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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Non Parents in Parent and Child parking spots

276 replies

MrsM494 · 02/10/2023 22:02

Its really getting on my nerves how people are parking in Parent and Child spots despite not having children. I saw 3 cars like this today and 2 the other week. I watched one woman act sheepishly as she saw me struggle to take my toddler and baby out of my car in a regular parking spot, whilst she (with no children) parked in a parent and child spot. I don't want to be confrontational but would I be in the wrong to ask people to park better?!

OP posts:
Hibiscrubbed · 03/10/2023 08:21

You were struggling, even though you had a parent and child space? Or because she’d taken the last one and you used a normal space?

IAmAnIdiot123 · 03/10/2023 08:25

I got shouted at the other day whilst loading the shopping into the boot, she must have seen me from behind waking to my car.

The look on her face when I turned around with a baby strapped to me was quite entertaining (I had a jacket on over the straps)

Tessisme · 03/10/2023 08:27

guild · 03/10/2023 06:41

A little while ago I confronted a fat middle aged childless couple (by which I mean they had no child with them) loading endless bags of crisps and cakes into their car in the p&c spots after I'd struggled with my over active toddler at the back of the carpark due to no spots and the man squared up to my car and tried to fight me. Clearly these people have no morals... if your response to being called out for wrong doing is to try and fight a lone woman and child, rather than acknowledging what you've done wrong then I just feel sorry for you and whoever raised you.

This post's got the lot, hasn't it🤣🤣

I used to get a bit irritated when people unaccompanied by children parked in the parent and child spaces, but I decided it was easier to just park further away where no lazy bastard dares to tread and I was able to fling my car doors open to my heart's content in all that lovely empty space.

JudgeJ · 03/10/2023 08:42

IAmAnIdiot123 · 03/10/2023 08:25

I got shouted at the other day whilst loading the shopping into the boot, she must have seen me from behind waking to my car.

The look on her face when I turned around with a baby strapped to me was quite entertaining (I had a jacket on over the straps)

I was once screeched at by a harridan as I was loading my car, obviously I ignored her so she screeched even louder! She was still screeching when my daughter appeared with her baby, who made these people the parking Gestapo?
Love the MN use of 'calling them out', shades of Heidelberg and 'an garde'!

Mummyoflittledragon · 03/10/2023 08:45

Martin83 · 03/10/2023 06:32

I can never understand why there is lots more disabled spaces then parent and child spaces. In my local supermarket there is 3 parent and child and 20 disabled. If they are taken I usually park at the disabled.

Omg. That is just so entitled. I have a blue badge. They aren’t given out on the back of a packet of cornflakes. I had to go through a stringent test with an occupational therapist. It’s people with this attitude taking my spot.

Parent and child parking spaces are a courtesy. Disabled parking spaces are mandatory by law.

CampsieGlamper · 03/10/2023 08:46

This being Mumsnet, this will run and run, with everyone saying how terrible it is that Men and BMWs park in child and parent spaces, ignoring the flange of shoplifters running off with crates of high strength lager and crisps....

Sigmama · 03/10/2023 08:47

Judge j, nice casual sexism there, was she a witchy harridan, or perhaps a karen

Mummyoflittledragon · 03/10/2023 08:50

tamade · 03/10/2023 06:30

I don’t know why they don’t move the disabled and “parent and child” etc spaces a bit further away from the shops that way they would be less attractive to selfish knobs. A row is spaces right next to the store could be reserved for “arrogant selfish knobs” with a big sign and arrow stating such

Edited

I don’t know why they don’t move the disabled and “parent and child” etc spaces a bit further

Disabled spaces. Really?!! They’re already further away than p&c and if I am really unwell, I will use the p&c as the disabled can be too far from the shop.

Dizzybelle · 03/10/2023 08:55

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 02/10/2023 22:51

Well it's not illegal...

But it’s so entitled, if you don’t have a small children. It really does say something bad people who behave like this.

HerMammy · 03/10/2023 08:56

I wonder if the spaces were at far side of carpark there would be such a demand? If you need more space than an average space, park in a more empty area, there's no need for them at the door of the store, it's parent and child not disabled bays which should be as near as possible.

Yassification100 · 03/10/2023 08:57

It is very annoying. People always say ‘what about blue badge holders when the disabled bays are all full?’ and while of course I would have no problem with that, it’s never blue badge holders! It’s almost always someone with a massive and / or fancy car who has clearly chosen a parent space to minimise the risk of their precious vehicle being bumped. It makes me so irritated when I’m trying to wrestle a toddler into a car seat in a tight space, or March him the whole way across the car park without getting run over and then some smug arsehole emerges from a bmw in the parent and child spaces and waltzes inside.

Darkmode2 · 03/10/2023 08:57

My brother and sil used to to this before they had a child because they're lazy as fuck and most of those spaces are closer to the shop

Now they have a baby they moan about other people doing it 🙄

A lot of people only think about themselves unfortunately

x2boys · 03/10/2023 08:57

Martin83 · 03/10/2023 06:32

I can never understand why there is lots more disabled spaces then parent and child spaces. In my local supermarket there is 3 parent and child and 20 disabled. If they are taken I usually park at the disabled.

Because having a child is exactly the same as being disabled?🙄
Disabled parking spaces are a legal requirement P&C are not.

HerMammy · 03/10/2023 08:58

@Canibearsed you should be reversing into spaces not out, then you'll have a better line of vision

CakeInAJar · 03/10/2023 08:59

CampsieGlamper · 03/10/2023 08:46

This being Mumsnet, this will run and run, with everyone saying how terrible it is that Men and BMWs park in child and parent spaces, ignoring the flange of shoplifters running off with crates of high strength lager and crisps....

Eh?

Shoplifters aren’t my problem.

People taking up P&C spaces without kids is

SoupDragon · 03/10/2023 09:00

CakeInAJar · 03/10/2023 08:59

Eh?

Shoplifters aren’t my problem.

People taking up P&C spaces without kids is

Show quote history

Shoplifters are your problem due to increased costs and annoying extra security.

SoupDragon · 03/10/2023 09:04

I inwardly roll my eyes at people parking in P&C with no child or parking their tiny car in the Fat Car spots at my local Sainsbury's (it has to have these as there are so many pillars making it really difficult to park a larger car!). I only judge inwardly as I know they might well have a good reason for parking there.

If someone is parking there because of a genuine need then I don't see the problem - there are many reasons someone might need a wider spot.

x2boys · 03/10/2023 09:05

owlsmummy · 03/10/2023 07:19

I often park there with my 15 year old. Autism, severe learning difficulties and a bolter. p&c parking places in my local supermarket do not require crossing the road. It's just safer for us. Judge away!

(and before someone suggests I get a BB - turned down twice, my council doesn't issue them for hidden disabilities like DC's).

Does your 15 yearold not qualify for HRM,under SMI,rules?
My 13 year old does and its an automatic entitlement to a blue badge .

HongKongGarden · 03/10/2023 09:06

foolishone · 03/10/2023 07:22

You sound rude and nasty so I might have squared up to you if you confronted me.

I'd probably just tell you to fuck off though.

Show quote history

There’s nothing wrong with telling people like that to act like decent human beings, but yes, they are often the sort to react aggressively.

SleepingStandingUp · 03/10/2023 09:06

dayofcheese · 02/10/2023 22:38

Probably not unless 11 year old is with you but frankly I wouldn't bat an eyelid. They aren't the accessible/blue badge spaces so who cares

Show quote history

Well as @onair will visibly have her baby with her, I can't see why people would think not

Certainlyreally · 03/10/2023 09:07

I watched one woman act sheepishly as she saw me struggle to take my toddler and baby out of my car in a regular parking spot, whilst she (with no children) parked in a parent and child spot.

People who park in baby and parent parking dont give a shit who they inconvenience

lemonraincoat · 03/10/2023 09:07

Yestostructure · 02/10/2023 22:39

I think if they moved them further from the entrance then the lazy bastards won't park there. I use them still with my 8 year old as he's already destroyed my no claims by denting the next car when opening the door. Wee ones/people manoeuvring wee ones need that extra space!!! I'd happy walk a bit further as usually the little one would be in a trolley/buggy (I've also got a toddler) and I don't mind the walk. Just need that half a metre at the side!

It bugs me more when it's clear (and I know there are hidden disabilities which are not necessarily just physical mobility related) abuse of disabled parking. But person in gym gear with the audi TT and no other passengers, I'm highly doubtful you need that space as you skip into the shop "only for 5 mins".

I'm a "non parent" but use them because of this. "my 8 year old he's already destroyed my no claims by denting the next car when opening the door".

Supermarkets are to blame cos they make teeny parking spaces and cram everyone in.

YABU

Sirzy · 03/10/2023 09:08

What people need to remember is that getting a blue badge is very difficult. Millions of people have struggles which mean they have issues when it comes to parking but aren’t entitled to a blue badge.

personally I would massively increase the number of disabled parking spaces and have a system whereby anyone entitled to any level of mobility for DLA/PIP was allowed a blue badge. If that means reducing the amount of other types of space so be it!

SleepingStandingUp · 03/10/2023 09:09

MaydinEssex · 03/10/2023 00:09

I am disabled due to extensive osteoarthritis and have a blue badge, I also use a mobility scooter to go around the shop, so when all the disabled spaces are taken, we will park in the parent and child space as my husband needs room to get my scooter out, I've often witnessed people without blue badges parking in disabled bays which is really annoying, I don't like having to park in the parent and child spaces but we do need extra room, more than a parent with a child who is able to walk unaided.

T f I think most reasonable people would assume a blue badge gives your carte blanche to park anywhere legal

Tessisme · 03/10/2023 09:14

flange of shoplifters

Today I have learned the collective noun for a group of shoplifters.