Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

557 replies

Ameybee · 28/02/2013 15:47

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!???

OP posts:
nellyjelly · 28/02/2013 22:12

Splitting my sides.................

RattyRoland · 28/02/2013 22:19

Usually I walk to the supermarket,but on the rare occasions I've been to a big Tesco, usually on holiday, I love the P&C spaces. Makes the shopping experience much nicer, as do the trolleys with child seat in them.

GirlOutNumbered · 28/02/2013 22:30

I parked in a normal space the other day and when I got back to the car I couldn't get the passenger door open wide enough to fit carseat back in!

I asked a kind gent if he would hold carseat and baby while I reversed out..... He looked a bit worried like I might abandon ds with him! 'twas a pain in the ass and if I had seen a childless person in a p and c space, I may have said something....

funchum8am · 28/02/2013 22:33

Yanbu, some people on this thread need to take a serious look at themselves

fairylightsinthesnow · 28/02/2013 22:37

obviously have not read all 14 pages so apologies as I am sure it has all been said by now but OP, I am with you on this. Yes, I CAN cope in a normal space and I COULD walk from the other side of the car park and no these are not a right but the people who are using them with no kids in tow are simply being inconsiderate, selfish gits. I am always surprised there is not more consensus about this on here. Something is provided to help a group of people, make their lives a little easier in a small way. It is misused by others, most of whom (and I know, as I have had more than a few conversations with them) have no valid reason other than sheer bloody minded selfishness. That quality, in any other context on here is roundly condemned, so why not on this issue?

perceptionreality · 28/02/2013 22:43

Yes, they are misused by others. But p&t spaces are a luxury, not a god given right. I think they encourage people to think they can't cope without them which is ridiculous.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 28/02/2013 22:51

I don't think anyone is saying they are a god given right, or that they can't cope without them, perceptionreality - just that they make life a bit easier, which isn't a terrible thing, and that it is churlish for people to use them when they don't need them.

perceptionreality · 28/02/2013 22:55

Yes, they make life a bit easier. I myself have used them. But if I can't get one, I don't care. And I certainly wouldn't start a fight with someone in a car park over one. It's not worth it.

Hoofhearted69 · 28/02/2013 23:09

(Blatantly thieving popcorn from Tiredmumno1) I've brought along some pimms in tins, anyone fancy a slurp? Have some straws too..?

gordyslovesheep · 28/02/2013 23:16

This was particularly true post c section, when I would lift ds out in car seat straight on to trolley, it was useful to have trolley right next to me so my insides didn't fall out

you probably shouldn't have been driving if it was that bad Hmm

IneedAsockamnesty · 28/02/2013 23:39

Yanbu. But probably not for the reason you think.

I have a large parking area outside my house,I own this area it is mine. I have a space I like to park in I have a little sign by it that says please don't park in this area. My brother also likes to park in that space.

I cannot enforce anything should he do so but I can drive over his car in the monster truck.

I cannot actually force people to stay the fuck out of my parking space but does that mean its ur of me to expect them to?

Of course its not because its my space its on land owned by me . If a land owner provides a space for a particular group of people its not unreaonable to expect visitors to that land to park where the owner wants them to.

erowid · 01/03/2013 02:35

This reminds me of particular feisty afternoon in tecos car park. I was driving in with my friend who was 8 and a half months pregnant at the time (no kids with us) I spotted 1 P&C parking space left available and parked up (its closer to the store and easier for pregnant friend) Car drove passed me after I parked and the woman driving looked kinda peeved but parked next to us in an ordinary parking bay less than 4ft away.

We all get out of the cars, she gets out with her 6ish year old (who is clearly capable of walking an extra 4 feet) and she obviously noticed that we had no children with us. She then shouted at us "You're not suppose to use those spaces until you actually have a child you know!" Shock

I tried to reason with her by explaining my friend was pregnant and would appreciate the shorter walk to the store in her condition but no, she wasn't having any of it. Apparently she was more entitled because they were "A parent and a child" where as we had no child. Hmm

Parking makes people crazy. Confused

OutsideOverThere · 01/03/2013 06:16

Erowid I understand where you're coming from but I do think she had a point.

Could your friend not have managed an extra 4ft? I mean fair enough there is little doubt that a 6yo doesn't need a pushchair/car seat so in terms of that they didn't really need the space either.

Speaking as someone who had a horrendous pregnancy recently with inordinate problems with SPD, etc I found it very very tough to walk any distance - and still I didn't use the P&T spaces when my children were at school. I did when the 5yo was with me.

Shops need to be clearer about who can use them - I think technically toddlers, babies are fine but anything above about 4 is pushing it a bit.

OutsideOverThere · 01/03/2013 06:25

FILLYJONK!!! You're back!!! Grin

erowid · 01/03/2013 06:50

Outside Could your friend not have managed an extra 4ft?

Probably yes, but manoeuvring in and out of the car with big bump would have been a bit difficult without the extra space to open the door fully.

I think her reaction threw me actually and a bit of common courtesy wouldn't have gone amiss in that situation.

whiteflame · 01/03/2013 06:59

Well she was more entitled erowid. She had a child with her, you did not. Just because you decided you needed it more, but the fact is, they are for parents and their children.

It's not about the distance surely, but the extra space.

toffeelolly · 01/03/2013 07:02

I have even seen tesco staff park in p&b bay's. But what i found worst of all was when i was pregant going to hospital app a midwife had her car parked in p&b bay. So people really do not care were they park so got me thinking why should iWink

whiteflame · 01/03/2013 07:02

Sorry pressed post too soon.

How can you bring up common courtesy? Someone with a 6 year old would appreciate being able to use the extra space - specifically intended for them - too. So it was you who should have used common courtesy.

Sirzy · 01/03/2013 07:09

White flame that shows what someone said earlier that these spaces do seem to lead to a certain sense of entitlement and that common sense disappears.

Can you seriously not see why a heavily pregnant woman would need the extra space?

erowid · 01/03/2013 07:10

It's not about the distance surely, but the extra space.

Which it was Hmm

A mother and a 6 year old with no car seats/buggies/bags not really needing much space to get out of a car compared to a heavily pregnant lady who would need the space.

whiteflame · 01/03/2013 07:14

Sirzy, can you not see that a parent and child space is for parents and children (or disabled people if these spaces are taken).

It's really that simple.

Sirzy · 01/03/2013 07:17

I can see that for some people they need the extra space without having a child. It is very selfish to not accept that.

babiesinslingsgetcoveredinfood · 01/03/2013 07:19

No whiteflame it's not that simple. You'd think it would be, but it's never that simple on here. God forbid that parents should have any help or use anything to make their lives a wee bit easier. Professionally missing to sodding point is rife on threads like this.

(Had enough of the demands for self flagellation, not my thing.)

butterflyroom · 01/03/2013 07:19

FGS - People who are saying they don't care- why post then??? I can see the benefits of these spaces for people with young children and babies as there is far more room around the car to get children and car seats that clip on to pushchairs/ trolleys in the car without it being tight. They are a useful bonus and I can see why the OP became annoyed with some lazy arse. YANBU.

whiteflame · 01/03/2013 07:20

It is very selfish to use spaces designated for people with a particular need.

Swipe left for the next trending thread