Mother and baby parking

[crispysausagerolls]

Went to the supermarket today with my baby and really could’ve used the mother and baby space to get my car seat in and out etc (especially hard as I have a 2 door car). Just as I arrived a woman without a baby pulled into the mother and baby spot, without a baby. My mother asked her what she was doing and she said she was waiting for a child. 2 mins later a middle aged woman came out of the supermarket and got into the car and she started to drive off. So she had lied. I said thanks to her in a sarcastic way as i was struggling to get my baby out in a tight space (very passive aggressive of me I know but DS hates the car and had been screaming and I was so irritated by not having the space) and she started spouting off about being heavily pregnant and blah blah blah. Which was all completely irrevelant (if even true) because she didn’t get out of the bloody car anyway!

AIBU to think the mother and baby space isn’t somewhere to just wait for a mate to come and join you in the car? People genuinely need the extra space provided by them!

Claw001 Did I read earlier that you asked how would someone know if a BB belongs to the person in the car? (If not you, I'm sure someone did.)

The BBs in my county all have the owner's photo on the back. Not sure if it's countrywide, though. Hopefully, someone will tell me.

For clarity, the rest of my post is not specifically aimed at the person wondering the above.

If someone challenged me (though mine is definitely NOT a hidden disability), I would show my photo and end any argument about whether I can park in the space or not. If OP had been able to do this, there wouldn't be this thread. Nor would there be lazy CFs borrowing granny's BB and dishonestly using the spaces. This is badge abuse according to the rules, but I believe it's not the kind of abuse such as theft or fake badges the authorities prosecute and collect much data for as this kind of abusers are very rarely caught. Though we all (BB holders) know it goes on.

The only way to stop this kind of abuse where there are no enforcement officers available would need the miracle of CFs suddenly growing a conscience or the simple request of showing badge ID. If this was the norm and more people challenged, real BB holders would no longer have to worry about wasted journeys due to no room to park etc.

Some people say BB holders should have their photo showing at all times. This is something I completely disagree with as I have an ex who would happily slash my tires (or a car belonging to a person driving me) if he saw my photo.

I have 3 adult nephews who have all been diagnosed with autism. Only one has a PIP. He also has a BB. If he didn't have a BB I'd have no problem with him (or others like him) using C&P spaces as he has no road sense when he's agitated or in meltdown.

Despite their autism - which classes them as disabled - they own and drive their own cars. So they'd be classed as having a hidden disability, but would not need a BB space.

Alldaybreakfast I don't think any reasonable BB holder would object to you using a space like that when plenty of others are free. You were just unlucky to have come across a jobsworth. I realise that this contradicts what I've said above, but if you could see the spaces filling up and a BB holder waiting for the space, I like to think you'd move for them. I dislike bullying jobsworths just being awkward.

@itsalldyingout

Didn't read all of that because frankly it was far too long. No I didn't ask that but I don't think they do have pics in this country infact I'm sure they don't.

Oops not for me sorry 😂

We live in a selfish world full of ignorance, just got to chalk it up as ignorance at its finest

@Thats

What country are you in? The UK BB has the owner's picture behind the card with the details (not the clock obvs).

I had to check on the gov website as I was unsure if it was just my county, but all BB holders now have a photo on the rear.

I've got to admit I used a P&C space last weekend for the first time, there were lots available and I parked in the one farthest from the shop (Asda), I'm 7 months pregnant and generally don't use them but I was also with my friend who has just had major knee surgery is in a full leg brace and is using a wheelchair and wanted to get out and do some food shopping. She doesn't have a blue badge as she should be on just crutches and the leg brace in a few weeks and hopefully recovered in about three months. I did feel bad, but couldn't see any other way of me being able to get out of the car, get her wheelchair out of the boot and help her in to it. I wouldn't have done it if there weren't lots of other P&C spaces available and I wouldn't have used a blue badge space.

Hmm I idn't think they did,haven't seen one in a while right enough so I could be wrong.

Itsalldyingout Lots of parents have BB’s for children. I don’t know if they have photos on the back. A photo of a child isn’t much use to an adult who would be driving as proof. And yes they can use the car without the child in it. For example dropping off or picking up.

borrowing granny's BB and dishonestly using the spaces. This is badge abuse according to the rules, but I believe it's not the kind of abuse such as theft or fake badges the authorities prosecute and collect much data for as this kind of abusers are very rarely caught.

As I stated early, approx 1,000 prosecutions. stats 98% the majority of prosecutions were targeted at non badge holders using another’s persons.

If this was the norm and more people challenged, real BB holders would no longer have to worry about wasted journeys due to no room to park etc

Blaming the 1,000 for lack of disabled parking, doesn’t address the issue. i don’t see how this would increase disabled parking facilities? There are still 2.8 million B.B. holders.

Recommending the majority of 2.8 million are challenged, isn’t helpful! Disabled people have enough to deal with, without being challenged by every Tom, Dick and Harry on a regular basis! Particularly challenging those with disabled children.

Children’s badges do have a photo of rhe child on the back.

If someone who wasn’t employed to warden parking asked me to see it then they would be ignored!

I’m really not sure what the resentment of B.B. misuse is based on! Definitely not on statistics!

Seems to be a lot of resentment towards misuse, however not based on concerns for disabled people.

Parking really does bring out the worst in people!

Seems to be based on people not looking disabled enough. I suggest all users, limp or stagger away from the car!

@MrsStrowman

"I'm 7 months pregnant"

-then it's fair enough for you to use a P&C space. Like you, I mostly didn't use the spaces when pregnant, but at 7 months my bump was pretty big and I had SPD. If you were 7 weeks pregnant it would be different!