To think some busy car parks have an excessive amount of disabled spaces?

[coffeeforone]

Every time I go to my local Sainsbury's, i very rarely find a free Parent & Child space, or any space that is not at the very far end of the car park. I've noticed this more recently as I'm heavily pregnant and have a 2 year old so would love a P&C space. There are only 12 parent & child bays, but there are 18 disabled spaces, the vast majority of them are always free. Given the ratio of parents with young children to blue badge holders in a supermarket at any one time, would it not be more sensible to have, say 12 disabled and 18 P&C bays, or even half & half? I've noticed this in places like IKEA and other big supermarkets too (but haven't actually counted the bays!)

I wish places had never started with these P&C spaces. We used to manage perfectly well without them because hey, being pregnant and having children is not a disability. What started out as a nice thought courtesy has been, as it usually is among the stupid, corrupted into entitled arseholery of the highest order.

You're not serious, surely, Cakefairy?

It's more the room needed...not necessarily closer to the shops.

FFS. The disabled bays are close to the shop because, k, I'm going to try to keep this simple here: disabled people can't walk as far as able-bodied people.

There's just no bother even talking to people who are that hard of thinking.

Oh dear, @cakefairy do you even think?

So for example what happens if all the spaces are now full and a disabled person can't use it? They've to go home as they physically can't get into the shops but you could park anywhere and just squeeze out.

I think the simple message is PREGNANCY AND CHILDREN DON'T MAKE YOU DISABLED.

So no you can't share disabled spaces, use your legs and walk and actually look after your kids.

I really wish people would read my threads. Parent spaces need space...not being so close to the shops....disable people need to be close to the shops. Just increase the amount of spaces needed for disable people and further away from the shops..add parent sharing spaces along side extra disabled spaces. Some people need to get off their soap boxes. I've travelled a lot and lots of countries do this and it works very well. If a parent space us empty.....a disabled person can use it and vise versa. Parents need room to get in and out...Parents don't need to be so close to the shops.

@Cakefairy1978 Have my first ODFOD

Disabled people need space too!

Where do disabled park if all the spaces are filled with parents?

Mature. Glad we can all have a grown up discussion

The problem with your plan cakefairy is that then all the spaces will be used by P&C, (and everyone else as it’s impossible to police) leaving no room for the B.B. users.

Seriously, the 2 are not comparable. Yes I use P&C bays where available, but I also park in a multitude of other car parks that don’t have them and lived to tell the tale.

If a parent space us empty.....a disabled person can use it and vise versa

No, disabled bays are for people with blue badges and that's all. They should not be interchangeable with P&C spaces.

Bigger spaces can be provided for anyone else who "needs" them , away from the shop entrance, and at (extra) cost. As I said on this or the other parking thread, I'm sure if you had to pay for a bigger space you'd decide you didn't need it really, but it might be helpful for people who couldn't get a blue badge but could do with the space eg because they were temporarily on crutches.

I’m not sure someone who thinks combining disabled and p and c spaces into one is capable of a grown up discussion!

Glad we can all have a grown up discussion

Your suggestion wasn't even remotely sensible with even just a tiny bit of thought and the fact you proposed it suggests you haven't even engaged with any of the previous 11 pages of discussion.

I’m sorry Cake even your own ‘plan’ doesn’t make sense!

You say ‘disable people need to be close to the shops’

Then ‘Just increase the amount of spaces needed for disable people and further away from the shops’

If by your logic, disabled people need to be close to the shops, why are you planning more disabled spaces away from the shops?

I have no skin in this game coz I cycle everywhere & when I do drive I park the first space I see that I'm allowed in (which is usually far from the door).

OP has a point, some carparks have lots of empty disabled spaces & rest are crammed. But if it's what's legally required, then can't be changed. I hope OP can keep her 2yo safe.

"a parent space us empty.....a disabled person can use it"

That is reasonable and it should include those who are disabled but don't have a blue badge.

"and vise versa"

That bit isn't reasonable.

Keeping a 2 year old safe isn't difficult.

I will say again if parents need more spaces, campaign for them!

Disabled people are discriminated against enough. They have fought long and hard for facilities to enable them to have the same access and opportunities as able bodied people.

I think the main problem is the size of the spaces rather than the distance from the shops/gym/place you need to be. Cars these days are a lot larger than what they were 20 years ago, just look at the old corsa and the new corsa, or the old mini and the new mini.

It is my own personal opinion that all spaces need to be larger than what they are, not just for parents, but for everyone, so you don’t end up whacking the car next to you if a gust of wind takes the car door, or you don’t have to squeeze out of it.

I think the OP has had a bit of a hard time, I don’t think it was her intention to offend anyone and from what I have read I feel she has only made an observation based on where she lives, which is perfectly ok to do. I also find where I live that the disabled bays in the area are only 25% filled, I would not say to take anything away from B.B. holders as I don’t know how much they are used at other times, and as PP have already said in their areas there is a massive shortage of spaces!

I think the best way to fix the problem is make all regular spaces bigger. This has been done in a large multi story in my area. It has disabled bays and parent and child, but if the parent and child bays are full it’s no hardship to park in a standard bay, because the car park has been well designed and even in a standard bay it’s easy to park and get everything out.

Honestly the mentality is sickening. I want something, take away what disabled people NEED, so I can have more!

I sort of understand but not when it relates to parent and child spaces and not Sainsbury’s!
But basically we take our DD for swimming lessons on a Saturday morning. I’d say around 40% of the spaces are disabled. 9/10 we have to keep driving around the car park waiting for someone to leave so we can have a space. I only ever see a couple of the disabled spaces being used. Whilst I of course understand there does need to be ample disabled spaces I do think 40% is excessive for leisure centre. I find it highly unlikely that anywhere near 40% of their clientele are blue badge holders. Of course there could be another time of the week where more disabled spaces are used but I would’ve thought Saturday morning would be one of the busiest times of the week. Fully expecting to get flamed for this

You know sometjing, I am so greatful to the generations of disabled people and their carers who tirelessly campaigned to get basic access and things sorted for disabled people. How sad that now all of that is slowly being eroded by other groups -

Not sure which toilet to use? Use the disbaled facilities

“No space” for a baby change? Use the disabled toilet

Need to change your outfit? Use the disabled toilet

Nowhere to park your tank of a pram on the bus? Use the wheelchair space

No parking spaces right at the door? Use the disabled space

And so on and so on.

It is the most vulnerable people in society who are having their minimum access to the world eroded because of the selfishness, or unwillingness to campaign for themselves, of other groups.

Maybe they think those without bb can park elsewhere and walk.

@Mummyh2016 And you deserve to be flamed. Presumably if you can't find a space in the car park you go and park somewhere else, maybe a nearby street, and walk a bit? Disabled people don't have that bloody choice.

For fuck's sake, what is WRONG with people?

Cakefairy1978, you are the most hard-of-thinking poster I’ve ever come across on MN. That’s quite an achievement, congratulations!