What is the Mumsnet consensus on P&C spaces?

[JacquesHarlow]

As per many people, I’ve been out at supermarkets and retail parks around 8 times this Christmas. 5 of those in Surrey, one in Wythenshawe, the rest in the Newcastle area.

My DCs are not toddlers any more so I don’t have the same “will the door open wide enough to take out the car seat and plug it into the pram system” dilemna.

However I have huge empathy for the mothers (and on occasion dads) who I do see doing this. There’s a lovely convenience to parking in a bay where you can pull the pram alongside, open the door wide enough, then take out the seat and baby in one go.

So why is it that on all eight occasions, I’ve seen large SUVs with a solo occupant, the majority of them women, pull into a P&C bay, walk out, and then shoot that filthy “I dare you to challenge me” look?

it is honestly fascinating to me to see how often this happens now. These folk are not in any way visually disabled or physically showing any signs of disability, although if they were, there were numerous disabled spaces available in every car park I saw this happen in.

Nope, these were people who just wanted “premium” parking. They were blatant about it. There were no elderly passengers, hidden disabilities or anything else.

Am I going to get the usual Mumsnet gaslighting of “you don’t know what a person is going through” or are we going to accept that people are CFs who want to take anything that is available to someone else in case they feel like they’re the ones missing out?

I am curious to see if the overwhelming consensus on Mumsnet is that because we had to struggle without the spaces, then NO ONE deserves to have them. That we shouldn’t make life more comfortable for mums and dads with newborns and toddlers, because those spaces really should be for everyone.

so let’s see

YABU - Those spaces shouldn’t be for parents. They should be for everyone

YANBU - Those people who selfishly park there are wrong and this is why we can’t have nice things.

The majority agree they should only be used by people who genuinely need extra space, such as parents, but maybe including the temporarily disabled, elderly and heavily pregnant as well.

Most understand that blue badge holders can also park in them.

Supermarkets are beginning to fine people fro this. Local Tesco has security company involved and will fine anyone not displaying BB in disabled bays, outside the lines and P&C places with solo drivers. £100 every time so be aware they might be coming to your supermarket soon.
Notices also seen in Aldi, Morrisons and Sainsburys

I'm in neither camp.

It's a parking space, I couldn't care less. If one is available, great, if not, park further back 🤷🏽‍♀️

I'm in Surrey and I don't see that happening.

I don't understand your YANBU comment

How do they prove solo drivers?

I know at Meadowhall Shopping Centre you need a pass.

How do they prove solo drivers?

Camera's

It's very inconsiderate to misuse and p&c place. A car park near us also fines people. They have cameras. People are always moaning when they get caught.

It really pisses me off, I had a sick 9 month old last week, I'm apso pregnant and two cars pulled into the p&c spots ahead of me with no children in the car. I had to park in aldi 10 mins walk away and my doors were all blocked in when I got back. Thankfully a nice lady watched my buggy as I pulled the car out.

I try not to judge, I get it that people have stuff going on and older kids might have unseen issues but its not fair when you have a young baby and you meet the criteria; that some fit person with no kids or kids who much older and able take that space. I never park in disbility spots obviously but I wish the same respect would be afforded. My little girl was so unwell last week, it was so stressful and so cold here too.

and then shoot that filthy “I dare you to challenge me” look?

Lol, 8 people did this? 🤣🤣

And it's the same with fly tipping at the recycling points. If the bins are overflowing and you leave your recycling on the floor instead of in the bin your reg is noted and you'll receive notice in the post.
I've heard of two already.

Place blue badge holder spaces near the store entrance and P&C are the far end where there are usually less cars parked and therefore more space. P&C spaces don’t need to be near the store entrance.

I have a toddler and we have never found a parking space free so have always used normal parking. And majority of places don’t have enough bays so this is just a nice thing to have not a right.
I could care less if you have a child, doesn’t make you special to be fighting over this. It’s a fairly new thing anyway and plenty survived before these existed.

It's not that simple. You need to get the doors open to get the carseat out. It's not about walking less steps. I dont care being at the back. It's literally being able to get the car seat out which is so hars because they are so bulky now. Parking spaces are so tight where I live. I've been blocked in twice with my baby because arseholes with no kids took p&c spots in front of us.

People who drive SUVs think they own the road

Its odd that the tightest car parks i encountered were at Softplays and everyone managed fine.

Yeah I've no issue with this. I just need space to get the carseat out and not have my doors blocked in. Absolutely agree blue badge should be at top

There isn't a consensus between millions of users obviously. But I think tje most common opinion, that I share, is that they are a nice to have but not worthy of getting cross about or trying to police.

Yes, so park further back where the carpark is quieter.

If that's a struggle then order online.

There's no guarantee that you'll get P&C space anyway because they may all be filled up with parents and children so it's always best to have a backup plan anyway.

YANBU. Three cheers for the parking assistants at our local Waitrose who were watching the P&C spaces like hawks in the few days before Christmas and made people without kids move.

Our local (private) multi-storey in town also monitors their generous P&C spaces and warns, then fines, repeat offenders. If ever they’re all full I tend to drive right up to the top floor of the car park as it’s less likely I’ll get penned in on either side.

That said, it doesn’t bother me at all if someone with a blue badge uses a P&C space in the lack of disabled spaces, or a heavily pregnant Woman.

Personally I couldn’t care less how close they are to the shop I need, it’s the door opening space that’s important.

Or don't get the carseat out at all. It's not compulsory. I never did.

Cars literally block you from each side. I had a sick 9 month last week in a doctors carpark because i was blocked in. My car is an average size.

I never said I was guaranteed, I said its unfair when people who dont need it park in them.

@Jinglejells But what did you do when your DC was a baby and you needed to get the whole car seat in or out of the car? Several times when mine were that age and there were no P&C spaces, I would have to park in a normal space only to find that I couldn't physically open my door wide enough to fit the car seat through. More than once I've had to stop the car in the 'aisle' (holding up other cars), get the baby+seat out, clip the seat into the pushchair, then leave the baby unattended in the pushchair with cars driving past very close to them, while I parked in the space. It's not a "nice to have", it's a safety issue.

I’d rather they parked there than in blue badge spaces when they don’t have a badge, which is what people usually do. P&C spaces are a courtesy, not a legal requirement. Parents can manage without them if they need to, in places where they aren’t available. Yes they are convenient but it won’t stop anyone going shopping.

But, nice attempt at picking on SUV drivers, and women. I mostly see lone blokes in any type of car, parking in P&C spaces. And in disabled spaces with no badge, come to that.

I never took the seat out. Put them in the proper buggy seat/carry cot or in a sling. Or just in my arms as far as the trolley seat.

So come up with another strategy then.

If you can't cope without the spaces then what you're doing isn't working for you.

Hope your little one is feeling better now.