To wonder why there are always more disabled spaces than mother&baby spaces in car parks?

[Feierabend]

In places like Waitrose, John Lewis, etc. Surely there are more mothers with little children out there than disabled people?

Yes indeed herbietea.
How dare you wear make up too!
I did ask someone who accosted me in a similar way if he would like to swap lungs.
He didn't say any more

'Why can't people on here accept an obsevation and different perspective without taking it as a personal insult and wishing unfortunate things on the poster??'

Well said OBB. It seems some of you just WANT to misunderstand what this is about.

Nobody says disabled people shouldn't have their spaces right next to the shop.

Nobody says that when you're disabled you shouldn't wear heels, or drive nice cars, or go shopping, or whatever else has been said.

Nobody wants to park in disabled spaces when they are not disabled themselves.

Seriously.

All I ask is, why can't shops provide more M&B spaces?

I've been on MN for a while now but it never fails to amaze me how rude people get on these threads. Would you all have shouted at me if I had raised this topic at your tea party?

I dont think people forge blue badges to get a big space at Sainsbury's. They do it to get free road parking.

You may well have someone using a blue badge who no longer needs it but they do have to be renewed so if their GP thinks they no longer need it when it expires they wont get another one.

FFS re new cars! Of course disabled people on mobility have new cars because up until recently that was the only sort you were allowed! They are leased and they are not free. To get our new one we had to find a deposit of £2000 btw. We tried to get a used car so we could save on the deposit but we were not allowed.

I am another one that remembers the dark old days with no P&C parking. We all starved for lack of door opening space and close proximity to the doors. When it rained we kept the children safely indoors less they melted away.

What is most annoying about this thread is that peoples' negative opinions seem to based entirely on misconceptions i.e. you have to look disabled to be disabled, disabled people get given brand new cars, you cant be disabled if you have a sports car (you can if you have a £10000 deposit to put down), blue badges are handed out like sweeties, everyone knows somone who has a a badge but doesnt need it (report them then, make life easier for the rest of us), blah blah.

When people who know the score refute these myths they are ignored. Far easier to imagine that being disabled is one big ol perk after another.

the title is why are there always more disabled spaces NOT why aren't there more m and b spaces

Okay I'll post another thread then with a slightly different title and see if I get any other replies

Just joking.

There are more disabled spaces because if someone is disabled they have to park nearer/ have more space.

I have 4 DCs aged 3 and under and whilst M&T parking spaces are welcome and useful they are not essenial. I can get all DCs out of the car in a normal space and I have taught my 2 and 3 year old to hold hands in car parks/ near roads and wait for me. I put the two youngest in a trolley. Itis not an easy thing to do but it can be done and should not be compared to having a disability.

Why do people sound irritated and pissed off with you? Because for you it is a frivolous little conversational piece with a shake of your curls and a waggy finger. And for others it is a daily battle against very heavy odds that will last for decades.
So go ahead. Find another amusing title.

Feira - I have to agree, I say this to DH everytime we go to our local shopping centre.

There are loads of free disabled spaces and no P&T spaces (maybe because people without kids think that they can park in P&T spaces but not in disabled??).

Anyway, when my DC's were in their travel system, if I parked in normal spaces I couldnt open the door wide enough to get DC out.

So, there IS a reason why we can't park in any space. Saying that, I don't know why P&T spaces are up to age of 12 at supermarket carparks??!!

Feieriabend

any time you want topop round and ask me this question in real life I will happily respond in exactly the same context as I have on here.Which is to say that your qustion is dim, ignorant and betrays some very odd thinking about the nature of living with disability.

I have had a disabled child and I have had three children with no disbilities. Only for one of them did I ever need a specific parking spot. The rest ofthe time it is just about covenience.

Did not say you have to look disabled to be disabled. However I do know people who use a badge and don't really need it. Disabled people who lend their badges to family and friends must take responsibility for some of the perceptions that people have.I don't want to park in disabled spaces or reduce the number of them available. I would just like for disabled adults to use them in preference to P&C spaces, if they are not with their children. People whose dc are disabled can of course use either.I have seen people ignore disabled bays to use P&C ones and I cannot see why this is. It really isn't about one or the other or resenting peoples genuine entitlement to them. Just believe that if people used the places allocated to them we would all be catered for.In the great scheme of things it is not a big deal for parents to park elsewhere but it is helpful if you have P&C

i think they should provide more spaces - at the back of the carpark

..."Because for you it is a frivolous little conversational piece with a shake of your curls and a waggy finger. And for others it is a daily battle against very heavy odds that will last for decades."...

yes Goblin. The "gosh you silly people, why so serious" shit is starting to grate just a little

Oooo, we haven't had one of these ignorant, pathetic threads in a long time!

I have to say I don't look particularly disabled, but I have never had any grief using my Blue Badge and people are usually really helpful and understanding. For that I am grateful.

However is the problem not the fact that public transport is shit, though? I'd love to get the bus, but hoiking myself up to the bus stop, standing there for ages, and then shuffling along the bus and then trekking all the way up to the shops or whatever and then all the way back would take a huge toll on me and put me back in a wheelchair. Same for the train a lot of the time. It's not very 'public' IMO.

saslou
I don't know anyone who qualifies for a disabled badge that passes it on or misuses it.
If you do, would you please report them.
Thanks

OK - holding hands up - have not read every post here but wholeheartedly support the OP.

Babies are effectively disabled.

One of my local supermarkets has a fairly scary high rise car park with 4 M&B places and 12 disabled places. Most of the disabled places are empty during the week. The M&B places are always full.

It would be fairer if some of those disabled places where shared for either family or disabled use.

FWIW I am a long time disability rights campaigner.

Feira, I am surprised at all the comments. It's not like you were saying there shouldn't be disabled parking places? Just why aren't there more P&T spaces, or more evenly distributed?

Lets just spike their tyres and make them walk home.

How about having new planning regs for car parks so all places are suitable for all types of user, like the way all toilets in terminal 5 are accessible?

Lampost - at the back of the carpark would be fine! Just as long as they are wider so I can get the car seat out without having to tip my little princess practically upside down to get her out!

I Agree with the OP as a mother of 1 year old twins, I find it really difficult to park in a normal space. They seem to be shrinking these days. I needed to get a car seat out of both sides of the car but most spaces do not allow you to open both your car doors wide enough. I do not mind having to walk to the shop so wouldnt mind if they are further away. ( i am not lazy) BUT i think the double seated trolleys and car seat trolleys should be near by....

I dont think op was saying there should not be disabled spaces BUT was saying that there should be MORE mother and baby spaces..

I'm surprised someone hasn't told you that anyone who even wonders such a thing must be thick as two planks.

Maybe they already have . . .

The only reason that I can find on this thread as to why people need p&t parking is to get a 'travel system' out of the car. What is a travel system and why is it essential?