To think that people who use parent and child spaces without children are selfish *****

[hotcheeto]

Fill in the starred swear word as applicable.

I've only started truly noticing how many idiots do this since I had my baby 4 months ago. I can't believe how many people I've seen do it. And yes I always call them out and have had some pretty disturbing abuse thrown back.

I have also always reported to the shop staff to be told it isn't illegal and there's nothing they can do bar having a parking attendant out constantly which isn't possible (I know this isn't the shop staff's fault).

No disabled spaces? Fair enough, crack on. But this isn't the case 99% of the time. People use them because they are close to the entrance. I would rather the spaces be far away from the entrance with a small trolley park nearby with car seat/child seat trolleys.

Yesterday I purposefully parked straight down the middle of two normal spaces because I didn't want to risk having to reverse out just to get my baby's car seat back in. As I was walking in I witnessed 3 separate very able bodied people walk back to their cars without children.

Just really pees me off 😒

Yes it is selfish. And lazy. Not sure what you can do though.

My kids are older now but I always park across two bays anyway. I like to fully open my car door when getting in and out otherwise it falls back and smashes me in the shins lol.

How did you know they weren’t disabled from looking at them?

Cunts.

I filled it in with cunts.

Complaining about other peoples parking whilst parking in between 2 bays. Not sure which one is worse actually but yes I think the spaces should be left for people that need them generally.

I agree that using them without specific need (but will never know if a particular person has a specific need or not) is selfish. But I think you are wasting your energy - and potentially risking your safety - by "always calling them out".

If you are old enough to have a baby, you are old enough to type swear words and not

Yes its annoying, but try parking further away from the entrance

Complaining about people parking in them whilst parking like a prick is hardly any good is it.

Yesterday I purposefully parked straight down the middle of two normal spaces because I didn't want to risk having to reverse out just to get my baby's car seat back in. As I was walking in I witnessed 3 separate very able bodied people walk back to their cars without children.

You’ve undermined yourself OP.

Fair enough, I don't. One was a young guy in a suit, another two young women and the third an older couple. I know there are invisible disabilities. But there's twice if not more the amount of disabled spots than parent spots, and there were plenty free, so why didn't they park there?

There were even regular spaces closer to the entrance than the parent spots. I don't understand it.

And yet you think it’s fine to park across 2 spaces meaning that others might not be able to find a space themselves…

TBH I’ve never understood parent and child spaces. Most if not all times it’s perfectly possible to get a child seat or a child out in a normal space. And it’s not like disabled spaces which are needed because if physical or mental health issues. I think the solution should be to put parent and child spaces a bit further away from the shops so they are less attractive to other shoppers.

But if you’re going to get enraged about this you’ve got a long road ahead- maybe just treat them as a nice if they’re available rather than an essential?

Or on the end of a row.

I once called a woman out for this and got loads of abuse from her saying she was pregnant. She had no bump but I guess I couldn't prove she wasn't

Our local Big Sainsbury’s has a separate section for P&C spaces. They are bigger and there’s a safe walkway to the store but they are not right outside the front.
Funny how they are often empty while people with kids use the ordinary ones that are closer.

Report them to shop staff 😂😂😂

I completely agree, I don’t care about spaces being close to the shop. I care about the space being big enough that I can open the door and get my baby in the car without having to reverse and leave her sitting out in the pram. The amount of people I watch just park in a baby space and run into the shop is annoying. For me it’s either delivery vans or young people who just don’t care.
Where I live there are far more disabled spaces than parent and child spaces. There has never been a shortage of disabled spaces, when I’ve gone to the shop so I don’t see why any person would need to park in a parent and child if they had any form of disability. Fair enough if there were no spaces left but usually there is nearly triple the amount of disabled spaces than parent and child. (Where I live anyway)

Not all disabilities qualify someone for a blue badge but people still need the space and convenience of the closer spaces.

you lose any moral high ground when you admit you also parked like an idiot.

yes some people misuse them but at the end of the day P and C spaces are something that is handy if free but they aren’t a necessity. Park in one if you can if not park - properly - elsewhere. You’re not a parking warden so don’t try to police other peoples parking.

Yesterday I purposefully parked straight down the middle of two normal spaces

You’re in no position to complain about anyone’s parking…

Only because I've struggled in the past and don't want to damage someone else's car opening my door to get the seat in. There were lots of other regular spaces.
I obviously wouldn't leave my baby outside the car while I reversed so previously I've put the seat in the boot to reverse. Which I don't want to do again.

I’m on the fence here. I do think a lot of people take the piss and use them when they really shouldn’t (in my local, generally tradies nipping in for a sandwich, god forbid they have to walk further!) but I have to admit, I’ve used them in the past, pre dc. I’m disabled and struggle a lotttt but apparently I’m not disabled ‘enough’ for a blue badge (don’t get me started). I don’t look disabled (whatever that means!) but there we are.

Also i don’t think it’s any big deal parking across two spaces at the back of the car park unless the car park was absolutely rammed!

Yes!

I get the utter rage when I see people parked like this.

They appear to do so when the car park is quiet, apparently unaware it will later fill up & they've taken two spaces.

YABU. We all managed perfectly fine before P&C spaces were invented.

It's funny on the bus threads where people complain about prams in the disabled space the answer is always that disabled people campaigned for those and if parents want space they should do the same. Which I agree with.

But why when parents are provided with something which really does make life easier with car seats are they told all these disabled people who don't get a blue badge automatically trump them. Can't have it both ways.

YANBU. I don't use them now even though I have kids and am entitled to because mine are 10 and 12. I leave them for parents of young children who actually need them.

What’s the alternative when she needs to get a car seat in?
Leaving a baby in their car seat in the ground while you get in your car and drive out of the space enough to be able open the door is hardly realistic on your own.