Disabled parking badges are for the designated places NOT where the hell you like

[lilmissminx]

Really need a vent! Am sick to death of seeing cars parked in the parent and baby/toddler spaces just because they have a blue badge, and not a child in sight The other way around and you wouldn't hear the end of it about inconsiderate parents etc. I fully agree with the need for the disabled spaces etc, but I don't like having to choose between leaving my baby locked in the car to return the trolley (especially if out of sight) and him getting totally soaked etc if I take him with me.
Disclaimer This is made more annoying for the particular store I am referring to as there are only 2 parent spaces, and more than a dozen disabled badge holder ones. Yet because the parent ones are in between the two sets, they use those and leave all the other badge spaces empty.

[lohby]

You will be crucified for this post. Get it deleted.

[Empusa]

So you are angry because disabled people are using spaces which might be easier for them instead of letting able bodied people use them? Right.

[slartybartfast]

we have a friend , parent of dd's friend, with a blue badge who parks really inconsiderately, next to a road junction, making it really hard to come out of road, he says he can because of his blue badge status.

and there is nothign i can do about it i wouldnt want to fall out with him

[BreakOutTheKaraoke]

Actually I think cars with disabled badges are allowed to park wherever they like, including double yellow lines, as long as they are not causing an obstruction. At least according to my grandad! If there are empty spaces, then yes I agree they should use them, but otherwise I think its right they get priority.

[lilmissminx]

No because they have loads they can use that ARE empty, but will use these without thought. I take my Dad out with his wheelchair, and he brings his badge, but we park where we should. We don't take it as an excuse to do what we like.

[ZillionChocolate]

There's no legal entitlement to P&C spaces. Perhaps you should write to the store in order to outline the problem and perhaps suggest better signage/moving spaces around.

Yabu

[rhondajean]

YANBU. If it was other way round you would never hear the end of it. I know so many people with blue badges who are fitter than me too.

Greatest apologies to anyone reading who genuinely needs their badge. Its the misuse that annoys me not the system.

[slartybartfast]

actually i don't care about the mother and child parking side of the argument.

[lilmissminx]

Breakout - fully agree. I would never begrudge anyone when there isn't an option, but there are literally 6-10 empty badge space EVERY time. Obviously not at Xmas or anything, but on an average shopping trip.

[minsmum]

I think that the rules are that people with disabled badges are told to use the parent & child parking if no disabled spaces are available.

[gorionine]

I am pretty sure disabled people with a badge can actually park anywhere they want (so long as it is not the fast lane of the morway) legally.

[Empusa]

Has it occurred to you they may be using those spaces for a reason? Maybe they are closer to the store?

Aside from anything else, they can use parent and child spaces. Especially as p&c spaces are not a legal requirement, and are only there as goodwill by a store. Technically anyone could park in those spaces, it isn't likely to be enforceable. It's just good manners to leave them for people who need them more.

And, sorry to break this to you, but disability kind of trumps having kids in terms of need.

[Onemorning]

YABVVVU

Spaces for people with blue badges are a legal requirement, and parent and child places are a courtesy.

If you think the disabled parking spaces are placed wrongly, it might be worth speaking with the store manager.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

YABU and wrong, they do entitle people to park where they want.

[lilmissminx]

I'm not saying it trumps anything. As I explained, my Dad is a badge holder, and I take him out when he wants / needs but try to respect everyone not just use it as a pass to do as we please.

[ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin]

I'm going to start a campaign to ban P&C places. This will help with all the obesity problems that have surged since children stopped walking everywhere.
OP, the P&C places are obviously badly located if they are being used in preference to the disabled spots.

[Soupqueen]

Actually, I think blue badges do entitle the holder to park anywhere unless causing an obstruction.

[worraliberty]

I'm sorry but anyone who can't work out how to shop and get their children in and out of cars safely, shouldn't be bloody driving.

How do you think parents managed before supermarkets pandered to their every need?

If a disabled person needs the parking space then so be it.

And how do the moronic manage with children and shopping when there are no P&C spaces on offer at all?

[Kayano]

How many people ate jumping down OPs throat without readin. The damn thread?! Argh!!!!

1- she is not saying disabled people shouldn't get out of the house so the sarcy post is not needed
2- she is NOT saying p & c thake priority over blue badge holders, but that if there are disables spaces available they should use them and not p&c because she in turn can not use their spaces.

Why are they using p&c spaces anyway if disabled spaces are available? Disability should not mean try get to throw common courtesy outthe window surely?

[ShellyBoobs]

Disabled drivers take priority.

P+C spaces are just supermarkets' marketing ploys; if they didn't have them precious parents might spend their money elsewhere. They're not there because your having a baby requires the rest of the world to stop for you.

Your son is waterproof, he won't dissolve if he gets a bit wet. When I was small we were lucky if my mum could afford the bus fair when we went shopping. If not, we all had to walk.

YABU.

[Empusa]

They aren't using it as a pass to do as they please, they are using it as a pass to make their lives easier. Is that really so hard to understand?

They can park in P&C spaces, and I presume they are only parking in the P&C spaces as there is some advantage to them over the empty disabled bays. Which they are entitled to do.

Why should parents get access to better parking bays than disabled people?

[OracleInaCoracle]

Oh ffs