People who park in child and parent spaces when they don't have kids.

No kisses please, it’s embarrassing me.

When I was having chemo I used them, when if I have chemo or another ailment or treatment that makes walking difficult again, i will use them.

Hope that helps!

Its not an available space to someone who doesn’t have a child, hope that helps x

Repositioning them towards the rear of the store car park would completely resolve this issue.
Parents still get space, and in a quieter area.

If there are no spaces at all to park in the car park, then people are parking in the only available spaces. Their need for shopping may trump yours?

As you say disabled places are legal requirement, p&c not!

Thats it, end of conversation!

I’m not ignorant, but thanks 🙄

disabled bays are a legal requirement but they haven’t always been. They are a good step forward in supporting disabled people. They are also used by a range of disabilities. For instance my dad definitely needs them, but if not available he can just about manage.

Parent and child spaces can’t be a legal issue in the same way as, as you point out, it’s only an issue for a few years. And people need to ‘self police’ whether it is totally needed or not. Most people do self police (i use them when ive got my baby, but usually wouldn’t if I had my older child) but those that think ‘well it’s not a ‘LEgAL reQuIremeNt‘ ruin the honesty system that should make them work.
those people, like many people on this thread, are the ignorant ones. and it’s really bloody annoying for those of us that need them.

No.

disabled spaces didn’t used to be a legal requirement and I am glad they now are. Why shouldn’t I compare parent and baby/toddler spaces to that?

also, most, not all, disabled people find it difficult and ‘almost impossible’ to get out when in a normal space or to walk as far as a further away space. Yea, some physically cannot … but most can, it’s just a lot more difficult. So do you think disabled spaces should be reserved for those who have a wheelchair/ cannot move? Obviously not.

If you think there are ‘spaces at the back’ with lots of room… well you don’t shop in my area. Speak for yourself.

I always wonder why parents who don’t have the ability to navigate walking across a car park with young children don’t just get their shopping delivered or someone else to do it for them.

I just park wherever. Parents aren’t special. I don’t park in disabled though

This is actually a really great idea, would work so well if it were socially unacceptable (from within ones own social circle*) to take the mickey with them. For example your passenger being horrified you have pulled into one when knowing it is not in need.

*Impossible otherwise as not all needs are visible.

You know how it is socially unacceptable to drink drive or on the continent to sit in those elderly seats on busses

On a rare good day, loaded up with my prescription pain relief, I can leave my wheelchair in the car and, with a walker, go into a nearby shop if I can park close enough to one, and buy a couple of groceries. If you could see me hobbling back to the car, I'd be the person you are referring to.

However, when I do have that day, I am chuffed as heck with myself and see it as a real achievement. I wouldn't be able to do it if I had to park several hundred yards away.

The only occasions I have used them without having my young children with me; I was very, very heavily pregnant with my eldest & was struggling to get in & out of the car.
I was around 16 weeks pregnant with my youngest and on crutches due to PGP and had gone to the shop late one evening (around 8pm) to get nappies etc for my eldest.

Whilst my children have reached an age where we no longer require the use of the spaces, I was very appreciative of the additional space to facilitate loading infant carriers and strapping wrestling toddlers into carpets.

Since when it is the difficulty olympics?

Anyone who take a space designed to make something easier for someone else “to prove a point”, not a disabled person using it because it’s the only space available , purposely taking it “to prove a point” is bitter and nasty.

Anyone who genuinely needs them should use them. EG passenger with broken ankle, or whatever. They should be rebranded "courtesy spaces for those in need" and signage "if you are not in need of these spaces, please park elsewhere".

That way, anyone who needs to use them can do so (including parents with tiny kids, or people with temporary health issues) but it discourages people from being selfish twats.

Probably the point that life as a disabled person is infinitely more difficult than a few years of having a young child?

It’s “almost impossible” so it can be done! It makes a Mother’s Day so much harder…….give over! Go to the far end of the car park, always space there for opening doors wider.

And stop comparing something that’s a legal requirement to being able to park in a more convenient spot.

The differences is disabled bays are a legal requirement. They make the difference between someone being able to leave the house and not. The persons whole life is going to be like that in most cases. They need them to go anywhere!

A P and C space is handy when there is one but it’s not essential. Lots of places don’t have them and people cope. It’s only an issue for a year or two.

by comparing the two it just shows a massive ignorance.

I find it bizarre that people don’t care. They wouldn’t say the same about a disabled bay. It’s almost impossible to get a child into or out of a car in a normal bay in my local car park. There are also no walk ways so you have to walk across what are essentially roads with tiny children. Just because it doesn’t affect you doesn’t mean it isn’t wrong. With slightly older children it’s not too bad (my 3 year old can get out on her own.) but a baby in a car seat carrier… you can’t just ask them to get out before you park out or leave them there while you reverse back to get them in.

it makes a Mother’s Day so much harder compared to the inconvenience of parking further back for an able/childless person.

Self appointed P&C parking police!

@Pumpkinmagic think that was for @MindYourUsage

You and your Mum aren’t the issue and not what this is aimed at. I think you have misunderstood my comment or perhaps I did not explain it well enough. The frustration is people saying they are disabled, I forgot to display my badge when this is not true and they are lying and have no disability whatsoever (yes I am very aware of hidden disabilities). Most people get frustrated when the spaces designated for them to use cannot be used not because they are genuinely full but because people are using them when they have no reason to. I am sorry to hear about your Mum. My elderly relative doesn’t get pip and has recently got a blue badge. I hope you are soon able to get one to make your life easier.

I have done the same thing. There are just not enough disabled parking spaces, in the town, where I live.

I use them sometimes if all the disabled bays are taken as I’m disabled .

I don’t think people aren’t calm or rational about the situation. But it does clearly affect a lot of people and makes their day to day life more difficult. I think a lot of people just can’t understand the thought process of someone using one of these spaces when they don’t have a reason to because most people can follow rules. Another poster mentioned there have been several posts about this issue.

I don’t really think anything but my sister has a disabled child and gets annoyed when people use disabled spaces when picking up a takeout order which seems to happen a lot.
I get a bit peeved when I go to Waitrose to pick up a click and collect and people are parked in the designated bays who are obviously not clicking and collecting but going inside to shop. But I would say I’m ‘mildly annoyed’, and once I leave the parking lot it does not occupy any part of my brain.