Another parent/child parking one

[SleepymrsE]

More of a rant than anything else. Go to local small retail park with 12 week old DD. Pram in DHs car which he took to work. As I was only nipping into a couple of shops I thought it'd be fine to manage car seat but thought I'd try and park close to the shops I needed. This particular retail park only has a few parent/child spaces so I knew I'd have to be lucky to get one. As I pulled into the car park I saw someone who was parked in one of the spots getting in their car & turn engine on so I sat patiently with indicator on for her to pull out. As she pulled out another car coming from the other direction pulled straight into the space. I was already annoyed by this but then the driver & passenger got out with no baby or child. I could see the lady had a walking stick but still I was annoyed by the space stealing anyway. They were both looking at me as I stopped the car behind theirs & opened the window to ask if they were going to be long (thinking if they were literally popping in and out of a shop I could wait patiently). The man shrugged and said erm no idea, why? We're off food shopping so dunno. I said I would have waited if they weren't going to be long but it was ok I'd go find another space that would allow me to get my baby out safely. He got all funny with me so I pointed out it was a parent/child space and then I drove off as he walked away mid conversation. Really really annoyed me. I never get confrontational but this properly wound me up.

[myfavouritecolourispurple]

If someone has a stick their need is greater than someone else's want (not need) for a P&C space. There are lots of people with disabilities who don't qualify for blue badges and there are people who have broken a limb etc who may need a space close by but can't get a blue badge for a temporary situation.

Why are P&C spaces such a thing? There was always a queue for them when ds was small so I never used them. I just parked further away where I could park away from other cars so had space.

However, I agree about people jumping into spaces in front of you. That's rude - but it happens at tills too. Someone with a massive trolley raced me with 3 or 4 items to the checkout a couple of weeks ago. Grrr.

[SauvignonBlanche]

I suppose they may not have seen me waiting (although I thought they had)

You'll never know OP so save your energy, sounds like you need it.

[scottishdiem]

I think the space stealer thing was a reason behind one of the retail parks near me decision to change its lanes to a one way system. Takes ages to get out if you park near the start but far fewer opportunities to steal a space.

[DailyFail1]

P&C spaces are as per the discretion of the retailer. Many actually do want disabled customers (without blue badges) to use them as required & I have known shop managers get involved into disputes and side against the parent.

[Trainspotting1984]

Yes but purple every Tom dick and Harry would have a reason for needing more space. I've heard so much on the parking spaces threads over the years

• I hurt my foot and need one
  

I'm pregnant and need one
My mum is old and needs one
My dad gets out of breath walking and needs one

Honestly half the (whimpy) population need one given the chance

[Trainspotting1984]

Yep that would've finished me off OP and i do think your heckling the old boy was quality work. He won't do it again

[PurpleDaisies]

I am not sure why a person with small children suddenly loses the use of their legs?

They obviously don't but it can be hard to open the car door wide enough to get the baby out.

I'd like to see the spaces renamed accessible spaces for anyone that needs extra space to get out.

[HystericalWoman]

Parent and child parking spaces are quite a new thing aren't they? I don't remember them being around 30 years ago for example.

I am not sure why a person with small children suddenly loses the use of their legs?

[SignoraStronza]

Wouldn't have bothered me if someone clearly had mobility issues. Perhaps they just didn't even notice you waiting.
Not sure why you would have needed to lug the baby around in a car seat, and all the extra weight and faff of getting it in and out the car. I used to just carry the baby for a quick shop, or keep a spare ring sling in the boot.
No one needs a p&c space (unless they drive a bloody great 4WD and are incapable of parking it).

[PurpleDaisies]

Everything is worse through the veil of tiredness.

Hope you have a better night tonight.

[SleepymrsE]

trainspotting you are right. It's just one of those things that happen. The 3 hours broken sleep I had last probably put me more on edge than usual. Thanks for everyone else's comments, I will def think twice before making any comments to anyone esp over something as petty as this.

[Trainspotting1984]

This should just be one of life's little irritations that annoy for you an hour then gets forgotten about really

The only thing I would say though is sometimes space stealing and parking in the wrong space happens because people haven't seen you / it and not automatically because they're massive cunts

[SomewhatIdiosyncratic]

I've got no issue with people with mobility issues using a parent space as they may need the closeness or extra space as much or more than a parent with a child.

I would be annoyed at them dashing into a space that you are clearly waiting for. If they're being that unobservant, then how can they guarentee that they are manoeuvring safely.

[SleepymrsE]

I didn't see if they had a blue badge although suspect they didn't have one as there were a lot of free disabled spaces. I suppose they may not have seen me waiting (although I thought they had) in which case I would have come across as being very rude to them.

[Sparklingbrook]

They may not have even seen the Op was waiting if they just drove up an nipped in.

Bit of a cheek to question how long they were going to be. If they said 5 minutes then sit there waiting? Just for a P&C space?

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

OP didn't say they had a blue badge.

Didn't say they didn't either as that would make the completely unreasonable

[Spikeyball]

They also didn't know why the op wanted that space.
Ds has a blue badge and whilst I think this means we can use p and c spaces as well as bb ones, I wouldn't take one that someone else had indicated they were waiting for.

[namechange20050]

It's basic good manners not to cut in front of someone waiting for a parking space.

[user892]

It seems churlish to get annoyed if the person's need for the space was obviously greater than yours

I disagree. The pushers-in had no idea if their need was any greater or less at the point that they took the space.

[SauvignonBlanche]

I could see the lady had a walking stick but still I was annoyed by the space stealing anyway.

It seems churlish to get annoyed if the person's need for the space was obviously greater than yours.

[user892]

They were rude for nipping into the space when the OP had been indicating and waiting.

[user892]

OP didn't say they had a blue badge.