CARPARK lots for the disabled? Check.

Lots for VIPs? Check.

Lots for families? For women with children? For women only?

Yes, there are, in at least four commercial buildings, a Straits Times check has uncovered.

Century Square in Tampines has six parking lots, located close to the lift lobby on the first storey and marked by pink banners, reserved for women with children below the age of 10.

These are barricaded, so women drivers need to get a carpark attendant, stationed at an office next to the lots, to give them access to the lots.

This privilege, coupled with other facilities such as hotel-standard ladies' restrooms, is in line with Century Square's positioning as a ladies-biased mall.

Not that male drivers do not try to use these reserved lots.

Said carpark attendant Fauziah Abu Othman, 50, who is in charge of the lots from 9am to 10pm: 'It's not easy to keep track during peak hours. Sometimes, there are drivers who just move these barriers down themselves and park there even though they're not supposed to.

'There are also times when I'm not quick enough to place the barriers upright after a driver leaves. Drivers without children then quickly use this chance to park their vehicles in these lots.'

Furama Riverfront Hotel sets aside seven lots for women out of its 278 lots. They are conspicuously painted pink with logos which clearly demarcate them from the usual lots.

Ms Daphne Sim, assistant marketing communications manager at Furama, said: 'The location is convenient and they only have to walk up the ramp to reach the entrance to the hotel lobby.'

She added: 'It is also less tiring for women, especially when they are in heels.'

And if a man decides to park in the pink lot, 'we just tell him nicely that they are meant for ladies only', Ms Sim said.

'It has been well-received. Some women feel safer parking nearer to the entrance and men are fine with it as only a few lots have been taken up.'

Furniture retailer Ikea has lots reserved for families at its two outlets in Alexandra Road and in Tampines. It makes no distinction between male and female drivers.

The reserved lots are located nearer the entrance, and bigger than the normal lots to help parents, especially those with young children, load and unload bulky prams more easily.

Event organiser Mary Tan, 42, appreciates the family-friendly effort. 'It's better to have bigger lots. It prevents parents from accidentally scratching neighbouring cars when they unload prams.'

While Ikea's family lots got the thumbs up, some ask why the other two buildings make it a point to cater to female drivers.

Company director Abdullah Othman, 42, said: 'It's neither very relevant nor practical. If you're talking about families, especially those with elderly parents, then it would be a good idea.'

His wife, part-time lecturer Roselinah Rasiman, 39, agreed, saying: 'I can see the reason behind the family lots at Ikea but I can't say the same for these ladies-only lots.'

Prisons officer Amir Johar, 36, said Century Square's lots 'should also include men who come here with children'.

The mall's general manager, Ms Stephanie Ho, said: 'Although these lots are primarily reserved for women with children, the management does make exceptions for men with young children.'

A spokesman for the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) said parking lots should be family-friendly, rather than just women-friendly.

The spokesman also said carparks should be made safer for women drivers. Apart from locating such lots closer to lift lobbies, there should be good lighting, clear visibility and closed-circuit television cameras in place to ensure the safety of female drivers.

'There is no need for reserved lots near lift lobbies if the carpark has the above features. Even if they have to walk a little farther to get to the lift lobbies, they would not feel their safety is being compromised,' she said.