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

Of course OP is going to say they dashed back when the majority have said she was being unreasonable…

P&C spaces are provided as a marketing tool, they are not legally enforceable. Whether you agree or not, they are legally entitled to park there.

When did you become the car park guard? It's really none of your concern.

I am not sure why you believe that confusing all the issues together is helping you but knock yourself out.

Feel like a victim if you enjoy it, meanwhile the rest of us can call out men in the street and they are not reacting the same way as they do when another man call them out. Fact, like it or not

It seems strange that the OP who was obviously LEAVING the supermarket decided to cause a row then. And taking pictures to " report". Wonder if was was planning to get the baby out again and go back in the supermarket to do so

The managers should grow a backbone and ban these kind of arses from their shop. That is a power that they do have.

My in laws are like this, having a go constantly at cyclists on the pavement and feeling proud when they upset them. I think they really hate it when people break the rules but honestly just makes them seem like twats and accomplished accomplishes nothing. They shouldn’t have parked there but continuing to have a go yourself was pretty silly.

I've been there - you get the rage at someone being selfish and it’s kind of blinding. Feeding the rage doesn’t really serve any purpose though.

A quick google will tell you that car parking spaces have largely kept the same dimensions since the 70s while the size of vehicles have increased significantly. I’m 7 months pregnant with 2 kids under 4 and there are certain express supermarkets in my town I can no longer visit with my kids because the car parks are small, P&C spaces are often full (often with people just wanting a space close to the door without kids or a blue badge) and I quite literally can’t manoeuvre my kids out of the back due to the width of the spaces. It’s infuriating OP but it’s not worth your time even challenging people who do it. We live in a society now where consideration for others is at an all time low sadly.

It's not about walking a few extra steps, it's about having enough space to get small children safely in and out of the car and unfold a pram or buggy without risk of it being driven into.

I agree with those saying they should actually be further away (with a safe path to walk on), would deter others from using them.

I'm legally allowed to fart in a lift, but I don't do it because I have respect for my fellow human. I don't need a section 14 of the public flatulence act to tell me that its rude and inconsiderate.

It wasn't really any of your business. The spaces aren't legally enforceable. I'm sure they did realise where they'd parked given the symbols painted in the space. You were passive aggressive & you took a pointless photo of their car, they took a photo of yours in return. Car seats may not have been mandatory back in the day, but parents placed their children in the back seats of cars in carry cots lifted off the pram frame, way more difficult to get either it or the baby out of a car. I think I had an easier ride with my kids than my parents did with us.

Good on you. They sound like tossers. Best avoided by getting your shopping delivered

There are plenty of places that don't allow drop off if you don't have a blue badge. Many supermarkets do, but those aren't the only places I would like to visit.
Luckily I can get passenger assistance and a prioriy seat on trains, but the majority of theatres in London require proof of being in receipt of PIP before you can get accessible seating.
It isn't just getting out of cars, it is stairs, slopes, seating with restricted leg room.
I had a bad experience recently going down some crowded steps. Some people pushed in front of me so I lost my grip on the hand rail, others were pushing from behind. It was scary. A fall would probably finish me off, but people just don't care.

Life really is too short I don’t get the drama these spaces cause
never used ours because the exit is a give way to the main exit you have to wait forever for someone to let you out

Why? Why wouldn't you leave them for people who have to help DC out the car or get car seats out?

Seemingly people do!

Just can’t believe the selfishness on this thread.

People really are just arseholes.

You both sound as bad as eachother tbh - you were spoiling for an argument, there could be any number of reasons why they needed to use wider spaces to safely get in and out of their car and frankly its fuck all to do with you how they choose to park. They should have ignored you and not argued back.

When you confronted the couple, how did you know they were not collecting a child, from the parents?
Yes, I know it was a supermarket car park, but they could still be picking up a child.
Obviously they were not, but an altercation was probably not a good idea, as you do not know how bad it can get.

You picked a fight and you got one.

You had a space, so no need to worry about it.

I honestly think people like you need to get a life. Stop policing what other people do and just get on with what you are doing.

I would of told you to fuck off and carried on in the store. Taking a picture of their car was pointless. Do you really think the supermarkets give a shit?

You wanted a fight an you picked the wrong people to have a go at. Next time mind your own.

Then you shouldn't have carried it on. Taking a photo of their car was ridiculous and obviously going to annoy them.

I use the P&C spaces when I take my stroke surviving, heart attack surviving, dementia ridden parent who can't get in or out of the car unaided or cross a road unaided and can't move quickly. Some people don't qualify for a blue badge. And if you confronted me, you'd get an absolute gobful.

Mind your own business.