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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WIBU to park in a disabled space?

456 replies

FairfaxAikman · 05/11/2018 07:13

Ordinarily I wouldn't dream of it.

Our local supermarket closes off half the car park with barriers overnight to deter boy racers. It doesn't reopen until after 8am. ALL of the parent and child spaces are in the closed off side.

DS is still small enough to be in his car seat. In the past if I've arrived before 8am I've parked in a normal space but every time I've ended up with someone next to me, making it hard to get DS back in.

There is a row of 10 disabled spaces, all empty. WIBU to park in the furthest one from the shop?

OP posts:
Biancadelriosback · 05/11/2018 07:48

I'm assuming this was a moment's madness OP due to sleep deprivation or similar? No one can honestly be that stupid normally. Just because something is a bit difficult doesn't mean you get to whine and someone has to fix it. Christ you sound like Bing!

If you need to put baby back in the car via the boot, well shit happens. I have. I've also asked one of the shop staff to reverse my car out for me when someone literally jammed me in. Or just go and get a cuppa in the supermarket cafe and wait for the carpark to empty a bit. Get there earlier so you can park in an end bay. There are so many other alternatives than parking in a disabled bay. And if your moral compass doesnt understand why you can't park there, you'll get a ticket if you do (I believe).

Original poster
FairfaxAikman · 05/11/2018 07:50
  • If you have such a problem with entering/exiting your car when you can’t get a P&C space either: A) don’t go at that time B) practice getting baby in and out of a normal space C) park elsewhere and walk D) speak to the staff and get them to remove the barriers at shop opening time to permit use of the P&C spaces.*

A) popping in after driving DH to work
B) all well and good until someone parks too close (has happened)
C) supermarket is on he edge of a town but separated by a very busy dual carriageway - not safe to cross from nearest safe parking spot.
D) this is what I actually asked staff about but apparently the council won't let them put it up before 8 and she said "just park in a disabled space".

I think that's the wrong response and wrong solution.

OP posts:
anniehm · 05/11/2018 07:50

Yes, no badge no parking space. Park at the back furthest away, no one will park next to you. They didn't have parent spaces when mine were small, standard spaces are fine

Bibijayne · 05/11/2018 07:51

Wouldn't making some of the ordinary bays p&c friendly make more sense?

I could do with space to get baby in and out (some, older car parks to not really allow this). But I'm happy to walk across the carpark with my pram. I don't need a wide p&c space next to the store.

Ifailed · 05/11/2018 07:51

OP, you've chosen to tow a caravan, live rurally, have 3 dogs and a child. No BB holder has chosen to be disabled.

Alexandra2018 · 05/11/2018 07:55

You can get a ticket for doing that in a lot of supermarkets these days the car park will be owned and monitored

aLilNonnyMouse · 05/11/2018 07:58

I've had to go home many times because all the blue badge spaces were already full. I can't just go back later as the effort of going out once means I'm too tired to go again so I just miss out on going that day completely.

Yes they may be empty when you get there, but people tend to stay in a shop for anywhere between 30 mins and 2 hours, that's plenty of time for all the spots to fill up and someone to need the one you are in.

SoupDragon · 05/11/2018 07:58

OP, you've chosen to tow a caravan, live rurally, have 3 dogs and a child. No BB holder has chosen to be disabled.

And you have chosen to ignore the part where the OP made it abundantly clear that she wasn't going to park there.

areanyusernamesleft211 · 05/11/2018 07:59

If you consider having to get your child in and out of your car in an ordinary space such a horrrific hardship, I wonder how you will get through life to be honest.

GertrudeCB · 05/11/2018 07:59

Yabu of course but the supermarket should be opening the P&C spaces when they are needed.

Earlywalker · 05/11/2018 08:00

YABU but I completely get your frustration. My local department store dedicates the whole first row to disabled spaces (about 50) there’s only 2 p&c and every time I go I park rows away and have to lug the pushchair up stairs to get there. I’ve never seen the disabled spaces more than half full even when the car park is 20 rows back.
But I would never park there just Incase that was the time it got full and a disabled person had nowhere to go. I do think stores should consider P&C more though.

chocatoo · 05/11/2018 08:02

I think if there really are 10 disabled spaces, all empty it would be fine as long as you are quick. It's unlikely that 9 blue badge holders will all turn up in the next 10 mins!

Powerless · 05/11/2018 08:02

I love how everyone acts all high & mighty on here yet in real life they'd be like "Ah fuck it! The disabled spaces won't be needed before 8am!"

Powerless · 05/11/2018 08:04

@Gileswithachainsaw Actually those of us WITH Blue Badges often buy 4x4s (or ones without 4 wheel drive ....HmmConfused) because they're easier to climb into.....!

PMSwithacockinmydress · 05/11/2018 08:06

making it hard to get DS back in.

Hard for you, perhaps impossible for a disabled person.

I'm fucking disabled, as are my two kids. But we don't currently have a blue badge, therefore we don't park in a blue badge bay. You think a functioning vagina gives you some sort of special privilege?

By the way, the space isn't disabled.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 05/11/2018 08:07

The staff member gave you bad advice, you obviously realise that.
Either you acquire a disability (not recommended) or a different car. One that fits in a rural supermarket car park.

Your idea about swapping two of the P and C spaces with Disabled ones sounds practical, although it was very remiss of you not to include the obligatory diagram Grin

Why don’t you pursue this with the store manager?

Original poster
FairfaxAikman · 05/11/2018 08:07

OP, you've chosen to tow a caravan, live rurally, have 3 dogs and a child. No BB holder has chosen to be disabled.

Yeah, that was a snarky response to the PP who told me to buy a smaller car. Not all of us can get away with Yarises.

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 05/11/2018 08:11

@GileswithachainsawActually those of us WITH Blue Badges often buy 4x4s (or ones without 4 wheel drive ....) because they're easier to climb into

And the disabled spots are big enough. Provided they arent taken up with others with over sized cars amd no blue badge who can't park in regular spots of course

MIdgebabe · 05/11/2018 08:13

PARk over 2 normal bays?

MsHopey · 05/11/2018 08:15

love how everyone acts all high & mighty on here yet in real life they'd be like "Ah fuck it! The disabled spaces won't be needed before 8am!"

My nan is seriously disabled and has had a BB as long as I can remember. I have never parked in a disabled bay (unless she has been with me and with her badge). Not for 5 minutes, not to pop to the cash point. It's not fair on the people who need the spaces.
My nan always says people tut when she's in her wheel chair and they're struggling to get round her, moan about her little bit of disability benefits, and complain about her BB, she said she'd swap literally everything she has for working legs and to no longer be in pain every second of the day.
I think people who are close to disabled people and have seen how shit it can be would respect the disabled spots for their intended purpose.

SD1978 · 05/11/2018 08:16

In the whole, non cut off part of the car park. Someone always parks beside you pre 8am? Is there only 2 spots? Park at the back. One would assume it's not a bustling hotbed at that time and a busy car park.

QueenoftheNights · 05/11/2018 08:16

when my DCs were little there were no such things as parent/child parking spaces. I just got them and the buggy in and out the best I could. It can be done (especially if people buy normal cars instead of massive 'buses' as their car.)

Upanddownandroundagain · 05/11/2018 08:16

I’ve got sympathy - the boy racers are causing this by being dickheads and causing the car park to be closed off. Sadly, the only answers are to go at a different time, carry your baby rather than the car seat, or to speak to the store which I see you’ve already done. I’m sure they don’t need the barriers up after 7am.

icclemunchy · 05/11/2018 08:18

I never realised jus throw many entitled twats park in disabled bays with no badge until I became disabled.

I can't tell you how much I love turning up somewhere to find them all taken and not physically be able to get out of the car (not we're not talking I might have to squeeze a bit I cannot exit the car without the door fully open)or even better some idiot has used the one next to me when I come back and parked so badly I can't get back in.

I would actually give my right arm to only have to worry about getting a child in and out of a tight space. Because it would be a damn site easier than how I live now.

So no Op don't use the disabled bay unless your bloody disabled

Basecamp65 · 05/11/2018 08:19

I am disabled and have a blue badge.

If you are doing a full weeks shop then I would say no but if you are only popping in to get sandwiches then the chances of 10 disabled people coming along is very slim.

I know it is annoying when non disabled people park in disabled bays and force disabled people away but really common sense should prevail.