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, as a disabled person who owns a blue badge the limit on where you can park is very small. I constantly throw my car on double yellows if need be. I would definitely park in a parent and toddler if a disabled bay wasn’t available. I didn’t chose to be disabled. Ignore the woman. This is also not the same as someone with a child parking in a disabled bay, the two are not comparable on any level.

Not entitled. Just necessary . I can't imagine that any disabled person would rather be disabled than not.
And blue badges are NOT a free pass- were you aware that disabled people have to pay for them, as well as going through strict assessments to see if they actually need one?So, unlike mother and babies, disabled people have to, in effect, pay for the spaces.Just be grateful that you don't need one.....

I do because I have a large wheelchair accessible van and I don't like to take up a disabled bay if I don't have the disabled person with me. Normal bays are just too small so I park the van in p&c places. If anyone ever said anything I would tell them to fuck off and mind their own business. Any reasonable store would see it's too big.

@OP. Just tell them the fuck off. Simple

It's not illegal to use a supermarket disabled space, but because it's a private car park you can get a parking fine from whoever runs the car park for not displaying a valid blue badge. THE SAME APPLIES TO P&C PLACES. So read the t&c on the board.

No you weren't wrong.

I'd be totally fine if a disabled person took the space. Their needs trump minor inconvenience of me with my kids.

Do the same if you need to any just ignore. Don't let them get to you.

I am a mum of 4 kids, so times I’ve had to try and get them out of the car 2 car seats etc to shops or whatever. So yes p&c spaces were handy, but generally folk wanted to park as close to shops as possible so when the p&c were full (majority of time) I just parked far away got a trolley and popped them in, not difficult. Plenty places don’t have them, my local shopping centre has 4 p&c so never got one but same parked in far off corner they were in a buggy before they were walking holding hands, really don’t know the desperation re p&c.

certainly in op circumstances she did what was best at the time and I certainly wouldn’t have thought anything of her using the space, she trumps babies and toddlers a million times over. Sorry this happened to you, and sorry some people are so entitled like princess toad 🐸 people can be so incredibly unkind and insensitive.

Imagine the outrage and bad publicity a supermarket might get however if they tried fining a disabled blue badge holder for patk8ng in a P&C place.

It's quite different.

People like the ones on here make me want to park in P&c spaces😂
Honestly, some posts must be a wind up!

Op, park where you need. Your needs trump a pram. If parents need extra space, they can park bit further in carparks, there is always ample space further from the door! I am personally of the opinion that shops should take some p&c spaces and make them into blue badge parking because blue badge seems to be always full. I could swear some shops change few BB to p&c couple of years ago!

They’d be well within their rights to do so, despite any outrage, if the t&cs of the private car park state that the spot is only for those with a child in their car. The supermarkets more often than not do not actually own the car park and make it clear they can’t help with any parking issues like notices and fines.

Not this again

This

@x2boys They wouldn't, they'd use a bit of common sense. I'm just saying they are entitled to if they want. I suspect c&p places are rarely fined.

You can park pretty much anywhere with a blue badge can't you, so YANBU.

Very unlikely that a supermarket / car park owner would be so stupid to allow the needs of parents to trump the access needs for a disabled person. It may be private property, however the public are invited in. They need to adhere to the principles of the equality act. And being disabled is a protected characteristic.

Op YANBU in anyway shape or form. The parents sho shouted at you were vile.

I think there can be alot of entitlement now adays by parents with children. I often think of the guy in the titanic film that picks up a child to get on a lifeboat and screams something like "but I have a child" to get a place on the lifeboat.

People seem more selfish on the whole and less able to empathise or understand that someone else's needs may be more.

As can disabled people.

No, supermarkets, service stations, etc have a duty under The Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments for the disabled - such as providing blue badge spaces. How can people, who are only seeking their rights upheld, as laid out in the law, be called “entitled”?

I suppose you’d say, if someone was assaulted, they were entitled if they went to the police, and sought justice? Or, if you sent your children to school, that was entitled, for expecting a state education?

@PrincessButtercupToo I honestly hope more than anything you don't actually have children because with views like yours I feel so so sorry for them.

Jesus Christ you are fucking disgusting

OP, of course you were right to park in the P&C spaces.

Only those with a blue badge should park in disabled spaces. Because without those spaces people wouldn’t be able to access the area at all, ever.

I feel anyone with a real need should park in the P&C spaces - small children, injuries, no disabled spaces left, whatever. They’re temporary conditions and those with them would find access difficult otherwise.

Wankers with nothing wrong other than being bone idle should fuck off and park somewhere else.

She was nasty she just judged the situation without thinking the best of people. Some people always see the worst.

YANBU at all OP, crack on. The screaming woman was odd to say the least.

However I am very surprised at the attitude towards P&C spaces (and children, tbh) on here. They are very useful and sometimes necessary.

Also just an aside, why are people assuming that children always need to be "tired out"? 😆

Thank you all.
Feel a bit better about it this morning.

Yes, she screamed at me.
A proper scream.

You were totally right to park in the space if you needed it and the lady was so wrong to shout at you for it.

I am utterly mortified that in the midst of precious first born sleep deprivation years ago, I had a pop at someone without a child who parked in a p&c space at the local shops. It hadn’t crossed my mind about invisible disabilities at the time (and actually I would never say something now as I’m way more chilled and a lot more enlightened than I used to be).

If you was in urgent need and having a bad day they YWNBU
What annoys me is when disabled people don't necessarily need to use disabled bays but yet do! I have 2 DC in wheelchairs so obviously have blue badge but can also use parent an child bays, I hate it when someone gets out their cars an pretty much slip into a store. Yes may be a hidden disability but their able body so I don't think this is fair.
My DB got a blue badge for my Neice. She's very mild autistic if at all they really pushed for this, but this really pissed me off how he got one when their is no mobility issues!