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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To park in one of hundred of disabled spaces where there isn’t a single P&C space?

388 replies

MickeyMouseShithouse · 26/01/2023 21:21

I have two children in car seats and I struggling getting them out in one particular multi storey car park local to me. The thing is, this multi story has hundreds.. hundreds(!) of disabled spaces that the majority of are always empty, but not a single parent and child space for a shopping centre?!

Its started to effect my anxiety and puts me off going there but it’s really the only half-decent place I can get anything locally.

WIBU to park in a disabled spot? Not even one close to the entrance, just any of them!

or who do I contact to question why there aren’t any p&c spaces?

it’s so frustrating, I can’t imagine there are a couple hundred disabled people going shopping to the same shopping centre in the same day.. but I can imagine there are are least 1 family with a car seat/pushchair!

OP posts:
ShakespearesBlister · 27/01/2023 16:20

How did parents ever cope without parent and child parking spaces? Nobody expects parent and child spaces outside their houses but still mysteriously manage to get in and out of their cars at home. Some people carry on like having a child is a disability and should be afforded special treatment.

fairysimples · 27/01/2023 16:28

I just want to know what's a genuine disabled person? Could someone tell me?

AshTreesEverywhere · 27/01/2023 16:30

@fairysimples Someone entitled to a Blue Badge for a start.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 27/01/2023 16:31

fairysimples · 27/01/2023 16:28

I just want to know what's a genuine disabled person? Could someone tell me?

What the fuck sort of question is that?

fairysimples · 27/01/2023 17:18

A pp said

If there was any realistic chance a genuine disabled person wouldn't get one then no don't do it of course

I want to know what a genuine disabled person was.

Coz I was just as disabled before I got my blue badge.

fairysimples · 27/01/2023 17:19

So clearly it's not just blue badge because there are people who are clearly disabled who haven't got a blue badge. So what is the definition of a "genuine" disabled person please.

Underhisi · 27/01/2023 17:20

"What the fuck sort of question is that?"

The writer of this

"If there was any realistic chance a genuine disabled person wouldn't get one then no don't do it of course"

should explain.

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 27/01/2023 23:01

I love how only in MNLand people are baffled by those who use P&C spaces for their intended purpose.
”I have 40 bajillion children all under the age of 4 months and I NEVER used anything but a normal space”
Ok Miss Martyr good for you but meanwhile in the real world people do use them and get annoyed when those without kids use them (and so they should get annoyed, just because they’re not legally bound it doesn’t mean you be a dick and use one when you don’t have kids)

fairysimples · 27/01/2023 23:26

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 27/01/2023 23:01

I love how only in MNLand people are baffled by those who use P&C spaces for their intended purpose.
”I have 40 bajillion children all under the age of 4 months and I NEVER used anything but a normal space”
Ok Miss Martyr good for you but meanwhile in the real world people do use them and get annoyed when those without kids use them (and so they should get annoyed, just because they’re not legally bound it doesn’t mean you be a dick and use one when you don’t have kids)

So I'm a sick using it when I don't have kids but I'm disabled. Well aren't you a charmer.

gemmalouise224 · 28/01/2023 09:13

Im more surprised there are hundreds of disabled parking spaces. My DD has cerebral palsy and getting parked is a regular nightmare.

C8H10N4O2 · 28/01/2023 11:32

gemmalouise224 · 28/01/2023 09:13

Im more surprised there are hundreds of disabled parking spaces. My DD has cerebral palsy and getting parked is a regular nightmare.

Me too. Most car parks provide the legal minimum and group them in one place to reduce the impact of thoughtless drivers who don't need the side space.

Still the OP is coming back with photo evidence of the oppressive number of disabled spaces so we can look forward to being amazed.

JustABloodyMinute · 28/01/2023 11:49

@Hardbackwriter totally agree. I actually find it comical that people cannot consider going places without P&C parking. How do they think people without cars get about?

Pensatucky · 28/01/2023 11:53

YANBU

our local Asda used to have one long row of disabled spaces and a half row of P+C spaces. You could never get a p+c space.

Then they decided to make all the half row of p+c spaces disabled spaces and moved the p+c spaces to the side of the store (halving the already tiny amount). Now it was near on impossible to find a p+c space.

Then … they decided to change a quarter of the bloody car park into disabled spaces. They were always half empty. It’s ridiculous (and the P+C spaces have totally gone)

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 28/01/2023 12:19

Pensatucky · 28/01/2023 11:53

YANBU

our local Asda used to have one long row of disabled spaces and a half row of P+C spaces. You could never get a p+c space.

Then they decided to make all the half row of p+c spaces disabled spaces and moved the p+c spaces to the side of the store (halving the already tiny amount). Now it was near on impossible to find a p+c space.

Then … they decided to change a quarter of the bloody car park into disabled spaces. They were always half empty. It’s ridiculous (and the P+C spaces have totally gone)

What's ridiculous is your comment. How refreshing for disabled people to actually be able to park.

TrashyPanda · 28/01/2023 12:48

RecordsTurning · 26/01/2023 23:59

But how do you go to the toilet and change a tampon, towel, mooncup when holding a baby, or maybe 2 babies. It’s not that easy.

Show quote history

It’s so much more difficult for the person in the wheelchair who can’t get into the cubicle, isn’t it?

TrashyPanda · 28/01/2023 12:49

EmmatheStageRat · 27/01/2023 00:05

Surely you plan your trip around your TEMPORARY situation? Meanwhile, the permanently disabled people have to manage their days around the entitlement of the able bodied.

Show quote history

Exactly.

Livingtothefull · 28/01/2023 12:54

Pensatucky · 28/01/2023 11:53

YANBU

our local Asda used to have one long row of disabled spaces and a half row of P+C spaces. You could never get a p+c space.

Then they decided to make all the half row of p+c spaces disabled spaces and moved the p+c spaces to the side of the store (halving the already tiny amount). Now it was near on impossible to find a p+c space.

Then … they decided to change a quarter of the bloody car park into disabled spaces. They were always half empty. It’s ridiculous (and the P+C spaces have totally gone)

The only thing 'ridiculous' is your attitude. It is obvious that you see the disabled as an inconvenience.

This is the attitude I have encountered among many people; they may be happy enough in theory for the disabled to be catered for, until it impinges even slightly and temporarily on their convenience. Then, the disabled are a nuisance.

Everyonehasavoice · 28/01/2023 12:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Livingtothefull · 28/01/2023 13:00

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I could express my disgust at this post but I think it speaks for itself. The one good thing about being disabled is that you get to observe people as they really are.

OnlyOpenMouthToChangeFeet · 28/01/2023 13:10

XenoBitch · 26/01/2023 21:30

I am also calling bullshit on a car park having "hundreds" of disabled spaces.

^ This ^

Hardbackwriter · 28/01/2023 14:45

Pensatucky · 28/01/2023 11:53

YANBU

our local Asda used to have one long row of disabled spaces and a half row of P+C spaces. You could never get a p+c space.

Then they decided to make all the half row of p+c spaces disabled spaces and moved the p+c spaces to the side of the store (halving the already tiny amount). Now it was near on impossible to find a p+c space.

Then … they decided to change a quarter of the bloody car park into disabled spaces. They were always half empty. It’s ridiculous (and the P+C spaces have totally gone)

... and then what happened? Did people with young children stop using that Asda? Or did they just get on with it?

When one group wants the space because they'd find it slightly more convenient and the other group actually needs it then I just don't believe that anyone really doesn't grasp why the group with the need does and and should be taking priority if - as apparently was the case here - it's a choice between one type of space or the other?

Hardbackwriter · 28/01/2023 14:51

And I'm not 'miss martyr' for not needing a P&C space I just a) don't have a ridiculously large car that I can't park (which also comes with the happy bonus that I'm not increasing the pollution I produce and the risk I pose to other people's children unnecessarily!) and b) don't constantly haul an infant seat in and out (I don't understand why anyone does, they're heavy, bulky and it's bad for the baby to kept in it for so long). If you're able-bodied and possessed of a normal amount of common sense then getting two children out of a car is a mild inconvenience, it's not a trip up flipping everest, and it's really offensive to compare it to the genuine needs of people with disabilities.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 28/01/2023 15:04

What has happened to people? They’ve become absolutely unable to DO anything. Everything seems to now cause anxiety, but rather than work through it, they want the world changed to remove anything which might even mildly cause a slight worry for 2 minutes.

I like a p&c space as much as the next parent; if there’s one free I use it when with DC, but when there isn’t, I park elsewhere. If you are a new driver/new parent, park at the far end of car parks; there’s usually space. And you aren’t a new parent/driver for long.

As if any parent parking woes ever approach anything like the issues caused by a lifetime of disability. I despair.

Livingtothefull · 28/01/2023 15:49

DrMarciaFieldstone · 28/01/2023 15:04

What has happened to people? They’ve become absolutely unable to DO anything. Everything seems to now cause anxiety, but rather than work through it, they want the world changed to remove anything which might even mildly cause a slight worry for 2 minutes.

I like a p&c space as much as the next parent; if there’s one free I use it when with DC, but when there isn’t, I park elsewhere. If you are a new driver/new parent, park at the far end of car parks; there’s usually space. And you aren’t a new parent/driver for long.

As if any parent parking woes ever approach anything like the issues caused by a lifetime of disability. I despair.

100%

IncompleteSenten · 30/01/2023 15:57

I am such a sad bastard that I actually emailed the Trafford centre and asked them the total number across all their car parks of disabled and p&c spaces.

Then I forgot I'd done it 🤣
Until I got this reply.

I googled and there are 11,500 spaces in total in the Trafford centre and 'over 900' spaces in the Palazzo.
So call it 12,400 in total.

The number of disabled spaces out of 12,400 is... 286. I really don't think that's a lot.
It's what? About 2.3%?

To park in one of hundred of disabled spaces where there isn’t a single P&C space?