why do we get so het up over parent and child parking spaces?

[misdee]

when mieow posted the other day about diabled spaces she didnt get as many replies than if the bay she was after was a parent and child space. why is it so important in the grand scheme of things?

am not wanting an argurment but wondering why?

[PrettyCandles]

Probably a simple matter of numbers - far fewer of us are likely to actively look at Special Needs threads than at general Chat or Other Subjects threads.

[expatinscotland]

Don't know, misdee. They don't have 'parent & child' bays in my native country (as least they didn't when I left 3 years ago), so I'm used to doing without them.

[flamesparrow]

I didn't go into the disabled space thread as I felt I probably didn't have anything relevant to say, not using them etc... I didn't want to say something that sounded really patronising.

[Fran1]

Didn't see the thread and like flamesparrow, as i am not a "user" of disabled spaces wouldn't feel as though i could contribute.

Also, i think disabled spaces are probably far more respected than p&t's rightly so.

Sorry for mieow if she had a horrible experience.

[Twiglett]

I actually think the difference is that parent and child are an 'honour system' there are no real measures you can take against those who abuse the system

Disabled spaces however are not. It is illegal and plain wrong to park in one. There is no debate to be had, nor as many shared experiences to be related. It is just plain abhorrent to ever park in a disabled bay

also time of post is a factor (I didn't see the post myself)

[Twiglett]

oh and she posted under SN, and you need a bullet-proof vest to reply there

[Bugsy2]

Not sure really. There always seem to be sooooooo many disabled spaces (my perception, I'm sure if you're disabled that's not true) and so few mums & kids spaces.
I suppose it is just such an obvious injustice and we're a fairly passionate lot, when it comes to making our lives even more difficult than it needs to be!

[Lonelymum]

It has always struck me that there must be far more people shopping with toddlers or babies than there are disabled people shopping, so I never understand why there are less parent places provided. Also, where I shop, there are always loads of empty disabled spaces so I don't think parking is a problem for disabled people (but I bet they would say otherwise!)

That said, I have a confession to make: for nine years I have been legitimately using parent spaces but yesterday, I drove up and parked in one and it wasn't until I was walking away from the car that I realised I didn't have a toddler with me, only my two oldest boys - too old to qualify for special parking places. Oops!

[SoupDragon]

I think P&T spaces are abused more than disabled. Also, people might not know what a P&T space is whereas there's absolutly no excuse for not knowing what a disabled space is.

[Twiglett]

I think there's a difference though LM - if a parent with a toddler can't find a P&T space then they can make do with another space (inconvenient but not too bad).

If a person needing a disabled bay cannot find a disabled space then they MAY have to abandon their trip

[Lonelymum]

Oh yes absolutely, I agree. I didn't see Mieow's thread either so perhaps I should read it first?

[sparklymieow]

I didn't feel unsupported, was just dissussing the pratt who park in the disabled bay on wednesday or thursday (brain has gone to mush this week) with Misdee and wondered why people get hett up about P&T. Was looking at all the cars parked in morrisons in the disabled bays without a badge.....

[misdee]

i'm gonna print out the little leaflets on disability now site.

dh has had to abdonan trips b4 now as he couldnt get a space near where he needed to go. drives him mad. and there isnt loads of disabled spaces really.

[SoupDragon]

I think there are always lots of the spaces you're not looking for I can always find P&T when I don't want them and because I'm not looking for them there are disabled spots galore but no normal ones.

[sparklymieow]

can you print me some off MIsdee, my computer can't open PFD files...

[misdee]

will try, sometimes mine wont open them either.

[SoupDragon]

I can email it to you as a jpg if you like.

[misdee]

oo please, do u have my email address?

[misdee]

cam we design one for P+T spaces, saying 'if you want my space, please take my little monsters shopping for me?'

[SoupDragon]

I don't think I do actually.

[misdee]

djmisdee hotmail.com

[sparklymieow]

and me SD, mieow79 at hotmail(dot)com

[SoupDragon]

done

[sparklymieow]

did you do mine SD???