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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Car Park Space

159 replies

NotSoEasyLemonPeel · 26/10/2023 15:46

I went shopping today. It’s half term so very busy!

I thought ooh that’s lucky last child and parent space. anyway the car a little in front pulls and she had no children with her!

I find a space pull up and I can’t get my LO out the car. I’ve got a travel system, LO is only a few months so their seat clicks onto the pram.

So… I very childishly go round and park behind the person who parked in child space. Ultimately blocking her in.

When I return just short of an hour later, to say she was raging was an understatement. I loaded shopping and LO into the car without saying a word. I was called a bich, cut. Before I left I said to her, you say you were just popping in for one thing, so it was quicker for you to park here, you’d been gone 15 minutes by the time I’d parked and left, so that’s not a quick stop and I couldn’t go in at all because you took a spot I needed.

Anyway, no idea how long she was waiting for me, I’m quite surprised she didn’t phone the vet police! I know I was being unreasonable and very childish but please think before you park in a space others may genuinely need!

OP posts:
ViaRia01 · 27/10/2023 10:14

@Ktime Sure, that’s fair enough. The point I have been trying to make is that threads such as this seem always to turn into whether or not blue badge holders/ disabled people should park in the p&c bays.

In my view it’s irrelevant- OP and all the other OPs on this topic (and myself, although I’ve not actually started a thread) are talking about people who use the p&c bays when they are not permitted to do so. (Therefore this does not include blue badge holders as they’re perfectly right to park there).

BodegaSushi · 27/10/2023 11:02

ttcat37 · 26/10/2023 23:43

I watched a woman park in a ‘parent and child’ bay in her shiny shiny car the other day. She did have a child, who was about 12. I thought that took the piss. They don’t specify the age of the child on the bay markings but there’s a picture of a pram so it fairly obvious.

Meanwhile I was trying to slither out the door with my rather large bump and struggling for space. It wouldn’t occur to me to park in a parent and child bay until he’s made his exit.

I’ve parked in them when a similar-aged child while we waited for his Blue Badge to be renewed. You wouldn’t have know just by looking at him that he’s vulnerable.

Disorganisedmess2023 · 27/10/2023 11:04

She was thoughtless. You were intentional.

thermalvestwearer · 27/10/2023 11:06

Not everyone who is disabled and needs a wider space has a blue badge. Those people are entitled to use the parent and child spaces as a reasonable adjustment for their disability.

CharlotteBog · 27/10/2023 11:07

watched a woman park in a ‘parent and child’ bay in her shiny shiny car

What's the relevance of the shininess of the car? Are you implying that because her car was shiny that she had a sense of entitlement?

Pix56 · 27/10/2023 11:10

Park in the ev bays since they're usually wider and are normally a courtesy and not a requirement 😂😂

Busephalus · 27/10/2023 11:19

Disorganised, and you know the other lady was 'thoughtless' how?

Busephalus · 27/10/2023 11:19

Get your shopping delivered, much less stress all round

ttcat37 · 27/10/2023 11:21

CharlotteBog · 27/10/2023 11:07

watched a woman park in a ‘parent and child’ bay in her shiny shiny car

What's the relevance of the shininess of the car? Are you implying that because her car was shiny that she had a sense of entitlement?

Edited

The relevance was she clearly wanted to park her brand new Mercedes in a really big space so nobody banged it whilst the mortals squeezed into the normal sized spaces.

@BodegaSushi no issue with this whatsoever and obviously some disabilities aren’t visible. However there were loads of disabled bays free and non disabled spaces closer than the parent and child bays (she drove past the space I parked in which was closer). The only reason you’d park in the p&c bays is for a much bigger space.

thermalvestwearer · 27/10/2023 11:30

ttcat37 · 27/10/2023 11:21

The relevance was she clearly wanted to park her brand new Mercedes in a really big space so nobody banged it whilst the mortals squeezed into the normal sized spaces.

@BodegaSushi no issue with this whatsoever and obviously some disabilities aren’t visible. However there were loads of disabled bays free and non disabled spaces closer than the parent and child bays (she drove past the space I parked in which was closer). The only reason you’d park in the p&c bays is for a much bigger space.

Show quote history

Not everyone who is disabled has a blue badge. Without a blue badge, you can't park in a disabled space. You can, however, park in a parent and child space as a reasonable adjustment for your disability, if you need a wider space.

BodegaSushi · 27/10/2023 11:33

ttcat37 · 27/10/2023 11:21

The relevance was she clearly wanted to park her brand new Mercedes in a really big space so nobody banged it whilst the mortals squeezed into the normal sized spaces.

@BodegaSushi no issue with this whatsoever and obviously some disabilities aren’t visible. However there were loads of disabled bays free and non disabled spaces closer than the parent and child bays (she drove past the space I parked in which was closer). The only reason you’d park in the p&c bays is for a much bigger space.

Show quote history

No not for us. You can’t park in a disable space without a BB so they wording have made a different. And we need the bigger space as well to get him in and out. I have to open the door all the way and stand close to ensure he doesn’t just bolt out into the car park. When I open the door he has a tendency to fling it open all the way which could cause damage to another car. So I’d never choose a normal space.

35965a · 27/10/2023 11:39

If you actually did this then you really need to see a GP, as someone upthread said. Your reaction is not normal.

Neuronamechange · 27/10/2023 12:15

We had someone stop in a similar manner to confront us whilst my husband was removing my wheelchair from the back of our car. They loudly declared they needed the space and that we should wait for a disabled parking space as these were for parents only. Their faces were quite the picture when, after getting me in to my chair, he unloaded a baby and a toddler. No apology.

Whilst it’s not necessarily the case here, many supermarkets/shopping centres allow people with a disability to use these spaces, with or without a blue badge.

Underhisi · 27/10/2023 12:26

"Not everyone who is disabled and needs a wider space has a blue badge. Those people are entitled to use the parent and child spaces as a reasonable adjustment for their disability."

Also Blue badges are given for very limited mobility not because you need a large space to get out of a car. So if someone's difficulty is getting out of a car but they can walk when they get out, they may not have a blue badge.

thermalvestwearer · 27/10/2023 12:57

Underhisi · 27/10/2023 12:26

"Not everyone who is disabled and needs a wider space has a blue badge. Those people are entitled to use the parent and child spaces as a reasonable adjustment for their disability."

Also Blue badges are given for very limited mobility not because you need a large space to get out of a car. So if someone's difficulty is getting out of a car but they can walk when they get out, they may not have a blue badge.

This is very true. This is how I used to be, when I was using the parent and child spaces - once I was up and going, I was fine but I couldn't get up and into the car.

I suppose I'm supposed to feel grateful I'm more crippled now so I have a blue badge, according to some on this thread.

Original poster
NotSoEasyLemonPeel · 27/10/2023 13:41

HunterHearstHelmsley · 27/10/2023 08:44

I sometimes miss having my old car. It was a banger and tiny. If someone was parked across two spaces I'd park in one of the spaces too. I wouldn't risk it in my current car but if someone is going to a cunt then I'm going to out-cunt them.

Show quote history

“Out-cunt them” love this 😂

OP posts:
thermalvestwearer · 27/10/2023 17:10

NotSoEasyLemonPeel · 27/10/2023 13:41

“Out-cunt them” love this 😂

Show quote history

Be hilarious when I out-cunted you and phoned the police and reported you for disability hate crime wouldn't it. And believe me, I fucking would. I have had it with entitled twats who don't understand the law and I am beyond the point of letting myself be bullied.

PabloandGustheGreySquirrels · 27/10/2023 17:34

TheMadHattter · 26/10/2023 16:22

Haha this made me laugh. I hate it when people use child spaces who have no children but usually just give them the stink eye. You're really lucky you didn't get a ticket or towed so don't do it again but it is funny 🤣

You do realise that blue badge holders are entitled to use P&C spaces if disabled are full, don't you? Whether they have a child or not

endlessfall · 27/10/2023 18:07

To be fair in the years I used P&C spaces I saw many child free adults using the spaces and not one blue badge amongst them.
There were usually more disabled spots and more free disabled spaces.

Original poster
NotSoEasyLemonPeel · 27/10/2023 20:34

@thermalvestwearer calm down! Myself and the person I was replying to didn’t even mention disability - you did.

The person whose space I parked behind was not disabled. I’m sure she would have mentioned this while screaming at me.

OP posts:
Ktime · 27/10/2023 21:19

TheMadHattter · 26/10/2023 16:22

Haha this made me laugh. I hate it when people use child spaces who have no children but usually just give them the stink eye. You're really lucky you didn't get a ticket or towed so don't do it again but it is funny 🤣

You don’t need a big space with children. Just go to the back of the car park where there are lots of empty spaces.

Disabled people will always trump children.

User8907 · 27/10/2023 21:22

NotSoEasyLemonPeel · 27/10/2023 08:30

Wow, I was not expecting so many people to reply.
To try and answer some questions it was an end space so I was only blocking her.
I am permanently sleep deprived with two children. If you’re not please share how you did it.
I wasn’t angry that’s why I didn’t get in to an agreement with her.
my post states I know I was being unreasonable - thought I’d share my moment of madness.

Didn't have kids because I value my sleep more, among other things 😆

ItsmeImtheproblem200 · 27/10/2023 21:35

Ktime · 27/10/2023 21:19

You don’t need a big space with children. Just go to the back of the car park where there are lots of empty spaces.

Disabled people will always trump children.

Show quote history

I have four kids on my own. I need a bigger space. I also don’t want to walk four kids down a busy car park if I don’t have to, it’s unsafe.

TheMadHattter · 27/10/2023 21:50

Ktime · 27/10/2023 21:19

You don’t need a big space with children. Just go to the back of the car park where there are lots of empty spaces.

Disabled people will always trump children.

Show quote history

Lol what are you talking about.

ttcat37 · 27/10/2023 21:54

thermalvestwearer · 27/10/2023 11:30

Not everyone who is disabled has a blue badge. Without a blue badge, you can't park in a disabled space. You can, however, park in a parent and child space as a reasonable adjustment for your disability, if you need a wider space.

Show quote history

Ok. Why wouldn’t you just get a blue badge?