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 used them when I had a broken foot. For some reason, the P&C spaces are closer to the store than BB spaces.
I also used to use them when shopping at 2am.

P&C spaces are a marketing gimmick. The shop wants to attract parents.

Would love to ask the designers wtaf were they thinking when they decided that p&c spaces should be closer to the store than bb spaces.

The place like that close to me opened within the last 12 months which makes it even worse!

I completely understand Blue Badge holders using parent and child spaces if they need to, it just seems to be common sense if no other suitable spaces are available.

Some people up thread have mentioned that they should only be for under 5s, which I think is too young. I only have a 3 door car so have to really open the door quite wide to get dd in and out (only 4 at the moment). I won't be able to change my car and I think when car seats are needed the extra space around the car in p & c spaces is really helpful.

In none of the supermarkets near me are P&C spaces closer to the store than disabled.
If they were closer then I absolutely wouldn't blame BB holders from using these spaces.
But every time I go to the supermarket, 75% of the P&C spaces taken by people with no children and no obvious physical disability despite them being further from the store than most of the normal spaces. I appreciate a lot of disabilities are hidden but there aren't that many where the only requirement is a slightly larger space.

Yes I admit to it - in the evening when the child/parent rows are completely empty, as is most the car park, I park in one as it's close to the entrance.

I think it’s pretty well known that cars are bigger now than they were decades ago but spaces aren’t. As well as the invention of car seats that fit onto prams; much more convenient but do require you to be able to fully open your car door.

My eldest is 32. I had a car seat that fitted on to the pram for him. They're not a new thing.

I'm a blue badge holder and regularly use parent and child spaces when blue badge spaces are full. Blue badge spaces are a legal requirement and to use one you have to display a blue badge. Parent and child spaces are not.

i don’t think anyone should argue the validity of blue badge spaces being a legal requirement; I have no problem with a disabled person using a P&C space if there are no blue badge spaces available. The issue is when non blue badge users and people without children take up the spaces provided for parents convenience. they’re provided for PARENTS AND CHILDREN, so unless that statement is relevant to you or you have no choice because BB spaces are full, you shouldn’t be using one. Before I had my baby, if I was parking next to someone with a car seat visible or a child on board sign I’d make sure i left plenty of room for them. Sadly, a lot of people don’t show the same consideration hence the necessity of p&c spaces. (I also wouldn’t dream of taking up a BB space for my child. If I can’t get a p&c space or an end space where I can fully open his door, I’ll jus leave).

Not all disabilities entitle someone to a blue badge. Some people may have a short term disability and many others have life long disabilities which they should have a blue badge for but they system is rubbish.

it may shock some parents but there are many other people who need proximity or space not just parents!

@puddleduckle not every disabled person who needs a wider space or space closer to the door will be eligible for a blue badge.

yes this. Being disabled does not automatically qualify you for a blue badge. The thresholds are really quite high.

My mum doesn't qualify because its 'only' something like 70% of the time that she cant walk more than 25m without needing help 🙄

So i'll still be using the p&c spaces when we need to

I agree.