To park in parent and child spaces if there are no disabled ones free?

[immortalbeloved]

I know I know, I'm sorry for another P&C space thread

I'm really really not trying to start the whole debate up again, I know it's been done to death

Genuine question though, AIBU to park in one if there isn't a disabled space free? Normally I use a disbled space (I have a blue badge) or sometimes P&C space if I've got one or more of the children with me. But today I needed to go somewhere and didn't have any children with me, when I got there the only space free close enough for me was P&C so I used it.

But I was given several dirty looks by mums with toddlers and one was going to approach me to 'set me straight' but her friend stopped her

So was I really out of order? Or is it an ok thing to do?

I dont think there should be parent and child spaces, fed up of seeing 10 year olds jump out of the car to go shopping, If you're child is out of the baby car seat then you dont need one, once my baby is into her permanent car seat I really dont care for a P&C space, I prefer one near to where the trolley park is so I can keep an eye on them while taking the trolley back... So I think disabled bays near the shop used only by the disabled,and parent and baby space (not child) at the back of the car park which will probably be empty cos people will find closer empty spaces,....

I used to get all sorts of filthy looks from folk when parking with my red badge ( here in Aus) and getting out with dd1 - who could walk but not very far without being fatigued and who due to her intellectual impairment is a danger to herself and others in parking areas. Yet one elderly person felt it was okay to have a go at us.

well at our local asda the disabled bays are always full, at busy times.

goingroundthebend4

think infact supermarkets have to provide by law acertain amount of disabled parking spaces

If you read the Rights and Responsibilities book which comes with the badge it actually states on Page 17

Off-street car park operators such as supermarkets, hospitals and local authority car parks should provide
parking spaces for disabled people. However,
it is up to the car park owner to decide whether badge holders can park free of charge. Do not assume you can always park for free. Nothing about it being law.

..providers usually base the %age of disabled spaces on a nationwide average, therefore in areas like the south coast with a high number of retirees - there may not be enough disabled bays at peak times.

Disabled & P/T areas tend to be busy at different times (P&T parking governed by school times (9.30-11 and 3.30-6 weekdays, 10-4 weekends), disabled ones tend to get full daytimes 9am-3pm more so thursdays (pensions day) and less at weekends (as why try to get round busy supermarket when it is hardest unless you have to)). Sometimes local charities will organise outings to a supermarket and fill up all the bays...

parking provision is quite hard to get right, for this reason, and usually you will get both sides complaining provision is insufficient, and the other one has too much (which is when customer services should say to blue badge holder 'use p&t if necessary', and to P&T complainant - 'we'll look into it' (as in, there's bugger all i can do about it, until our shop is next refitted).

Who are all these people going around questioning people on their disabilty when they are parked in a disabled spot? Is it the Jo public or other disabled people?

When i go shopping, i don't take any notice of the disabled bays and who is/isn't supposed to be there. Surely if it's someone abusing a relitives badge or whatever, they will get caught out one day.

I just don't see why anyone would assume it's any of their business to question peoples disabilties when they are using a disabled space?

Micheal Macintyre made me laugh when he said "What is it we are looking for when someone pulls into a disabled bay? Are we expecting them to open the car door and..." he does the action of someone falling out the seat onto the ground and crawling to the store

Obviously some people have missed my irony (probably because I can't get used to these emoticons!). I would never park in a disabled bay. My mother had a blue badge and I'd be the first to have a go at people who park in a disabled bay without one. That said, I do give dirty looks to obviously spritly types without kids or car seats who park in the P and C bays. Wouldn't challenge them though, as I would the disabled bay flouters.
Just to set the record straight anyway...

Oh no. Disabled spaces are a there out of necessity, P&T are there for convenience and as a customer service.

You absolutely should park in the most accessible available parking space if you have a disability.

FWIW, I think the OP was not being unreasonable one bit. She has enough to worry about without caring what other people think. You go girl!

(I'm never trying irony here again. It's a scary place!) Oh no, I think I need a wink thingy for this remark as I AM in fact, teasing. Hold on...here goes...

chicken

Thru - apologies for having missed the irony - it would appear my brain has gone into hibernation for the winter. I shall go and sit in a corner muttering to myself until springtime!

Thru - I'm so glad you were joking! The problem is with these threads that sometimes you can't tell who is and who is deadly serious. Glad you came back too! Keep on smiling

Of course YANBU- you have a blue badge and can Paarl anywhere.

Park

Ffs this is seven years old and I bet the op doesn't give a shit cherish

ZOMBIE ALERT

Double the FFS

Do people seriously dredge through seven fecking years worth to resurrect a thread?

Do Your Own .

There threads are frequent enough without resurrecting one from 7 years ago.

Parent and child spaces aren't legally protected and enforceable, anyone can park there.

They're a courtesy to help people out,
So if it means a disabled person needs to be closer to the store, then of course they can use them!

I'm sorry people are giving you a hard time when you're out in your chair or scooter, some people are absolute knobs and don't realise how hard living with a disability is.

GOD DAMMIT WHY DOES THISHAPPEN SO BLOODY FREQUENTLY.

DEADTHREAD