AIBU to think Blue Badge holders can use parent and child spaces?

There was an elderly couple (one has the BB) who used to park DYLs outside the library which is on a dual carriageway in the hidden dip. No other person ever parked there. They parked at the back of the library with at least 6 blue badge bays. Plus there was a side entrance with a lift to the library.

Not seen couple's car for ages. May have passed away, unable to drive, gone to care home.

Of course they can. P&C spaces are not legally protected.

I’ve used a P&C bay when I’m with my mum and the BB bays are full.

She can only walk a limited number of steps.

Of course; you can park where you like double yellow lines, literally anywhere unless it says ‘no loading’. Parent and child spaces irritate me; parents need more space to get prams and car seats out not extra help with a shorter walk to the store

As a blue badge holder I will park wherever is going to be safest for my son to be able to get in and out of the car and too our destination (as long as safe and legal of course)

I really don’t care if that winds some parents up. Because getting a disabled young adult around is a hell of a lot harder than getting a baby around!

They can but it winds me up when there’s plenty of disabled spaces but they still park in P&C!

Yep. In my experience it's usually shameless men with 'flash' cars which they've probably bought on finance.

And if the disability means they can’t wait?

parents can use alternative spaces will little issue. BB holders can’t.

there’s a lot of posters seem to have never met a disabled person.

as a parent I will find somewhere else if there’s a BB holder in a p&c space. No big deal. A BB holder may not be able to use a normal space.

as pp have said, if they can’t access the service it’s discrimination.

if parents prevent BB holders from accessing parking chances are the land owner will simply turn all p&c spaces to disabled. Seen it happen.

Which would be to park in a standard space. A disabled person very often can’t do that because they are either too far away from the entrance or there isn’t enough space to get a wheelchair out or open the door fully.

Except that isn’t reasonable. Having a small child is not a disability

Strongly disagree.

a disability which qualifies for a blue badge far outranks a parent’s need if they are able bodied.

p&c are convenience. It won’t put you out massively to park at the other end of the car park, get your child out and walk to the shop. You only need a space wide enough to get the car seat out if necessary and away from the general traffic. Most places have safe walkways down the centre of the car park.

disabled, otoh, that may not be possible. They have a BB for a reason,- because they are not capable of using normal spaces.

Which in my experience is often to park in a disabled space and limp into the shop. Funny how the limp has disappeared by the time they come out. I once witnessed a conversation between a pregnant woman with what looked like a four or five year old child in tow, and a car park attendant. She had parked in a disabled bay and was arguing the toss that she was perfectly entitled to park there because ‘I’m pregnant’. The more the attendant pointed out that pregnant is not disabled, the angrier she got and the louder she shouted. She ripped up the ticket in front of him and went into the shop, so he calmly wrote another and put it under her windscreen wiper !!

Sure but the vast majority of parking provision in the UK is privately owned, if you chose to park in them you therefore agree to their terms and that can often include fines for misusing the spaces, including staying past a time period or using designated spaces incorrectly. It’s simply not true to say anyone who wants to can park in a P&C space “with no comeback on it”.

They’ve been a thing for 30 years, if not longer.

The same a parent and child would do if there were no parent and child spaces.

It’s a courtesy to provide a convenience because people can’t seem to cope with parking and getting their child out.

There’s always someone who needs to turn nasty for no reason.

So disabled people shouldn’t go shopping ?

And that’s the difference between P&C spaces in private and non private car parks. On street and public car parks are different - P&C spaces are not enforceable in law.

I think it depends where you live. Always shit loads empty where I am, but it's not especially busy here.

Anyway, I agree with someone's post earlier, anyone fining a disabled person for using a parent and child space would be a complete piece of shit. I don't know what the law says but morally of course they should be able to use them if no other choice.

Many private car parks issue fines for misuse of designated spaces. My local Tesco issue fines for people parking in a P&C space without children.

I like to do a mixture of both shopping in store, and using a delivery service when necessary.

I find it concerning that many people seem to think that becoming a parent is some sort of disability that trumps the legal, hard fought for, rights of disabled people.

Shame on you. It’s a courtesy to provide a convenience because people can’t seem to cope with parking and getting their child out. It’s in no way comparable to a condition that warrants a blue badge

I have a blue badge but if there aren't any spaces then I certainly will park in the parent and child space. I have never received a fine but would kick up a huge fuss if I did. Disabled people should have priority. I don't understand why parent and child spaces are near the shop anyway. And unless you have a pram or pushchair why do you need extra space?

Or just get shopping delivered

P&C spaces are purely a courtesy and anyone can use them if they choose. Other than being glared at, there is no comeback on it