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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:
ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 28/08/2011 12:18

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

With red carpet to the store in case they trip, and free organic raisins?

cornsilksi · 28/08/2011 12:20

excellent idea

Kayano · 28/08/2011 12:21

Is this not getting too out o hand now? The initial question was about if spaces are available can they not use them...

Now it's descended into pfb red carpet generally taking the piss.

Maryz · 28/08/2011 12:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AmberLeaf · 28/08/2011 12:22

YABVU

You should also do your main shop online saving you all this stress and bother,....if you like to choose your own cheese/veg/fruit etc then walk with your DC in a buggy and do that yourself!

Honeydragon · 28/08/2011 12:22

erm if you can't get a 6 week old in a car how did you get into reverse it?

UABU

P&C spaces need to be wider & further a way. I speak as someone who went out with their mother in a time limited car park. As we had the baby and pushchair we parked in the P&C space as it was by the path meaning my mother and dc's and the pushchair out safely. But my mother used her blue badge as this entitles her to stay longer.

Cue absolute barrage of abuse from charming woman to get ourselves in a disabled bay and leave the P&C spaces for people who need them.

Yes I am a vile shitty person and support the right of people with limited mobility bad enough to warrant an issued badge to park safely and conveniently.

Those of you that agree with the op, is there an actual need for P&C spaces that is a great as a need for P&C spaces?

4madboys · 28/08/2011 12:23

disabled CAN park where the hell they like and SO they should be able to!!

i once rather embarrasingly started mouthing off loudly to my friend about a car opposite us that had just parked on double yellows, they then got a wheelchair out the boot and helped one passenger into it! i was mortified Blush in my defense i was DRUNK, first night out without kids since ds4 was born. they then came into the same restaraunt we were eating in! i apologised and then in my high heels managed to trip over so the bloke in the wheelchair copped an eyeful of my rather abundent breasts...... Blush his wife didnt look impresed, the bloke in the wheelchair gave me a sly wink and grinned Grin

Honeydragon · 28/08/2011 12:23

Oh and PROFGOBLIN I'll sign up too Wink

higgle · 28/08/2011 12:24

I hate parent and child parking spaces! Those of us who spend huge amounts of money at Tesco/Sainsbury's/Waitrose and have to lug large amounts of shopping out of the supermarket and back to our cars - at the far end of the car park - because we think it is not in our children's regular best interests to be dragged around a supermarket should not be treated like second class citizens.

Jux · 28/08/2011 12:24

Definitely very large pink pfb badges with lots of glitter. Possiby private roads for them too.

ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 28/08/2011 12:24

Just as a slight side track, I'm sure that one of the reasons that the stats for pedestrian RTA rocket for the first year of secondary are that so many primary-aged children are completely unskilled about traffic and safe walking because of their over-protective parents.
So suddenly they are walking to school unaccompanied at 11, or with mates, and they haven't a clue.
SPLAT!

gorionine · 28/08/2011 12:24

ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin, not if like mysef you dress them appropriatly for the occasion complete with these handy boots.Grin

Empusa · 28/08/2011 12:25

Kayano I'm wondering whether the OP will come back and tell us if the empty disabled bays were the ones further away than the used P&C bays?

And also if she knew that the blue badge holders in the P&C spaces didn;t have children with them?

ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 28/08/2011 12:25

'Now it's descended into pfb red carpet generally taking the piss.'

But these threads happen so often, I like to bring a little variety to each one.

Kayano · 28/08/2011 12:27

No one is saying anyone is vile but alas the moving of spaces is something to be dealt with by those in charge - not the op

I support the rights of
Disabled people too ESP if there are shared disabled and p&c places as per absolutes example- that is wrong on a lot of levels. No one is saying deny them access with their limited mobility, but if there are disabled spaces available... Why use the p&c? If your not happy with p&c write to the supermarket cos OP can't really do anythin about it

4madboys · 28/08/2011 12:28

well i am only taking the piss out of myself Grin

it was my friends i felt sorry for, poor things probably wanted to disown me, as for the bloke in the wheelchair, well i, or rather my boobs in his face seemed to make his day Grin

VeronicaCake · 28/08/2011 12:28

I can't believe I'm commenting on this because I think it is a fruitless pointless argument and if you've got nothing better to worry about in your life than whether or not people are parking in the P&C spaces then wahey for you!

But your note of entitlement is so bloody annoying I'm feeling I have to say something. Firstly blue badges don't mean disabled people have to use the disabled bays, the P&C spaces are provided as a courtesy by the store and anyone could in theory use them, it is just kindest to leave them for those who need them. This has fuck all to do with rights.

There may be some people with disabilities using parking facilities who technically don't need them. There are some parents of able-bodied eight year olds who use but don't need the P&C spaces. And since the vast majority of disabilities aren't visible no amount of watching people get out of their cars is going to help you on this one.

However, whilst being a parent is hard and inconvenient at times being disabled is monumentally shit a lot of the time. I should know since I am both. Since I cannot and will never be able to drive the point is academic to me but could you please remember that kicking disabled people, accusing us of taking the piss when we seek help and so forth hurts people who are already having a tough time.

In future I will comment on all threads on this topic to say 'Nyer nyer nyer nyer nyer nyer' since that is the only response they deserve.

Oh and if DH takes DD to do the shopping his preferred solution when she was small was pop DD in sling, unload shopping into boot of car, return trolley, return to car, pop DD into carseat. Now she is walking she holds on to the trolley. HTH.

Empusa · 28/08/2011 12:30

"Why use the p&c? If your not happy with p&c write to the supermarket"

Because they are legally entitled to use the P&C spaces.
Also if they are at the supermarket, surely they'd just use the P&C spaces, rather than cancel their shopping to go home and write a letter?

ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 28/08/2011 12:30

No the OP can't do anything about it, other than tell blue badge holders that they can't park wherever the hell they like. Confused
However, they are legally entitled to park in a very wide range of places, which the OP in her frothing appears to be ignorant of.

ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin · 28/08/2011 12:32

Oh, and P&C places to be used by parents of children under 12? WTF?
Under 5 maybe.

fedupofnamechanging · 28/08/2011 12:32

I don't think p&c spaces are nearer the door for 'lazy fuckers'. I think it is done to minimize the chances of children making a break for it and running into the traffic, while the parent is loading other dc into/out of the car.

Probably the thinking is that if the disabled bays are further from the store, it is not usually very far and adults are traffic aware when children are not always, so on balance it was felt that the children would be better off being closer.

In trying to accommodate everyone, it seems no one is happy. I think it would be better to put p&c spaces at the side or back of the supermarket, next to the path.

This probably wont happen though, as parents outnumber people with disabilities, so the supermarket is more likely to want to please them, by putting their spaces closer to the front of the shop. Of course all that happens is that other people use the p&c spots and so they no longer benefit the people who they were designed for.

squeakytoy · 28/08/2011 12:34

I say ban children from supermarkets... problem solved Grin

Well it used to work for Makro.... I have lovely memories of being left on my own in the car, with a book and a bottle of pop... Grin

SquongebobSparepants · 28/08/2011 12:35

Yay! An AIBU by stealth blue badge vs P+C space thread!

And here's me bored

Glitterknickaz · 28/08/2011 12:35

Um.... since when are people with disabilities more likely to be adult?

Spero · 28/08/2011 12:37

I can't tell you what I really think of you op because doubtless my post would be deleted.

So let me try the polite version. I will trade with you - you can have my blue badge and my disability. I would happily walk ten miles every day to the supermarket and back with your baby in a sling if I could have grown up without my disability and if I could have a future without the pain and lack of dignity it will pro ably bring.

Just think about your attitude, please just for a few minutes. Is some rain on your baby's head worth getting upset about when you think how lucky and healthy you are? Please think about it.

Yep and by the way I can park where ever I like unless I am in certain London boroughs which have their own badge scheme or I am obstructing traffic or parking dangerously. And thanks to you op I am going to test that assertion by parking across two P and C spaces every time I go to supermarket. You have given me new mission in life, ta.