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

Also, I have a ds who is under assessment for ASD. I get it. I really do, he's a bolter but I'd never be as entitled enough to ever begrudge a bb holder a p&c space.
I have been so poorly recently and it has been such a struggle just to carry out simple tasks actually swore very loudly when i came out to a taxi to find the world and his dog had parked outside and all along the street. You get frustrated at not being able to do much, frustrated at other peoples lack of courtesy, etc.imagine having to deal with that 24/7. It's not the same as having a baby, at all.

Ah thankyou whatsthatcomingoverthehill
Are they still unenforcable?

Not as such. The situation on private land is complicated. They have to sue you for breach of contract rather than breaking any laws.

I have read the whole thread but really don't understand what the baby picture is for.

YABU, Speechless ... I really hope you do not park in a disabled space!

What a crappy thread title and OP.

I agree that it Doesn't really matter if it's illegal or not, it is totally immoral and unacceptable to park in a BB space and BB holders can park where the fuck they like without causing an obstruction.

Ar my local Asda there is a sign up which basically says

"Any fucker with out a kid is getting FINED "

Yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn - P & C spaces are a total non-issue that get discussed again and again on this site!

AT

Not Ar (doing best pirate impression)

whatsthatcomingoverthehill do you know how it would stand on Local Council ground then? (sorry, desperate to know...)

Council land might be covered by legislation/local bylaws etc. If you want advice I'd go on the pepipoo or money saving expert forums.

I have a relative who was severely injured in a car accident a few years ago. The surgeon who treated her said he'd never seen so many broken bones in one person. She's full of metal bits holding her body together. She can't walk at all without sticks, and every step she takes is agony. She has a blue badge but sometimes all the spaces are full - and when that happens there are always some drivers who haven't displayed a badge. Every extra step she has to take is excruciating for her.

How does that compare with wanting a bit of extra room to get your baby's car seat out of your car?

The biggest issue I've found parking in non- P&C spaces isn't getting the child (without seat, I'm more of a babywearer) out but getting back in after my shopping. Getting child into seat requires more space than sliding my now only moderately sized arse into a seat. I also can keep hold of the door while getting in but buckling my 8mo into her seat requires both to get the straps tight enough. This I can imagine gets harder as they get more recalcitrant!

Frequently having parked in the far reaches of a car park I've returned to find cars close on both sides. How do I solve that one. Unbraked trolley while I climb in through the boot and reverse out???

And if you have 2 kids too small to climb in themselves? I would love "wider" spaces at the far end. I wouldn't call them p&c as they'd also appeal to people with cars they like.

Admittedly it wouldn't solve most of our local supermarkets on a Saturday. Had a total nightmare parking my DH's estate at a retail park as there were no spaces wide enough. I wouldn't normally choose to go there on a Saturday but had to collect a prescription - hardly that unlikely...

Thanks, whatsthatcomingoverthehill
I've got totally brassed off over the years with both Primary and Secondary Schools abusing the BB spaces painted on (HT parking in them, HV parking in them, as well as loads of able bodied parents). I've complained to LA who have just shrugged).

Just another example of the thoughtlessness of the OP, but at organisational level.

Cute Baby op

I know i have asked once already but does anyone know why the Op has posted a pic of the baby?

for your beautiful baby.

But I expect you know by now YABU to think that having a baby is equal to having a disability which impairs your mobility. Of course you can't park in a Disabled space unless you're actually someone with a disability, or with someone with a disability - either way, you need a Blue Badge.

Says at the end of the OP that's it's to distract us from calling her an evil cow.

I don't get it either.

Ah right. i might start AIBUs with a picture of Sparklingcat in future....

Ds has a bb so we can park in either but tend to park in the p and c spaces because they are often in safer parking areas. Ds needs the width rather than being very close to the store.

Really cba to read the full thread properly but yes op you are being completely ridiculous and I also don't like your use of 'disabled'. So fucking rude.

I wish they would just do away with parent and child spaces and instead just have like they do on public transport, priority spaces or whatever they are called so they are not just parent and child.

The original poster must have too much free time on her hands. I'm currently off on maternity leave so I can relate to having more time but it's just stupid to suggest only parents should park there

Did the poster take a pic of the car to as evidence to show that it didn't have a car seat in it? No thought not

Just posting rubbish for the sake of starting another silly argument on here

My understanding is that anyone who is driving the disabled person can display the blue badge even if 'shock horror' they also have other children with them

I understand you may need room but personally when i need room because i am bringing boxes out of say argos i park in a space were no other cars are even if its further.
You cannot compare someone disabled to someone with children as it was your choice to have children, nobody chooses to be disabled.

The thing that some people don't/won't get is that a blue badge space is a need whereas p&c spaces are a convenience (unless used by a bb holder).

If you get to the shop and all the p&c spaces are taken what do you do?

If I can't park in a disabled or p&c space I have to go home and survive on the dregs of my food cupboard for another week. I don't get to use a regular space with a bit more effort and I don't get to return at a quieter time or on another day because I have a set time when my support worker comes round once a week to go shopping with me. Not being able to park 2 weeks on the trot and I'm going hungry.