In thinking my parents are right to park in parent and toddler spaces

[lesley33]

Both of my parents are disabled. They can both walk, but it is a struggle to walk far. They also have a blue badge. At their local supermarket, some of the parent and todddler spaces are closer to the store entrance than any of the disabled parking spaces.

They don't need the extra space provided in the parent and toddler parking spaces. But the extra distance from the disabled parking spaces really makes a difference to them. So they park in the nearer parent and toddler parking spaces. I think this is fine - given the specific circumstances.

AIBU?

Of course this is fine. yanbu

YANBU

Disabled trumps parent and toddler any day. It might be worth having a word with the supermarket about this. The disabled should be the closest to the door.

It is nice to have a slightly wider bay and a shorter walk when you have a toddler/baby but not essential at all.

Yanbu. Disabled people should have priority access in any spaces. But if the actual disabled spaces are too far from the shop, I think your parents should make the shop aware of this, and ask if they can be swapped around.

Oops x post with silly hat!

It seems very silly that the disabled places are further away! The supermarkets where I go they are nearer! Of course it is fine that they do so! As an aside maybe they should contact the council/store about this as it does not make sense for them to be further away!

Yanbu

Your parents are DNBU. The supermarket is BVVVVU to put the disabled spaces further away - they should be closest to the store!!
Disabled people always have precedent over families with children (unless the children themselves are disabled).

I agree YANBU, BUT they will occasionally get grief from people who think they shouldn't. They may not be up to dealing with vitriole from ignorant strangers.

YANBU. The idea of parent and child parking is to have wider spaces. Disabled spots should be nearest to the shop.

Well, would it be in return ok for non-disabled people who need the space of toddler and parent spaces to take up a disabled one in turn?

well no argument here Lesley!!

everyone agrees!

YABU don't you know that struggling with children and behemoth buggies is much worse than any disability?

This isn't asda is it, I have noticed this in my local one, although there are more disabled spaces than p&c they are slightly further away. Doesn't make sense to me either.

Yanbu. I have no issue with disabled using p and c spaces (but not the other way round!) when all disabled are full and I have no issue with it is this circumstance either.

How daft of the supermarket to lay out the car park in this way!

DNBU

We are a family with speical needs- 2 with ASD, one with dyspraxia and ds4 was referred for ASD clinic on Friday . We don;t have a blue badge (2 X LRM) but would still be fine with someone with a blue badge taking priority over us for the P&T space we were after.

YABU don't you know that struggling with children and behemoth buggies is much worse than any disability?

of course, isnt it obvious motherhood takes priority over everything else in the universe :)

god forbid some should walk with their babies to the shop gasp

I read that comment as tongue in cheek.

I don't think YABU. But there will be people who think you are, if not on here then in the car park.

I work in on customer service and the amount of people who come in and complain about disabled people parking in P&C is unbelievable. I just reply 'Really??, a disabled person wanting to park near the store - how shocking! I will add a comment to HO to move the P&C spaces to the rear of the car park, that would be better all round'

WidowWadman Sun 10-Apr-11 10:02:37
Well, would it be in return ok for non-disabled people who need the space of toddler and parent spaces to take up a disabled one in turn?

No, it wouldn't. But unfortunately there are some selfish assholes out there with a sense of entitlement. This shouldn't be a competition, but in the event it becomes one, disabled trumps parent-child every single time.

This always comes up on these threads, but the issue would be solved almost entirely if supermarkets (etc) were to move the P&C spaces to the very back of the store, since it is the space that is needed, not the proximity to the store. Or, alternatively, make all spaces bigger so that P&C spaces are not needed at all. I don't see that happening though, certainly not widespread.

Sorry, I meant very back of the car park!

the biggest arse i encountered parking in parent and baby space said he needed extra room for his expensive sports car!Less chance of someone hitting it!!!

I don't get why supermarkets don't just put some bigger spaces well away from the store for anyone who feels the need for a big space. Then the disabled ones can be near the store and P&T and people with stupidly large or precious cars are catered for.

YANBU, but it might be worth mentioning the issue to the store so that they can change the spaces around.

Most supermarket car parks are private and therefore cannot enforce who parks where.

YANBU I would much prefer for your parents to take the space than a parent actually, as I feel their need outweighs that of most parents.

Thing is, I don't mind having to walk further, but I currently struggle to get in and out of a car in a normal space due to massive bump, getting my daughter in and out of a car is even more difficult because of this. That's why I was asking.

Most supermarket car parks are private and therefore cannot enforce who parks where.

Also they can't enforce Blue Badge parking as it's classed as discrimination (this is something coming up regularly on another forum at the moment where they sell disabled passes but disabled parking is based on Blue Badges even if you have a disabled pass).