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?

Why?

I'm seriously puzzled why?

So you're basing this on a few people? So if they don't need to be close to the store,then no one does?

YANBU at all and it is so sad that people make you feel bad.

I walk with crutches and when I have someone to get it out of the car for me, I use a wheelchair. I do not have a blue badge and because of the mafia p&c brigade do not park in p&c spaces if DD is not with me, even though my inability to walk is pregnancy related.

Let there be Rock, read the post! I did not say that, or even give a hint that I thought it.

Because as I mentioned the P&C spaces may be a more apppropriate space for them,generic them,on that day,for whatever reason that's no one's business.

And because the two spaces are not of equal worth. A blue badge holder parking in a P&C space does not compare with a non disabled person/parent parking in an accessible space.

I see that you said sometimes,but that does mean that people often will need,not only the larger space,but will also need to be near to the store.

So what do you suggest? That they scatter the spaces all over the car park? Or does it make sense for all of them,or certainly the majority of accessible spaces to be close to the store?

yanbu at you are allowed to if you have a blue badge

I'll agree to disagree here then.

I think that what I did on that occasion was acceptable.

OP = sorry for the highjack.

Besides the wheelchair user could also be a mother struggling with multiple children. There's no shortable of parents with disabilities out there.

Well my dad has a blue badge and he does need to be close to the store because his breathing difficulties mean he can't walk far.

It isn't all about the size of the space and wheelchairs. Disability does not equal wheelchair at all.

Shortable? WTF is a shortable?

Once again it comes down to spelling and grammar?!

Shortage - obviously!

Lettherebe, I love the word shortable! It could describe me!

I thought it always comes down to class.

It does have a certain ring to it I agree.

Wondering why everyone's flaming curlymama who is sitting on the fence and ignoring tegan who has actually said the OP is BU....

Claire - exactly!

I was just thinking about this in tems of individual need, although we are talking about parking spaces and it's not like the car park attendant is going to stand there trying to work out who needs the P+C space the most!

So with that in mind, the disabled person does always have to take priority. But I still maintain that there will be occasions, even rare ones, that a parent will benefit more from a space than a blue badge holder.

tbh I think it is a non argument, you would hve to be an idiot to not think a blue badge holder has a a greater need(most of the time).

Tegan hasn't returned yet has she? I did include her,under the vague umbrella,of those who said the OP was being unreasonable.

OOOh I've a good un

A car park I used to use regularly got done up and they put 6 extra disabled spaces by the store and moved the parent and child spaces to the back of the carpark on either side of a central path woth a zebra crossing into the store iyswim.

The logic being lots of space for buggies, quiet and safe route into the store, and created extra p&c spaces.

They got a gadzillion complaints within the first week, gave up and reverted to 11 disabled bays and 4 p&t as before.

So for people who use P&C spaces in that case distance was a priority not space.

oh and uanbu

It is just common sense that your need is greater.

Honey - it's the opposite at our supermarket. The P&C spaces are quite far away from the entrances, so distance is not a factor (and it's a new supermarket).

For some reason is still doesn't stop people who don't need them parking in them - 4x4s seem to need them quite often in fact But that's for another thread

YANBU, OP - but I don't like the abuse that goes on of both set of spaces.

As Dante said, 'the hottest place in hell is reserved for those at times requiring moral judgement, sit on the fence'

Therefore, Curlymama was (IMO) being unreasonable but maybe more open to seeing the light whereas Tegan was just being ridiculous.