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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want p&c spaces to be renamed "easy access" spaces?

401 replies

UndramaticPause · 23/01/2016 19:56

This has been triggered by other threads but also by life events as a person with disabilities and reduced mobility who doesn't fit blue badge criteria.

We all know and love the p&c warriors and I have had the misfortune to be accosted by them in carparks and have had photos of my car plastered on Facebook parking pages as I will use these spaces if they are close to the shops to alleviate fatigue and pain.

Aibu to think there must be a large amount of people like me or with temporary issues like a broken leg or recovering from surgery who could benefit from the rebrand?

OP posts:
Adeleslostbeehive · 25/01/2016 07:41

I'm
Not suggesting a normal shopper would go and challenge someone lol

MackerelOfFact · 25/01/2016 08:14

They should rename them 'bariatric spaces' or something, with the implication being that they're for people too fat to get out of the car. I suspect that might deter the majority of people who could manage without - especially the penis-extension-car crew.

honkinghaddock · 25/01/2016 08:16

If parents of young children didn't feel the need to accost others for using the spaces (even when it is obvious the other person has greater difficulties than they do) then I don't think people would be saying get rid of them.

MintyBojingles · 25/01/2016 08:17

Scrap p&c spaces and make all spaces wider. I know of one multi-storey car par like this and it's a dream to park in.

RufusTheReindeer · 25/01/2016 08:26

Two of my friends had triplets

I Think they pretty much gave up on shopping Smile

Sirzy · 25/01/2016 08:27

I doubt most stores really care who park in the p and c spaces, other than to get fed up when people go in complaining about people parking in them

Zinni · 25/01/2016 09:49

The thing with P&C spaces is the extra space around the car... invaluable when you need to get babies, baby-seats out, assemble prams and buggies etc. You need to be able to open car doors wide.

YABU and selfish to use the P&C spaces!!
If you have a disability that limits mobility, get a Blue Badge, or do shopping at a quieter time of day when you can park closer to the store. If you don't qualify for using disabled spaces why should you take up a P&C space?!

Those spaces have been designated to a certain group of people- those with very young children, who will not be able to use a normal space due to needing to get equipment out and keep young children a safe distance from other vehicles.
When I was pregnant I had severe SPD and couldn't walk far, getting in and out of car was agony. Did I use P&C spaces? No! If everyone with a minor disability used them there wouldn't be any left for the group they've been designated for!

I hope people continue to shame you publicly for taking the P&C spaces!

honkinghaddock · 25/01/2016 09:56

You can have a disability that severely impairs mobility and not have a blue badge.

honkinghaddock · 25/01/2016 10:05

And comparing spd to a life long severely limiting disability is ridiculous.

RufusTheReindeer · 25/01/2016 10:21

zinni

Parents with children should shop when its quieter and park at the other end of the carpark so they have plenty of room

Disclaimer...i dont belive this but it makes as much sense as your comment

Lurkedforever1 · 25/01/2016 12:04

Zinni There is so much wrong with the thinking behind your post I don't know where to start.

ZanyMobster · 25/01/2016 13:43

I actually do agree with the OP, when I was 30 weeks pregnant my 20 month old broke his leg. I could not park in normal spaces as there was not enough space for me to get out my side then get him out the other side (he had a fixed car seat and I did not realise it would be an issue until I was in the car park).

I then went to the P&C spaces to park which meant I could get us both out.

I definitely don't agree they should be just for parents with babies/toddlers but I am not quite sure how it would be monitored, maybe collecting a pass from the store you are parking at?

hazeyjane · 25/01/2016 14:48

...with a minor disability used them

My friends ds is in special school, has zero awareness of danger and has severe learning disabilities. He has been turned down for a blue badge - his parents use the parent and child spaces in order to keep him safe and if anyone begrudges them or 'publicly shames' them then they are arseholes.

This whole idea of 'publicly shaming' people is frankly disgusting.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 25/01/2016 15:12

Hear hear. People who post stuff like that are publicly shaming themselves IMO

Starbores · 25/01/2016 15:24

Back to the old mumsnet Classic of we shouldn't question or as I stated above politely mention that they are parking in a parent and child space incase they have a disability.

Obviously we shouldn't challenge anybody on any issue incase they have a hidden disability or sen.

Parking on the pavement,parking on double yellows outside a school, parking in taxi spaces etc I suppose nobody should mention anything to these people.

The only shaming and bashing I've seen on this thread is of people like me who said I struggle to carry 2 non walking babies across a busy car park and because as far as you know I don't have a disability I'm fair game.

Not everybody who uses the p&c spaces has a disability so stop being so self righteous.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 25/01/2016 15:27

People are hoping on this thread that people who do have a disability are shamed.

Nothing to do with hidden disabilities or assuming everyone has a disability.

This was said directly to someone with a disability.

honkinghaddock · 25/01/2016 15:31

There has been talk on here of challenging people who have obvious disabilities.

Sirzy · 25/01/2016 15:34

Going out with a disabled child is hard enough without some smart arse commenting because they have parked in the 'wrong' place.

Why does anyone need to tell someone off for where they park? What has it got to do with anyone else

honkinghaddock · 25/01/2016 15:34

And yes no blue badge does not equal minor disability.

Starbores · 25/01/2016 15:42

One poster has said they encourage shaming or challenging people with obvious disabilities.

These threads always go the same way everybody feels that they have it harder than somebody else and turns it into a competition.

sirzy I make no apologies for the fact that I have commented - not told off- when I've seen single people, couples etc using a p&c space which means I've had to leave one of my babies in the road just because they wanted to park near the store.

TheFairyCaravan · 25/01/2016 15:43

Starbores do you know what? No you should not question or "politely mention that someone is parked in a P&C space". You should just mind your own business.

I was in a car park once and I saw a gobby cow almost reduce an old man to tears for parking in a P&C space. He was about 80, could hardly walk and had his wife in the car. She needed a wheelchair. There were no blue badge spaces and he took the last P&C space, quite rightly.

He was struggling to get the wheelchair out of the car when this entitled, obnoxious woman pulled alongside the car and started yelling about how the space wasn't for him, it was for parents and children. He was shaking and almost in tears. I was trying to tell the man to leave the car where he was parked as I was leaving, but he was too bloody scared and he moved the car.

The vile bitch parked her car and ran into the shop leaving her child of about 11 in the car.

The old man parked further away and struggled getting the wheelchair out, then his wife etc. I wish to god I had taken that woman's registration number and reported her to the police for the way she treated that man. I wish my son had been with me because he would have wiped the floor with her.

It still almost makes me cry when I think of that incident. That man had such a lot to deal with in his life and he couldn't even park his car without being screamed at because the space wasn't meant for the likes of him. It's so bloody sad.

Sirzy · 25/01/2016 15:43

But you don't know why they parked there, so why do you think you have the right to comment?

You do realise that by passing such a comment you could have made someone's shit day even worse?

Original poster
UndramaticPause · 25/01/2016 15:43

Wow! So I have a minor disability do I? So how have I qualified for PIP? Why is my life so disrupted? Why is my body currently screaming at me despite taking enough pain relief to fell a horse? Why do I miss out on family life? Why do I not have a social life? Minor disability my arse.

And yes if you have severe spd or indeed any spd don't be a martyr, use the spaces! If the places were easy access then anyone who needs them, be it for a sprained ankle or tetraplegic, could use them.

I get angry at ignorance.

OP posts:
gandalf456 · 25/01/2016 15:43

I think there just needs to be a change in culture. Even if someone swans up in a sports car, just back from the gym, where's the benefit in shouting at them? Yes, it's wrong and selfish but there needs to be a change in thinking.

I have seen these name and shame sites and I doubt the legality of them. I also think to descend into harassment is totally wrong, whatever the circumstances.

honkinghaddock · 25/01/2016 15:48

Starbores you questioned my need to use a p and c space with my profoundly disabled 9 year old.