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?

[whoneedswings]

I agree with you OP and am bored of being called entitled for the audacity of having children. I rely on P & C spaces and try very hard not to go places that don't have them, of use of a quiet car park. I've had to leave baby in the pushchair whilst I pull the car out to put him in before which was scary. Yes they're not a legal right but it's about being courteous. (And my local supermarkets don't have green slopey chair trolleys, just trolleys for car seats then the ones for toddlers.)

[BalaRua]

I parked in one today out of force of habit as I usually have DS with me. I didn't have him with me today though. I felt ridiculous when I got back to the car and realised what I'd done.

[Sirzy]

If no p and c spaces are free then I park in a normal space with ds. I still mange to lift him out of his car seat and into his SN buggy (soon to be changed to a wheelchair thankfully!) - he is 7 and can be rather wriggly to say the least.

I do think for some parents p and c spaces have created a sense of helplessness.

[Foxesarefriends]

sirzy absolutely, just look at all the posts about relying on them and 'scary' cars. For goodness sake.

[Foxesarefriends]

Ah, classy . The entitled princess swears too.
Got any more nasty comments about people with disabilities?

[Mumzypopz]

The problem these days is that normal parking spaces have got much much smaller, because they are obliged to firstly fit in more disabled spaces and secondly try and fit in P and c spaces, so the rest of the normal spaces end up titchy. This makes more people want to park in P and c spaces.

[Badhairday1001]

I think if you've got a baby fair enough, you need to open the door wide to get them out. My youngest is 4 and eldest is 16, I don't use them anymore because I don't need the space for opening the door. I do laugh when I see parents with kids bigger than them parking in them though!

[OMGBecky]

I'm in the US and my local store has the new parents spaces further away from the store, but right next to the cart return spot. I think it makes it less attractive to non parents as it's not closer to the store, however you can pop your baby into the car and not have to walk away to return your cart...not sure if that's a problem over there. The spaces aren't any wider here though. But so far I've yet to see anyone using those spots without small children in tow.

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

cupofteatime

What exactly is your issue with posters with a disability.

[cupofteatime]

@foxes. Yeah, park in a BB space and leave the P&C ones free for P&C. That the sort of thing you're looking for?

[Foxesarefriends]

Yes, that's the sort of thing that you have said on other threads. You actually compare having a baby to a disability.

[ollieplimsoles]

Meh, I cant get worked up about this, it does kind of annoy me when I see one parent sitting in the car with dcs while the other parent runs in to the shop because the extra spaces at the sides are useful to get dd out.

Also the p&c spaces are situated well out of the way of all the rest of the car park where I shop, so you don't get idiots speeding around near there looking for a space. It would only take one busy parent to slip out of her toddlers grip, they run off and get knocked down by a car.

[ghostyslovesheets]

just stop squishing little babies into car seats all the time - problem solved :(

No one needs a P+C space - you just want one - big difference

and the 1,2,3, comment is utterly vile

[Kronutpearl]

I'll repeat - online shopping!!

[Dawndonnaagain]

Dawndonnaagain - do you do this in an ordinary space?
On occasion I have done, yes. Trust me there are far more assholes using bb spaces than there are yours, and what the fuck do you think I did when she was younger/growing. I've been doing it for over 20 years. In those days you couldn't get a BB until the child was five.
Now, I don't really have a problem with P&C spaces, I really don't. I do have a problem with the attitude that goes along with some users though. Perhaps a little forethought. How do you think people like me feel. Your child is going to grow up and hopefully be happy and healthy etc. Your moan is going to last a few years and then you'll move on. People like me, we don't get that opportunity. We just get questioned by people like you asking us to justify our postings.

[cupofteatime]

Nothing at all piglet. My sister is disabled. It just gets a bit old when we repeatedly have these threads and it always ends up with parents needing the P&C spaces being completely berated for having the audacity to use them like we should always leave them free for any disabled person who may not get a space in the 3000 disabled spaces that there already are in most supermarkets etc.

[ollieplimsoles]

cup

Not all people with mobility issues can get blue badges I dont think. And what if someone has an injury temporarily that affects their mobility, do you begrudge those people using the p&c spaces too?

[Soubriquet]

And what if you don't have a blue badge cup?

I have an extremely bad bag and on some pretty strong painkillers

Could be a life time thing for me and I struggle to walking distances when it kicks off.

I could hobble inside from a P and C and then use a store wheelchair if I need it but any further than that and I would be screwed

[Soubriquet]

for any disabled person who may not get a space in the 3000 disabled spaces that there already are in most supermarkets etc.

Where the hell are you shopping?

P and C spaces outnumber BB spaces by at least 3 to 1

[PurpleDaisies]

it is safer for the children and allows space to move and pack away a buggy.

How exactly does packing away a buggy take up more space than unloading a shopping trolley?

[Kjc105]

Like I've said, I should have made it clearer in my OP but I don't have a problem with people using the spaces who genuinely need one, but again, as read on the daily mail comments, many people have admitted to using the spaces saying they don't need to use them but use them for revenge on children for being noisy.. how can that not be wrong? If people genuinely need the space, they should use them, no problem. Some people have said that they are "inconvenienced" by people who have children, that's just ridiculous.

[PurpleDaisies]

It just gets a bit old when we repeatedly have these threads and it always ends up with parents needing the P&C spaces being completely berated for having the audacity to use them like we should always leave them free for any disabled person who may not get a space in the 3000 disabled spaces that there already are in most supermarkets etc.

No one is berating parents for using p and c spaces (unless their children are teens). People get pissed of when parents get annoyed that someone with a disability parks in them.

[PlayOnWurtz]

No one is berating you for using p&c spaces. We are telling you that they're are spaces anyone can use as they wish.

[ollieplimsoles]

We just get questioned by people like you asking us to justify our postings.

Dawn I came across a lady like you using a p&c space while with her adult disabled ds in a wheelchair. She left her debit card in the card reader so I followed her out and shouted 'excuse me' before she got in the car. They way she turned around and the expression on her face, it was so obvious she was expecting to be challenged for using the p&c space and was ready for a scrap. I gave her her card back!
It was sad, she must have had to defend herself loads of times.