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 agree that they should put the parent and children spaces at the far end of the car park - they really don't need to be near the door, just bigger.

And I agree that of course a disabled person should be able to park in them if they can't park anywhere else.

But I can honestly say that I have never been to a car park where every disabled space is taken and there are P&C spaces free. Normally there are so many disabled spaces (that's not a complaint, just an observation) and a couple of P&C ones. Where is this car park? I want to park there!

PS: LookToWinward I have two small children and the car park in our local Tesco is very cramped and in the normal spaces you can't open the car door fully. Shopping with the boys is a nightmare if I can't get a P&C space. It's hard to get them out the car, it's hard to get a trolley, it's hard to unpack the shopping, it's sometimes impossible to get the boys back into the car if someone has come along and parked too close while I've been in the shop... so I do think I have a greater need for a P&C space than you, but I agree it's not a right. I'd be cross if I saw you parking in one, though, when I was trying to squeeze my (admittedly quite fat) baby through a barely opened car door...

Herbie - I get the impression that scruffy is just trying to be inflamatory, don't let her get to you.

Herbie - I did reply to you. Will forward it again. Thanks.

Done. :) I would like some advice please, although I really don't think I have a hope.

I often see empty disabled spaces. So what? Would rather see some empty ones than no empty ones resulting in a situation where someone cannot access the shop or facility they need.

P&C is nice, but disabled people should use those spaces if they need to, no question about that.

There should be some kind of sinking bollard (if you know what I mean!) on disabled spaces for which blue sticker holders have the remote control. That way they don't get filled up by idiots who think 'I only need one thing, I won't be more than five mins, therefore I am not doing any harm parking here' like the one I saw a couple of weeks ago.

They are always empty at my local tesco, but I doubt thats much use to you, herbie.

Scruffy is obviously a bit bored today, so has got her big wooden spoon out and is giving things a bit of a stir. Do what you do when your children start being silly - ignore.

You can park where ever you like with a blue badge so YANBU

YANBU

It is an irritation when the P&C/Ts are taken up but if you are disabled you are allowed in my book. My book also permits elderly doddery people, those escorting shoppers with limbs in plaster, and heavily pregnant ladies.

Ps you are being unreasonable for bringing this up AGAIN,

See what you've done, hmm?

Look at all this lot with knickers in a twist ^

YANBU but you must know that your disabled badge entitles you to park in any available space so YABU to ask and allow people forum to make nasty comments.

Scruffymuff - no-one expects you to be eternally grateful for being able-bodied, but a teeny-tiny mental acknowledgement of the fact that life is actually a little easier for you than for many people wouldn't ago amiss. But I would imagine that is too complex a concept for you to process.

Here's a suggestion to your parking problem. Why not chop all your limbs off? Then you will be entitled to a blue badge and able to park in all the empty spaces. Oooh! Lucky, lucky you!

I would say that words fail me, but given the above, that is quite clearly not the case.

YANBU

My DD has a Blue Badge and she says that in a lot of Morrisons the Parent and Child spaces are nearer the doors than the disabled ones. Under those circumstances I would definitley go in the parent and child one.

Actually, the funniest places I've seen was at our local golf club where the disabled spaces were further away than the golf club captains. I had to laugh!

I live in the Highlands and our local ASDA has about 12 disabled spaces as close to the doors as possible and 4/5 P&C spaces which are quite far back from it but next to the pathway rather than the middle of the car park, I would never dream of moaning about a disabled person using a space if it was needed BUT I have to say the disabled spaces are very RARELY full here so I have seen my mum using one at night if she's just nipping in for a minute and there is atleast 5 spaces.

Would also agree that P&C psaces are a bit of a life saver space wise but they don't neccassarily need to be next to the shop, you can walk with a child, although it does make it easier if you don't need to worry about backing onto a road with them.

OP do hope you are OK? It takes a lot of courage to apply for and use the badge when you've first got it as it as it can feel that it reinforces that you can't do things you used to be able to. However, it can also be liberating as you realise you can do things, just in a different way.

When I go shopping I have to plan carefully so I do the shortest walk or even go into town two or three times in a week so I don't do too much at a time. When I go to Milton Keynes I do one end of the centre and then have to get in the car to go to the other end as I can't walk all that way. It's time consuming and tedious, but at least I don't have to pay two lots of parking charges.

Thank you all again for all the replies, and I really am sorry for stirring up a hornets nest, it really was a genuine question

The reason that I asked was that somebody was going to come and have a go at me for doing it, and that did make me doubt if I was in the right or not. When I parked there it seemed reasonable to me but after a few dirty looks I really did start to wonder if I was doing something wrong

For those who asked about the P&T and disabled spaces...it was outside a boots- I needed to pick up my prescrition, there are three disabled and three p&t spaces on either side of the door, so to be honest both are normally full. I know how frustrating parking can be for everyone (as well as being disabled I am expecting baby no.6) but I am glad that by useing the space I wasn't doing anything wrong

pigeonpie - thank you! yes that is certainly part of it, I find using my blue badge hard enough as it is, I feel like if I know for sure the rights and wrongs I will be more confident in using it.

I'm sorry everything is such a struggle for you too and for all of you who have posted that you are disabled/have difficulties, it's so easy to underestimate how hard life can sometimes be with mobility/pain problems thrown in. I know for me, these days, everything seems really far away especially in shops

Well in that case Op you were also a parent and child as well as having a blue badge, top trumps you win!