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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get irate over misuse of parents' parking spaces at Sainsbury's

218 replies

Sunnymama · 08/07/2008 09:26

No, not by those people without kids (although they are bad enough), but by people who use them when they have no kids with them but a car seat in the back of the car. Hello? The whole point of the spaces if for people who have their kids WITH them, not who just happen to have kids, somewhere. I saw two people do this on Saturday (while shopping with DD aged 2) and it really riled me - they should know better than anyone what a struggle it can be taking kids shopping.

OP posts:
MsSparkle · 09/07/2008 19:41

I guess i just get fed up with badge holders abusing their badges where i live. They park in the most dangerous places, i know they are allowed to park on yellow lines but surely not where it's going to put other road users lives at risk?

Last week dp was trying to get through a narrow bit of town. A van was already parked in a loading bay on the other side of the road and the car that dp was behind just stopped and parked right opposite the van. This ment that only one car could get through at a time causing all sorts of coas. Dp leaned out of his window and said to the woman she couldn't park there as she was blocking the road and no one could get through. Her reply was "I can park here, i have a disabled badge." Dp said she said it in an very superier (sp?) way as if to say, how dare you question my parking when i have a disabilty

Yes badge holders can park where they want, i just wish they would think about how their parking is effecting the road.

hatrick · 09/07/2008 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

paolosgirl · 09/07/2008 19:52

Ahhhh...glad this post is here. Just got back from my local supermarket, parked in the p&t space, wrestled a reluctant toddler from the car and saw 2 other cars with no kids park in the 10 available p&t spaces (now all full) in that 5 or so minutes

Have learned over the years not to say anything, because the kind of person who does park there when they have no kids is basically a "f*ck you" kind of me-person who doesn't turn round and say "you know, you're right, I shouldn't have parked there, I'll move the car now - sorry"

Glad of that opportunity to vent my spleen - I thank you

MsSparkle · 09/07/2008 19:59

Do people really get angry when someone parks in a p&t space without children?

I might look and think "tosser" but i wouldn't get angry over it. It's only in the last 5 years or so that p&t spaces have come about so i always think, what did people do before then? Got on with it maybe?

Someone wrote in my local paper once about how an elderly lady took the last m&t space. She wrote how she had a go at this woman for parking there! Then said she had to leave the carpark and so couldn't do her shopping. Leaving the carpark and saying she couldn't do her shopping because she couldn't get a m&t spot! I mean get a life woman!

paolosgirl · 09/07/2008 20:05

Yep, I get angry. I get angry at the complete lack of consideration for others, and I get angry at the fact that despite the huge, polite notices at our supermarket reminding people that the space is parent and toddler parking and please do not abuse the facility, people stick 2 fingers up and pull in - despite the fact that there are plenty of other closer spaces. Leave the extra space for people with buggies and prams and toddlers throwing tantrums about getting strapped in.

Sparkle - don't know where you get the idea they've only been around for 5 years. I remember shopping at the supermarket when I was a student around 18 years ago, and they were there then.

youcannotbeserious · 09/07/2008 20:13

But, don't you think - to all the people who get angry about this - that you should vent your anger elsewhere?

WHat about all the illegal parking at schools or the (quite frankly shocking!) number of mums who drive thier kids without licences.

I just can't see that P&T parking is the biggest issue in the world.

chenin · 09/07/2008 20:14

I have two teen DDs and P&T spaces were certainly not around when mine were little! There was one carpark in a new shopping centre that had them at the time and they were a revelation! I used them at the time if they were available, and more often than not, they weren't.

I have to say that I find it really weird that ppl get so worked up about them... it is totally beyond me but prhaps I'm just thick! I managed with two LOs who were prone to tantrums without P&T spaces and it really wasn't that hard. You had to concentrate on getting them out the car in the right sequence but it was fine. Sorry!

I think that everyone who gets worked up about them should purposely avoid them cos it would help their blood pressure!

expatinscotland · 09/07/2008 20:16

i had never heard of these spaces until i moved here.

they don't exist in other places.

i think they're a waste.

they should be completely abolished and replaced with more disabled bays.

chenin · 09/07/2008 20:18

I also think there should be more spaces for disabled and elderly/infirm. My hardest time was trying to get my elderly parents out of a car and into somewhere... toddlers were a breeze compared to that.

expatinscotland · 09/07/2008 20:20

i agree, hellie, or, as someone suggested, put the P&T spaces at the back if you're going to have them.

and of course someone will come up and moan about how hard it is to get their arse out of a car as well as a kid or two.

yeah?

try not being able to walk, or only being able to walk with crutches or sticks with your leg stuck in a brace and you sucking breath through gritted teeth with the pain of it and tell me just how fecking hard it is to get a buggy out of a car.

hatrick · 09/07/2008 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 09/07/2008 20:23

it's hellie's idea, but i like it!

MsSparkle · 09/07/2008 20:26

Yes i can see why you would be angry at the lack of concideration but we are living in a pull the ladder up jack society nowadays.

It's the i can't live without them attitude i can't grasp. If there's none available then find a normal space. That is what parents have been doing since supermarkets began and yes, even WITH a screaming toddler in tow!

magicfarawaytree · 09/07/2008 20:27

acutally I get cross when people believe that consideration and assistance is only allowed for one group of people.

paolosgirl · 09/07/2008 20:27

Def. were available 18 years ago.

Don't care where they are - back of the car park would suit me fine. Just give me the extra aisle room. And don't care that they are not available anywhere else - irrelavant to my life in Scotland.

Oh - and yep - I vent my angry at people's lack of consideration in all areas - in a feckin' hell, teeth gritting, eye rolling kind of way, but no more. What's the point - selfish shites never change their ways.

chenin · 09/07/2008 20:27

Oh yes expat... been there and done it! I have never used a P&T space in my life and one of my DDs was always trying to do a runner! It is not difficult if you keep your wits about you. P&T spaces are a completely luxury, not a right.

But having to walk across a huge carpark with an elderly Dad who could barely put one foot in front the other (and was fiercely independent!) ... no wheelchair available.... potholes in the carpark - now that is a challence

MsSparkle · 09/07/2008 20:27

Elderly should get spaces.

paolosgirl · 09/07/2008 20:29

How old is elderly?! Some 80 year olds would thump you for suggesting they should have an elderly space - other 50 year olds would demand it!

chenin · 09/07/2008 20:30

a challenge even! Well paolo my DDs are 19 and nearly 17 and they weren't around for me! Except one new carpark in a new shopping centre. Not at supermarkets where I lived.

MsSparkle · 09/07/2008 20:30

What about the selfish shites who park illigally outside schools? I suppose there should be p&c parking there too!

MsSparkle · 09/07/2008 20:33

It's not because parents want the spaces, it's more the "I can't manage without the spaces" line that gets me. I manage fine.

paolosgirl · 09/07/2008 20:36

They were here in Edinburgh - our Somerfield must have been ahead of it's time!

The selfish shites who park illegally outside the schools are usually (here anyway) the same ones who speed, and who park in either the p&t or (far, far worse) the disabled. I'd personally like to see them lose their licence, but I acknowledge that this is an extreme view

paolosgirl · 09/07/2008 20:39

Off now - I see that someone has parked squint in the street. I'm off to give them a stern talking to

MsSparkle · 09/07/2008 20:40

"The selfish shites who park illegally outside the schools are usually (here anyway) the same ones who speed, and who park in either the p&t or (far, far worse) the disabled."

How on earth would you know this? Unless you stalked each parent? Parents from all walks of life, class etc can park outside of schools illigally. It's called being lazy!

paolosgirl · 09/07/2008 20:44

Because it's a small town and because there's only one road down to the school and because we live in a small suburb and because it's the same ones you see doing all of the selfish things.

You're either the sort of person who thinks I don;t give a shit if I park where I shouldn't or if I drive too fast down to the school - or you're not. It come's down to basic consideration for others (and the law where relevant)