About 'mother & baby' parking spaces...

[toohardtothinkofaname]

And that those without kids who park in them should get bollocked?

I can never get parked in one & today a woman trying to park in the space next to me BEEPED at me struggling to attach the car seat to the pram because she couldn't get in beside me. The baby spaces were opposite, no spaces for me, and of the 4 people In them I saw get in or out of their cars, absolutely none had children

The bloody spaces aren't even closer to the doors so no idea why they insist of taking up space.

I'm sure there's been threads on this before but need to rage & OH sick of my driving stories haha

[toohardtothinkofaname]

thefairy sounds delightful, would you like to buy me one?

[Sirzy]

But if you find it such a struggle why not just get a simple one and leave the car seat in the car? Why make parking harder for yourself if you find it hard when you can't have a p and c space?

[CamboricumMinor]

I park in them when I take a relative with a blue badge to the local swimming pool for the disability swimming session as they don't have any blue badge spaces but the parent and child space are right by the entrance; this is for adults only and is when the pool is closed to anybody else. As it finishes at 9.30pm there aren't families with children trying to park. I wouldn't park in the during the day or when I'm not with my relative though.

[RebeccaCloud9]

I'm sure the OP (and every other parent with a child, including me) wouldn't be pissed off with other people who may need extra space for physical reasons using these spaces, but I have definitely seen people parking in the spaces who didn't need them. Purely thoughtlessness and selfishness, as like the OP said, they are rarely any closer to the doors, certainly they are not at my local asda and waitrose. In my experience, it is usually people in posh cars who are the type who double park in normal spaces to protect their precious cars.

My partner's car (3 doors) has such deep doors that it is literally impossible to get a baby seat out of the back seat in a tight car parking space so a p&c space is invaluable (if not available, we try and find an end space).

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

I'm sorry but the whole 'Years ago cars were smaller, laws were different' bull just doesn't work for me. When ds(9) was a baby we had a landrover and a beast of a buggy. I never used P&C parking and coped absolutely fine

20 years ago my local tesco had 90 spaces less than it does now yet the car park is exactly the same size. It was also quite usual to have 3yo's on booster seat bases not like the seats that you use now I can't quite remember when the law changed but I had 3 who were to old for it to impact and at the time 2 who had to go from not having to have any type of safety seat to hbb.

My old rust bucket of a Volvo that has been merrily lived in by chickens for about 18 years after it clapped out is smaller than the equivalent modern version it's quite noticeable.

[cleaty]

In the Sainsburys close to me, P&C spaces are closer to the store door than disabled spaces.

[toohardtothinkofaname]

sirzy he's 8 weeks, he'll need to be in a car seat or I'd have to attach carrycot to the chassis. Same difference by your standards

[Sirzy]

Rebecca, how can you judge someone's need just by looking at them?

[Whatthefreakinwhatnow]

Can't you just put the carseat on the trolley?!

I don't use the carseat on my pram as I don't like travel systems myself,and when DD was smaller I used the carseat trolleys with no problems

[Sirzy]

I just used a fully reclining buggy, quick to put up easy to get into. I don't get the point of faffing with lots of bits of buggy but if you choose to have one that's your choice but don't then complain about tight spaces etc!

[NickiFury]

Who gives a shit if these threads have been done before? Aren't you clever to point it out? . OP was affected today so posted today. Scroll on if you don't want to discuss it again.

OP YANBU but MN are weird about this and will tell you that you are. You're not.

[Samcro]

I can't see the problem.
its only a short term problem, not forever

[PenelopeChipShop]

Yanbu OP, they make life a lot easier and the woman who beeped at you is a complete idiot. It takes a minute to get children in and out, if she can't wait then she can park somewhere else!

Yesterday I did the shop while my DS was at nursery and dutifully parked in a normal space as I didn't have him with me. I am 38 weeks pregnant. When I returned a huge van had parked so close that I actually couldn't fit between it and my car to drive away!! 😮

[Lamu]

I've used a P&C space even when I didn't have DD's with me and would do so again.

Our local supermarket has a tiny tiny car park with about 50 odd spaces. About 5 are P&C. On occasion I've gone to pick some bits up on a Saturday morning and the car park has been rammed at least 20 cars backed up waiting to park. Having already waited a good 20 minutes, if the only space available is a parent child one that's what I'll use. More often than not I'm in and out within 10-15 minutes as i self scan.

First come first served, as far as I'm concerned. I've never had to double park to get a car seat out but I do park very close to the line to give me added room if need be.

[kaitlinktm]

Ooohh! So that's why my son (aged 28) won't let me park in one when we go to Tesco.

[teatowel]

Our local council car park was resurfaced by the new supermarket as part of the package allowing it to be built in the town. They then added loads P&C spaces near to the entrance. However it is the town car park and people may not even be visiting the supermarket. Moreover everybody has to pay car park charges. The elderly and mildly disabled now face an even longer walk to the town plus having to pay for the privilege. It is no wonder that they use these spaces.

[RebeccaCloud9]

Sirzy, maybe you can't for definite, but I would be shocked if every single one of the people I have seen walking perfectly well to or from their cars has a hidden disability, and you are being naive if you think that is the only reason people are using those spaces who don't have children.

[RebeccaCloud9]

And, like I said Sirzy, I am refering to the wider spaces that are NOT nearer the entrance, so the only difficulty they would have is with needing the extra space rather than needed a shorter walking distance.

[hazeyjane]

Calm down Nicky, it is just quite funny when it is such a well worn subject and one that always gets the same responses!

[Crwban]

YANBU OP. That said, common sense, courtesy and good-will would be well exercised here since folk tend to get rather selfish and ruthless when it comes to things like this.

I used a space for My 10 year old on crutches - should be fine.

My 91 year old MIL with her sore knees who doesn't qualify for blue badge, in the pouring rain - should be fine.

Heavily pregnant mum - should be fine.

Usual's We park in them when we take my elderly mum shopping. She struggles to get out of the car unless there's a lot of room.

Happy to be called a twat though.

Should be fine.

Yet, common sense and a feeling of community fly out the window when folk take things for granted.

I hate it.

[Sirzy]

But the point in Rebecca you are judging a situation you know nothing of!

To me it's simple, if a space is free use it. If not park elsewhere and get on with your life without trying to analyse everyone else who is parked there!

[Crwban]

Technically then my father could park in one with me. He is a parent, I am a child. There is no clearly labelled age restrictions on these bays.

Maybe not driving a tank may help..? Who knows..

See, this is what I mean as well. The snide last comment doesn't help, nor is it anyone's business what we drive surely?

My T5 is massive but I may need it for surfing, carrying bikes, I may be a plumber or carpenter and a Mum. Really - no one's business what we drive.

[RebeccaCloud9]

Right, maybe I am Sirzy, and there will continue to be selfish parkers who park wherever is free whatever I think.

[Crwban]

Ahh so you have a complicated pram, that's your fault not anyone else's!

Nothing quite like a sense of solidarity for fellow women, is there...

[cleaty]

My SIL moans about childless people parking in these spaces. She parks in P&C spaces with my 2 teenage nephews.