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 😒

Of course you can have it both ways - why does someone with a baby trump someone with a disability? The person with a disability may not be able to walk far, but thanks to the government dont qualify for a blue badge, because if they give them a blue badge, they will have to pay benefits, and they dont want that

I agree OP, it is incredibly frustrating. I stopped off at a service station on a long drive to change my 4 month old and all the parent/child spaces were taken by fat people sat in their car's eating their McDonald's with no child in the back whilst I had to wrestle with the car door and car seat to get my baby out of a normal space to make sure I didn't hit the car next to me and walk past them all in the rain.

I hadn't appreciated how important parent/child spaces were until I had my own baby. I would be happy if the spaces were further away and therefore less likely to be taken by lazy people.

It's a really stupid idea to go and have a pop at people in a car park.

One thing I have noticed is that motorway service stations rarely if ever provide parent and child parking.

Well if they introduce those 15mins neighbourhood idea then you won't need to drive to do your food shop so problem solved 😆

Presumably they did not have blue badges?

Wrong.
Compare a 90s Ford Fiesta to the latest model. Then a 90s Mini to the latest model.
Finally, a 90s Ford Mondeo to the latest model.

Then come back and argue your case if you’re correct (which you’re not)

I am saying the argument people give can't be both ways. If people say disabled people trump parents fine, but don't on one thread advise parents to request things to help them just as disabled people did. But then say oh great you got something for the parents but now disabled people are going to take that too.

No. People who park right up against your car door to the point where you can not open it to get into your car are selfish. I regularly see people of all shapes and sizes struggle to access their car because a less than thoughtful driver has hemmed them in. Dented doors.... don't get me started.

What bugs me most is when you see a parent getting out of their car in a parent and child space with their teenage/young adult children jumping out too whilst I'm battling two tiny kids in/out of car seats in a normal parking bay trying to not hit the cars either side

You do not have to be on benefits to get a blue badge. A blue badge can be issued without having a claim by your local council. If you need a blue badge, you should be able to get one. Including for a whole range of hidden disabilities. So, if someone does not have a blue badge - they either do not qualify as disabled. Or they have not applied.

So many people are disabled and don't have a blue badge.

I don't think it's morally wrong to take up 2 spaces at the back of the car park to make sure I can get my baby back in the car though in the same way

It is OP. It's entitled behaviour.

It's already been pointed out that, while it might be a bit annoying, you don't have to take the car seat. You have other options. I know ideally you should have all the choices you want but it's not a massive hardship to use an alternative to taking the car seat (which isn't really necessary anyway and certainly not advisable in all cases).

You are also failing to think of all the other scenarios where other people need the space you are taking.

Where I am, the large shopping centre near me has loads & loads of spaces - they get fully taken most days, and certainly at weekends (for the car parks close to the supermarket parts). Invariably there are a few people parked across two spaces. It's infuriating. I am usually under time pressure & trying to find a spot to get the shop done.

And as others said, there's online shopping ... but what about other people? Older people? Someone urgently needing to get in?

You parking across two spaces (unnecessarily) is deciding your needs trump others. You are entitled to one space, not two. Like everyone else.

"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?'

You can be disabled and not have a blue badge. You can be so disabled as to get high rate mobility but still not be automatically entitled to a blue badge.

you are right, you can apply direct without disability payments and good luck with that!!

Qualify as disabled??? Many people are disabled but do not qualify for a blue badge… but could use this space to make their lives easier…. Honestly, some people have no clue how hard it is to get a blue badge.

You do not have to “qualify to be disabled”. Have a look at the definition of disability.

It doesn't matter though OP. because for everyone in this thread, if you are parking in the P&C spot you must have some additional need or unseen disability, and everyone parking in the spots can’t be challenged because they have additional needs.

And the needs of you and your family, the right to be safe and the right to deal with your children safely is irrelevant. Because everyone has additional unseen disability needs that you do not challenge. How dare you be so entitled? The spots weren't really made for parents and children. they also are no bigger than regular spots therefore have no use at all! Why did they even make them when they don’t even do anything! Everyone totally ignores the extra spaces at the side of course.. And all the parents now have extra large cars and the children, they are entitled, and the parents are precious flowers.

They should go to the back of the car park where they belong!! Scum

There are definitely some people using the spaces who don't need to, but I also think lots of car parks aren't fit for purpose these days. The spaces are very narrow but cars are wider these days (I mean just ordinary ones, not SUVs) and people are larger. I think those spaces should be renamed as spaces for people who need extra room, not just those with small children.

That isn’t right at all. A blue badge has little to do with disability. I am legally disabled for life but I don’t qualify for a blue badge. My father isn’t legally disabled at all but does qualify for a blue badge.

I think in future as people seem so upset about me taking 2 spaces on one occasion, I'll just damage the doors of the cars next to me, should the situation arise. Can't win!

Fully agree. I have a three door car and it's completely impossible to get baby in and out of a regular space. Often park far away in a quiet corner - the rage I feel when in an empty row and someone parks right next to me is possibly even worse than not getting a parent bay. Looking to switch my car, but COL and mat pay aren't really conducive to upgrading at the moment. I've never parked over two bays but a part of me thinks that's genius whilst equally knowing I'd feel too uncomfortable doing it in reality. Would probably end up driving off and completely changing my plans/missing out on what I wanted to do! You can't win...

@ZZpop You can be so disabled as to get high rate mobility but still not be automatically entitled to a blue badge.

Not true though.

Yes this is unbelievable!

My ex used to do this when he still saw my DC - they weren't teens at this stage but certainly beyond the age of needing P&C spaces.

They used to go mad with him - he was like 'what?!! I have children' 🤦🏻‍♀️

Meant to add, my father who gets a blue badge isn’t on any benefits.

One day, OP, I promise you that you'll have much more to worry about than the logistics of pulling an infant car seat out of a regular-sized parking bay . . .

Until then, maybe just have a think before 'calling people out' on a car park and how ridiculous that is.

You really are a tit aren’t you, just walk a bit bloody further ffs