To park in a parent / child space ?

[XPD]

I have a blue badge (Multiple Sclerosis). I get that it's on the whole a hidden disability (unless you are in a wheelchair). My (in public) problems currently is numbness from the eyes down plus urgency to use the toilet.

Anyway, pulled into a motorway services today. All the disabled spaces were taken, so I parked in a parent / child space. This is the first time I've ever had to do this - and I was at the point of wetting myself. A lady and her partner started (literally) screaming at me for not having a child with me. I have huge problems with my bladder, I'm not sure if I was in the wrong?

What do you think ? Was I in the wrong ?

No, you weren’t wrong. But you may need to grow a thicker skin, there’s a lot of gatekeeping when it comes to parking spaces.

Of course you aren't wrong. You can park in whichever space is the most convenient and appropriate for you. A blue badge denotes a need, whereas a parent and child space merely offers convenience to those with small children.

No. If there are no free disabled spaces and you need to park there then do it. Your blue badge allows it and p/c spaces are a courtesy not a legal right

Ywnbu, they were arseholes.

No you weren't wrong
Don't worry about the arseholes berating you

Tough one. I would have been royally pissed off if the last parent space was taken by someone who wasn't pregnant or with a child. But I wouldn't challenge a disabled person using the space, knowing the disabled spaces were taken too. I'd probably just wish there were more specialist spaces in general

Parent /child spaces drive me mad. They're always the closest to the doors and they should be the furthest away to tire the little darlings out. And I've seen loads of people use them for like 9 and 10yos who are quite capable of using car doors. And if you go late shopping, they're all empty but you have to park a distance away.
So I say, you park in them if you want. Your need is far greater than theirs.

The 2 are not comparable
There are rules about parking in disabled spaces whereas parent and child parking is more of a courtesy

That's not even remotely the same thing

Totally disagree, sorry. Parent and child spaces are courtesy and very nice, but blue badges have a considerably higher bar as need is defined as being very high. Not unreasonable OP. She probably just thought you were someone just using the space without a child - it happens a lot - so I’d put the badge on display. Anyone who kicked off seeing that would be a dick.

YANBU. Disabled trumps P&C every single time.

Some parents can be so entitled.

YANBU.

A blue badge should take priority over a parent when it comes to parking in parent and child spaces.

Some people can be right arses about parking.

@PrincessButtercupToo Absolutely not. Disabled spaces are a necessary, legal right. P&C spaces are nothing but a courtesy.

Wrong- it's illegal to use a disabled space if you don't have the correct permit. Anyone can use a parent space - they have no legal basis.

Having children is a choice. Being disabled is not.

Wow @PrincessButtercupToo you sound like one of those entitled arseholea

There's lots of people who don't qualify for a blue badge but have eg a temporary disability. I had a bike accident and was so black and blue and battered I really struggled to walk for a couple of weeks. I can proudly announce I used the parent and child spaces because I figured my need was greater. The woman who challenged me backed off a bit when I lifted my top up. I don't think she'd ever seen bruising those colours 🤔

No comparison
op ignore people like this
you did nothing wrong

Don't be so bloody ridiculous.

A BB space is a

I didn’t say that (though it should be the case).

I said disabled spaces are a legal right, because they are. Car parks legally have to have disabled spaces. They do not have to have P&C spaces - they are nothing more than a courtesy.