AIBU to think that people who don't have young children who park in parent and child spaces are selfish?

[Kjc105]

I was reading an article on the Daily Fail about a young couple with a baby who were left a note saying that parent and child spaces are for people with children (they were with their baby) but what annoyed me were people commenting under the article who were saying that they always park in parent and child even if there are other spaces available as they feel parents are entitled to too many things and why should they be inconvenienced by people having children. Is it me or is this totally selfish as the reason why those spaces are they are for the safety of the children, more space so other car doors aren't dented and closer to the store so it is generally safer for children and less likely for a child to be hit by a car. AIBU to think these people are selfish?

I luffs these threads. I read them all.
I don't even drive, the bastards won't let me.

Op you've done a very strange thing in bringing a bunfight from the fail to here. Normally they pick up stories from here.

Daily Fail online, Mumsnet clickbait. And Babies.

Perfect.

It honestly makes no difference to me, I can't drive.

However, my local Tesco has an announcement about every hour or so, saying "could we please remind customers that parent and child parking spaces are for the use of customers with children" or words to that effect.
Based on that, I assumed that while it's obviously not a legal thing, it would be wrong for people without children to use them, as the store explicitly says that they are for people with kids.

So basically, the Daily Fail has written another nasty, insidious article and we all do exactly what they want us to - bash each other with handbags.

@mittens

Whatever gets us through the night.

Handbags at dawn sounds so romantic though!

I left a note on a car the other day at waitrose. Late 20s woman. Wrote a note saying "You appear to have left your child somewhere! Please use a different space" Petty maybe but I felt a bit better at the time with my 5 month and my 3 year old in tow.

Whether or not you think they should have those spaces.. they do, and thats what they are for. Families spend more in supermarkets than other customers (per parking space) and as a private business its in their interests to make things easier for families.

Unfortunately those baby spaces are not enshrined in law like the Blue Badges are.

I have a lovely mum who is wheelchair bound, and I'm so glad of the Blue badge every time she is able to be brought out somewhere.

But having a baby or toddler is not the same as a disability. Like think about it. I had healthy babies, never had to manage a 20 yo out of a wheelchair. How you don't go mad never ceases to amaze me. Mrs DV et al.

Based on that, I assumed that while it's obviously not a legal thing, it would be wrong for people without children to use them, as the store explicitly says that they are for people with kids

They can ask all they like, however it isn't legally enforceable

I left a note on a car the other day at waitrose. Late 20s woman. Wrote a note saying "You appear to have left your child somewhere! Please use a different space"

I hope they don't have a disability otherwise you are going to look a bit silly.

I have newborn twins and therefore the suggested solutions of taking them out their car seats and into the green slopes chairs in trolleys doesn't apply- my local Asda doesn't appear to have any twin versions of this trolley or they are always in use.

I also drive a Nissan note (a tiny car, as someone earlier in the thread mentioned we'd have less issue if we didn't drive huge cars).

For me a P&C space is a huge convenience as I need to be able to open both rear car doors wide to get the car seats out. However our local Asda doesn't actually have P&C parking, but what it does have is a huge car park- so I always park right at the back so I'm pretty much guaranteed that no one will park next to me.

I really wish P&C spaces were at the back of car parks so that those who are using them because of the need to open their doors wider and have more space wouldn't have to battle with those who simply want the convenient front of car park spot.

No they are not legally enforceable, but the supermarket car parks are not public land, you are allowed by the shop to park there if you stuck to their rules and guidance, if you infringe that they can move you on, or clamp you. They enerally choose not to, but parking against their guidelines is as much an enforceable infringement as staying over their maximum time, which usually gets you clamped. The morality of wether parents are 'entitled' to these spaces is a different argument, it is the shop's land and these are the rules they have chose .

You appear to have left your child somewhere! Please use a different space"

Bottom line -

If you object to someone with a disability or mobility issues using a P&C space, you're a huge dick

If you think it's fine for yourself or others to use a P&C space even though you/they don't have a child, disability, or mobility issue, ecause "it's not legally enforceable", you are a discourteous dick.

Also, a big FO to the GF telling people "you don't need a P&C space" and then picking apart how people park in a car park I need a P&C space, you don't live my life so don't profess to tell me what I do and don't need. You're not a better person or parent because you're happy to martyr yourself all over the shop not use them.

Not a bloody gain!

One of the supermarkets near me has put the child spaces at the back of the car park which is so much better. There's a walkway around the side of the car park for everyone to use so they aren't walking through the car park.
I'd never park there without my toddler. Obviously it's different for people with disabilities using them as they may need the extra space. However, anyone without kids in tow or disabilities shouldn't use them. But you could never challenge it as they could have hidden disabilities.
For all pps saying having children is a choice, please remember that for some people it wasn't a choice, however much they love their child now. That aside, choosing to have children doesn't make it any easier to get little ones in and out of the car.

I think it's out of order someone with mobility issues thinks they have a right to these spaces tbh Wurts. Just as I would think it's disgusting anybody other than a disabled person would use a disabled space.

Unless you have small children it's hard to sympathise. However a parent with a young child and a trolly can't always safely use a normal bay, they are too small. When your parking in them spaces your likely putting a small child's life at risk. It's not safe for a child to be waiting in the trolly on the road area at the back of a car whilst a parent loads in shopping. Most trolleys just wander on there own. Oh and no a parent can't just put a really small child in the car either. Well at times it's possible but if the trolly park is a good distance it's not really safe or fair to leave a baby/small child alone to go return it. Parents with children young enough to need seating in the trolley rely on those Chevron spaces beside each bay.

I'm probably going to get the Mumsnet brigade on my case now, assuming I'm being precious etc. But these spaces do exist for these reasons. When roads slope and the trolley I'd rammed it's scary trying to hold it and even try strap the child in or load shopping.

Oh and no a parent can't just put a really small child in the car either.

It's 2 minutes. You can't leave a child in a car alone for 2 minutes?! Ridiculous. It's not like the trolley park is 10 miles away

And I say that as a parent with two small children

^^ this!

People with mobility issues can park wherever suits their needs, apart from using a bb space if they don't have one.

I have a three year old and 10m twins. I go to a different supermarket if I can't find a P&C space. I can guarantee if I park in an ordinary space I'll be hemmed in then I can't get everyone in...it's actually infuriating to me when people without need park in them.

Funny, my small child has grown into a 7 year old who still needs lifting in and out of the car. He still will for the foreseeable future and will always have mobility problems. He isn't entitled to a blue badge.

Believe me it is much harder to lift a 7 year old in and out than it is a baby!

I have two children aswell. No I wouldn't leave my youngest unattended and I definitely wouldn't a baby. I tried it, my son was hysterical by the time I got back. Would you as a mother subject your child to that? Not all children are the same and some do panic and get upset when left alone in strange places. Young children don't understand.

Tbh if a disabled person had no choice but to use the parent space, fine I get that. But I don't like this whole attitude of entitlement to parent spaces, they exist for a reason. To assist. A parent can be vulnerable, it's not parents vs the disabled. Both have parking areas and if there aren't enough then moan about the retail outlets and shops, not parents for daring to use an area that keeps their child safe and makes life easier.

I wish they would do away with P&C parking completely... Just so these stupid bloody threads stop being put on Mumsnet on a weekly basis.