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

Where did OP say they weren’t disabled ? She said they didn’t look disabled, which is not the same thing. And if they didn’t have a blue badge they would have been fined for parking in a disabled space. Sometimes older people have conditions that fall short of the threshold for blue badge issue and there’s nothing wrong with parking in a P&C space to make things easier. There really is a nasty mean girl vibe to this whole thread now.

When it coming to someone parking in a parking space that is provided as a curtesy I pay no attention at all. I have bigger concerns in life than where a stranger parks.

Absolutely this. So an elderly couple used a P&C space - likely age related conditions didn’t qualify them for a blue badge. In the great scheme of things if it made life easier for them then more power to them.

Yes.
And the spaces between the cars are too small for prams to fit.

This is so dramatic! Have you ever been to car parks for children’s activities, the most recent one I went to was a miniature railway, for no older than primary school age I’d say.

Huge car park, cars everywhere, no P&C parking, as the vast majority would need to be designated. Every parent was able to navigate small children, pushchairs etc safely across the car park.

Unsurprisingly!

But supermarkets DO have them so they should be used by parents with small children.

They have walkways.

Have you discussed this in RL @Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim ?

The world is misogynistic and gross and men are mostly vile creatures IMO. But, you made a snide comment when they were walking away and called them a name after already speaking your mind. To be honest I would say it’s less to do with male dominated society and more to do with that, you were the aggressor. Quite rightly to be honest but most people when faced with more than one comment about their behaviour would react I imagine. I would struggle not to react to you speaking to me twice, calling me a name and then taking a photo of my car! This man may or may not have been angry if your husband had done the same, we don’t actually know but plenty of men get into altercations with other men over parking / driving.

Because the “vulnerability” of the “children” has been brought up, good deflection though 😉!

Genuinely curious @Rosscameasdoody what you have dealt with relating to P&C spaces on behalf of clients multiple times

It's hardly rocket science that a disability outreach worker would get queries from disabled people about parking fines.

But they’re disabled so will be using disabled spaces

I am talking about P&C spaces

If others are not in need, if one is free and a disabled person who doesn’t have access to a space suitable, they should use them.

Its all the “vulnerable” children, it’s “dangerous”, how can I possibly safely walk my children across the car park (probably the same way you walk down a road with them 🤷‍♀️), rather than it’s just convenient really. Supermarket do it because of the “outcry” of them saying we’re scraping them.

I’m sure the accidents involving children would not increase because they were withdrawn.

They have P&C spaces

Yes but you’re talking about the terrifying walk from a non PC space to the doors of a supermarket

have you discussed this in RL? Is it a real issue amongst you parent friends too?

You can’t fit prams between normal car parking spaces.

Yes and yes.

You need the extra space for prams.

But not all disabled people are entitled to a blue badge. So some do park in P&C bays.

Why would you need to? It’s like you’re talking to us as though most of us are not mothers!

So they can access P&C spaces or do you advise they should never do this?

Disabled people can use P&C spaces if no disabled spaces are available

Why would you need a pram? Really?

Cannot remember the last time I saw a pram in a supermarket! Car seats or “free standing” children.

Especially older children!

Yes really! Who takes a pram into a supermarket? Car seats for little babies, but the useful trolleys with seats in for older and 10 year olds walk independently!