parent and child bays

[fairy1303]

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.

[WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo]

whatwillsantabring, you're right about parking rights being limited to the public highway. Unfortunately you are mistaken about the right of land owners to 'fine' you for being in breach of contract. Legally they can only seek to recover their loss due to your breach of contract, which would be nothing if they do not charge for parking in the car park. The 'fines' that private parking companies try to impose are unlawful.

[20wkbaby]

Oh and I can manage without them, in fact getting one is such a rarity we often think if it happens there must be something really exciting going on in the next town.

And in our supermarket car park P&C and disabled spaces are exactly the same distance from the supermarket, just on either side of a row.

[Kewcumber]

Anyway I think everyone should be forced to catch the bus - much greener and then you'd appreciate just how easy it is driving to a supermarket and parking anywhere

[WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo]

Very well said, Kewcumber, far better than I managed, thank you.

[geekgal]

Lots of good points - I never thought about the disabled overspill, I guess it makes sense to have the p&c spaces nearer the door, so long as people know disabled badge holders get priority, even over the p&c spaces. The buggers who park with no kids are probably the same that take up the disabled spots too, really they should just ban arseholes from supermarkets entirely!

[WinteronPluto]

YANBU

Of course childless people should not park in the p and c bays.

Question of disability is probably clouding the issue here as I don't think OP had in mind disabled people parking there.

P and c spaces could be put a bit further away with a safe pavement and near a trolley bay and that would be fine. It's the extra space that's so crucial.

But honestly, people without children who park there are being SO unreasonable. They are there for a reason, not just for adults to nip in quickly.

I did once complain to store staff about somebody doing this but they couldn't do anything about it. Makes me really mad!

[2tiredtocare]

That's the thing Mrs DeVere some people will hassle you for anything. I've learnt a lot of things from MN regarding disability and issues that I'd never even considered so maybe point the complainers in this direction

[WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo]

We are deliberately clouding the issue to highlight the fact that you can't always tell if a childless person in the p and c bay is disabled, winter and also because the spaces are a luxury only and not a right.

[Sirzy]

the space isn't crucial at all though is it, it is nice but it is perfectly possible to park in a normal space and get a child out.

[Littlemisstax]

Our local Sainsbury's has disabled, parent and child and wide spaces. When I've been on my own it's hard to find a normal space!

[2tiredtocare]

I think bringing up the disability issue is doing the OP and others like I was the huge favour of preventing us from looking like a total wanker

[Mandy21]

Have to say (and I'm obviously in a minority) that I've never been to a supermarket where the P&C spaces aren't next to / opposite the disabled spaces. It doesn't make sense to me therefore why someone would choose a P&C space over a disabled space if a disabled space was available.

I wouldn't leave my babies in the car whilst I wandered off to get a shopping trolley. Not in a million years. Nor would I be rude to someone who parked in a P&C space who had a blue badge.

But like I said, that wasn't really the point of the OP.

[Sirzy]

I always tried to park next to a trolley park when DS was little to save any issues of 'leaving' him in the car to get a trolley.


Neither you, or the OP, knows why the person felt that was the best space for them. It could have been they were disabled, they may have been lazy. Who knows?

[Mumsnut]

I was walking through a car park once when a toddler was killed by a reversing driver behind me. It was horrid. I'm therefore a great believer in Parent and Child spaces and disabled spaces at the door of the supermarket. Parking in them if you don't need them is a cunty thing to do.

[TheHattifattenersBarometer]

In the long run I don't really care weather I need a P&C space or not, if the supermarket doesn't have a P&C spaces I won't bother going there, I'm not a 'drama larma' I just don't think that there is any point in making life more difficult than you need to.

The thing that fascinates me with forums is the 'well...I managed to do such and such with small DC's in tow...so (obviously) anyone can do it....' type statements. Do people completely forget that we are all different? I was a nervous wreck leaving the house with small DC's (probably down to the PND...who knows) but I used to drive off again if there were no 'end' spaces or P&C spaces, but then by MN standards I am probably a complete wimp (which is why I now use ocardo...).

[WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo]

Arf at 'drama larma'

[pianodoodle]

I don't park in P&C spaces if I'm on my own it wouldn't occur to me to do that. Seems rude.

[bigandfluffy]

YANBU. Those bays exist for a reason not some lazy arse with no need for it.

[kungfupannda]

I once went to the supermarket with a very new DS2 in a sling.

It rained.

The very nice parking enforcement man escorted me to my car under his big brolly.

I appreciate this adds nothing to the P&C debate but I just wanted to share my nice story.

I think they should scrap P&C spaces and provide men with brollies to stop babies from melting in the rain.

[Doodledumdums]

mumsnut That is awful, what a horrible thing to witness. That poor child.

[DawnOfTheDee]

I don't think the vast majority of people have said it's almost impossible to shop without P&C bays. Some people have said it's harder without them and they make life easier. It is. I agree.

In addition I can only find one poster on here who implied that disabled drivers shouldn't park in P&C spaces. Everyone else has said they would absolutely would not begrudge this.

I don't agree that they embed an attitude of helplessness. I think they're a nice idea simply there to make parents with babies/small children's lives a bit easier. I think that's a nice thing.