To think that there are too many disabled parking spaces?

[Vagabond]

I have just returned the Uk after a 13 year absence and cannot believe the number of disable parking spaces - everywhere. Of course, I absolutely agree that there should be spaces allotted for the disabled. But the percentage of disability spaces in any given parking lot are not commensurate with the number of disabled shoppers. I feel that this is 'tokenism' as opposed to practical planning.

BTW - I have a 'badged-up' disabled parent who completely agrees with me.

I think you have to look at it from the perspective of what happens if there aren't enough.

If there aren't enough "normal" spaces then the driver with no disability will just have to find somewhere else a little further away, and - shock horror - be subjected to the mild inconvenience of using their legs for a little longer.

If on the other hand there is no disabled space available, then the driver with a disability may have to abandon their trip altogether. Without wishing to patronise anyone with a disability, can't we try and make life a little easier for people who find everyday tasks like shopping that bit harder?

oh FFS

YABU I'd much rather have too many disabled spaces than not enough. They are essential in allowing disabled people get out and about

YANBU

It would make more sense if they were both disabled AND parent spaces. They did this for a while and I thought it worked well but don't see it anymore.

I should add the disabled ones I see are pretty much empty as well.

There are a fair few where I live, but a large amount of elderly people are disabled - and there are a large amount of elderly people

YABU

In the local supermarket here there are about 45 spaces for the disabled. I have never seen more than 2 in use at any time.

So definitely too many here. But different everywhere.

I don't understand those posters who think there is a need for P&C spaces. No-one needs a special space just because they have a child with them.

I think that P&C spaces should be done away with, or turned into Disabled spaces. Blue badge users need these spaces, no-one else does.

Not that it bothers me but where I am (Ex Pat in Canada) there are loads...........infact I was waddling over to Babies R Us last week and for the first time noticed that there were 7 disabled spaces right outside, like I say it doesn't hurt to walk but 7 is crazy and outside Toys-Babies R Us.

It has to cope with all year round you see

So in December, when most people at our shopping centre queue for an hour plus (free aprking) for an NT space, the disabled ones are relatviely free (most people wait about 5 minutes or so). now we don;t get a badge with our ASD kids and often have to turna round and go home if they kick off; I assume it's even harder for those who DO qualify

So I think it's right the way it is

ltevedallas..get real ffs... the amount of times i have had to pull my car into the middle of the road just to get my child back in her car seat because some prick has parked to close to my door is well past the hundreds...and the amount of scratches on my car because of little shits getting out their cars and letting their doors smash my car.... P&C spaces are just as important for the safety of babies in their buggies etc and also so we can get our doors open all the way!!

flame me all you like guys but it seriously takes the piss when i see someone park in a disabled space with a blue badge and then they run into to shop in a hurry...hardly worthy of a space imo!

LtEve I am so grateful for the existence of P&T sapces precisely becuase we don;t quite qualify for a badge (Wales, rules tighter here) and need the extra space.

And tbh after witnessing a baby in a buggy almost being mowed down by an oblivious teen driver, I would prefer babies had space to be aprked alongside the car as the toddlers / bags are unpacked.

Is this a real AIBU? Or is the OP trying to wind things up?

such empathy LtEve obviously you are more 'special'

I would get rid of P+C spaces to increase the number of parking spaces availible to all.

If you read the thread, you will see that the OP has accepted that she was unreasonable over an hour ago.

YABU I hadn't really thought about it before but being out with Mum the other day (badged up), I was becoming very angry indeed at the lack of places and wanting to squash cars that I could see had no badge parked there (yes I bought a Chelsea tractor).

I like P&C spaces for the extra space when getting kids in and out, but think they would be better placed furthest from the shop entrance.

non badged cars parking illegally is not the same as not enough spaces, this needs to be tackled but it rarely is effectively.

Really don't mind if P&C spaces are not close to the entrance.

YABU.

Being able to park near the shops or have wide spaces is a luxury for parents and the able bodied. It is a necessity for people with a disability.

I don't know if it makes me 'special' (how strange) but When DD was a baby I parked further away from the store and never, not once, did I have any trouble getting her in and out of the car. I can walk, there are trollies designed for babies/car seats, I can look left and right and watch for traffic. Why do I need a special space?

Now she's older we still park further away, but that's so she doesn't scratch anyones car with her wanton door flinging!

My local Tescos has more P&C spaces than Disabled. The Disabled spaces are always full and I have been disgusted a number of times to see mothers giving grief to obvs disabled people for parking in P&C .