AIBU to tell people off who park in parent & child spaces but have no children with them?

[Ameybee]

This does my head in when I'm struggling to get 2 kids out the car in a normal space yet some idiot without kids is parked in the child space!!

I told a lady off today! I said 'do you know this is a parent & child space?' She said 'yeah' I replied 'so you're just being inconsiderate then?' She thought about it then made up some bullshit about her child being 'down there, in that shop!!' - she had just driven in!!! Clearly lying. So, would you say something to someone!???

P&C are always on walkways? Are they fuck.

Threads like this make me want to get my 2 driving children in their cars, and me and park across the fucking spaces. I could of course argue that I'm the parent and they're the children. Though I find this argument is held up nicely when I take my pre-school DD along too.

Have a bolter? Make sure you always have a set of reins/dog lead/spare belt in the car and tie up kid before you open the car door. Better still tie kid to bike stands, then you can shop in peace. What's not to like. Even better than that, do it on a rainy day, thus negating any need for bath time chaos.

Sirzy - you are right that P&C spaces could be further away from the shop - though it would make parents' lives a bit easier if they made sure there were trolleys with child seats nearby, and a walkway to the store. That would seem a perfectly reasonable compromise to me.

there's a supermarket in the next town, a HUGE tesco and they have a nice covered walkway all the way across to the far side of the car park. The P&T go along the edge of this walkway. It's brilliant. (still no trolleys but hey)

But last time we were there some tosser still parked right in a P&T space, by the walkway, all the way across the other end - we luckily got the next, and only remaining space next to them. Baby ds was only a couple of weeks old, it was minus something, snowing and I was struggling with the bloody pushchair in the boot and getting the car seat onto it (we then struggled to manage all the shopping with two baskets and said pushchair)

My guess is the people thought, Oh, no one will mind us using this space as it's so far from the shop.

So however far away you put them, people will still use them when they have no kids/other reason to.

Well quite, Beer. Sums it up nicely.

i would have told you to fuck off and mind your own buisness. She was very polite to at least try and make up a lie in my opinion!

There's that too GoSuckEggs

To be honest, you never see children bolting in car parks, or tethered to their children in the supermarket. I only ever see reins when folks are out for a walk or in the park. So folk that do have bolters probably do find ways of shopping without the kids. But you still have to take the kids shopping sometimes even if you'd rather not, and you still have to get the car seat out the back. And it's easier and safer at a P&C place.

You don't HAVE to get the car seat out of the back. I did it for about a week after DS was born before I realised it was a waste of time and effort!

The debate has nothing to do with how good parents are at looking after their children in a car parks. Accidents are a fact of life and parenting is irrelevant. In fact I had to hit the back of a people carrier the other day who reversed out when I was behind it to get it to stop in time. I'm dumb struck that there are people who will argue the fact these spaces are not necessary because it's up to the parents to control their children. What's wrong with supermarkets helping parents keep children safe? If parents have just a marginal need over those without - whether convenience, space requirement or otherwise, then they are necessary.

BeerTricksPotter - we aren't all perfect parents all of the time, nor are our children perfect all the time.

Yes, parents should have their toddlers under control and safe all the time, but it seems really churlish to object to something that makes it a bit easier for parents to keep their children safe.

Gosuckeggs - I was very polite and not all aggressive just said 'these are p&c spaces you know?' - she may not have realised. If she had of told me to fuck off and mind my own business its clear she thinks she's doing something wrong!

Don't really see how people can argue this - its just inconsiderate to park in them if you don't need to! And we all know that lots of people do!! Pre DC my DB did because he didn't want people to scratch his s2000! But now he has children he gets how selfish that was !

Dammit, I was hoping that if I trained my baby well enough he wouldn't roll off the cot-without-sides we bought him.

Or fall from the pushchair-without-harness I got, not wanting to demand one with straps

If I am a good parent he won't lean too far over the front and fall on his head, because he'll know when I say it that I really mean it.

What d'you do if a trolley without a baby rest isn't available then Sirzy?

Beer they are often near a footpath, or at least, nearer the store so less car park to cross.

Sirzy - that's just your choice not to get Carseat out. And its not really about that.

IMO gets ready for lashing people are jealous that p&c spaces are provided! Pre dc I wouldn't of dreamt of parking in one - even if I was ill or whatever! And when I don't take the kids with me I relish at the freedom of parking in a normal space and not needing extra space and time!

Lets write to tesco etc and suggest 'I'm lazy and can't be arsed to walk too far spaces' 'I feel a bit shit & hungover spaces' 'I do have kids but they're at home spaces' 'I don't have kids but I don't see why people who have them should have p&c spaces!'

No wonder the worlds like it is if people are so inconsiderate day to day.

And I'd never thought of the safety aspect but you know that's true, and another reason people who don't need them shouldn't use them!

I know it was my choice, but all I said was people don't NEED to. There is a difference between a need and a choice.

beer if there's enough space you can leave your trolley beside the car whilst you get the bolter in it first, without worrying about your trolley being in other cars way.

I was very polite and not all aggressive just said 'these are p&c spaces you know?' - she may not have realised. If she had of told me to fuck off and mind my own business its clear she thinks she's doing something wrong!

Not at all, If i parked there and you asked me and i told you to fuck off and mind your own, it is not because i think i am doing wrong it is simply because i think you need to piss off and keep your self to your self and not talk to me. she may not hav realised - or just didnt give a shit.

I bet that makes the disabled spaces even more of a target for the non disabled, non parents Beer?

also children have been known to relinquish said grip and take off. You can't always make sure they stay put however hard you try.