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

While it isn’t illegal to park in a parent and child bay if you don’t have a child under 12 with you, you could be hit with a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).

From the rac website.

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/parent-and-child-parking-bays-the-law-and-who-can-use-them/

Read the story of lee lomeroy who was killed on a train in Jan 2019. Truly sad and horrific was it worth it all round?

People just need to.be very careful today when dealing with others
People won't back down. People just want to have the last word. People won't apologise. People won't let go. People take photographs.
Some people carry knives. You don't know whose got one.

Slightly amused that you don’t realise your offensive and entitled attitude is going to make more people see P&C as fair game.

This only applies in private car parks - for example a supermarket car park run by a private concern. The provider has to put up clear signage that the normal rules for P&C parking don’t apply and that misuse will result in a charge.

Yes I think people who decide they should have use of an amenity designated for the benefit of the most vulnerable in society are selfish, possibly illiterate pigs.

I'm 52 and had my son in my early 20s, and spent 4 years lugging him on and off buses. Incredibly hard. I would have killed for a car but could barely afford to feed us.

I know that's what "they're there for" but, parking right at the front in a mother and baby space when you're assumedly both able-bodied, is a luxury. Yes even if "that's what they're there for".

Personally I think there are better candidates for those spaces than mothers. I've seen far more deserving people, but hey.

The other day I saw a young mother pull into one in a huge, flashy jeep, but then just sat there while the gran (I assume, I don't know, she looked in her 40s) got out of the jeep with a 4 or 5 year old looking child, while the mother just sat there doing her nails. (I could see because there's a long walkway and she was literally in my line of vision). Don't see at all how they deserved that space.

I'd have minded my own business. I'd hope someone using those parks had good reason for doing so. If I'd observed the whole thing I'd have thought you were a bit weird OP.

I used P&C parking when I broke my foot.
I needed the space to open the door wide so I could change into my walking boot. I also needed to be close to the store to minimise the amount of walking.
I would also go to the store later at night when not many parents would be dragging taking their kids shopping anyway.

Not selfish, illiterate or a pig.

Why are children the “most” vulnerable? A 10 year old can’t walk safely from a car to a shop ?

Id argue that lists of people are vulnerable, including injured people.

It recommends it where possible, but you don't have to.
DM always drives into a space so she can open the boot for her dog.

Good for you @XenoBitch I would have done the same.

I’m a wheelchair user and if I reversed into parking spaces I wouldn’t be able to access the chair.

My dds heart problem is invisible, it’s still a physical disability.

Don't you feel vulnerable though, being stuck in the road, with the cars whizzing by....? (If you drive in and your boot is close to being in the road?)

It's covered in rule 201, the road in the carpark is classed as the "main road", certainly in terms of insurance purposes. It's not a rule that you cannot do it, just that you shouldn't if it can be avoided.

I did NOT know that about the parking spaces, and having to reverse in and come out forward, and insurance not covering you if you gets hit reversing out! Is that true?!

Most of the time I reverse in, but occasionally I drive in forwards, because I can't reverse in because of all the cars behind me.... (Up my arse!)

.

Very. But in most car parks it’s unavoidable. If I reverse in and leave space I’m at the mercy of whoever parks in the space behind me. Our local supermarket is a bit better because their disabled spaces are at the front, in a row in front of the actual store, so I can reverse into those because there’s only the walkway behind me. Difficult getting a space though as there aren’t many.

I'm fed up of people parking in the parent and child space when they dont have children. The clue is in the name. Would they park in the disabled space if they werent disabled? Same thing. The entitlement and arrogance is astounding.

I used them when my children were little and now dont need to so dont use them now. And I dont care if they werent a thing 30 years ago, they are now. The more people calling people out the better. Exactly the same as people playing music on their phones or having conversations on speakerphone in public. Bring back shaming for inconsiderate behaviour.

I’m clarifying what the other poster was writing. I think there’s a slight difference in how you responded to it.
“entitled pig” is a common insult
“pig people” is not

But the point of them is also to be close so young children aren’t being walked through a car park

If you are picking fights with people in car parks in the middle of the day, it sounds like you have way too much time on your hands and need to go back to work!

It makes sense to have P&C spaces alongside the store, so next to a walkway.
But the spaces right next to the door at my local Tesco are all P&C spaces. You have to cross multiple lanes if you parked in a BB space. That makes no sense to me.

😂