Parent and child parking

[spiderbear]

It winds me up so much when people without children park in 'parent and child' parking. Is it just me that has a go?? I just can't help it. I find them so ignorant and selfish. Just had to say something to someone at Tesco- she was with her (I'm guessing 20yr old) daughter.. and wouldn't even look me in the face.. I'm heavily pregs and also with a 2 yr old. But her daughter piped up saying they'd just dropped her dad and sister off at the entrance - which was rubbish as we'd been behind them coming into the car park!!
Am I out of order having a go ?? Should I just let it be? Or should supermarkets do more to stop this themselves??

That's so sensible, wish they all did that.

Cars have got bigger, people have got bigger and car seat have got bigger (more awkward), all spaces should be made bigger but this will mean less spaces in the car parks so they probably won’t do it.

"I have an SUV (no children with me) therefore my car is too big to park in a normal space. I am going to park here, in a space that is clearly marked for parents who are shopping children who are under 5" . Sorry but just because you have a large car does not mean you are entitled to do as you please. I think you have to be pretty hard faced, arrogant and self entitled to use the spaces without having children present. These are the type of people who can often be heard saying "I dont suffer fools lightly" and posts a quote a day on FB " I say what the hell I want, when I want". They are also the first to cry when someone dares question them. Basically a very dislikable human. We all know the type...

anxious don’t be ridiculous wear a suit or tracksuit bottoms whatever you like.
If you have a blue badge park where ever you like as well.
But when I see people dressed in business wear, wearing lanyards/company id cards using these spaces, they don’t have a blue badge, then considering they are obviously holding down a job, It seems a fair assumption that they dont have a hidden disability and they don’t need a space designated for heavily pregnant women and women with small children trying to manoeuvre car seats.
Same as young men 18-25 with fast cars coming out carrying crates of beer. I would bet that rather than having a hidden disability, that they won’t issue a blue badge for, they are being lazy, and don’t want to risk their car getting scratched.

The spaces are for parents and children. It’s as simple as that, rules are rules. They are designed for child safety, anyone using them without a child has no business to be and is in my opinion selfish, excluding those with blue badges for whom there are no available spaces.
As for the gust of wind catching my car, yes obviously a gust of wind could catch my car door, Anywhere in the British isles for that matter... but if it isn’t immediately next to a neighbouring car and pushed one way by my bum trying to get a car seat out, it’s far less likely to do any damage to any surrounding vehicles. See my point?

They are only courtesy spaces. I think if people want to use them to be nearer to the shop then fair enough. They might have a temporary disability and not have a blue badge.

Wow this is still going! Brilliant...

I thought of you yesterday op as I drove into my local Lidl. So I parked in a parent and child with a mischievous grin, just for the silliness of it! See, your thread has made a difference!

I agree that it would make sense for the P&C spaces to be further away, as it would make them less attractive to other people to misuse. It's only the extra space that's needed.

"anyone using them without a child has no business to be and is in my opinion selfish, excluding those with blue badges for whom there are no available spaces."

After numerous people giving reasons why their or their older child's disability means that they use the space we still have people coming along saying this.

It shows that giving a reason why you are in them pointless and it's far better to ignore the busybodies or tell them to 'go away'.

We have a new Lidl near us, half the car park (the part down the side of the building) is parent parking and disabled, the rest in normal parking but the spaces are wide enough for bigger cars, there are walk ways to get to the entrance so it’s safe when you have children. I have started shopping there more, the lay out is practical for everyone and the parent spaces are not as close to the entrance so not as tempting to park in them.

But when I see people dressed in business wear, wearing lanyards/company id cards using these spaces, they don’t have a blue badge, then considering they are obviously holding down a job, It seems a fair assumption that they dont have a hidden disability and they don’t need a space designated for heavily pregnant women and women with small children trying to manoeuvre car seats.

First point. My husband has cystic fibrosis. You wouldn't know to look at him as he doesn't have a big flashing light over his head or anything. He also works full time and is very successful. He wouldn't display his blue badge as a matter of routine if be parked in any other space because there is no legal requirement to.

Second point - why only mothers? Why not fathers, grandparents, child minders and so on?

And hopefully someone can answer me this as it's genuinely puzzled me for some time now.

Back in the day, you would put the child in the car seat and then take them out of the car seat. When did it become a thing to take the entire thing out, and why??

back in the days, babies didn't have car seat but could travel comfortably in a moses basket.

Car seats are safer, and travel system allowing you to put them on a frame without waking up the baby, or transferring them to a pram are very useful.

Let's be honest, back in the days, people didn't even have cars, how far ago do you want to go back to? We should be grateful for progress.

Parent and child spaces just piss me off completely. I’m not sure why they are needed. Just park in a space and get on with it. If there’s not enough room park further away. And extra few yards to walk isn’t going to kill anyone.

Maybe there should be ‘single with a good car’ spaces. Chances are they’ll be in a dm out the shop quicker and won’t want people marking their lovely cars, so why don’t they get a larger space closer to the entrance

I do wonder how much of the “take the car seat out of the car” is marketing ploy by the pram companies to make people spend more money of the “travel system” and all the accessories.

I gave up taking the seat in and out after about 3 weeks - more hassle than it’s worth!

Just park in a space and get on with it. If there’s not enough room park further away.

what do you mean by "further away"? Why would there be more room further away? Do parking spaces get bigger the further from the entrance in your local supermarket?

Alonsos, point one, really your husband is breaking the rules. The supermarket own that land, it is theirs to do with as they wish. They choose to provide those spaces as parent and child spaces to make life easier, and to make things safer. Your husband breaks these rules when he parks there.
If however he was using his blue badge then fair enough, no rules broke as he can park safely where he needs to. Without using it then technically yes he is breaking the rules.
A similar comparison would be to me, as a car user I don’t park in a bay designated m/c (motorcycle), as whoever owns or is responsible for the land has designated this space as for use by motorcycles to park only, not cars. Rules are rules I tend to stick to them. I don’t twist it and justify it in my head and decide that for whatever reason I have the right to park there.

Point 2, ok I said mums with babies/small children. In the same way the supermarkets have generalised and said parent and child.
When in fact you are totally right, it could be mum, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, babysitter, nanny, foster cater, great aunt or uncle, family friend, au pair, or many other adults who are looking after a small child.
But to save myself the hassle typing, I just put mum, assuming that most people are well aware that like ‘parent and child’ mum and child is, when discussing parent and child bays, an exchangeable term for another responsible adult.

Alonsos, point one, really your husband is breaking the rules.
No he isn't. There are no rules regarding these spaces; they are a courtesy, nothing more. A space designated motorcycle would in all likelihood be too small for a car, ergo a ridiculous suggestion. Perhaps all fiestas should park in spaces marked fiesta and Land Rovers in spaces marked for them?

Is it just me that has a go?? I just can't help it.

Do that to me and I’ll wipe the fucking floor with you.

Gilead, I have seen mc bays where they are jst a regular space with mc painted on.
There are also some small ones in a town near me and I have seen entitled car drivers park over two bays to run into a local shop. This is rule breaking, taking a space not intended for you. The same as another absolute pet hate of mine, people who park even for a short period in a bus stop or drive in a bus lane, not designated for them, don’t do it.
Most large supermarkets are very clear on the sign that you must have a child (usually under age 12 to park there).
There are press reports about some supermarkets enforcing this and fining people who have parked there without children.
Even if fines are not enforced, it doesn’t mean rules aren’t broken. Supermarkets own or rent the land, they therefore have the right to designate spaces if they wish on their private land. To disregard this is rule breaking.
Would you put your pedal bike in my front garden without my permission? No, it’s breaking a rule.
If there weren’t rules, roads, car parks, private land etc would be a free for all .
Rules are rules.

If someone with a disability parks in a p and c space reasonable adjustment would say they are will within the law to do so. No company with a shred of compassion (or care for PR) would consider persuing any sort of fine, enforacble or not!

Reddington ‘wipe then Fucking floor’ with anyone in a public place and risk getting a criminal record and a potential fine after the attention you draw to yourself for parking in the wrong place.

Sirzy most people with disabilities would have a blue badge, that’s the point of them so you can park more conveniently without picking up fines etc.

Sadly you couldn’t be much further from the truth there if you tried

Well as the supermarket have opened up their land to the use of the general public then no they don't have any right whatsoever to stipulate who can park in which space and he ISN'T breaking the law by parking in a parent and child space without displaying his badge as there is zero requirement to do so.

Also the point was in response to your idiotic comment regards how someone couldn't possibly have a job AND a hidden disability. Go and educate yourself ffs.

You may not like it but frankly you'll just have to deal with not liking it.

And no, most people with disabilities don't have a blue badge. They're bloody hard to get.

Even if they did, they would all still be entitled to park in parent and child spaces. Like actually entitled, not just made up in their heads entitled.