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.

I am genuinely flabbergasted by the entitlement of some people.

If a business designs certain parking spots for parents with children, you need to respect this. They aren’t spaces designed for people who can’t park their giant Range Rovers or Audi 4x4s in a normal size space.

They are designed so you can take a baby or toddler out of a car seat and put them in a buggy.

I stopped using the, when my two were about 3 and 4 and could walk while we shopped.

What is it about driving that makes normally nice people act like entitled shitheads?!

Why not? Ffs. Should they just remain housebound??

My nan likes to go to the supermarket. She likes going into the cafe for a coffee.

What a shitty comment

No you are chopping and changing your story.

So you don’t need to park any nearer to the shop just because you have a baby and toddler. Why don’t you park further away from the store where hardly anyone parks, then you’ll have plenty of room with no one parked on either side.

Please don’t compare them to the issues disabled people have. It’s tone deaf of you to do so.

The simplest solution is for family spaces to be moved far away from the entrance. There's no need for them to be near the door. Is the car park so busy that you can't park further away in an empty area? I used to walk across the car park when my 3 were toddler age, much less hassle.

the rudeness here is the ageism. When you are an older lady and might need to be able to open your car door to the fullest amount to get in and out maybe you'll not be so ageist?

Agree with this! Would make perfect sense because then only those who truly needed extra space would use them

If there are lots of free child and parent parking spaces when she goes I can’t see a big issue. However, if she parks and the other spaces are busy/used then yes she’s being selfish.

Speak to the shops, start a campaign/petition, write to your MP etc. That’s the way to get support and try to change it. Shops can fine customers for misusing parent and child spaces. If you want change, you have to do something.

But surely then families would complain as they’ve got further to walk?

I didn’t know some places have done that, I’ve never come across it.

How is it enforced? If the car is empty when the parking warden comes round, how do they know if a child was or wasn’t in the car? Do they have someone constantly monitoring (in person or via camera I assume?)

Of course they would. Because they don’t really want the extra space (there is loads of it at the furthest end of the car park anyway), they just don’t want to walk.

'These parking spaces would be better served at the far end of the car park because then they are less likely to be used by people wanting to park at the front of the shop'

I agree with this.
They shouldn't be treated the same as disabled spots because disability is not a choice and having children doesn't impair mobility.

Most of the people I see taking them aren’t disabled or frail old people, they are just normal people, predominately in massive 4x4s.

It even happens at the gym when people are meant to be working out, so can clearly walk fine.

Some people just think they are entitled to VIP treatment, no idea why.

I’m not sure but here’s an article about it.

https://www.lancs.live/whats-on/shopping/tesco-sainsburys-warning-shoppers-who-25229407?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

To those saying park at the far end of the car park because there is a lot of space, that’s fine in car parks where the full capacity is rarely used, in my experience you can choose the perfect isolated space and some idiot will come and park right next to you.

No problem walking further, in fact our 9 year old (who I would never park in a PC space with) always moans that I park so far from the shops because I’d rather do that than drive around hunting for a close space, much quicker and easier if you are able bodied.

I think P&C parking spaces are a 'nice to have' and nothing more. Bit of a marketing ploy tbh, people with kids like them, so are more likely to shop there.

No I absolutely don't think there needs to be any legislation around them, I think that's beyond bonkers. You have kids not a disability. It's nice to have larger parking space (I'd pick a larger space and my dd is a teen),but it's not a necessity. If your child is disabled then you'd have a blue badge and would park in a disabled bay.

I have some sympathy with you. Parents with young kids need space and need to be near the store entrance. However I do use parent and child spaces, I have a measure of disability which makes getting into and out of a car difficult. It's not enough for to qualify for a blue badge.
CONTROVSY WARNING - I see lots of blue badge cars parked in disabled spaces, the driver does not appear to have any disability. I know not all disabilities are visible, but a lot of them seem much more mobile than I am.
So sorry OP I do park in your space but only because I need to and I am happy to explain why to anyone who asks

Ouch. You'll annoy some people.

Some of these people park all over the pavement when dropping children at school and they'd consider that OK.

I use p&c spaces whether I have dc with me or not.

I really don't know why you are getting slammed here OP. I totally agree with you. Prior to kids I would never have considered parking in a parent and child spot, they are there to make a young family's day that little bit easier. Those who are calling OP entitled.... pot, kettle, black? You are saying just because they aren't enforceable you have a right to park there... OK. You have every right to be an asshole!

I wouldn't care if they were a bit further from the door - it's the larger space that makes life easier.

I'd even go further and say it cracks me up when disabled people park in them too. There are appx 30+ disabled spots and about 5 parent and child spots at my local supermarket. 95% of the time all p&c spots are taken, mainly by blue badge owners. Again, entitlement. I do not begrudge blue badge owners, however waiting for an extra few mins to get a blue badge spot should be the norm. I also know of/see plenty of blue badge owners who had a reason to have one 5 years ago for an injury for eg, but never returned them! That's a whole other discussion but adds to this problem.

Waiting for all to come at me for that one, obviously there are some extenuating circumstances where people need to park quickly to pick up Meds, or use a bathroom. But god forbid a disabled person does something wrong on MN!

"YetMoreNewBeginnings · Today 07:09

family spots are different to disabled spots. Disabled people may need more space to get wheelchairs and adaptions out of their vehicle. Having a family is a choice. Being disabled is not.

Shops paint family spaces to tempt you to spend money with them. Not because there’s any legal requirement."

I hate comments like this. Yes they're not the same or as necessary as a disabled spot. But it is bloody impossible getting baby twins out of a car if there are people parked close on either side.
And "having a family is a choice" is the sort of ridiculous nonsense read on Mumsnet all the time!
Just because something has no legal requirement doesn't mean it's totally cool to do it with no thought about others. There's no legal requirement for me to hold a door open for you rather than just let it slam and hit you in the face. But I would because I'm not a dick.

And my kids are older btw so I don't use them.

If the P&C space is closer than the closest disabled bay, you bet your bottom dollar we're parking in it.