Altercation in carpark

[Icecreamsundaz]

I was in a supermarket carpark, I had put my baby in her carseat and had just loaded my groceries in the boot. A car parked in the parent and child space next to me and an older couple got out, early 70s I would guess, able bodied, no kids with them
I said "sorry do you realise thats s parent and child space" and I pointed to the markings.
Well his response was very rude in tone "I came here to do my shopping, not to dance around" ?? "It should be first come first served " and they stormed off. I was a bit taken aback, I said loudly but they were a bit away at this point so not sure if they heard me "god id hate to be so ignorant". I took a picture of their car. Not really sure what I was going to do with it, thinking I would think about it and perhaps report to management. I got into my car
The next he was at my window "you took a photo, its illeageal to take photos of other people's property, delete it." I ensured my doors were locked, he stood behind my car so I couldn't reverse out, she was at my windscreen taking photos of me. Eventually they moved and I got out.
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything but there were loads of other places they could have parked but the parent and child spaces are limited. Its very frustrating when I've all my kids and can't find a free parent and child space because people like this who dont need them take them and they don't give a shit

Because parenthood is not a disability.

I know this will annoy a few people but i dont agree with child/parent parking. Having a child is a choice unlike having a disability. Fully support disabled parking. Why should people who choose not to have children lose parking spaces.

Personally I wouldn't take that approach - you could really upset someone who had, for whatever reason, lost a baby or child.

Just point out it's a P&C space if you feel the need to. There's no need to try to look clever by playing silly games.

Clearly a lot of the responders to OP's post are people who park in the parent-and-child bays themselves despite being perfectly mobile and unaccompanied by small kids.

I didn’t say it was. I asked why designated spaces are a free for all for one portion of society and not another

If you have a disabled badge, nobody needs it more than you. If you have an older mobile, flexible child thousands of people need it more than you. If you have a child in a seat and need to get your door wide open, hundreds of thousands of people need it at least as much as you.

I was just pointing out you wouldn’t get a fine - where with my supermarket they do fine people for parking in the p&c spaces without a child.

If you’re in a quieter part of the car park, I don’t see the problem. Loads of people park close to the line or over it and they’re not disabled, so why would anyone begrudge a disabled person with a BB when all the BB spaces are full?

Good for you OP! I’ve called out a middle aged man and his new Range Rover before. People that park in them are lazy and rude - telling them so will likely make them more indignant. Cars have grown but car park spaces have not. I’ve been unable to get my
baby back in the car before when someone parked too close. Some people are clueless. You have my sympathy

No I was more thinking about opening my door into the next one to me!
So enlighten me,what's a wankish car? I didn't even mention what it was you obviously know more about that I do!

The amount of parent and child parking spaces compared to normal in an average sized supermarket / car park is pretty small… I don’t think they are exactly taking away spaces that seems a little dramatic .

What mean spirited response! Lugging a small child around is hard enough without struggling to get them in and out of a car in less than a foot of space.

Nobody is losing a parking space. They just have to park thirty seconds further away from the door. The fact is, unless you have mobility issues, for the sake of your health you should be parking at the far end of the car park and getting a bit of exercise. If you have mobility issues, you have your own dedicated parking bays.

Why can't we be nice as a society for a change and just let mums and their small kids have this thing?

I totally understand the frustration, I noticed it so much when my child was a baby.

However, there are some real nutters out there and I think the safest thing to do is just not confront it. It's not worth putting yourself or baby at risk.

Report them to the supermarket. I used to give the reg number to customer services who usually got one of the outside guys to have a word.

Most people wouldn’t dream of parking in a special space if they didn’t need it, but there’s a not insignificant amount of selfish and lazy people around.

Bb are not just for people who cant walk. Have you looked into applying?

In my local supermarket, I never see anyone misusing the spaces. But in my closest city, it seems like half the p&c spaces are occupied by entitled business-men types (occasionally women) who don’t give a shit!

Because

The system originates from the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 and updated via the Disabled Persons’ Parking Badges Act 2013, which enhanced enforcement and local authority powers against abuse

there are actual laws about blue badges.

So it’s a purely legal matter? That is the defining factor?

It’s the kind of question that if they have to ask, there is no point trying to explain.

Omg this is such a pet peeve of mine.
People who don't have children, acting hard done by at the very few "perks" parents get to make our more difficult lives a little more straightforward.

I'm sure they can console themselves with all the lie ins, Free weekends and free time they have.

Cry me a river 🙄

Which is basically you saying 'Why do people with disabilities need a designated parking spot more than parents?'

Again, because parenthood is not a disability.

So open it carefully like everyone else. Why do you think you’re more entitled to the extra space than a parent who needs to help a small child out of a car seat, or an elderly person (because you’re taking that space away from them too).

A wankish car is whatever car one chooses to drive without being able to manoeuvre and park safely 😉

@ScaramoucheCanYouDoTheFandango. The blue badge is explanation enough. Tell her next time she’s challenged like this to give the person her badge number and tell them to report her to the council if they’re so convinced she’s not genuine. That usually shuts it down.

It could be that they have a disabled badge and in which case entitled to park in parent & child spots

And the rest of us are grateful that she’s one fewer selfish arsehole.

because we’re a diminishing group.

Lol what a jobsworth. You had a space, they were an old couple, why did you feel the need to say anything at all!