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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

parent and child bays

358 replies

fairy1303 · 27/09/2013 12:52

Our local supermarket is always rammed. I have often had trouble finding a space. There are some parent and child bays and these are great when I have to take the baby - you need the extra space for the buggy and to be close to the supermarket etc etc.

Today when parking in them, the woman next to me sprung out completely childless.

I know I shouldn't get so annoyed sleep deprived and am anticipating biscuits galore - but she was still parked there when I left and I really wanted to let the supermarket know!

There were other spaces btw, just a bit further away.

OP posts:
cannotfuckingbelievethis · 27/09/2013 13:27

In an ideal world we would all hold doors open for one another, greet one another with a smile and say good morning, think before we spoke .....and not park in disabled or parent and child spaces. But it's not an ideal world. People are either too busy, too lazy or too thoughtless and use the spaces when they shouldn't. And I sometimes fall in the above categories myself.

Am prepared to be crucified for this but I did park in a disabled space at my local shopping centre a few years ago ( I don't have a blue badge). The shops closed at 10.00pmn and it was 9.50pm so I basically abandoned the car and ran to the shops and then ran back to the car.

Mandy21 · 27/09/2013 13:27

Sirzy I think I made it quite clear that I wasn't.

LittleBearPad · 27/09/2013 13:28

Why on earth do you need to be near the doors if you have a baby?

They are useful at times but they are not necessary and if you need extra space for opening car doors then park on the end of a row or at the far end of the carpark. Much easier.

Sirzy · 27/09/2013 13:29

But you are. You are saying that your need for the space is more than that of a wheelchair user. You can't be serious though?

Tailtwister · 27/09/2013 13:29

Well, I do think it's only fair to leave P&C spaces to people with young children (unless you need a disabled space of course). IME people who have children are the worst. Apparently having a child seat in your car entitles you to park there at our local supermarket. I've even seen one woman get out with teenagers in tow!

onadietcokebreak · 27/09/2013 13:31

Years ago I told a Tesco planning who was showing me how close parent and child spaces were to the door that I needed need them that close.

Stick them away from the door with an easy pathway and trolley park nearby. If you want to be really helpful put a plastic roof canopy on pathway.

I don't begrudge a disabled person a parent and child spot.

WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo · 27/09/2013 13:31

No, Mandy, you are completely wrong and utterly unreasonable. The shop has to provide accessible parking spaces by law. P and c spaces are to attract (high spending) customers with children.

onadietcokebreak · 27/09/2013 13:32

What pisses me off most is driver stays in car with children in one of those spaces.......

LittleBearPad · 27/09/2013 13:32

Mandy21 leave twins in car - go get trolley.
Avoid thunderbolt that will be falling from the sky because you've left your children in a parked car for two minutes.
Return to car put kids in; run to shop to avoid rain

Or alternatively shop online...

CoffeeTea103 · 27/09/2013 13:34

Disabled people should have a priority space parking, closest to the store entrance. Having a child does not make you special.

Mandy21 · 27/09/2013 13:34

sirzy - I'm not saying that at all - don't want to make it a row about who is the most deserving of a car space. Back to the original post.....

hazeyjane · 27/09/2013 13:34

Mandy, why would you not get a trolley before getting the babies out of the car?

onadietcokebreak · 27/09/2013 13:34

Oh and those who openly do it as think it will stop car being damaged. Just park further away and walk!

Sirzy · 27/09/2013 13:37

But you are making it that way by telling someone they shouldn't use the space because you need it more.

Carriepreston · 27/09/2013 13:37

I agree that P&C spaces should be further away from the entrance. I use them because they are wider and it stops be worrying about knocking the paintwork of other cars. Once DC are out the car using the pushchair/walking a longer distance is no problem

cannotfuckingbelievethis · 27/09/2013 13:39

fairy - going back to your OP, where you make no mention of a disabled space or the other woman having a blue badge then no, I don't think you're being unreasonable.

oscarwilde · 27/09/2013 13:40

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....................

PuntCuffin · 27/09/2013 13:41

This one never ends well.

WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo · 27/09/2013 13:42

You have told me that I should not use the p and c spaces, Mandy, so you think that I am not deserving of the space nearest the door with my blue badge.
I am offended.

Doodledumdums · 27/09/2013 13:43

But I don't get WHY people desire to make parents lives a bit harder?! Just to teach us a lesson for having small children that are difficultnto get in and out of cars?

Obviously there is no comparison between the need for disabled spaces and P&C spaces, one is fundamental and the other is just helpful, but I still don't understand why they can't both exist?! If anything, surely p&c spaces can act as overflow if disabled spaces are full? They can't serve that function if they are halfway accross the carpark.

Sure, moving p&c spaces accross the carpark probably means they will always be free and will stop parents complaining of misuse. Alternatively though, rather than penalising us for moaning, maybe people could just stop beig arses and park where they are supposed to?!

fluffandnonsense · 27/09/2013 13:43

I can hardly open the door of my car in the regular spaces as I have a big car. If I don't park in the parent and child I can't only just get the car seat out and that means bashing the car next to me.

My car is a family 7 seater due to the number of kids we have. I often see perfectly capable adults parking in P&C spaces, getting out of little sports cars and buggering off into the shops. They are nothing more than lazy bastards.

I never use the spaces if I don't have my DC with me as I can just about squeeze out if I'm on my own, what I can't for the love of god understand is why disabled drivers park in P&C when there are 10 empty spaces in the disabled parking area which is exactly the same distance away.

It's lazy, it's thoughtless and it pisses me off that much I leave notes on windscreens!!

WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo · 27/09/2013 13:46

You leave notes on the windows of cars displaying blue badges asking why they are parked there? fluff
Nice

WhatWillSantaBring · 27/09/2013 13:47

One could say that no-one (disabled or p&c) now "needs" a space in a supermarket carpark due to the ease and availability of online shopping.

It does my nut in when a non-disabled person parks in a P&C space without children, but if they're a blue badge holder then it bothers me not a jot. And, for what its worth, the legal position is thus:

Most supermarkets have a privately owned carparks. In these, by entering the car park you are entering into an agreement with the supermarket for the use of their carpark on their terms and conditions. So if they stick a sign up saying "Space reserved for parents with young children" then YANjustBU to park there, you are in breach of contract and you should be fined £60.

If the supermarket wanted to, it could put a sign up saying "Space reserved for drivers of pink cars only" and the same applies. Their car park, their rules. If you don't like it, fuck off down to the competition down the road.

{first and last time I'm ever going to comment on one of these P&C threads. It pisses me off everytime they come up and people spout ignorant crap about their so called "rights"}{disclaimer: I'm not an expert on the laws regarding blue badge holders. I believe that the rights to park anywhere only apply on public land, so in a private car park, you would be in breach of contract to park in P&C space but it would BVVVVVVU if the supermarket enforced it, and cuntish if any Parent got arsey about it.}

gordyslovesheep · 27/09/2013 13:48

oh come on I have had 3 kids in a 3 door and managed perfectly fine (6,4 and new born) in normal spaces - honestly people are such drama lamas

I have also had a Zafira an S-Max and now a Kuga - all perfectly parkable in normal spaces - people maybe need advanced driving lessons Grin

gordyslovesheep · 27/09/2013 13:49

oh and DON'T get the car seat out - it's not good for babies to be in them all the time