To think people without kids who use parent and baby spaces are just lazy and selfish!

[Mummer123]

local Tesco and nearly every single week I have a run in with someone over this. I am 7 months pregnant and have a 1.5 year old. For me it’s not even about the walking, it’s the extra space at the sides so that i can get the baby in the trolly/pram at the side of the car rather than at the boot where there’s traffic.

i don’t mind if there’s older people who clearly are struggling with mobility but fit, healthy people who park there and not a child in sight. A car actually cut the one way system a few days ago to park in the last mother and baby spot. Was a man on his own, plenty of other spaces in the car park. I wouldn’t even park in them if I don’t have my baby with me. I just think it’s so lazy and selfish.

A run in?

Totally agree - I think they should be reserved for parents and prams! Or have another section just for older kids.

They're a courtesy, designed to encourage folk to shop there - there's no laws around parking there and so some folk will feel there's no reason not to use them. I rarely used P and C spaces when DS was a baby tbh.

I use them when the blue badge car parking spaces are full . You usually get only a few spaces for disabled parking but many more child ones .

And so you should.

I use them even if the bb spaces are empty as they're closer. (I do have a bb) parent and child spaces should be in a further away spot in the car park with a safe walkway to the store.

Perhaps they should provide larger parking spaces, especially to accommodate those ridiculously big cars that are getting bigger by the year.

There are many people who need extra space or proximity for whatever reason.

yes some people are lazy but others are just trying to do their shopping easily. Those with disabilities don’t have a neon flashing light over their head to identify them.

p and c spaces are a nice thing if you can get one but they aren’t essential. Use one if free but don’t let them stress you out.

Here we go again...
So many threads on this topic.
"Yes they are", "no they are not", "what about disabled places", "why should they", etc, etc, etc...

Tbh I'd be happy if they put p&c spaces at the back of the car park. It would discourage the entitled lazy arses, provide more space for disabled parking and it's the extra space that's valuable, not the distance to store

I will use them, only if the BB spaces are all taken. I always put my badge out on the dashboard as well.

This has literally been done to death!

It’s inconsiderate yes, but it’s not illegal and there are quite a few anti-social habits I would put well above it.

I am also astonished by how many people choose to go to supermarkets with toddlers and babies! I either got a delivery or went to a corner shop. Plus I never really had that much of an issue when I really had to park in a “normal” space which I did many times. I think the outrage can get a bit much TBH. And it’s certainly not worth a run in!

Because the point of these spaces is the extra side space, supermarkets should position these spots at the back of the car park and leave spaces closer to the supermarket entrance for those with mobility issues.

I bet that would stop their mis-use in a heartbeat.

Some people will be using them because they have their own mobility difficulties and are going about their day the best they can.

I took mine to the supermarket as something to do - it got me and her out of the house. But I only had the one.

Even during COVID I preferred to go in person. I like supermarket shopping.

But did you start a thread moaning afterwards?

Moaning about what? I never had an issue with P&C spaces at my local supermarket.

You seem to misunderstand me - my point was that you were able to visit the supermarket with a child and then not start a moaning thread immediately after (unlike OP). 😬

Hi OP. For some reason when this subject comes up you'll get people quoting about the legal status of these spaces, then someone will start with disability top trumps and you'll suddenly start question whether you're the one who's lost his mind for questioning whether a single man in sports car is being a decent human by parking in one.

My take is that they are courtesy extended by the shop to parents who struggle with normally sized spaces to get children in and out of a car, with prams and all the associated paraphernalia. And it is a great help to some parents, and goes someway to making their day slightly easier.

I also feel that in the unlikely event of all the disabled spaced being occupied, someone with a blue badge should be able to use the space.

What it is not for is parents that qualify on a technicality. "Well, I am a parent, and have a child with me" You know you're being an arse when the child is an able-bodied strapping 6 footed 17 year old lad. It is not for people that bought a car that is too big for ordinary use, nor is it for transits that won't fit in normal spaces. It is definitely

Final point. Just because something is legal, it doesn't make it right. That is your brain tying to justify arsehole behaviour. If anything, abusing a courtesy like this offends my moral code more than some things that are against the law.

I do agree with you in general, but my husband was once shouted at and verbally threatened by someone for parking in a parent parking space. He parked there because he was collecting me and our month old baby from an urgent GP appointment, so parked there knowing we'd need the space to get the baby in the car to go home 🙃

When I got to the car I tried explaining to the other couple who had been threatening my husband what had happened and they kindly told me to fuck off😂 And then I was told as there are two of us we didn't even need the parent parking space because my husband could have parked anywhere and then just reversed out of the parking space and blocked the road while I got the baby and myself in the car. I couldn't be bothered pointing out that they could have done the exact same thing as there were also two of them 😂

Because I was able to use the P&C space no problem.

If I hadn’t, I might have written such a post.

All shopping centres should have bigger car parks for every one. They should definitely make some of the Parent and Child and Disabled ones further away. It's unfair that ALL close parking bays are for disabled and parents with kids.

People sometimes have an illness or are undergoing treatment and no one would know that they can only walk short distances.

If its about space and not proximity then just park at the back where its much quieter.

These people might be selfish, they might have disabilities, they might be picking someone up.... the reasons don't really matter, the spaces are full, so you can't either continue having weekly 'run ins' with people who might well have valid reasons and are then made to feel uncomfortable, or you can just park elsewhere and get on with it.

I also feel that in the unlikely event of all the disabled spaced being occupied, someone with a blue badge should be able to use the space.

Not unlikely at all, where I live.

I use them for my son when all the blue badges spaces are full! he's 15 but always display his blue badge