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 ?

YANBU OP. Please ignore idiots trying to compare being disabled and having a child.

I suggest you look it up. You're the one in the wrong here.

Posted too soon

A BB space is a legal requirement whereas a P&C space is a courtesy. You have to have BB to park in a BB space.

No establishment would tell a disabled person they could not a park in a P&C if all the BB spaces were full but they would probably take a dim view of an non disabled person parking in them because they wanted. a wee.

@PrincessButtercupToo, how about you quote the law where it says that BB holders have no right to park in P&C spaces?
Or maybe you can't. 🤷🏻‍♀️

How are 'we' entitled ? I'm interested

I'm not the person who said it but they're exactly right. You are wrong.

Most people don't begrudge disabled people using parent spaces when disabled parking is full so YANBU

Ignore @PrincessButtercupToo

They’re on the windup. They’re just being contrary because they have a sad, lonely little life and this is their only entertainment.

How would you know that I'm disabled? I don't wear a badge.

@PrincessButtercupToo when I had small twins, if there wasn't a parent and child space I could park elsewhere. Now that I am disabled if I can't park in a space wide enough to open my door fully and transfer I can't get out my car. The two are absolutely not comparable.

Sorry op were you a passenger in a car or the driver? Not quite sure from the description?

@PrincessButtercupToo

"Parent and child parking bay law: what are the rules?

Parent and child parking bays are commonplace in supermarket car parks. Most of these are private property.

As such, there are no official government or council-level rules on parent and child parking in the same way you’d get for disabled parking spaces.

Parking in a supermarket car park is managed and enforced by the supermarket itself, or by a private parking management company.

That means it’s not illegal to park in a parent and child space without a child. But you could get a Parking Charge Notice (PCN), the same as you would if you overstayed in a car park."

What utter rubbish. No one without a disability has any right to park in a disabled space.

Blue badge entitles her to park in a P&C space
Your are the unreasonable one @PrincessButtercupToo

You obviously don't understand Multiple Sclerosis. I'm numb from the eyes down. I've got no idea when I need to wee or poo unless it happens. I didn't want to elaborate because I find it highly embarrassing.

The blue badge would give the car OP was in the right to park there regardless of whether she was the driver or the passenger.

@PrincessButtercupToo

If you would like to park in a disabled space, would you like my disability too? That includes all the pain, loss of income and loss of independence that comes with it off course.

And if someone with a disability cannot access a disabled space and needs the alternative of a P&C space, their needs come before those of parents who are simply being offered a courtesy.