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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Disabled parking badges are for the designated places NOT where the hell you like

690 replies

lilmissminx · 28/08/2011 11:12

Really need a vent! Am sick to death of seeing cars parked in the parent and baby/toddler spaces just because they have a blue badge, and not a child in sight Angry The other way around and you wouldn't hear the end of it about inconsiderate parents etc. I fully agree with the need for the disabled spaces etc, but I don't like having to choose between leaving my baby locked in the car to return the trolley (especially if out of sight) and him getting totally soaked etc if I take him with me.
Disclaimer This is made more annoying for the particular store I am referring to as there are only 2 parent spaces, and more than a dozen disabled badge holder ones. Yet because the parent ones are in between the two sets, they use those and leave all the other badge spaces empty.

OP posts:
Empusa · 28/08/2011 12:01

MyDadWasADesertRat It's ridiculous :( Hate that anyone has to deal with those attitudes, especially on top of disabilities.

I'm forever grateful I'm not disabled enough to need a blue badge. Can't imagine begrudging someone else using their badges the way they are intended to be used.

squeakytoy · 28/08/2011 12:01

I don't like leaving him out of sight because someone smashed the car window previously, breaking in to it , when I was just putting a trolley back

Sorry, but I do not believe you. Unless you were taking your trolley a very long journey.

StewieGriffinsMom · 28/08/2011 12:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 28/08/2011 12:02

But they might melt in the rain gorionine.

Empusa · 28/08/2011 12:03

So, let me try and picture this, I presume the car park is laid out

STORE ENTRANCE
disabled bays
disabled bays
P&C
disabled bays
disabled bays

Right?

I presume the empty disabled bays were the ones furthest from the entrance?

Corvax · 28/08/2011 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

moreyear · 28/08/2011 12:04

YANBU - P and c spaces are not just closer to the shop door - they are wider. This lets you pull the trolley alongside the car and out of the way of sometimes quite fast moving traffic and gives you ease of access when transfering a baby in and out of a car. In a normal width carpark, when you have a new baby, it is impossible to get the bloody car door open wide enough to get the baby out in or out of it's legislatively required baby capsule. This is compounded by the fact car doors themselves are much bigger (on average) than they were 20 years ago (again on average). You (generic) may think they are ridiculous/we didn't have them in my day but never the less they are not optional for parents and must be practically facilitated.

When I went to the supermarket with my 6 week old I had to park in a normal, narrower carpark, came out and someone had parked too closely beside me to open the door wide enough to get the baby back in the car. I had to leave the baby in the trolley while reversing the car out. Oh boo hoo I am sure some of the poor vile posters on here will say , and maybe it was only my hormones Biscuit but my little 6 week old seemed pretty vulnerable out there.

It is only common courtesy to respect that many groups in society have particular needs and try and accomodate them, even if they make no sense to you as an outsider and especially if the 'inconvenience' or 'cost' to you is parking one carpark further down. (If the carparks are poorly sited that is the fault of the supermarket not the OP)

Maryz · 28/08/2011 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Empusa · 28/08/2011 12:05

"P and c spaces are not just closer to the shop door - they are wider."

Yep, very necessary for a wide range of disabilities.

ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 28/08/2011 12:05

'When I rule I'm abolishing P&C spaces.'

I'll bring a bucket of paint and a brush.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 28/08/2011 12:06

Ahhh I was just saying to a poster last night that what we needed was a good P&C parking thread!

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 28/08/2011 12:07

The P&C spaces are near the supermarket doors for no good reason as far as I can see, they should be made into 'disabled' spaces.

P&C spaces could be at the other end of the car park quite legitimately and, if parents really think they need the extra space, they could park further away and they'd have that space.

I would sign up to a campaign to get the P&C spaces moved away from the store. They're just a 'sop' anyway to pander to parents who always want something 'extra' to acknowledge their supreme status as parents.

GoofusMoore · 28/08/2011 12:08

YARBOO.

and everything else has been said I think.

Empusa · 28/08/2011 12:08

Lying I agree. Surely it's safer to have P&C spaces further away? Less traffic away from the store entrance. As long as there was a path to the entrance that'd surely be best?

SoupDragon · 28/08/2011 12:09

"In a normal width carpark, when you have a new baby, it is impossible to get the bloody car door open wide enough to get the baby out in or out of it's legislatively required baby capsule."

it isn't impossible. Really, it isn't.

Yes, you get inconsiderate parkers blocking you in but that happens to any car in any space.

ExitPursuedByATroll · 28/08/2011 12:09

Oh not this again. It is only a couple of weeks since the last one isn't it?

YABVVVVVU

Glitterknickaz · 28/08/2011 12:09

laughs manically
Honestly, shopping.... if you find it hard with a single baby try the whole process with three autistic kids (one in a wheelchair) kicking off.

Big reason why 98% of my shopping is done online but sometimes it just can't be avoided....

5inthebed · 28/08/2011 12:10

Squeakytoy, neither do I.

Moreyear, could you not have got your baby in the other side of the car?

Empusa · 28/08/2011 12:10

"Oh not this again. It is only a couple of weeks since the last one isn't it?"

I think it's a record!

SoupDragon · 28/08/2011 12:11

If you are not disabled and are unable to cope with an ordinary parking space, you really ought to be using public transport or shopping online.

WalterFlipschicks · 28/08/2011 12:13

Havent read the whole thread as i am pretty certain what it says Grin
I do however agree with maryz, i have 10 week old twins and to get their car seats out i need room at either side of the car, i dont care if i have to park in timbuktoo and walk to the supermarket, as long as there is room to swing my door open without bashing my car door, a sin my husband would send me to jail for!!!
So... Get rid of p&c spaces OR put them at the back of the carpark, then they would not be abused by anyone. Disabled spaces are close to the shop for a reason, p&c spaces are near the shop to accommodate lazy fuckers!

WalterFlipschicks · 28/08/2011 12:13

Oh... And i also manage to do the shop with 10 week old twins and a 3 yr old, wonder woman me!

Glitterknickaz · 28/08/2011 12:14

5inthebed damn right I do.... well generally if the standard blue badge bays are empty or in situations where the car park layout is stupid a la Morrisons in Paignton

cornsilksi · 28/08/2011 12:16

this would all be solved in only supermarkets would create PFB spaces right next to the entrance.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 28/08/2011 12:17

There's a trick to getting an infant out of car in a normal sized parking space. Park several inches closer to the white line on the opposite side of the car where you need to get the baby out. Hey presto! You have adequate room to get carseat out. You do need to have average or above driving skills for this though, crap drivers can wait in the queue for the 3 P&C spaces. Wink