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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think elderly couple should not have parked in parent and child space?

260 replies

Pelly8 · 08/09/2019 16:40

Local supermarket has loads of disabled bays (which are 90% empty whenever i’ve been) but only 5 parent and child bays. Elderly couple (probs in 70s) parked their car in a parent and child bay just as I was packing away my shopping.

I almost pointed out that there was plenty of other places for them to park (including plenty of other non disabled bays close to the entrance) but bit my tongue.

AIBU to think they should have parked elsewhere?

OP posts:
ispepsiokay · 09/09/2019 12:06

Where I live the disabled and seniors parking is closest to the doors. P&C is a little further away

ErrolTheDragon · 09/09/2019 12:08

but many supermarkets are huge with accompanying massive car parks. I can think of 2 near me off the top of my head.

Indeed. And in those, being fit enough to do so, I'd park in the first available space and run. (With due attention to traffic, obv).

Runningsmooth · 09/09/2019 12:18

I have never used a p & c parking space. I have never needed to. I have 3 DC. At one point I had a 3 year old, an 18 month old and a newborn. Normal spaces have always been fine. On the otherhand my in laws need a massive space to get in and out of a car. They are old and slow and heavy and they need to be close to the shop or they are not going to be able to get to the shop. I think supermarkets should change p & c spaces into spaces that don't need blue badges but are for the ill and elderly.

If your car is so big you can't get the door open without a p & c space you need to park it further away from the shops where there is space.

JenniR29 · 09/09/2019 12:20

@WilburIsSomePig I think you are twisting my words. I agree that the OP was being unreasonable about the elderly couple, I have no objection to them parking there. My argument was about those who use them when they are perfectly able bodied (admittedly this is slightly off topic from the OP).

@Alsohuman Yes I would be fine with that so long as there was safe passage to the supermarket. In fact I would prefer it, that way people with the physical need to be closer to the shop can have the priority spaces. I don’t need to be close I just need a wide space with safe access.

CassianAndor · 09/09/2019 12:24

Running and if I end up with two mahoosive cars on either side of my tiny car with no rear doors in a narrow parking space it becomes pretty difficult pretty quickly. Plus I then can't see to get out of the space.

How big is your car? Does it have rear doors?

Frankly I'd send all the SUV style vehicles to the back of the car park, they're the biggest pain in the arse in a car park.

randomsabreuse · 09/09/2019 12:49

All I want from P&C spaces is wide spaces and a close trolley park. Ideally no road crossing or at least zebra crossings with good sight lines rather than between cars. Could be a long way away and I'd be happy so long as I don't have to cross umpteen roads with 4yo and trolley and I can return my trolley with my car close and in my direct sight line.

The one place I always use the P&C spaces is Aldi because they only have the one trolley park right by the store and the car park is small enough that there are 4 non P&C /BB spaces where you are on an end of a row next to a kerb. There are another 4 where you are next to the constantly flowing traffic.

I'm not lazy, If I just have the 10mo and only need a few bits I walk up to 20 minutes to the shops, up and down 100 steps, but with both children and a trolley I want to be able to put the children in the car before I unload and return the trolley.

FrancisCrawford · 09/09/2019 12:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Diagonalli · 09/09/2019 13:07

YABU - I've never understood why p&c spaces must be near the entrance , I understand it's useful to have bigger spaces etc but surely location isn't important

randomsabreuse · 09/09/2019 13:34

@FrancisCrawford depends on the car park. Couple of our local ones are not flat - have to hook the trolley on the tow bar/wedge on uphill side of car for it not to run away!

TheAirShow · 09/09/2019 13:36

YABVU
I’m 59 so not ancient yet, but my body is starting to deteriorate little by little.
If I kneel on the floor, I can’t get back up without grabbing something and dragging myself up.
When I get out of bed, I wobble and stumble around for a few minutes until my muscles begin to work.
Sometimes getting in and out of the car takes effort.
Every day some different bit of my body aches, twinges or groans.
You have no idea what problems that elderly couple might be experiencing. Just because they don’t have a blue badge does not mean they are fully mobile.
But you have an octopus to deal with so that trumps whatever they have to endure eh?

Squashpocket · 09/09/2019 13:50

I'm only mid 30s but I'm already more knackered than I was in my 20s and I'm finding bits of my body are starting to give up and not recover ShockI can't even imagine what it must feel like to be in your 70s or 80s.

I would much rather 'struggle' (it's not really a struggle) to get a baby out of a car and in to a shop while young and in good health, than have to manage everyday activities while tired and in constant pain as is the reality for lots of elderly people. Have a bit of empathy - having young children is not the hardest thing in the world.

FrancisCrawford · 09/09/2019 13:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

randomsabreuse · 09/09/2019 14:01

@franciscrawford

Next to the car I can keep a foot hooked around it and have it touching my car on the uphill side while I get the baby in. Older child can be trusted to climb in while I hold the trolley but baby needs 2 hands!

pumkinspicetime · 09/09/2019 14:14

All I want from P&C spaces is wide spaces and a close trolley park

When my dc were smaller and I used them this was all I wanted.
But I needed a twin trolley and at the time the baby versions of these were limited at kept in front of the store, I therefore needed to be near the front of the store.
But if they moved the specialized trolleys the p c parking could have been anywhere and infact might well have been better elsewhere.
They could then have universal accessible spaces at the front of the store.

Hotseat · 09/09/2019 14:16

I park in a P&C spot when I take my mum out. She is 94 and unsteady on her feet. Seriously people would happily trudge around shopping centre with children in tow but bemoan the fact of having to walk an extra few metres to the door. It anyone criticised me for parking where I do, they would get a 2 word reply. Snowflakes.

JenniR29 · 09/09/2019 14:33

@FrancisCrawford Some people do drive like it is Silverstone in supermarket car parks!

notacooldad · 09/09/2019 14:39

To be honest it probably wouldn't have registered with me where they had parked let alone be frustrated with them.
If by for sine reason it was pointed out to me I wouldn't be able to give two hoots about it let alone still have it on my mind to start a thread.
I would think they needed to be near to the shop for whatever reason.

ToddlerTwinsAndUnhinged · 09/09/2019 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JacquesHammer · 09/09/2019 14:51

And I don't hold my tongue, I have told many people to move

Cool. Tried that with me and I’d have laughed in your face.

Try engaging brain before acting.

YouJustDoYou · 09/09/2019 14:53

Jesus, who cares.

YouJustDoYou · 09/09/2019 14:55

In my county it seems they hand them (blue badges) out like smarties. In my job every one of my clients have one, and most are not even slightly

I'd laugh....but I think you're actually serious. There but for the grace of God.

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 09/09/2019 14:57

@ToddlerTwinsAndUnhinged with the greatest of respect, bollocks do BB get handed out like smarties. I mentioned upthread that my 91 year old FIL did not get his renewed after a hip replacement as "he didn't need it anymore"

Likethebattle · 09/09/2019 16:03

Let me get this straight, you had a space so they weren’t inconveniencing you. Fuck off and mind your own bloody business!

I hate self appointed parking police. I pulled into a disabled spot with blue badge displayed, climbed out and opened the boot only for some old fud to come a berate me because ‘you aren’t handicapped, this is a handicapped space....’ (also I hate that word) on and on he went practically frothing at the mouth. I couldn’t get a word in so I stepped around him to help my mum get my dad in his wheelchair to the car. I was opening the boot to make it easier for her! He still stood watching so I asked ‘do you want to help or just stand there being an arsehole!’ Then he slinked off.

lvsel · 09/09/2019 16:04

Tbh yes they should have but I wouldnt have said anything maybe they didn't see

turnaroundwhenpossibleagain · 09/09/2019 21:35

Aww bless them, this wouldn't worry me one bit. Most normal spaces are impossible to get out of your car door unless you are super limber.

I do roll my eyes at the number of people who use them who are not with a child of any ages, not particularly large or pregnant or elderly, but I guess you have to give them the benefit of the doubt. My DH got shouted at for using one, but me and DS were just trailing behind coming out of the shop Blush