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

[MickeyMouseShithouse]

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!

Luckily security start to fill them now on busy days. What's more annoying is the two empty floors for the valet company that no longer exists.

OP I can see your point, I had a 1 series when DS was little and managed fine. Currently got a Mini which because of the door shape and length is actually harder to open wide enough for him to get out with the front seat flipped forward. The likes of a jaguars XF or Range Rover are practically on the white lines at either side. It actually put me off the Evoque. I parked on the empty roof they other day and someone parked right next to me!!

Some legally enforceable scheme (could be self paying with a fee to join) for P&C would be great.

Sorry that you consider a plentiful number of disabled bays to be 'obscene'. I think you should take care with the language you employ. If I am shopping with my disabled DS I need to have a guaranteed parking space or else I can't shop at all because we can't get the wheelchair out of the car. That's it really - there are plenty of spaces because they are needed to ensure we can access shopping just like everyone else.

Sorry you find it frustrating.....but your DC will grow up and it will get easier for you, whereas mine will be in a wheelchair for life. Your convenience doesn't trump our need.

How will that help? You still have the risk of cars parking next to you, especially if its busy.
I would contact the car park and ask if they'll consider adding P&C spaces. They might if enough people ask but they don't have too.
You can't use a disabled space though that's not fair. You could also consider getting a car with sliding back doors, it's so much easier.

YABU to use one yes. Write to the car park company and complain about the narrow space and lack of p&c spaces. X

I have done this (twins) couldn't get them out at all. The waitrose near us has 4 parent and child bays and 10 disabled. I see so many elderley and disabled use the parent and child bays that if they are full, I do just drive around to the disabled.

I've had to do it at our doctors too. I did phone the docs to ask if this was ok !

Some didn't. I recall several children being killed in supermarket car parks within a ten mile radius of me, when my own kids were small. Without the space at the side, and the proximity to footpaths that P&C spaces have, it's really difficult to manage two very small children, especially as cars have got bigger and spaces haven't.

I used to drill into my children that as soon as I set them down from the car, they had to 'stand as still as soldiers' after the fatality in my local supermarket car park. The little lad was just six months older than my eldest.
I'm so grateful for C&P spaces when I take my DGD out.

I get that it’s a headache. I recognise the car park struggle. I had a baby and a toddler once too. I also had a wheelchair. My kids are grown but I still have the disability.
Allow parents to use those spaces and you can guarantee there will be none available for disabled people.
That said, if you have genuine safety concerns about the parking I would contact the shopping centre.

Take the bus and then you can concentrate on the children instead of the traffic, and they don't need to be strapped into car seats at all.

Knowing how little disabled parking places tend to have, I doubt there are hundreds.

Some people don't realize parking in disabled spaces without being entitled to one can result in a fine. If only it was more often enforced.

No, OP. I am surprised that you even need to ask this.

DH and I are disabled. We would be deeply unimpressed if everyone thought like you and pinched the spaces which have been set aside for disabled drivers.

Can you approach some of the biggest shops and ask them why they do not provide any spaces for parents with children? I do understand that it's hard work with them (we had four DC).

? your reply makes no sense

Ask at the help desk. At the multi-storey in our town centre I have been told several times by the staff that families can park in disabled spaces. Even encouraged. There are about 100 disabled spaces, so I’m not sure if they accidentally miscalculated how many they needed.

I hope all those who do this get a ticket.

It's a shame they won't but they should get a fine in the car park.

I'm entitled to park in a P&C space as a disabled person because it's a reasonable adjustment.

I did before I got my blue badge and I do it now if there are no disabled spaces.

YABU. Enjoy your fine.

Gosh this sounds like Liverpool One carpark.
I feel your pain, but still no.

Completely agree with you @movintothecountry.

Well this attracted more attention than I thought it might

An AIBU about P&C and Disabled parking spaces (where you are being very unreasonable ) attracting attention? Are you surprised?

6% of spaces should be allocated to disabled cars
There is 0% requirement for parent and child spaces
However
Suggest you contact shopping centre as the complete lack of spaces could be a safety issue they need to address

I only have one arm that works and struggle getting in and out of my car but I’m not eligible for a blue badge. What I do is find the standard space next to the dp space, then you get the extra room between cars.

I’m judging you extremely hard for describing the number of disabled spots as “obscene”.

put some fucking reins on your kid and get over yourself

Describing the number of disabled spaces as obscene is abelist.

Park further away from the shops where there's plenty of space or higher up in the case of multi storey car parks

That's what I thought too. All those entitled disabled people wanting to shop like everyone else.

Seriously?
You chose to have two children close in age. It's your responsibility to be able to park in a non blue badge only bay and ensure their safety. If it's so awful, shop online instead.

Oh my word what a nasty bunch. No you are not being unreasonable. No one is going to think, I’m not going to have a baby and repopulate the world because I might not be able to find a parent and child space on a Saturday afternoon. And it is bloody hard with a toddler and a baby. For those saying park on an end, how many ends do you think there are, what is she to do drive round for 2 hours until one becomes available. We also have a shopping centre near us with a huge number of disabled bays 40% of which are always empty. If I had a crying baby and a screaming toddler in the car I 100% would park in one of the bays