Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Parking wars

68 replies

Solonelywastheballard · 02/08/2019 12:53

Time and time again we have threads on here about blue badge Vs parent and child spaces.

Many people feel that there are people that have a greater need for parent and child spaces than parents with children.This is always explained as those with mobility issues that can't get a blue badge.

I'm of the opinion that the p&c spaces were put there for parents with children (that require help getting in and out of the car and crossing the car park, not a NT, healthy, unimpaired 13 year old) and so unless you have a blue badge you should not use them.

But that does leave the "what about xyz".

So aibu to think that supermarkets should have a third priority space for elderly, ill, pregnant and/or infirm. These would be courtesy spaces not backed by law to be used by people who may need wider spaces and/or spaces closer to the shop but don't have a blue badge.

We could then end this p&c space war and see piece on mumsnet and in the car parks.

OP posts:

ginghambox · 02/08/2019 12:57

The best thing to do would be to move p&c places to the far end of the car park, or scrap the things altogether.

User55234 · 02/08/2019 12:59

Why not just make all parking spaces extra wide? Granted there would be fewer of them, but the stress & irritation would be removed.

BossAssBitch · 02/08/2019 13:12

Scrap P&C spaces, make them ‘A’ for accessible as the pp mentions.

When I am with my gran, who has mobility issues, I always use them (I am child free).

heronontoast · 02/08/2019 13:19

'Scrap P&C spaces, make them ‘A’ for accessible as the pp mentions.'

I agree.

StoorieHoose · 02/08/2019 13:20

If they made the spaces bigger then it wouldn't matter. The car park (and the checkout) is the main reason I do my shopping online

ElizaPancakes · 02/08/2019 13:25

Put p&c spaces at the fair edge of the car park. That’s why they get abused, not because they’re larger but because they’re closer. Mark them A for accessible I like that.

It was a nice idea poorly executed.

JenniR29 · 02/08/2019 13:25

I say move them away from the store and have a safe walkway to protect small children. Fewer people would be tempted to misuse them if they were less convenient to access the shop.

Mitzimaybe · 02/08/2019 13:32

That's a great idea about moving the spaces further away. Doesn't have to be the far end of the car park but away from right in front of the door. Most supermarkets I know have a long frontage with the doors in the middle, so the disabled and P&C spaces are also in the middle. You could keep the disabled there for blue badge holders but move the P&C spaces to one side. There is a walkway along the front of the building so no need for children to be crossing aisles of traffic, and the "my time is more important than everyone else's so I have the right to park right in front of the doors" brigade can just fight for spaces with everyone else.

Clutterbugsmum · 02/08/2019 13:32

I think they should put them as far away from the shop as possible. Only have disabled parking near the shop.

Jaheira · 02/08/2019 13:33

I park in the P&C spaces as I have a two door sports car and the doors are wider which means you can't easily open them in a normal space

And I don't want dings in my paintwork from careless fuckers who swing doors open with no care in the world

Original poster

Solonelywastheballard · 02/08/2019 13:35

But why scrap p&c? Parents like them and shops want to provide them. Plus if you just have A spaces they will be full of parents with kids who perceive themselves to have a need.

Why not have three lots of space?

Also I agree that having p&c at the back would make abuse less common but , I have on occasion had to use a space at the back (I have two little kids and a bb) and it's not very nice wheeling your little one in a hard to control trolley across a busy car park.

OP posts:

YesItsMeIDontCare · 02/08/2019 13:39

These would be courtesy spaces not backed by law

I thought P&C were courtesy spaces anyway? But yes, I think they should be moved to the far corner of the car park but with a trolley park right next to them.

Helenluvsrob · 02/08/2019 13:40

Make p&c spaces further from the store. You need space to get kids in and out of cars the into a trolley / buggy. You donate have a distance issue really .this would stop the tosser that can’t be bothered to walk more than a Step from Their v important car using them

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 02/08/2019 13:43

I haven't used P&C since my DC were school aged (so youngest 5yo ish) , they weren't abused back in those days

But , I do feel the BB spaces need to be looked at . There are different degrees .

You'll have one person in a wheelchair and needs the space to safely access their wheelchair and the space to bring it alongside and open the doors fully .

The person who has a child with SEN who has limited road awareness and liable to bolt /fling doors open.

And you'll have a person like my DMums friend who was Registered blind from 4yo and worked full time with the assistance of her Guide Dog . She and the dog could walk faster than most other people her age . She was Reg Disabled , needed enough room to exit a car and let her dog exit safely , but didn't need to be nearer the shops.

There seems to be a misconception with Blue Badges ( most of my patients think BB+Old Person , they don't accept childhood and hidden disabilities . I try and educate them !)

heronontoast · 02/08/2019 13:44

Three lots of spaces would inevitably impact on the number of disabled spaces.

'it's not very nice wheeling your little one in a hard to control trolley across a busy car park'

...but far from impossible - you can still shop.
Disabled people and people with mobility difficulties/injuries may not be able to shop at all without a space near enough to the shop.

Wilderr · 02/08/2019 13:53

I have MS. I don't (can't) drive. We rarely use cars and when we do we hire them (DH can drive), so can't get a blue badge.

I need the extra space getting out the car to maneuver myself with my sticks.

my2bundles · 02/08/2019 13:54

The type of spaces up u describe already exist. They are labelled as parent child spaces but in reality they are a courtesy to make life easier for anyone who needs them. There's no need to create a separate section selfish parents need to use their common sense and realise it's not all about them.

Isatis · 02/08/2019 13:54

But why scrap p&c? Parents like them and shops want to provide them. Plus if you just have A spaces they will be full of parents with kids who perceive themselves to have a need.

Because a hefty proportion of the shopping population don't like them, and there's no real need for them.

Why not have three lots of space?

As you've pointed out, the accessible places would soon fill up with people who reckon they're entitled because they've got a sore finger. And that will leave people who don't fit any of the three categories with even fewer spaces.

Isatis · 02/08/2019 13:55

'it's not very nice wheeling your little one in a hard to control trolley across a busy car park'

No different than it is for the rest of us wheeling hard to control full trolleys across the car park.

Clutterbugsmum · 02/08/2019 14:04

But why scrap p&c?

Because there are different options since they came in. Most last shop are now open 24 hours, you can have your shopping delivered.

Use these option if you find it to hard to shop unless you are parked as close as possible.

CadburysTastesVileNow · 02/08/2019 14:11

I don't agree with putting P&C places at the far end of the car park, unless is a protected walkway to them.

P&C spaces are there for safety, not just convenience - hence their usual position near the doors. I was once present when a toddler was killed, having broken away from its parent moments before. The less opportunity for small children to interact with moving vehicles the better.

JenniR29 · 02/08/2019 14:18

@Jaheira I think that’s rather inconsiderate of you, you are potentially compromising child safety because you consider your car more valuable. Why not just park further away?

Celticrose · 02/08/2019 14:19

We rarely use cars and when we do we hire them (DH can drive), so can't get a blue badge

A blue badge is for the person and not the car. My mum has given up driving but doesn't have to give up her blue badge. She uses it for whatever car she happens to be travelling in at the time. Mostly mine but also if she gets community transport to the hospital for example

Original poster

Solonelywastheballard · 02/08/2019 14:32

Three lots of spaces would inevitably impact on the number of disabled spaces

It's my understanding that the store has a legal requirement to provide a certain number of bb spaces so a third type of space wouldn't reduce the amount of bb spaces. Ideally it would just push the p&c spaces further away.

OP posts:

DidntAskToBe · 02/08/2019 14:35

Supermarkets get a lot of revenue from families with children. They want to encourage them to use their store, and I think they'll do that at the expense of others.

Let's not kid ourselves they're putting them near the shop from the goodness of their heart.

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread