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?

My local Waitrose has all the p&c spaces at the back of the car park. It's genius as they're nearly always free.

There are other parking spots I look for if a car park doesn't have any p&c spaces; further away, end rows or near the trolley area. That way I park in a spot that gives me more room to get the baby out.

I'm going to be honest and say it does irritate me when a young sprightly chap hops out of his sporty car having parked in a p&c space. I just inwardly curse and him and go find myself another space, just like I would if another mother had got to the space before me. It's not the end of the world as I know it!

Catchit My waitrose is the same hence why I raised the point. The PC parking was packed when it was at the front & overnight people stopped using them when moved to the back. Despite it being safer as there's now a clear bollarded path to the shop. A lot (not all) park in the PC parking because they just don't want to walk a bit with their kids or supervise them adequately and that's wrong.

I don't understand people who park in P&C spaces when they genuinely don't need to, but I don't get al the righteous anger about it either

Where I live there is far more disabled spaces that parent and child spaces so it makes me mad when I see disabled people use spaces for people with kids

OMG !

catchit what a brilliant name!

Yanbu, I have four children so require a large car, 2 of my kids are of toddler and baby age and i cant literally park in small parking spaces as I cant get them both out at the sides without wacking peoples doors, as normal parking spaces are too small for my car. I wish they would just make parking spaces bigger all round.

Where I live there is far more disabled spaces that parent and child spaces so it makes me mad when I see disabled people use spaces for people with kids

you need a BB the disabled parking spaces and many people/children do not get a BB despite being severely disabled. the government changed guidelinesvor BBs which mean that many who desperately need them are refused a BB (my child is one of them).

When I had dd we used a mixture of public transport and driving, our Asda only had about ten p and c spaces and they were always full. They were like an empty wheelchair space on the bus to me, a very nice extra if available but as many other conditions and circumstance rightly take priority over having a child, I never planned trips out assuming I'd have access to any of them.

So if the few p and c spaces were full then I'd have to park at the back end and if the whole car park is full then parking elsewhere and walking into supermarket or wherever, I'd plan for the spaces to not be available so using a sling or carrying dd when little or a small foldable pushchair for bus, and using reins to keep DC safe walking across car parks etc when she was no longer in buggy. It's a pain in the arse and can be tricky, but it's a temporary situation for a NT parent with a NT child, and gets easier to be out and about as they get older. For many people, these spaces are an absolute permanent necessity and must be so

There's no way of knowing why anyone is in a p and c space, a childless person running from the car to shop may be doing so because they have a bowel condition and are about to shit themselves. A childless person leaving the car could be collecting a child, and childless person returning to a car may have had an emergency toilet situation and had park as close as they can, you just can't know for sure and there's a good chance that they need that space and unlike wheelchair spaces on the bus, parents don't take priority. Although from threads in here, a lot of NT parents with big buggies and NT DC think they shouldn't have to vacate wheelchair spaces or disabled toilets and prevent the people who they are intended for use them because they think temporarily navigating travelling with a pushchair is comparable to being disabled.

SkyblueAnnie, I completely agree. I have a young baby, it's really helpful to use a wider space. Yes I can manage in normal spaces although it's a bit more tricky and I do have to select the space carefully. It would just be nice if more people thought, "no-one can stop me using that space but I don't need it so I won't in case I deprive someone who will find it really useful". I think it's quite sad that some people think so little about everyone else. Clearly anyone who does genuinely need the space (for any reason really) should use it.

I guess, because there's very few p and c spaces, and as they are not a legal right and can be used by anyone, it makes sense to expect them to not be available and plan for the likelihood of them being used. Pain in the arse yes, but temporary.

Blue badge spaces are legally enforceable and of course they rightly take priority in the courtesy p and c spaces too, if the empty p and c space is more convenient for them to get a wheelchair out for eg as its closer to the store than a vacant bb space, they should use the p and c space. Their situation is often permanent and if me having to park further away and Chew on a little means their trip just a little bit more easier then so be it.

The Sainsbury's in our area have parent and child and disabled spaces together so from me there is no issue at all... again it's the people who openly admit they do it because they feel parents are too 'entitled'!

Why is it okay to practically demand that a parent should do online shopping rather than visit a supermarket, and then ignore the fact that disabled people/people caring for someone with disabilities can also do an online shop?

Parent could use an ordinary space. Someone with a disability does not have that choice.

YANBU
People who use spaces provided for the use of others are selfish.
but be prepared for a torrent of disagreeable remarks about how women with children are entitled miscreants and should be either shopping online, buying a smaller car, learning to park properly or taking the bus (obviously using a sling rather than needing a space on public transport.)

Spikeyball not according to a lady earlier who said she has used a normal space but that's neither here nor there. Everyone has the right to visit a supermarket

You'd begrudge someone with a bowel problem use of the space in an emergency bettersleep?

Ok, I'll rephrase it. Some people with disabilities do not have that choice.

Parent could use an ordinary space. Someone with a disability does not have that choice.
Actually, that is not always the case.
Besides, did the OP ask whether disabled spaces should be abolished so that mummies could park their cars wherever they choose?
thought not.
Disabled spaces should be (and are) protected spaces for those with a disability who need that extra room or proximity to the store.
that doesn't mean that P&C spaces should be disregarded.
and the fact that infancy and childhood are temporary "conditions" (FFS) does not make them irrelevant.

yes I fucking would purple
I too, have a bowel problem. If I am shopping without the DCs (still small, need proper car seats/ lifting from the car) I don't use a P&C space. Partly because I know that if I did have them with me I would be much more likely to shit myself lifting them than if I am alone.

that doesn't mean that P&C spaces should be disregarded.

The vast majority of posters agree that it's absolutely fine for people with mobility problems or disabilities to use p and c spaces.

Sirzy I would rather avoid the obvious hazard of pushing my pram behind rows of parked cars if it can be avoided. Simple....no??

jolly good purple

Of course, everyone who uses a P&C space without having small children with them is horribly disabled and unable to find an allocated disabled space.
I don't believe that for one minute.

and then ignore the fact that disabled people/people caring for someone with disabilities can also do an online shop?
Yes do ensure we're not seen out and about as, erm, oh I know, part of society.