Parent and child parking - don’t be an arsehole

[HicDraconis]

Saw this on FB and it’s too good not to share :)

I can't wait until my DD's new blue badge arrives in the post. I'm so sick of people telling me off for parking in a p & c space. She's 11 and has autism, dyspraxia & joint hyper mobility syndrome. She uses a wheel chair to get around when the walk in further than 200 feet because otherwise she is in agony. I didn't apply for a blue badge before because I assumed people wouldn't be such assholes over a fucking parking space when they can see I'm struggling and more importantly so is she!

Thought that was funny too OP, but this is Mumsnet where every P&C space should be for anyone other than parents and children and if you disagree you're accused of hating disabled people and the elderly instead of just the lazy arseholes who park in P&C spaces to be spiteful.

I think it is fine for p and c spaces to exist but don't tell other people who need the space just as much if not more, that they can't use them.

Good post! I'm disabled and I do park in parent and child spaces sometimes. I always feel really bad about it though 😐

The problem would be solved if they made normal spaces big enough to be able to open your door properly - our Tesco spaces suck & you need to be elastagirl to get in or out. That's without having to get kids in (and i have a normal sized car not a space ship). People forget it isn't about the proximity to the doors, it's about opening the car door.

I have no issue with people with disabilities using them...but round where we are it's entitled knobs too worried about their precious cars.

@Sirzy take it you're one of the Bellends that think they're too good to follow the rules.

I will park in a P&C space when I have a small child with me. That's what they're there for.

Your the one trying to justify scratching cars so that would suggest you need to look closer to home for who the bellend may be

I will park in a P&C space when I have a small child with me. That's what they're there for.

Perhaps the issue is calling them Parent and Child spaces. Maybe they should be renamed into something more appropriate, encompassing everyone who needs an extra wide space, such as those who have disabilities or physical impairments but don’t qualify for a blue badge. Then people like this can stop being so pedantic about it.

Or just call them ‘I’m a special snowflake that managed to reproduce’ space, no one would park there without looking like a bit of a wanker (except certain parents who think having young children means they get special treatment).

I think it's obvious to see why P&C spaces are a good idea. Lots of carparks now seem to be making spaces smaller whilst cars are getting bigger, without the extra space it is sometimes literally impossible to get a child into a carseat without risking damaging the car parked in the next space. I have a toddler and preschooler and it is also infinitely safer to park closer to the entrance than attempt to navigate a busy carpark.

Does the fact that blue badge spaces are more important mean that P&C spaces shouldn't exist? I don't think so and if anything I think the existence of more spaces with extra room does give those with disabilities or mobility issues more options. I don't think many parents would begrudge those with a genuine need using P&C spaces without young DC, however I don't understand why someone without a need for such a space would deliberately use one just because it's slightly more convenient or to make sure their fancy car isn't damaged. To me that is absolutely inexcusable and just an example of the extreme selfishness

I hate this new "anti entitled parents" movement that seems to be gaining momentum where any concessions made to parents are seen as unnecessary and something that penalises non parents. Having young kids is hard and can make what would ordinarily be routine situations extremely difficult and in some cases unsafe. Why wouldn't we as a society do what we reasonably can to help parents out? It may mean that some of the spaces closest to the supermarket aren't available to everyone but really what's the big deal?

Mumsnet is super weird about p&c spaces. Of course it is unreasonable for people without young children or a disability to use them- they are being lazy.
It is not about how far you have to walk- it is about the space you need at the side of the car to get a child into and out of a car seat without damaging the next cars along.
Let's face it- going to the supermarket with young DC can be stressful - people blocking one thing that would make a it a little easier is annoying.
My DC are 4 and 6 now and I don't use them if it's busy- they can hop out their boosters themselves and squeeze through small gaps without help. I like to leave them for people with babies and toddlers as I have been that parent trying to sort out tiny kids in a tiny space.

I agree with the fb post and I think it's accurate.

Reasonable adjustment is more important than rules. Every single time.

take it you're one of the Bellends that think they're too good to follow the rules

@Sirzy has explained that she has a DC with a BB and is advocating for better access for people with disabilities, I fail to see how that makes them a bellend?

I happily park elsewhere if all p&c spaces are full, but it does piss me off when they are all taken up by people without kids. And yes I know some of them will have genuine reasons and that’s fine, I’m happy to give up the space for people with better reasons than simply having kids, but I think the majority are just selfish twats.

My local ASDA says they’re for parents accompanied by a child under the age of 12. Why the heck does a 10 year old warrant such a space?

It is a bit twatty to park in one if you don’t need it but I would never give it a second thought if I saw someone without a child there because as mentioned on this thread, I don’t know if there is a genuine need to do so.

And that meme is self righteous twaddle.

I agree the P&C spaces could be moved further away from the shop entrance thus making them less desirable to twats. Parents could still have the wider space if needed for pushchairs etc, but those parents with strapping teenagers (as I saw yesterday) might find them less appealing. If you're a parent with a child who can walk and does not have mobility problems then take some responsibility for them in the car park, like you do elsewhere.