Do you use parent & child spaces when you don’t have a child?

[incognito1991]

I’ve just got back from my local retail park, which is where my nearest supermarket is and getting increasingly wound up. My 2 year old DD was asleep so I sat in the car for 10 minutes until she woke and we could go to the shop. Within those 10 minutes I saw 3 different cars parking in a parent and child bay and it was only them, no child, not pregnant, just selfish. No matter where I go I struggle to get a parent and child space because they’re all taken up by idiots with no children, I even see people with older children use these spaces, I think they should specify it’s for babies and toddlers not your 10 year old. I really struggle getting my DD in and out of the car in a normal bay as I can’t open the door wide enough, can barely squeeze her in aswell as leaning in to strap her in. If you park in one of these spaces I’d love to hear your reasons please.

If you’re splitting hairs, à shop doesn’t issue a fine.

It makes no odds to me, is what I am saying. If I am unable to park in a BB, then a P&C space, I find, is the next best thing, where I live, so that is what I do, and will continue to do so, if need be.

No. However we are currently in Cornwall and it’s common here! We are more respectful where I live!

Good for you.

the point being debated is the poster who stated that it’s a legal right.

The change of minimum order from £25 to £40 was huge for many people on low incomes who struggle to get to shops (I volunteered at CAB when the change happened).

Ok, debate away to your hearts content then.

Weren't cars smaller back then? I remember we had a people carrier around 2000 and it had sliding doors. Unsure how common that is now

Sliding doors would seem to be much more sensible if you actually need a huge car.

it’s not illegal for anyone to park in a parent and child bay, if you park in a parent and child bay, displaying a blue badge is not required because there’s no legal entitlement to a blue badge holder using the space! If I rock up to the car park at the same time as you and we both go to park in the last parent and child bay and I don’t have a blue badge and you do, neither one of us is more ‘legally entitled’ to use the spot. If the blue badge gave you a legal entitlement to the spot then I would legally have to give you that space, but that’s not the case!

I’ve never said it’s illegal. I’ve repeatedly said that “not illegal” and “legally entitled” are two different things. The fact you’ve done it without being fined doesn’t establish a legal entitlement.

You don’t get a fine in a supermarket car park in 99% of cases - you get a parking charge notice which isn’t a fine.

LOL 😅👌

Yes, but always display my BBs as advised by supermarkets if BB spaces are full.

The person I was responding to used the word “fined”, so that’s the terminology I replied to. Feel free to substitute “parking charge notice” if you prefer. It doesn’t change the substance of what I said in the slightest, but nice try.

If you’re going to nitpick it helps to use the correct terminology, I find.

I never use them when I have children with me, I just park as far away as possible.

Can you show me where I’ve nitpicked?

Someone said Blue Badge holders are legally entitled to park in parent-and-child bays. I said they aren’t. Someone else said I was wrong, and I’ve provided information showing that I’m not wrong.

Then the argument became “but it’s not illegal”, which isn’t what I said in the first place, and now we’re discussing whether it’s called a fine or a parking charge notice. None of that changes the original point.

I don’t know whether I want to be part of this “shit” anymore. This thread has proved to be true to Mumsnet form.

Where is the moral compass., the respect for others especially elders. Or is it just all entitlement. No wonder a lot of kids grow up so rude , selfish and uncaring in this world. As others have said having children is a lifestyle choice. You knew how car parks were run prior to having a child.

No. I park in the far away quiet bits. Much less stress.

I don't park in parent and child spaces, but I do think that they should only be reserved for parents with children during the hours of say 6:30am and 9:30 pm. I think after this time, most children should be at home tucked up in bed and it is frustrating that in a virtually empty supermarket car park, you have to park a lot further from the store entrance when there are about 20 parent and child spaces empty. I'm sure that if the odd parent and young baby came during late evening, they would still have no problem finding a space with sufficient room to get the baby in and out of the car.

That’s rubbish I would challenge it, the only reason I know my friend had Brain tumour she has got she got turned down for PIP she had already got type1 & Addisons. She went to tribunal, well they changed their minds before court date gave her full PIP from that got her blue badge. Still see CAB they filled in most of my paperwork they were really helpful.

This sums up how I feel generally about Mumsnet. But I do come on and comment during downtime (having a break from gardening at the minute) as it’s like scratching a sore. Painful, sometimes risky, but ‘nice’ all the same.
I’m 67, my children are in their early 30s, both with children of their own, both living a normal stable life, indeed both never having had no real drama ever. In my experience that’s how most families pan out. We don’t fall out, we follow our own paths, we respect others and their differences - be absolutely bloody normal in my quite varied experience over that time.
It intrigues me where some of the ‘Mumsnet’ style attitudes come from. I’ve never met people like so many posting about their issues. In short, I sincerely believe they need to learn respect for others and responsibility for themselves.

I don’t know what infuriates me more; people with no children parking in them, or parents with children asleep or waiting in the car who park in them while the other parent goes in

I’m genuinely confused. Who is being entitled here? Parents with young children wanting to use the parent and child spaces that were specifically provided for parents with young children?

I don’t actually have a problem with Blue Badge holders using those spaces if the disabled bays are full and they genuinely need the extra room, obviously. I’d happily go and find another space. But I don’t think it’s “entitled” for parents to want to use a facility that was specifically introduced for them.

This thread originally started talking about people parking in those bays without children. It wasn’t specifically about disabled people or the elderly using them. It’s also a little ironic to call for more respect whilst making sweeping statements about parents being entitled and children growing up rude, selfish and uncaring. Those two things don’t sit particularly well together.

And as for “having children is a choice” that always feels more like a conversation stopper than a meaningful point. Yes, having children is a choice, but once children exist they still have needs. Parent and child bays aren’t a reward for parents, they’re there to make it safer and more practical to get young children in and out of cars. If people disagree with the existence of those spaces, that’s really a complaint for the car park operators who introduced them, not the parents who use them.

I did last night - i think for the first time ever. Went to supermarket I don't usually visit, car park was very quiet as it was 8.15, it was raining and I didn't realise until I was almost in the space that it was P&C. Thought about moving but decided not to on the basis that there were loads of other P&C spaces available, it was late and I was only nipping in for one thing. I still felt guilty about it though.

I don’t expect to have anyone respect me because I am old. Just why?
Yes having children is a lifestyle choice but the world would come to an end if nobody made this choice. People spend a lot of money and effort raising children and these children in years to come will be paying the taxes we need to spend on people who can’t work.
I have never parked in a disabled bay except when taking someone with a blue badge out. I have never parked in a P&C space either because we didn’t have them when mine were young. I certainly think they are a good idea.