AIBU to be incredulous that this really does happen IRL?!

[ifyourehoppyandyouknowit]

Just saw a carpark skirmish between a car with a blue badge and a car with a baby, over the last parent and child space, at a big chain supermarket. All disabled bays were full, only one PAC space left, both car reach the space at the same time. Man in blue badge holding car waves blue badge from window, people with child in the car kick off and start shouting about how he should park in the disabled bays, saying that they don't care if they are all full that is a parent and child space. I just kind of stood there open mouthed. Plenty of space to park further back in the car park as it wasn't that full. Oh, and no one was going to dissolve because the carpark is under cover.

I'm just that this really actually happens in real life! I thought it was kind of a internet ranty thing and that no one would be dickheaded enough to actually challenge a blue badge holder's right to use a PAC space outside of the internet!

And now I feel like I should have said something, but the shouty parents didn't seem like they were the type to listen to anything except the sound of their own voices.

So am I BU and very naive?

You must have needed all your customer care skills and diplomacy MrsGSR.

Prehaps Im being Obtuse but my Dad has a Blue Badge, He had a heart attack 15 yrs ago no problems since? which has qualified him for a Blue Badge,
The same with MIL who had a heart attack 10 yrs ago fittest 79yrold I know !! she also has a Blue badge, no problems since..

They can both walk/drive with no problem. Why do they have Blue Badges??

I think it depends on where you live. My father had to fight for his Blue Badge (he can hardly walk at all and lives in London). My FIL got his (he lives in the Highlands) when he could still take his dogs out for walks.

I actually think P&C spaces should be abolished. Any good they do has been outweighed by the rude, self entitled, spoilt and downright stupid behaviour they seem to provoke from some idiotic parents. And really, at the end of the day, how much use are they? Most supermarkets only have about half a dozen such spaces so the vast majority of parents end up parking in a normal space anyway. They're really just a token gesture that cause more trouble than they're worth.

"how much use are they? "

for people with new babies and bulky carseats they are really useful. I think it would be wrong to take them away just because some parents can be selfish. That would be like taking away spaces for people with a disability just because some people play the system or use other family member blue badges.

Why not just move the P&C spaces further away from the doors.

*I have to say someone waving their blue badge at me as if it were some divine pass would piss me right off.

It doesn't seem very fair that the parents (assuming their children were young enough to justify a P&C space) should have to surrender the space to a blue badge holder.*

you are joking right are you I am not sure having a baby does not give anybody a right to be pissed off at a blue badge holder I assume you have healthy legs and can walk to the supermarket with your baby and pram

They're really just a token gesture that cause more trouble than they're worth.

that 1 supermarket near me has about 8 P n C parking spaces I am sure more than 8 parents shop at any given time yet people froth and go a bit demented trying to get in a space it is bloody madness

Move the P&C waaaay back and have a supermarket campaign or two:

'Fighting obesity at every opportunity'

'Road skills for under 12, be aware'

'The fresh air and weather walkway'

oh yes I agree have walkways P n C spaces just in the car park in general but a bit wider for prams/buggies then I think folk would just calm the hell down about a parking space I am an old lady and no P n C in my day we managed

Sorry, the point I was making Redtractor was that nine times out of ten the spaces are taken when you get to the supermarket anyway so you usually end up having to park in an ordinary space. So from that point of view they're not that much use.
Obviously if they were moved further away and a lot more spaces provided, they would be useful to parents of small babies.
But at the moment there's very little gain for parents and a lot of annoyance to other car park users.

Me too mrsjay, but perhaps that's why we are aware of the fact that they are a privilege and not a Right Of Having Reproduced.

I have been on the verge of challenging people in blue badge bays when they are not displaying a badge. I think I may be brave enough to do it next time. If people are not challenged, they will keep doing it, won't they?

Also I am staggered by the number of people with blue badges who think they are not allowed to park in P&C spaces - I drive many disabled people to the shops and I always go for a P&C space if the blue badge bays are full.

It doesn't seem very fair that the parents (assuming their children were young enough to justify a P&C space) should have to surrender the space to a blue badge holder.

You think it's unfair that an able bodied person should be inconvenienced slightly by someone who has no option to park near the door?

Why not just move the P&C spaces further away from the doors.

One of my friends suggested this when her first was born, he's 18 now.

Me too mrsjay, but perhaps that's why we are aware of the fact that they are a privilege and not a Right Of Having Reproduced.

more than likely It just baffles me

Oooooo parking in bb bays is a per hate of mine.

We have 2 in the hospital I work at and it is only ever nurses who park in them without a bb.

I had a serious argument with one the other day who told me the person needing the space could come in and ask her to move her car as she was not going to have time for her lunch before a meeting in 10 minutes. She finally relented and moved once I asked her how difficult it would be for someone who was a double lower limb amputation to unload their wheelchair and come in to ask her to move car then go out, get back in car and move it into the space she was vacating. I nearly punched her when she quipped you can't drive with no legs!!!

Disabled people or parents of disabled children trump parents every single time.

mrsjay I have apologised for the post you quoted.

Just to say, Bearbehind has apologised for that post and very graciously too!

Oh ok
I didnt read on I really should
I do think we need to not over think entitlement of having children though

Thanks luis

A question for anyone with a blue badge - do you ever forget the badge? Would it be likely that I would end up having a go at someone who had a badge but wasn't displaying it? That would be terrible

It IS just common sense, as someone said earlier in the thread, and a little bit astonishing that some people need it spelled out to them!

I don't understand why more people don't utilise the online shopping option tbh.

I had a good idea what arseholes people could be, but nowhere near the extent that i have found out, since my Mum started to use a wheelchair.

My Mum likes to go out being pushed and on buses, it makes life more interesting for her.

I had my children before internet shopping/accessablity (only because of the DDA), P&C parking, even before i had a car, whilst working full time.

I want to know since when did having a baby/child become so life limiting and difficult.

I regulary mind my Step GS, overnights as well. He must be an usually easy baby, i just don't see why some people are having the problems that they are, just because they push a pram.

I have been a Mum of young children and a carer, being a Mum was easier, in terms of getting around.

I do notice that many on here have no idea of what not being in the best of health or aging, means and the problems/issues it brings,

We seem to be losing basic life skills, such as walking.

Would it be likely that I would end up having a go at someone who had a badge but wasn't displaying it?

Yes that's fine, you have to have the badge to park in a bb space.

You can also check the tax disc, but that just tells you the status of the registered owner / keeper not the driver.