Disabled parking in mother & child space

[CommanderShepherd]

disabilitynow.org.uk/2010/03/04/not-all-childs-play/

Firstly I want to say that I have never parked in a disabled space. having recently become a mother, the parent & child spaces are freaking awesome! I have a doona car seat which is also a pram, which means I have to lift ds and car seat in and out when we use it. Not too much hassle but I need room to get him in and out. I was curious if I could park in disabled space if parent and child was full (I honestly wasn't sure if it was illegal or just bad car etiquette) and came across this article. As per the article, do you think it's hypocritical that disabled can park in a parent and child space? Someone was actually finned by a supermarket for doing so.

I'm not sure where I stand on this issue, obviously I would never rob someone who has a hard time walking etc a space closer to the store, although it would bug me if there was disabled spaces free and they chose to use a p&c space.

Anyhoo, he's a pic of my ds being cute to distract the folk that will call me an evil cow for even thinking about it

It depends on the vehicle too. Some need more rear access, some need side door etc. So some well intentioned blue badge spaces aren't all that easy. Our local aldi has amazing P&C spaces right out front, with a bit of cover and a wide walkway in front.

The blue badge spaces are the same size, but round the corner with no cover and no walkway...so the chair users, those with children with extra needs etc walk round the side of the car park to get to the door.

So yes, there most disabled people will park in the P&C spaces because they have the plum spot as the car park was poorly designed. P&C spaces don't need to be close to the door, they just need to be bigger with a safe path, this can be at the rear end of the car park.

Sainsbury have it right here, they have their P&C spaces a way away from the doors, but wide with a good pathway that is well away from moving traffic. So you can normally get a space there if you want to as they are far enough away to not be tempting.

grays
It was in terms of parking, I would say "disabled parking" not "disabled people parking"

And I would describe them as just a person.

I've nothing to say on your thread topic OP. I just came on to say what a sweet and perky little baby you've got.

Then why did you say 'disabled parking in mother and child space'. It should have been disabled person parking.. surely?

The subject title is to give the general idea of the thread. It bugs me when the titles are too long and you can't read all of it, so I kept it short and to the point.

Anyone who begrudges a BB holder parking in a P&C space should be strung up by the toenails and pelted with onions. Honestly. It's petty and pathetic.

So you chose to omit ONE word, the one word that would have made it less offensive, just to keep it 'short and to the point'

And thank you favorite

I have to park as close as possible to ASDA doors, so I can make it with crutches to the mobility scooters they have for use in the entrance. If there is an empty P&C space nearer than an empty disabled space, I will park there. If it is too far, I can not get to the shop at all. Whereas someone with a baby can, but has to park further away so they have space round them, so has further to walk.
It is not comparable at all.

CommanderShephard

songbird I used the phrasing I would be comfortable with if I had a disability

But you DON'T have a disability and you have absolutely no idea what that experience is like - you have NO IDEA WHAT YOU WOULD AND WOULDN'T BE COMFORTABLE WITH IF YOU HAD A DISABILITY AND I ASSURE YOU THAT THE WAY STRANGERS FEEL THEY ARE ENTITLED TO TREAT YOU WOULD BE A RUDE AWAKENING

you absolute goady fucker

I've looked at the article and followed it around a bit and there's no evidence anywhere that I can find to state that this actually happened. I also emailed barrister brother whilst hunting. The supermarket can't actually fine people for parking in those spaces. If it went to court, they'd lose. There are no legitimate grounds for doing so.
In the meantime until Tesco move their bb spaces nearer the door I shall continue to park in the P&C spaces. The fact that the owner of the blue badge is 20 is not relevant, he's still my son.

Commander are you disabled? If so fine, if not, please don't use the language you're most comfortable with. Choose the language with which we are most comfortable. Thank you.

Sometimes can cut too words.

Sorry. Thought I'd keep the above post short and to the point.

It's funny at my local tesco the parent and child are closest to the front of the shop and the disabled parking further away. Makes no sense. My ex was disabled but when we had DS was easier to park in the parent and child than the disabled bays.

I really wish people wouldn't start talking about what is 'legal' in these situations because it is invariably wrong.

Disabled places are a planning requirement. But for private car parks (i.e. most supermarkets), actually parking in a BB space is not a crime if you don't have a BB. Still morally wrong of course. But as it is private property it becomes a civil law matter, and hinges on stuff like whether a contract has been formed, are the terms and conditions clear and so on. The legal situation then is actually the same between BB and P&C spaces - if you fail to adhere to the terms of the contract you may have to pay a fee (though there is lots of debate about these 'fees' too).

Songbird, this is clearly a sensitive topic for you. Ive obviously offended you and I apologise for that.

"As per the article, do you think it's hypocritical that disabled can park in a parent and child space."

Were you running short of space in your original post too?

Our local Tesco moved some of its P&C spaces around the corner when it was rebuilt, about 10 years ago. There's both BB and P&C at the child, but the ones around the corner don't get filled up by people popping in for tabs or to use the cashpoints. Too many obstacles, like benches, cashpoint queues, stray trolleys, potholes and so on to be anything but frustrating for parents with toddlers and buggies, but was perfect for my autistic DS who needed a wider space so we could get him in and out of his houdini-proof car seat, as we never had a BB for him.

Now he's learnt to undo houdini proof seat and is a little less inclined to sit down at random, we just park at the back, now

OP, I think you have offended more people than Songbird.

You have been completely thoughtless.
Don't then argue the point.

(as an aside, I'd love to know the legality of a School covering over it's BB spaces?)

I live in a terraced street, with no off road parking at all, and it's really difficult to park at all times of day. There are 10 disabled spaces marked out, and my parents (who have a blue badge) refuse to park in one of these as they presume they are for the home owner nearest the spaces. I walked up and down the road one Sunday and counted how many of the spaces had cars in (8 out of the 10 spaces) and how many of the cars in the spaces had blue badges (2 out of the 8) - not sure who would enforce it on a public road though ?

Anyone who begrudges a bb holder parking in a p&c space should be strung up by the toenails and pelted with onions. Honestly it's petty and pathetic

This! Dropyoursword.

Traffic warden smashed?

Ffs. Can't be bothered to read thread. Park further away to get your baby out of the car. Presumably your legs work ok.

I am a bit though. My DGM had a bb, when my DM was very ill, she was allowed to park it on double yellow lines for a certain length of time, as long as bb displayed etc (hospital parking is a nightmare. Never a space and she could find somewhere as accessible and closest to specific part of the hospital as she could). DM was in for 12weeks, had to do this several times and not once fined. So interested how the person with disabilities could have been fined simply for parking in a p & c space. .
Would the fine have been because it was private land? don't get me started on that one.

Yes it's completely different for parking on public and private property.