AIBU to expect people to respect parent & child car spaces?

[Holly129]

This is something that has bugged me for a long time. I am constantly seeing men in vans in parent and child spaces amongst others. I would never park in a disabled space or a parent and child space if my dc were not with me!

Today I waited for a space at the GPs and when the person left a clearly signposted parent and child space someone cut me up and sped into the space. She then got out WITHOUT A CHILD. I wound my window down and said excuse me, I was waiting for that space and you don't have a child with you. Did she have the decency to back down or apologise? No, she gave me a tirade of abuse! There should be passes or something for those spaces, (like the disabled ones) to fine people who don't use them correctly.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Yabu.

They're a courtesy not a legal right.

[spotscotch]

I do agree that p&c spaces should just be scrapped scrapped they just cause people to get annoyed when really, anyone with a child is perfectly able to park in a normal space.

However, I do think that ballinacup 's words 'asshat' and 'douche' to describe people who park in them them without kids is spot on. Why do people do it? I saw a guy the other day park in one when literally 3 spaces further down there was a whole load of normal spaces.

I know people on here fall over themselves to declare how they are incomparable to disabled spaces as soon as the words 'parent and child spaces'.... well yes obviously they are. But as they do exist, why would you unnecessarily park in one unless you were a fuckwit?

[spotscotch]

Gosh excuse my terrible typing

[shallweshop]

YANBU - yes, P&C spaces are a courtesy and I think it is sad that people think it is reasonable to expect people not to demonstrate such courtesy. It is not the law to hold doors open for others walking through, or to say 'please' or 'thank you' or not to be rude to others but when people don't do these things I think it is reasonable to be pissed off"

[MrsOakenshield]

They're a courtesy not a legal right.

So why can't people courteously leave them for whom they are intended?

[shallweshop]

and actually I understand the OP comparison to disabled spaces and P&C spaces in so far as the whole point is to offer a little more room and leeway when either dealing with a wheelchair or a young baby in a car seat. I am sure she was not suggesting that being disabled is the same as having a young baby! I do get cross when I see people with kids who can clearly get in and out and do their own seatbelts still using P&C spaces.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

It is not the same shallwe. Parents can and do manage to get their children out of cars without extra wide spaces. A wheelchair user for example cannot get out of normal size space and manouvere themselves into a wheelchair. It is disingenuous to claim it is the same.

Parent and child - I wouldn't raise eyebrows at a child up to about 10 getting out of a car parked there to be honest.

[shallweshop]

Alisvol - re-read my post, I didn't say it was the same, I said the point of offering the spaces was to create a bit more room. I don't disagree that a wheelchair user could not cope without the space whereas a parent with a young baby could but I don't think it is unreasonable to expect both spaces to be respected by others.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I did read your post. I just don't think the two are comparable.

[shallweshop]

and the idea of a parent with a 10 year old needing the space is just odd! I repeat, the whole idea of creating the parent and child spaces was to provide extra room for getting young children in and out of the car and getting in to do seatbelts for them etc. I think they should not call them parent and child but specifically, parent and baby/toddler spaces.

[shallweshop]

Alisvol - you have obviously never been to my local Waitrose with a new baby! The spaces are barely big enough to get myself out of the car let alone when my two were tiny.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

You're probably right there re being called parent and baby/toddler spaces. But as it is they're not and a 10 year old is very much child.

I don't myself park in p&c or disabled spaces because i need neither. I just can't bring myself to care as much about people without children parking in p&c spaces as i do non disabled people parking in disabled spaces.

[DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved]

Another one agreeing with decaff here

But I'd like to add to whoever wrote that facile comparison ... Are you comparing me to a toddler? and what about the fact that I also have a toddler of my own? Maybe you don't think disabled people are allowed to be parents? Or need to go to the shops?

Perhaps I should just make sure someone else 'looks after me' like I'm a toddler shall I?

Unimpressed.

[sunshine401]

The ones local to me have fine notices up they do seem to work as not many people chose to risk it now.
They also state that although they are a parent and child parking space they are recommend for under 5's.
They are just bigger spaces not closer to the shops as the close ones are quite rightly disabled or "Dropping off" zones.
This is the case in my local Tesco,Asda and Morrisons.

[Lambsie]

I also agree with Decaff. Don't compare my son with a toddler.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

What decaff said.

I think P&C spaces are like Quiet Carriages on trains. They cause more problems than they solve.

[lozster]

I got to the grand old age of 40 without kids and never felt the need to take a p&c space. I am now hugely pregnant and having problems opening the door wide enough to get myself out. I still don't use a p&c. This should be about need. Need to fling the door wide and for assistance with buckles etc. So, Disabled first, babies second, toddlers next, ladies with enormous bumps who are on their own, next and children who don't need help last if at all. These spaces are about accessibility not proximity to a door.

I'm an old codger but the difference when I was a kid was that there were no car seats so the need for wide door flinging was less. It's a bit sad that people can't appreciate the greater needs of others. My mum has restricted mobility with knee and hip problems. She has problems getting in and out of my car but at least I can let her out before I pull in to a space. I can't do that with my baby bump or with a baby. it's a bit depressing that people are so selfish. I counted ten p&c spaces in aldi this week and only one had a kid with them. There were disabled spaces free btw so I take it the occupants weren't disabled.

[Morgause]

It would be a nicer world if everyone conceded spaces to those with a greater need but, it seems to me, people are becoming increasingly selfish - or at least seem unaware of those with greater needs.

Yesterday on my way out of Asda I saw a white van (it would have to be) park at right angles across 3 disabled spaces in order to use the ATM. There were plenty of other spaces but I did wonder if he would have done it even if there weren't free spaces. No doubt the driver would argue that he was only there for a few minutes.

I think Asda should maybe have sited the ATM somewhere where people are less likely to park in disabled bays or sited the bays away from the ATM. There were ordinary bays just as close the the entrance as the ones they have.

I don't have a problem with P&C spaces but we never shop when it's crowded. If they were the only spaces available it would be annoying to see so many empty spaces so perhaps they shouldn't be as "reserved" as the disabled spaces.

I don't really understand the hostility to them.

[exoticfruits]

I agree that wider spaces to open a door are a good thing. However they don't need to be near an entrance - if they put them in a far corner(but where you didn't need to cross in front if traffic) the problem would be solved.

[sashh]

There should be passes or something for those spaces, (like the disabled ones) to fine people who don't use them correctly.

Er yeah, that works really well.

[Sirzy]

Lozter - I think your way of assessing "need" is rather simplistic and doesn't take into account individual needs.

DS is 3 but is asthmatic and some days really struggles to walk so his "need" to park closer to the shop is probably greater than the "need" of a parent of a baby to get the car seat out.

I have arthritis and when my knee is really bad I "need" the extra door room to be able to get my leg out without being in agony (I drive an automatic so can still drive when it is really bad)

Neither of us have (or thankfully need) blue badges but there are times when we do need bigger/closer to the shop spaces.

What really annoys me is when people can assess people's medical condition simply by looking at them. Especially when talking about disabled spaces. I didn't know that there was such a thing as "looking disabled"

[Lazyjaney]

I've lived in a number of countries, I think a big problem in the UK is that parking spaces are so narrow to begin with.

But P&C spaces do seem to be a magnet for the entitled

[Sparklingbrook]

Multi storey car parks are the worst for narrow spaces. My nearest has the narrow spaces with huge pillars to avoid too. Even with no baby/car seat it is a struggle to park and get out or walk between the cars.

Fortunately they have made the Disabled spaces proper size and in the right place.

[Lazyjaney]

"I think P&C spaces are like Quiet Carriages on trains. They cause more problems than they solve"

Quiet carriages are a godsend, and most people are very reasonable with them, but there always seems to be just one prick in the carriage.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Chunkypickle. A toddler is nothing like "someone with a severe disability". My DD has a blue badge for the reasons you list about your toddler and I can assure you an NT toddler is nothing like her nor do they face the challenges she does.

Op..YANBU. these threads always attract the grouchy who like to pounce on any parent who shows a weakness and call them "entitled" for being glad of anything which makes life easier.

Of course people without kids shouldn't park in the P and C space. It's just called.being polite and considerate and not an ornery arse.