What is with childless people parking in family spots!!!

[Asher09]

I have a toddler and a baby - so thats 2 car seats and a double pram. I genuinly need a fair bit of space when parking and recently I've seen so many people without children parking in the family spots - its so frustrating!

Surely family spots are there for a reason - they're closer to entrances and allow more space to get in and out. Its so helpful to a parent!
When inconsiderate people park there without thinking it leaves me driving around with a screaming toddler and a crying baby trying to find a decent spot where I have some room - some car parks have such narrow spots its impossible to get my kids in and out without hitting a car.

I've caught some people in the act, and have confonted them 'Hey I think you've left your kids in the car' but no one thinks they sre doing anything wrong or should move.

I think family spots should have the same rules as disabled spots. Just don't know how that would be implimented.

They’re for people with children, not for everyone, although there’s no legal right it’s the intention of the spaces for them to be used by families. Blue badge holders welcome though if all disabled spaces are taken, I’m not going to have a problem with disabled parking there if it makes life easier for them and they should have priority.

I don't need to use family spaces anymore but the best ones were at my local Asda. They had some near the door (always full) but also some at the back and there was always at least two free spaces there.
I do find it annoying when other people use the space but they might be disabled (invisible disability) and as said the spaces aren't protected like disabled ones are.
Just part near the back of the supermarket so you have more space. Also why are you going shopping when both your children are unhappy?

And how do you know one of those teens aren't disabled. Why do you accept "elderly" people can use the spot but not a teen. Ageism much?

I have a genuine question - why are your kids getting so upset? Is it because they'd be crying anyway? Or because they can see you getting stressed? Just trying to work out why they are getting upset as it may help you if you can manage to keep them calm.

I agree the spaces should be moved further from the shop apart from a dedicated bay or two for disabled parents with children.

When I had a small grandchild in my 2 door car, I didn’t care how far from the shop I parked, but I needed space to get her out of her car seat. I agree that parent and toddler spaces don’t need to be close to the entrance.

Many years later I have a blue badge, and it’s a godsend because of my poor mobility. Even those get parked in sometimes by people who don’t display a blue badge. Similarly priority seats on public transport are regularly occupied by people without mobility issues. There are some selfish people who don’t give a toss about anyone else’s needs.

I personally don't think they should be near the entrance - they don't need to be. I just need a bigger space so I can get my children out of the car without them banging into another car!

er..perhaps because she needs food?!

Every now and then I have come back my regular car park to find that some absolute twat has left approximately 2” of space on the side where my daughter’s car seat is, usually because they have a massive car and want to maximise their space on the driver’s side.

She’s a bit bigger now and can crawl across to the seat but previously I’d have to place her on the back seat, crawl in myself, then clip her in whilst crouching on the seat. Meanwhile the buggy is parked up behind the car unattended whilst this is going on!

There’s no situation in which we’d expect adults to routinely climb into their car from the wrong side or even the boot as has been previously suggested. It’s not because mothers of young kids are precious snow flakes, it’s because we are expected to do things that other car park patrons don’t because “we all used to cope in 1970”.

I also used the P&C spaces when I was pregnant because I was too big to get between the cars in a normal space

Well, technically you had a child with you in your womb so that seems fair enough!

This.
And you can usually find empty spaces near the bag of carparks if the courtesy spots for people with small children are all full.
Unlike a lot of people with disabilities, having small children tends not to make it difficult for you to walk a bit further. Pram and all.

It is a nightmare as modern cars are so wide, and car seats are so bulky. I had this problem in my local sainsburys this week. No parent and child spaces left and the car park was rammed with people fighting over spaces. Eventually got one, pulled in, got the pram base out of the boot, tried to get baby in car seat out and physically couldn't get the door open wide enough to get him out. In the end I just abandoned and went home. Meanwhile I saw at least 3 people with no children or blue badge using the parent and child bays. I genuinely wouldn't care if they were the furthest away from the shop, I just need to be able to get my baby in and out of the car

Recently I was on crutches and needed extra space to get out . Didn't have a disabled badge as didn't qualify . I used a family space so someone wouldn't park up close leaving me struggling to get back in . There were 16 unused family spaces . I got clamped and fined £140 ouch .
I appealed and fine was reduced , still ouch .
They could see on cctv I was in crutches !

tbh i was wondering how two teens a) afford a Range Rover and b) can afford to insure it

A courtesy as in, they’re a nice thing to have but they don’t have any legal meaning or standing.

There was a man parked next to me in a p&c space the other day with no children and no disabled badge, stood at the front of his car smoking. So not only did he take a space from someone who needed it, I had to walk past with my children through his smoke cloud.

I think they should give badges out which are valid until the child gets to, say, 5?

Yes completely agree. If they were named something else still allowing more space that would take all expections away from it and anyone who needs that space should use it.

When it specifically states parent and child - I would assume parent and children will use it.

Just like disabled people use spots labelled for them. I'm not attacking disabled spots or disabled people!

Why let it piss you off though? What’s the point. You have no idea why they have parked there they may be selfish they may have a genuine need. Either way you can’t change things!

when I was in my late teens I had major knee problems. I changed my car to an automatic so I could still drive but I did use P and C spaces if free because they made life much easier. When I was sat in the car I didn’t have a big sign saying “I need this space” over my head though.

ds is 14 and a blue badge holder. On a good day he doesn’t use a wheelchair. If we can’t get a disabled space, or if P and C are better located which daftly they are in some places, we park in a P and C space. It’s what he needs for his needs and his disability “trumps” your car seat.

If the adjacent car has left 2" of space then any human being is going to have to climb in from the wrong side regardless of whether they have a child seat, although I appreciate having the child seat to manage is an extra hassle. I've had to do it and shuffle myself over the gearbox sometimes.

OP what rules do you imagine disabled spaces have? Because I can confirm that there isn't some dedicated disabled space warden who patrols streets and car parks kicking anyone out of the spaces who doesn't have a blue badge. I have never once seen action taken against this scenario!
Us blue badge holders are as often inconvenienced by selfish parkers as you are by people without children using P and C spaces.

So why would you use it then? Just to make life harder for other people? You sound like a right bundle of joy

No. When there are no other spots in the carpark. I’m not driving around and around a full carpark if there is an empty parent spot! Happy now?

I have no problem walking a bit further with my pram. I’d do have a problem getting my baby’s car seat out of the car to attach it to the pram or to get it back in again when a car is parked close the other side. My local supermarket is always busy, it’s not empty at the back.

Parent & child space. Hmmmm... perhaps we should be checking that the adult is the actual parent of the child the are hauling out the car rather than a nanny/sibling/aunt/godparent/uncle tom cobley. If not we should report them because it's just not right...
🙄

A friend of mine is thinking about having kids, can she use these spaces?

Honestly, parent and child spaces and disabled spaces are absolutely not the same thing.

If I take the children out and can't find a space, it's a pain in the bum but I manage. If I go out with my dad (who is disabled) and can't find a disabled bay, we have to go home. That's the difference.

Could possibly go shopping when both kids aren't crying. Or OP do it online. Much less stress.