To think that parent and child car parking spaced should have an age limit of 5 years.

[buntingbingo]

Or be put at the back of the car park?

I have 3 dcs eldest is 9. Youngest is 2 months. Going to the supermarket is now a massive pain in the arse as there are never and p&c spaces.
I see people with giant kids who are perfectly able to walk, why do they need them? It's not the closeness to the shop that's useful, it's the extra width I need.
I end up struggling to get the baby seat out.
I think if they were at the back of the car park then people wouldn't bother with them unless they need the extra space. Or enforcing a lower age limit might stop the lazy people with big kids taking up all the spaces.
Rant over.
(Disclaimer. Obviously I'm not talking about anyone with special needs or disability, just kids capable of walking and perhaps shock helping to carry a bag or two)

Potatoface really..I didn't know there were more important things..having a child with a blue badge.

I agree that once the child/children reaches the age that assistance is no longer needed then neither is the car park space. I would have thought around school starting age is the absolute upper limit. Regarding those with additional needs, againit depends on the circumstances. I do not think that BB for every case of autism is appropriate, however where the needs are great then yes there is a case for this

Which cases of autism should not get it?

More disabled spaces....I think depends on the car park. Our local multistorey at the shopping centre has ample disabled spaces.
At busy times (Christmas) the car park gets full - but I have never seen all the disabled spaces taken...at least half are empty - I know cos you have to drive round every floor looking for a space...
But actually when it is 'full' they stop cars going on -let them in one by one as cars leave - so people with disabled badges will also be in the queue waiting to get on...
I'm not complaining - if you need a disabled space you really need a disabled space (I actually had an orange badge many years ago but my mobility improved so I didn't renew) ...so you do need ample. But I don't think every car park needs more...

"i dont think im mean spirited......life is hard .....theres more going on in the world than whether you can park in a parent and child space."

I don't think anyone has said that there isn't. On that basis, let's never anybody complain about anything, because for sure somebody out there has it harder than you. But in a busy car park, having more than 2 inches of spaces next to your car is pretty handy when you have small kids to get in and out, as is not having to shepherd small kids through an unpredictable space full of moving cars. So yes imo it's bloody mean-spirited to go on and on about how hard life is, and therefore we should moan about all attempts to make it a bit easier in order to satisfy some bizarre puritan ethic. With a perspective like that, we'd have no child labour laws, no domestic appliances, no progress of any stamp because hey, life is a struggle, get used to it. Life is hard, so let's try to make it easier where we can rather than go round telling all and sundry to suck it up, snowflakes.

I think consideration is all that is needed. Don't park in them unless you have good reason. Likewise don't have a go at others for parking in them because they may need the space as much as you do, despite not having a young child.

i would gladly get rid of P&C spaces, and instead just have a rank of 'additional needs' spaces that could be enforced like the disabled ones. So those with children, temporary disabilities and SN who need the safety of a walkway..etc could use them.

I don't suppose its really workable, nor would it ever happen though, more's the pity.

Sometimes I park in them with an 8 year old and a 10 year old. DS1 has ASD, we receive low rate mobility DLA for him, you wouldn't know to look at him. But some days I need the paved walkway to the store, I need to know he's relatively safe if he chooses to bolt, and that the doors can go really wide as he's clumsy.

YABU. It's not parenting top trumps.

I think that sounds doable, Adrift and sensible too. Parent and child spaces can go as far as I'm concerned, there's far more need for people to have space for needs/disabilities.

I would like to see larger spaces available (at the back of the car park - miles away if necessary) for people who want that extra room for their cars. I'd never dream of parking in a disabled space and most people wouldn't, I think.

P&C spaces though just seem to be used by lazy people and the ones who might actually need the extra space, don't get a look in anyway. I see so many parents sitting in the car with the child whilst other parent/adult nips to the shop. That's an abuse of the space and really why I don't care about them.

If it's any age child that can use them, I could take DS (who's 36) with me next time I go to Tesco and park in a P&C space. We are a parent and child, after all!

Errrm, no you are parent and son! OP, this is an old debate, it never gets anywhere. There are much bigger problems in the world and I cannot get her up about what age child is in the car when parking in a PC spot.

It's simply selfishness to use a p&c space when you don't need it.
At our local supermarket I counted 4 out of the 8 p&c spaces being used by people who had no children or teenagers. What they had in common was they were all big 4x4s! (these spaces aren't any nearer the door by the way).
I don't understand the mindset of people making others lives needlessly harder, I think before you use it you should think do you need this space more than a new mum with pnd who it has been a huge achievement to get out the house, and struggling to get the car seat out a normal sized space might send her home again in tears. If your need is greater than that womans on you go.

i dont see why parents cant just park in normal parking spaces??

got 3 kids, two of them with less than a years age gap, and all 3 of them have SEN, and I didnt even drive till a few years back, so had to do my shopping by bloody bus.

Disabled parking spots for people with blue badges are one thing, but needing a special spot because you have a kid, is a bit ridiculous

mentioning amount of kids and SEN, because last time i commented on a topic along these lines, I was told I obviously havent tried to go shopping with children, or had no experience of disabled kids etc etc

Well fucking good for you Branluese Here, take your trophy!

It depends upon where you need to park. Out of town supermarkets with large car parks often have plenty of spaces at their outer edges and so it is possible to choose a space that is wide enough to open the door to access a child's seat. On the other hand, if your supermarket car park is a multi storey with pillars just at the point where you need to open the rear door, it's darn near impossible to remove a baby seat.

I am past the point of needing p&c spaces, but in the first scenario would happily walk from the back of the car park. In the second I was very grateful for a P&C space and I do wish people would consider the needs of others before using them and police themselves.

It's like the three yorkshiremen sketch. Does it mean everybody else has to struggle unnecessarily just because you managed to raise 17 kids on half a shoestring and a diet of elastic bands? P&C spaces make life EASIER without making anybody else's life harder. What more justification do they need?

Zoe

I don't think you can say something will work for all disabled children because it worked with yours.

Our local Tesco p &c specify they are for customers with children under 5 and their slogan "every little helps" next to it. Having said that, our 'local' people are truly too lazy luckily for parents to take up these spaces and double park right outside the front door and put on their flashers on and stroll off in to the shop. It is too far from the town centre to be convenient town parking.

The examples illustrate how a system that started with the best of intentions is not fully working due to people following he system to the letter rather than the spirit - hence some places having to specify an age. My point about BB and autism is that there are different degrees as in other conditions and some instances do not need car parking spaces, obviously some do.

I dont want a fucking trophy, i just want people to shut up about parent and child spaces, because theyre completely unnecessary.

Has anyone ever seen any empty anyway?

I am a parent and child, so use them whenever available.

It's about having consideration for others really. Most parent and child spces are wider to allow parents to strap babies and young children safely into car seats without risking the car parked in the next space.

Many folk are too self serving and selfish to consider this though so will use them regardless and without a thought.

If all spaces were wider it wouldn't be an issue but most car park spaces are limited in size. As such it is good to have dedicated spaces which give that extra room. Unfortunately all the while there are selfish and inconsiderate people around the spaces will be used by those who are too idle to walk across a car park.

Branleuse you've clearly never tried getting a baby and car seat out of a six-inch gap while stopping two preschoolers from committing hara kiri under a car then. They aren't 'necessary' as in essential, no. They're just useful. A bit like vegetable peelers or Wellington boots. Or cbeebies or tumble dryers. Or hairdryers.

caroldecker