 2002, pictures of the bays went viral over the weekend after being posted by Twitter user Josh Woogs in an account that has now been suspended.
While many replies to the post included sexist jokes about women's ability to park, some men were concerned about double standards, saying men-only parking bays would be unacceptable.
The main concern, however, was the seeming disregard of males being vulnerable to attacks too.
Stereotyping was also raised, with men saying that they're expected to be strong and able to fend off both male and female attackers.
Many also claimed that men are more prone to violent assaults than women.
The brunt of the argument started when Andrea Davies - a Twitter user from Wales - asked whether men would prefer if their partners had to walk to a "dark unmanned part of the car park".
To which Edinburgh-based Freddie White said: "Andrea if you think it's only woman who are attacked then you are part of the problem.
"Many men have been attacked by men and woman. To say it's only men who do this is completely ridiculous, and imagine the outrage at a men only space. Both men and woman should feel safe."
Another posted: "Equality when it suits, so contradictory".
Meanwhile, one women said the bays were an "excellent idea" and that more places should adopt the initiative.
Other posts questioned why the entire car park was not well lit to protect all people, rather just women in particular.
The need for equality was summed up by one Twitter user @shg1964, who said: "I would love my wife to park here in safety... I'm pretty sure that she would like me to park there in safety too... #Equality".