Parent and child spaces - would you sign this petition?

[confuseddazed]

A woman has set up a petition for safeguarding parent and parking spaces for under 5s here

I'm sorry, but the majority of posts on this thread are just argumentative for no good reason.
There is no need to pick on parents who are struggling, just because other people also struggle with parking spaces.
In fact I haven't seen anyone say that these other struggling groups shouldn't use the spaces, only the 'popping in brigade' so I don't get why everyone is so at parents using the p&c spaces!

The vast majority of people advocating the p&c spaces are saying as long as they have space to get their small children in the car safely, that's all they need. A lot of people are whinging on about the spaces being right by the door - as if it was the parents using the spaces who put them there. Blame that on the supermarkets, not the parents struggling with increasingly bulky car seats and larger car doors.

Also a lot of the 'solutions' being given by some people here are just downright stupid and flippant.

Yes it would be a fine alternative to get a space at the other end of the car park and walk further, for most people. Although I have to say that at my local supermarket, this is not an option, as it is difficult to get a space at any time due to it being in the town centre. In fact some people use the p&c spaces - without children or any visible limits on mobility - to then walk to the shops in town.

I'm not sure what the best solution to this is, but I think there's unnecessary scapegoating of parents with young dcs by people who love to throw the word 'entitled' around like its going out of fashion.

Do you lot even know what it means? If not look it up. Yes they are bloody entitled - it's not an insult, it's a fact.
As a pp said perhaps these other specific groups of people that need the space or whatever should moan on at the supermarkets instead of on here.

visible limits on mobility

Given most disabilities aren't visible this proves what exactly?

Yes they are bloody entitled - it's not an insult, it's a fact.

Jeez! That reaction, right there, is the precise reason why P&C spaces should be got rid of!

Why should they have visible limits on mobility in order to be eligible? Many conditions are disabling without being visible - heart disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, MS etc etc

Given the size of cars and the number of obese people and the narrow spaces in some car parks, it would be better if all car parks were designed to accommodate all users with adequate space and safe pathways for everyone!

All this thread has done for me is encourage me to continue to use the spaces as long as they are near the door. I don't necessarily need the extra space - although it helps - but I do need to not have to traipse to the back of the car park.

If a space is free I will continue to use them and I will Continue to hope others in my situation who have mobility issues - temporary or otherwise - continue to do so guilt free.

As for visible limits on Mobility

Someone Hand this person a clue

I hate ignorance.

"complete hassle and come close to scratching their car (don't care if I do)"

I have just had £1000 worth of scrape removed from my car because someone couldn't be bothered to park their car properly and avoid mine. I have had friends who have had similar but even worse damage because of someone just using their car as a buffer.

If you scrape someone's car and don't care, make sure you have enough money for your insurance excess as CCTV and witnesses often step forward to help those of us blighted by inconsiderate and incompetent drivers.

I wouldn't dream of signing it.
I agree with MrsDV that the introduction of a nice, useful gesture to parents has led to this constant comparing of having kids to having a disability.
See numerous threads on buggies on wheelchair spaces on the bus and using disabled toilets.

Why are blue badge spaces even being discussed here?

Possibly because there are a large number of people with mobility issues who don't qualify for blue badges but need to park nearer to the entrance.

The entitled brigade are saying toddlers take precedence over adults with poor mobility.

One of my local supermarkets completely relaid its car park a couple of years ago. They made it easier to drive round, did away with the illogical one way system, and made all the spaces wider. There are loads and loads of disabled spaces, and about 8 P&C spaces.

Since making the whole car park better, people don't seem to abuse the disabled spaces (well, the odd arse does but generally there are plenty of spaces for the people who genuinely need them) and the P&C spaces aren't even used all that much, despite being near the door. They probably have lost a few spaces overall but in reality they haven't because people no longer help themselves to two spaces.

Anyway, the point I'm making is that P&C spaces are a nice perk but no one needs them and if a car park is well designed you wouldn't miss them anyway.

'struggling parents'

Oh for crying out loud. Nothing like being melodramatic. What about 'struggling' elderly people who can't ease themselves out of the car without being able to lean on the door; unwell people who have to 'struggle' out to the shops because they've no one to help them; people with bad backs who 'struggle' to carry shopping too far?

By visible limits on mobility, I mean that they were merrily trotting along to the shops without a care in the world, not in any apparent discomfort, not appearing to have to be careful, looking healthy and with no issues to the onlooker. My point being, they had no problems getting in and out of their vehicles, the spaces are no different distance to the shops, but they chose to use the p&c bays for their convenience.

And by the way MrsD 'entitled' doesn't necessarily have anything to do with law, it is having a just claim or right to claim something. Don't be so pedantic.
The supermarkets have given this right to parents with young children by creating the spaces and saying these are reserved for this specific set of people.

Hissy read my full post- were you parked across or into some else's space? I'm guessing- not.

If people do so (after I have parked) and my only option to get myself, my child or belongings into my car is by opening the door against their car and precious paintwork, that is entirely their fault.

And no, it's not my petition, but it fucks me right off when people purposefully make life more difficult for others just because they are lazy knobs.

DS looks perfectly normal. To anyone who sees him he is. He also has brittle asthma, autism and ? Dyspraxia.

Unless you live someone else's life don't even try to to judge. Your talking about making other people's lives more difficult whilst trying to pass judgement on how much the struggle based on watching them for a few seconds.

Oh for crying out loud. Nothing like being melodramatic. What about 'struggling' elderly people who can't ease themselves out of the car without being able to lean on the door; unwell people who have to 'struggle' out to the shops because they've no one to help them; people with bad backs who 'struggle' to carry shopping too far?

It's not melodramatic, many parents have said they have a lot of problems getting the children in and out of the car using normal spaces. I'm not being dramatic, just referencing people actually struggling.

Those other people should also be considered by the car park designers, and if they are not, they can happily use the p&c spaces too, no-one has said they can't. It's people who gave no need for the larger space that cause the problem.

Like parents demanding spaces by the door and kicking off if an elderly person uses it mummyboo ?

Parents don't demand spaces by the door!
Just enough space to get in and out of the chuffing car!

But that's not what the petition is about mummyboo. This woman wants them reserved for parents with children only.

Some parents do demand them by the door with arguments that it's safer, their kids won't get wet etc etc. Seriously, these arguments are all over the internet.