Chinese city debuts female-only parking spaces

Parking space outlined in pink with a sign saying "Women only." (Photo: Bandao Morning Post)

(ECNS) – A shopping mall in Northeast China's Dalian city has rolled out wider and bigger parking spaces for their female customers.

The spaces, outlined in hot pink with a sign saying, "Women only," are located by the road and close to the mall's entrances.

Mall manager Yang Xiangdong said the move is meant to make parking easier for female customers.

The pink parking spaces have stirred an online discussion. Most netizens call it sweet and considerate, as finding a parking spot has been made easier. Others say the move is patronizing, as it points to the stereotype that women are bad at driving.

Yang said the move has nothing to do with the stereotype, and that they'll add more spaces if needed.

Designating parking spaces for women isn't quite a new idea. In May, South Korea's Seoul spent $100 million on female-only parking spaces to promote safety and security for drivers.