Parent/child spaces without the child

[Frogsalad]

I'm curious how many people would admit to using a parent/child space when they don't actually have their child with them, or their child is remaining in the vehicle?

I feel like this might be like asking "admit you don't pick up your dog poo" but I see it so often loads of people must do it.

I don’t do it, because I come of a generation which was rather compliant - but I have bad mobility problems, just below the blue badge threshold. I do cast longing eyes at the empty rows of parent and child spaces so near the entrance.

I don't do it. I do occasionally give Paddington Bear hard stares to those who do

I have used my 9yo as an excuse to use one with my DM who is that "not quite qualifying for a blue badge" bracket... the other option being stopping in the middle of the car park to help her out near the entrance then finding a space.

I have, but only when I had really bad sciatica that getting out the car needed the door basically fully open and if there was no available space on an end. I would have been mortified if someone confronted me about it but there was genuinely no other way for me to get in and out the car.

Just out of curiosity, would you think it's ok for pregnant women to use the spaces? They don't have children to get in and out the car as such but would definitely need the extra door space.

I don't.

Purely because I HATE seeing people get out of their cars, alone, after parking in the last parent and child space, when I know I'm going to potentially struggle getting the car seat in and out of the car 😠 even when I park out of the way someone always seems to park next to me making it impossible to fully open the door.

I'll admit to to having done it when there are no other spaces which happens often in our local Tesco. Wouldn't dream of parking in a disabled space.

There is no benefit to the P&C spaces in this particular car park, no wider spaces for ease of access or anythng

@AGirlsNameIsAryaStark yes I assumed they were also meant for pregnant women.

A heavy pregnant woman definitely has a child with her to get in and out of the car (and no other option like putting them in from other side or pulling out the space to get the car seat/child in)

I don't use them, as tempting as it might be in a busy car park when all the other spaces are taken and then there are a couple of parent and child ones free! My children are 13 and 19 now so I definitely don't qualify anymore sadly. I don't personally have a problem with disabled people using them either if all the blue badge spaces are taken or if a heavily pregnant woman uses them - car parking spaces tend to be very small and don't really allow for doors to actually open comfortably unless you are in a very small car. I remember how awkward it was trying to manoeuvre myself out of the car when heavily pregnant and the parent and child spaces definitely are better suited to that.

I think generally more consideration needs to be given to the space size when supermarkets and car parks are being built. Not everyone who has a disability meets the threshold for a blue badge but still needs more space to get in and out of the car etc.

I have occasionally with my DM who is 82 and struggles slightly with walking and needs a bit more space to get out of the car, but would not qualify for a blue badge, no-one has ever said anything. Also I did when I gave my dad lifts before he got a blue badge. They are a convenience rather than legally enforceable - technically I guess you are breaking the terms and conditions of the car park in using them but fining someone for parking there with their elderly mother would not be a great look. I wouldn't have begrudged such use when I needed them either.

@Stropalotopus83 definitely agree with you re the space sizes - my local Sainsburys the spaces are so small anyone with anything bigger than a corsa struggles to properly open doors both sides.

Have to say our Sainsbury's and Aldi car parks are pretty good and well designed, there are usually spaces nearby for my DM without needing to use the P&C ones. Less so the Tesco which is a bit older.

I have when I’ve got an elderly lady with me and there’s nowhere to park that means I can open the door fully. She has mobility issues.

Nobody has ever complained.

I've only done it when there are no other spaces, and I've felt bad about it.

I do but I have a blue badge and the spaces are closer than the disabled.

I don't do it, & I actively remind people what those spaces are for if I see a car pull up with no kids. I don't care if I'm seen as a busy body, it's total lack of respect for people who need those spaces & it's only when you have kids that you realise how much we need those spaces.
People have moved once I've told them as well 😂

I do and my kids are all grown up

I can answer this as a pregnant woman in my 3rd trimester. Yes, in certain circumstances I would say pregnant women should be able to use them. I haven't personally so far because I haven't had the need to, but if other available spaces were too tight for me to squeeze bump through door then I would use one.

@OooohAhhhh out of interest would you say something to someone with obvious mobility problems/elderly, or just those who look young and healthy?

I took my dad to the supermarket yesterday and all the disabled places were taken. Stuck the blue badge in the window and parked in a parent and child spot. Not ideal but dad couldn't have walked from the other end of the car park to the entrance. However, if I'm alone (without a child), I'd never park in one of those spots in the same way I wouldn't park in a disabled bay unless I had a disabled person with me.

Yes, they're closer to the door but I don't need them and I think it's selfish to take those spaces from people who genuinely need them.

@PuttingDownRoots I haven't come across disabled people using them yet, however, if there was no disabled places available then I wouldn't say anything, but if there was disabled places available then I would be inclined to say something.
I don't think people with kids requiring parent/child spaces would be excused for using a disabled space and we would probably get fined.
I hate it when vans park in child spaces too, workmen, where the people obviously don't have kids with them.

There's usually far far more parents with young children in my supermarket than there are p&t parking spaces outside. Presumably they manage. On the other hand a disabled person would have to go home if they can't get an extra wide space or one close to the supermarket.

I don't think you can equate the two. One is a nice to have marketing play. The other is an absolute necessity. I had no problem parking in them when my late mother was alive.

Great that you’ve also got the ability to know whether someone might have a good reason for using that space in advance of telling them to move.

I’d tell you where to go if you challenged me while I was in a p and c space with my elderly friend.

@Frogsalad Thank you, I thought I'd ask as I'm 12 weeks but definitely won't be able to get in and out of the car in the standard spaces in some of my local car parks later in my pregnancy!

Not everyone with a disability qualifies for a blue badge. The system is utterly broken and not fit for purpose.