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.

[WestieMamma]

Westie You've taken my point about it not making sense out of context - I said that coming from having always been to a supermarket where the disabled spaces and P&C spaces are next to each other. Obviously when there are differences (in terrain / proximity to ticket machine) like you've described, I understand the point.

You're completely missing the point of my post. The point I was making is that the differences which influence where a disabled person chooses to park can be so minor that able-bodied people cannot see them. To the disabled person however they can be massive.

Another example, at the Morrisson's near me the disabled spaces and p&c spaces face each other with the road down the middle. There is no difference in distance, terrain etc. However there is a one-way system in place. If you park in a disabled bay you have to twist to the left to see properly on reversing out, in a p&c space you have to twist to the right. My dad found reversing out of the disabled spaces more painful than reversing out of the p&c space. He parked in the p&c spaces as they worked best for him.

Obviously I can't comment on the specifics of the carpark you are referring to but I'll eat my hat if there isn't a valid reason for why a badge holder parked in a p&c space over a bb space. You may not have a clue as what that reason is, but there will be one.

[Ledkr]

I never get the mn attitude to these.
No they aren't necessary but they are there so why not use them if you can?
Anyone who says they find them useful and like to use them is flamed or told they are entitled but people who say they use them without kids and to be awkward are chortled at a d back slapped!

[weeblueberry]

Ledkr thats because this is Mumsnet!! You're a horrid cunt no matter what you do. Ever. :)

[ErrolTheDragon]

Here they are so narrow it's a nightmare if you have a baby in a carseat. I only drive a Ford Focus (small hatchback).

My DH recently told me that the minimum allowed width for a parking space (who knew it was defined?!) is now less than the average width of a car in the UK.

[Ledkr]

Seems so blueberry yes. Hiw fucking dare people expect to use p and c spaces with a baby!

[pyulio]

My 20yo brother parks in them just for laughs from the looks and verbals he gets from the yummy mummy brigade.

[WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo]

Yes , my life sometime seems to be ruled by dropped kerbs. I get proper irate sometimes when I'm pootling along and all of a sudden I find myself stranded surrounded by big fuck-off kerbs.
You don't notice if you can just step down.

[MrsMook]

P&C spaces being near the shop is blooming useful when heavily pregnant, using crutches for SPD and controlling a free-range two year old around the car park. (reins+crutches=faceplant and tears) Also useful when the SPD outstays its welcome when you have a not-so-new baby and the toddler.

Before that I'd always wondered why they were so close, now I appreciate that they are.

(Blue badge holders in them... no problem, they obviously have the badge for a reason- and their need is greater than most P&C users)

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I've noticed loads of people in P&C spaces sprinting in to use the gym (in full gym gear) and not taking small people out of the car or even having a car seat in the car , unless it's in the boot.

Obviously they are on their way to pick their children up

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I totally agree with Ledkr. It's just decent not to park in them if you have no kids in car.

Mandy21..people with blue badges will have them because they physically struggle to.go to the supermarket. .leaving a shitty note on their car will make their day that bit more shitty..are you really proud to be the sort of person who does that? Good grief

My pet parking hate..people who have no blue badge who park in disabled spaces then affect a really fake limp if they see anyone looking.

Or the tossers with babies who park in the.disabled spaces at beach if it is busy meaning we can't park with DD.

Or the fit and healthy blue badgeless man who took the last space then got a ticket while he went to beach

[ShirazSavedMySanity]

OP - you don't need a parent & baby space to get the pram out. Surely the pram is kept in the boot? So why would you need extra space to open the boot and why are you taking a pram in? How do you balance the food with a pram?

What you need parent & baby spaces for are opening the car doors wide enough to get the car seat out, then putting baby into a humongous trolley contraption to attempt to get around the supermarket.

That is my objection to there never being enough spaces - the 'normal' spaces don't allow you to open the car doors widely enough to get the car seats out.

Parents don't need to be close to the supermarket. These places would do better to put their special parent spaces at the other end of the car park. There would be no lazy arses using them then.

[teacherandguideleader]

My mum parked in a parent and child space when we went shopping the other night. Her logic was that she was a parent and I was her child, and that at 9pm there shouldn't be young children there. I was mortified!

[Threalamandaclarke]

It annoys me too. Just thoughtless. I don't understand ppl who are hits inconsirate tbh.
But I'd never statuette a thread on here about it because they'll be a shed load of "entitled" "precious" "just because you've pushed a baby out..." comments that make me what to avoid other women all weekend
So, YANBU op. but I am now hiding your thread.

[Threalamandaclarke]

Shocking spelling on my post. Sorry. iPad auto-c fail. Apols.

[duchessandscruffy]

pyulio your brother sounds like a hoot

[brettgirl2]

It is really helpful for them to be close, less so with babies but if you have a baby and a toddler the less walking across a car park the safer and better.

The thing that confuses me though is that the sainsburys say they are for parents with kids up to 12!! wtf? I don't park in the if I am only with dd1 (4) as its unnecessary.

[MrsBucketxx]

Yanbu.

But lots on here will disagree cause your not disabled

If everyone used the designated spaces it wouldn't piss people off.

If you have a blue badge use the right space, if the parent and child is closer, thats not my issue take it up with the supermarket. I wouldn't dream of parking in a disabled space. So the same rules should apply the other way round.

Parent and child should imo be at the back of the parking lot.

[catinboots]

I can't believe people care so much about this.

Shop online dudes. Save the froth for something that matters.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Are you actually aware of the criteria for having a blue badge?

Extreme difficulty in walking.

If the P and C space is closer and means less pain for someone I don't know how anyone can think that them having a baby means they can begrudge the badge holder the space, am

[MrsBucketxx]

Thats not my problem we cant park in a disabled bay.

Its the supermarkets at fault not ours,

[MrsBucketxx]

I have had words with a pensioners on several instances over this.

Please stick to the RULES.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

You can't park in a disabled bay because you are..thankfully for you..not disabled. The two are not comparable

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

You have words with disabled pensioners.

Lovely.

[MrsBucketxx]

Thanks

[MostlyArbitrary]

I've never seen a good argument for why parent and child parking spots are even necessary. They cause all sorts of upset and anger over the convenience of a little extra space. Which is great if you have some sort of mobility issue like a wheelchair, but that's covered by disabled spaces.

When we go shopping we manage just fine in normal parking spaces. Take the baby out and either whip her into a sling or pop her in a trolley with a baby seat.