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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be a bit irked about disabled badge holders using mum and baby spaces

230 replies

mousemole · 29/10/2008 18:05

I am not sure why I am irked because clearly having a disabled badge means you have a need to park near a supermarket. But when all the mum and child spaces are gone, and I am struggligng with baby and toddler, and see a man with a blue badge RUN from his car in the pouring rain to Sainsburys whilst I can't get a space I have to admit to feeling P*ssed off. Oh and I also dont understand why totally able bodied senior citizens feel they have the right to park in them either.
Rant over.

OP posts:
kayzisexpecting · 31/10/2008 10:17

One of the car parks near here has just got rid of disabled parking and P&T spaces. They now just have wider spaces which you can only use if you have a blue badge or a child in a pushchair. Its a trial thing as they recive lots of complaints from parents that there are too many disabled and not enough P&T spaces.

LoveBeingAMummy · 31/10/2008 10:29

Haven't read all of the threads so don't know how this has developed HOWEVER I parked in a baby space and the person in the next one was a blue badge holder and I felt a pit peeved afterall they can park anywhere why 'or' spaces. Anyway he left whilst I was getting DD out of the car and a woman came to pul in as I had y door wide open and pushchair i told he to hang a sec and moved out of the way to the back of my car and to let her park up and she got out the car and didn't have a child with her?!?!!?!?!?!?!?

Simplysally · 31/10/2008 11:08

When my dd was a baby/toddler I was very rarely able to park in a M & B space so I just got on with it, and my car had excessively long doors for some reason (hatchback). I'd rather a disabled person use the space if there is no disabled space available - my Dad holds a blue badge and he is restricted how far he can walk. I'm 40 years younger than him and quite capable of either carrying my baby or making them walk if they were old enough. Dare I mention the word reins to restrain eager children? I always understood that the spaces were a courtesy and if the rest of the carpark was full, then they could be used, unlike disabled bays.

ewwwmy2shoesarefullofblood · 31/10/2008 11:13

LoveBeingAMummy that has to be a stupid shop then.
so now disabled people won't be able to park in the bays. as they will be full of mums and can't get wet children
as for sainsburys staff parking in disabeld bays, i think i would report shop worker.

Squeezypumpkin · 31/10/2008 13:32

I am often irked by this. How many times have I been to Tesco and can't park in M&B space because someone else without baby has parked there! AAAAhhh, even to the extent where disabled spaces are free and disabled drivers park in M&B spaces. I don't park in disabled spaces out of respect, this is a two way street. It's dangerous to try to get a young baby out of/in to car where there are cars whizzing round the car park with total disregard and you can't put the pushchair by the side of the car! I could rant all day on this...and I know I wouldn't wat their disability but please use a designated space when one is available it's only fair. Oh, that feels soooo much better.

misdee · 31/10/2008 13:43

[sits on hands and ignores hormones]

TotalChaos · 31/10/2008 13:51

DH has only recently got a car - in most ways I still find it easier to go shopping on the bus than faff around with cars and trolleysd

ewwwmy2shoesarefullofblood · 31/10/2008 16:28

Squeezypumpkin

Ivegotaheadache · 31/10/2008 23:16

Babies don't melt in the rain, but if I arrived at the doors of tesco with a soaking wet 18 month old and sat him in the trolley for up to an hour while I did the shopping, I'd have to go straight back home.
I like M&T parking close to the shop and I like the wide space.
If I park in a normal space I try to park with a bit of space on the side where the car seat is but guaranteed when I get back the car that was there has moved and another car has parked in is place squeezed in tight to the door so I can't get ds in. V annoying.

Neenztwinz · 31/10/2008 23:28

Not read all this thread but think M&B spaces are essential... but its not necessary for them to be close to the store entrance. Just near where there are some trollies (so can leave DCs in the car to go get one) and with lots of space at sides so I can open the doors wide enough to get DTs out!

I wouldn't mind if there were no M&B spaces cos a disabled driver took the last one. YABU.

VinegarTits · 31/10/2008 23:30

Oh ffs sack, get back in yer box.

2shoes · 31/10/2008 23:39

who is sack???

MrsGhost · 31/10/2008 23:42

I sometimes park in the Mother and Toddler spaces when food shopping with ds who is 9.

He has a disabled badge, and if the disabled bays are full then thats where I park. But, I have kept his old badge in the car, so I put the new one right side up, and the old one photo side up so people like the OP can see he is a child.

VinegarTits · 31/10/2008 23:43

erm, i dont know sack slipped in there without me noticing, it wasnt supposed to

VinegarTits · 31/10/2008 23:45

I typed an extra word, it should have said ' oh ffs, get back in yer box'

where the feck did sack come from?

2shoespunk · 31/10/2008 23:46

I thought we were all sacked

MarmadukeScarlet · 01/11/2008 00:12

I have tried hard to keep away from this!

But today, when I parked with DS in a disabled space the elderly man sitting in the passenger seat of the next car reading his newspaper gave me the filthiest looks, stared at me for the whole time it took me to unload my DC and was mouthing something.

I grabbed my disc from the dashboard and knocked on his window and flashed it at him. He looked embarrassed and said, "Oh no problem." I was livid!

I also felt like asking him if he was the badge holder, because he stayed in the car the whole time I was shopping (Hobbycraft and TKMaxx - not a short, nor relaxing trip!)

Ivegotaheadache - I suggest you buy your 18month old a coat.

MrsGhost · 01/11/2008 00:37

Marmaduke, Oh I have so been there. The old lady that made dd cry was the final straw. How I never killed her, I'll never know. I can see what she was thinking I got out of the car and so did dd, I was getting ds wheelchair out of the boot as dd (who is lovely lass) unstrapped her brother.
The abuse the lady threw at unbeliveable. Now, I say in a quiet controlled manner, (but really close to them so ds can't hear.)
'How nice for you that you had 40 years of good health; he was born ill and will always be that way, wanna swap lives?'

MarmadukeScarlet · 01/11/2008 00:51

Yes MrsG, I may steal your line or perhaps I sould point out the life limiting consequences of DS' illness and suggest to them that they may get far more years use out of a blue badge than my DS.

Ivegotaheadache · 01/11/2008 11:33

Thanks marmaduke, I never thought of that, I'm off out to the shops now. Obviously I won't park in the mother and baby spaces.

mumnosbest · 01/11/2008 11:43

Lots of harsh comments on here! Not all 'disabled' people need to park near the supermarket, nor do all mums. Maybe spaces should just have a generic symbol for those who need to be close. I park in them 1) because it's hard getting 2 LO's safely accross a carpark and 2) because it's hard to get a baby carrier out of a normal sized space (once couldn't get back in car because couln't open doors enough!).
It's much more annoying when a van, 2 young men and a trolley of beer have taken the last space (Asda last weekend)!

madhairday · 01/11/2008 11:55

I'm well used to getting sighed at for such things. I have an 'unseen' disability yet qualify for full DLA and blue badge. I have good and bad days. On good days I may be able to run for a v short distance to the shop, but still may struggle to get round, but it won't be evident to all those judgers out there. Then the next day I can be unable to move without my dh helping. Yes the bb sytstem is abused horribly, but there are genuine cases out there, and I tell you it is a lonely place.
To the pp referring to the person going to the gym, I go to the gym and even....yikes! May go on the treadmill for a wee while. this is because my consultant has ordered exercise for me, and I follow his guidance in order to avoid a lung transplant. Please, please stop judging. You cannot always tell about someone's disability.

bronze · 01/11/2008 11:56

Stick the M&B spaces at the back of the carpark but give them a safe path to the door.
With three under 5 I dont mind where in the carpark we are as long as we can open the doors. Its the long trek through weaving cars that dont look out for pedestrians I hate.

mumnosbest · 01/11/2008 12:00

Bravo Bronze! I agree completely

2shoespunk · 01/11/2008 12:54

mumnosbest I take it you will volonteer to push dd's heavy wheelchair across the car park