On Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:01:17 +0100, Nightjar wrote:

Parent and child bays are to protect *you*. Think about it - parent, 3
kids all piling out of the car, feet kicking against doors. Where do
you think the edge of that door goes? Yes - into a nice little dent on
*your* door.

If so, why are they nearest to the shop doors and not out of everybody
else's way on the far side of the car park?

Because otherwise they would ignore them.