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!???

I've not used them at all with DD1 if she is with me on her own, since she turned 5, TomArcher.

Gordy - lets face it the majority of people this thread is referring to will not be picking up kids.

I wonder how many parents would use the P&C places if they were all placed at the other end of the carpark.

And someone asked a while back about buses - when I use them I am considerate and put baby bee in carrier and DD walks so I don't take up a space for a wheelchair user! I hate using them because I once got on & driver drove off so quickly DD fell over before we had sat down (I was also 38 weeks preg & nearly fell myself) and also because DD asks me very loud questions like 'why does that man smell' and 'why is that lady so fat?' Erm... Lets look out the window darling!!

I use them with my 10 year old ds. I am sure I am judged. However he has autism and hypermobility and while he looks fine it can be a struggle to get him into places without issues. I've applied for a blue badge but out local council in its wisdom only give them to people on high rate mobility DLA, which kind of leaves a lot of people falling through the net. Anyhoo judge away I will continue to park in them because we need to.

Technically speaking in Tesco you're supposed to have one of their P&C club badges in your window, though I don't think it's ever been enforced!

I broke down once in a Tesco P&C space (yes, I did have DD with me) and RAC took ages to get to me. Oh, the filthy looks I got for that...

BeerTricksPotter - I think that walking across a car park on a proper, protected walkway, is going to be safer for everyone. And if you do have a child who runs off, it gives you a bit more time to catch them.

I always use the P&C places. There's nothing that says the kids HAVE to be in the car with you.

I'm a parent. I have childs. And frankly when I'm off to ASDA to buy apple vodka to drink to get over the time I spend with said childs, I need to be parked near to the store.

erm 'lest face it' how do you know

I also had a shiny sports car when DD1 was born and I used to take her into the gym in her car seat ...so that may explain the cars with no seats in

People are ridiculously precious about car spaces - it's crazy

I actually don't even look for the p&c spaces in a recently redone Sainsbury's car park near us, as it is well designed and nearly all the regular spaces are safe & accessible. Some car parks are an accident waiting to happen though.

I'm not being precious about it - I'm just saying that I think its inconsiderate to use them if you don't need to! For everyone who has a genuine reason to need to use it - there will also be some lazy arse who's just inconsiderate!

At my local Asda they issue fines to people mis-using the spots.

(Sorry if anyone has already mentioned this).

It's not legally enforceable.

So there's there's potential for further arguments regarding ages and who has the greater need. Oh dear..

I haven't used them for ages. Dc are 14 and 11, but they have always looked much older because they're tall, so I bet someone somewhere was tutting when I was still using them.

I'm just glad all the stress of parking and shopping with babies and small children is over for me. But I think getting into arguments in carparks is probably a bad idea esp if you have children with you.

crashdoll Hmmm so why have the policy?

Apple vodka you say Babyheave? Clarssy stuff

crashdoll is right - they have it as some people pay up, but the only people who can legally enforce parking fines are the local authority.

I think they're P&C are a marketing ploy and are not a necessity at all. Having said that, if they exist they shouldn't be abused.
The other day this young and seemingly fit couple in a tiny Citroen C1 parked in the last p&c moments before me. I then seriously struggled to open the door and chipped the door edge slightly to get DS out of a normal space which was ridiculously narrow. So YANBU. I was annoyed too.

I'm afraid I can't answer that.

You are probably right Tom - there are some dodgy people about these days and its not worth risking with the kids... I still think its reasonable to be pissed off about it... But maybe in my head next time like usual!

To all the people saying 'it doesn't say its specifically for parent and child' are you not reading the sign??? I'm sure you'd be pretty pissed off if you had an allocated parking space for your flat/house and someone kept parking in it & said 'well it says no 22 but it doesn't say not no 28'!!

I'm getting delirious now - hurry up and get it to 1000 posts so the lashing stops .

Oh FGS of course it is inconsiderate of people to park in a P&C space if they have no need of one. It is selfish and lazy and makes it that bit harder for people who do qualify for one. And that could be a parent with children or someone with a disability.

No the world will not end if they are full/did not exist, but the point is they are provided to make life easier for some people, and if they are full of people taking the piss it's just a bit of a pain in the arse.

And I imagine for most parents its not the distance from the shop that matters it's the fact that you can open the doors wide enough to get baby seats and toddlers in and out safely and easily.

The level of defensiveness threads like this spark is ridiculous. OP knows it's not a life changing, apocalyptic problem but she is entitled to be a bit peeved.

OP YANBU

Arguing in supermarket car parks is a bit common

What Eeyores said