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?

no dear i am not goodnight thanks for the laughter :)

That's illegal you know michelle, using it without the disabled person (or holfing onto it after you had your cancer cured / managed).

Blue Badges can be ti4ed up with motability or they might not; councils ahve different criterias. SW today was saying we might get one if we go via council as they sometimes refer via them and they would back us, but OTOH they might just say nope as no HR- depends on what mood they are in (we've got 2 X LR mobility IYSWIM, so two with high needs although below HR, but no single HR..... complicated when you get to multiples).

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yes i have no doubt its illegal using the cars like that, i did think how did he get a car like that and of course what they do is they get the car from the disabled person and i believe you can pay more and get a better model. so this guy is driving round in this pretty expensive car and his dad walks everywhere. some people will get/ apply for everything they can. some doctors will also sign you for anything believe me, especially in areas of very high unemployment and extremely high poverty. trust me im not making it up

couldnt sleep by the way :)

YANBU

Our Tesco has the P&C spaces to the side of the store, so they are right next to the building, you walk round but you don't have to cross any of the carpark to get in. How sensible.

I once had a go at a blue badge holder parking in a M and B space, but this was when there were about 20+ disabled spaces but only 4 parent and child ones. The disabled ones also offered traffic free access to the store which the parent and child ones didn't. The store isn't like that now, and has far more spaces for both groups, both I think with easier access.

YANBU with one comment on it.

Awhile ago we were looking for a P&C space and couldn't get one but saw a middle aged couple sitting in the front of a car, man in the drivers seat and his wife in the passenger seat beside him.

DH asked if they were just leaving and the man said no, we are waiting for someone. DH realised they had no child/booster seat in the car and asked if they were waiting for someone with a child. No they weren't. Did they know they were in the P&C spaces. Yes, but it was okay, the driver is disabled and had a badge. DH asked if the driver had gotten out of the car. No. DH asked if they were waiting for another disabled person. No, but the driver is disabled so is allowed to park with his badge regardless. DH asked why they needed a disabled or P&C space when the disabled person was staying in the car. Because we can park here so we are parking here. In that case, they were being unreasonable and had no right to be there.

They sat and watched us struggle to get LO in his carry/car seat out of the car in a normal space quite happily.

They should only use either disabled or P&C spaces if the disabled person is getting in or out of the car. If they aren't, it's unreasonable.

In the case I spotted they were elderly, and no children. Actually I didn't realise for ages realise you could park in a P an C when pregnant. More of a problem when I got so huge I found it hard to get out.

The OP needs to complain to her store, and I'd support her. P and C need big spaces, preferably with an option of a path to the store. Disabled need the closest spaces to the store, with more room.

Good stores recognise this, the one I had problems with now puts the appropriate trolleys near the right parking spaces, which is useful too.

I haven't read the whole thread so sorry if someone has already asked this OP but...how do your parents manage to walk around the store?

Does it work the other way round? If all the mum and baby spaces are taken up but there are loads of disabled spaces - would you take a disabled space. You may not have a blue badge but you have your baby/toddler with you!

Do it online.

YANBU I would also complain about this to the supermarket's head office, it's ridiculous to have disabled spaces further away.

Worral, can't answer for the OP but personally I head straight for the scooters.

Yes it is ADSA that do this. If my parents need to go round most of the store they use the scooters that ASDA provide free. If they are going to somewhere close to the exit e.g. newspaper point, then they are able to walk there and back to the car.

pingu2209 no you can't only blue badge holders can use a disabled bay.

pingu2209 "Does it work the other way round? If all the mum and baby spaces are taken up but there are loads of disabled spaces - would you take a disabled space. You may not have a blue badge but you have your baby/toddler with you!"

Believe it or not a child/toddler is not a disability

OP Y(or rather your parents)ANBU

Was Pingu not jesting? Blimey!

No Pingu I woudln;t, even with two registered disabled children 9and 2 others), it's blue badge or nothing with disabled spaces.

Of course people with a blue badge are completely entitled to park wherever is most convenient for them, and the store is stupid to put the P&C places closer.

I have to say though that the reason I used to use P&C places (no longer, as I don't have a car) was not so much the extra space (nice, but not strictly necessary) as the fact that they had a pedestrian walkway to the supermarket, so it was much safer as we didn't have to cross the car park. Presumably I'm not the only one who cares most about this aspect? So moving the spaces to the back of the carpark wouldn't be a good idea imo.

They never actually existed until DD2 was abut 4 disability trumps P&C in my opinion.I also had a bolter [DS ADHD/ASD] but just got on with it.

Actually disabled parking bays aren't for Blue Badge only, there is no legal way to enforce it and it's classed as discrimination for a private carpark to do so. Blue Badges are only enforcable on the roads, everywhere else relies on people being nice to each other.

Not that I'm saying anyone should use them or that having children is an excuse to use them. It's not.

Actually confuddled I was threatened with a £50 fine by sainsburys (rather their Parking Agents I guess) for aprking in a blue badge area by mistake even though I showed them the DLA forms for two of the chidlren I ahd at me, at the time both at Higher Rate.

I was informed it was their premises, their definition. (They did agree it was a mistake- bad signange- so just gave me formal warning; never since been back, don;t trust the signs to know what's P&T adn what is SN any mroe)

Actually you weren't threatened with a £50 fine, you were threatened with a £50 parking fee which they have no way of enforcing.