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 😒

Oh don't be petulant.

Just use your common sense & the other options available to you, which are also better for your DC than being in a car seat for that time.

This with bells on!

I saw a taxi driver park in the only disabled space left the other day without a blue badge, was that okay too because he might have had a hidden disability?

Perhaps you shouldn’t drive if you can’t park correctly and think it’s OK to damage other cars.

That doesn’t work with PIP though for some bizzare reason

@hotcheeto why did you need to park over two spaces? I've got 5 children and both our cars are big and I've never had to do this 🤷‍♀️

Then apply for one. You can have one without claiming benefits, and you can have one for a massive range of hidden disabilities. I don't understand this argument at all. If you need to use blue badge spaces, apply to your council for one. Get a blue badge.

I'm not sure that couldn't be bothered to apply should be so readily given an exception card as it is on this forum.

You can have a blue badge for MH reasons, for neurodiversity reasons, for knee replacements, for hearing issues, for sight issues (you do not have to be the driver to have a blue badge, but you can use it as the passenger), for chronic digestive issues, heart conditions, lung conditions, auto immune conditions - as well as all of the visual/ known traditional mobility reasons.

I think they should get rid of them, cause more trouble than they're worth. No point calling them "parent & child" bays if they won't enforce it. It's just a stupid head office idea. Fairly baffled why anyone would want to take a baby to a supermarket when there is online shopping. Unless in an emergency.

"Not true though."

Yes it is. Read the PIP rules. I think I should know what with having a teenage son in that situation.

If you don't qualify for a blue badge why do you think you're more entitled to use a space that was designed with a purpose in mind, which doesn't apply to you?

Because its really fucking hard to get a blue badge! HTH

@FKATondelayo food shopping is cheaper in store, with more variety, than online.

I agree OP, it's so frustrating. More often than not it's someone with a car seat in the car but no child with them.

It's really difficult because if you've got a baby in a car seat that you need to click in and out of the car then it can be impossible to open the door wide enough in a normal space.

Having a disability doesn't entitle you to a blue badge though.

And then there's the wait. I waited 12 weeks for mine.

Agree, It's very unkind

No, it is not. Not if you have actual proof of disability and fill in the paperwork properly. I really wish people would stop repeating this nonsense.

Blue badges are much easier and much more reasonable as to the range of disabilities covered than virtually any other accomodation for disabled people.

Oh I dunno. It annoys me when I see elderly people having to trek across the car park while healthy 30 somethings glide into a space by the door. P&C spaces at the back of the car park are fair enough I suppose, but not by the door.

It's not a case of "can't win". More a case of people feeling that the facilities don't meet their particular needs on that day and deciding to bend the rules to suit themselves, therefore potentially inconveniencing others.

Different reasons, same outcome. There are dickheads everywhere, and we alll have a different opinion of what makes one. Prioritise your blood pressure, and adjust your expectations. Fuming your way round Sainsbury's isn't affecting anyone but you and your baby.

I'm on higher rate PIP. I still had to provide evidence and explain why I need a blue badge. It's only those with severe walking disabilities (8 points + in moving around) and a certain description in the planning and following a journey that gives you 10 points, that automatically gives you a blue badge.

(I understand that the rules in Scotland and Wales are different)

Have a read, there are a lot of criteria for a blue badge that you might not meet https://www.gov.wales/blue-badges-eligibility-html

I do feel like the thread has turned into a disability vs children argument. Obviously disability isn't a choice and having children is but I resent being made to feel like a terrible person for wanting to be able to get my car seat back into my car without damaging other cars or my own or leaving my baby unsafe.

Others have pointed out I do have other options than taking the car seat in which I will have a go at this week. I still don't understand why the needs of others are apparently more important than mine, though. Joe Bloggs WITHOUT A DISABILITY parking in p&c without a child isn't thinking about me when he's parking there. Almost makes me want to have the same attitude towards others, especially after the responses on this thread.

Did you email your council after submitting the claim? That means they are aware it is in the system and it will usually be with you within 3-4 weeks.

And all the listed disabilities I listed above are reasons that you can be entitled to a blue badge. Hidden disabilities are absolutely covered by the blue badge scheme.

You just need to actually apply. The GOV.UK form is a bit cumbersome, but it will take you through to the section that covers your local council and hidden disabilities. You can also apply directly to your council as they ultimately issue and administer the scheme for where you live.

If I can't get a p&c space I do park at the back, or underneath if there's a lower level car park. You must not have read the OP where I said I would prefer the p&c spaces to be further from the entrance. Cheers though.

I'm a bit on the fence with this.

I do think there should be parent and child spaces but the trouble is, people abuse them so other people think why bother respecting them? You see people using them whose children look practically secondary school age. Why don't they say parent and children aged up to 5 instead?

The woman a PP referenced who argued she was entitled to a space because she is pregnant is an example of the fuckwitery around these spaces. They are surely intended to help people struggling with baby car seats/prams/pushchairs, not there for pregnant women or woman with able bodied children perfectly capable of walking from the car to the shop.

You get a blue badge because you have difficulty walking a distance and need extra space to get out of cars and to unload wheelchairs. Obviously if you have toileting, visual, hearing, mental ect. disabilities your disabled but why do you need the extra sized space?

YANBU. But car parking spaces around here (London) are very tight.

I actually do leave the car seat in the car and just extract my baby from it, but I've donked the baby's head on the car or the door a few times trying to manoeuvre them through a 30cm gap, which is all the door would open without hitting the car next to us. And I've had my fingers crushed between our car door and the next car trying to prevent my 5yo causing damage when they jump down from their car-seat. Having the extra space so I can open the door fully is safer and less chance of damaging neighbouring cars. I don't care where the spaces are located in the car park, provided that there is safe pedestrian access to the shop or service. And I agree with other posters that disabled carpark users should have priority. Ultimately there's usually a workaround as a parent, even if it's less than ideal.

@hotcheeto you are right. But on forums people like to make whataboutisms as a sort of gotcha.

Which is infuriating. I am a parent, I also have a blue badge (for autism and digestive issues). You can get a blue badge for hidden disabilities quite easily. So people saying 'they may be disabled, but not qualify for a blue badge' are largely talking total BS in an attempt to deflect away blame from selfish people.