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

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

yep, exactly my thoughts sasa

MrsC2010 - yes those comments are quite odd - I really just think she's been clumsy with her phrasing though (benefit of doubt)...?

So yes I was being clumsy with the title, maybe. But also it seems people like to read things into posts just so they can have a good go at the poster.

My local John Lewis has no M&B spaces at all, and all the spaces are very narrow. So I often have to reverse into a space to get in in the first place (and no I don't have a big car, and I am not a bad driver/parker either) but then I can't get the buggy out of the boot and round the car because there is no space to do so. I have really struggled, it's better now DD2 is 10 months old and in the McLaren but it was a nightmare when she was in a proper pram. And as others have said, sometimes it's impossible to open the doors wide enough to get both children out of their car seats. All I am asking is, they have about 30 or so disabled spaces in that same car park, can't they allocate some more spaces to mothers with small children and make them wider? And if they are at the far end of the car park, that's just fine.

I totally agree that parents with children who can walk well and climb into their car seats themselves i.e. are over 2 or 3 years old don't need special spaces. BUT I am looking at this from the point of view of someone with a small baby and a toddler.

lucysullivan "I think the perception is that if you're disabled and have a blue badge you're automatically 'given' a brand new, top of the range car via mobility schemes. I never see any blue badge holders in old wrecks."

Lol, you ought to see my car then. Ds has a blue badge but is not deemed eligible for high rate mobility even though it is impossible to take him on public transport. Yesterday I had to bring his car seat indoors to dry because it had got soaking wet whilst in our leaky old bucket car.

I have had to argue this point on behalf of the families I work with. Re: there is no difference between having a very young disabled child and very young non disabled child. So why should they get blue badges, special parking spaces etc.

Well you try carrying a child who is the same size and weight as a non disabled child but has virturally no muscle tone and has near constant fits. A young child will hold on to you and hold itself. Many disabled children cannot do this and the entire weight needs to be bourne by the parent. Add a bit of oxygen and/or suction equipment and THEN compare that to getting a non disabled child out of a car.

Thats why babies are NOT affectively disabled (unless they have a disability). Anyone actively involved in disability would surely recognise this?

FWIW I dont see the dire 'need' for parent and child spaces at all it seems rather precious.

What I also dont see the need for is the responses from some of you sarcastic self righteous moany hags who dont agree with someone elses point of view. Have your Bournvita and get to bed.

I think that it would be a lot simpler to go back to the days when there were no mother and baby spaces-we all managed fine and didn't even realise we needed them! They are not a right-they just make life a little easier. The disabled need the spaces.

What I cannot understand is M & B spaces which are at the farthest flung parts of the car park with no pedestrian areas nearby. For me the whole point of using one is to help keep a baby in a trolley or young toddler safe in the car park by having a safe route to and from the supermarket without dodging cars, and somewhere reasonably safe to "park" the trolley. That's the only reason I use them really. That and the fact that even the worst driver in the world would struggle to park so close as to leave you no space to open the back door.

Incidentally, I do notice how often the disabled spaces are empty at our supermarket when no one else can find a space, so I do wonder how much research goes into the size of the provision. Not that I'm saying they're not important or not needed.

Funny, there are rarely any disabled spaces available when we need them.

R.E.: Motobility...when my mum first ebcame disabled we couldn't afford to buy a big enough car to fit her wheelchair in etc, so we went with the scheme and got a whopping great Galaxy. This was back in 2001 ish, and the scheme was AWFUL then. Very expensive every month, huge excess mileage, maintenance costs etc. We stuck with it for the shortest term possible before getting out. It was sold very differently to the reality. No smart new cars for my parents any more! Apart from anything else, the cost of the electric lift for her chair (she needs it for going out on her own, her balance isn't good enough to lift heavy weights while leaning etc) is extortionate so that is the priority over the car itself.

So in no way are disabled people given anything bar the badge. And I am almost loathe to say it in case it fires people up even more...some don't have to pay road tax.

Some disabled people do have newer cars because they need the newer technology...automatics, tiptronic gearboxes, large space for lifts or ramps etc etc. So for some people going through the very expensive motobility scheme to get a car suitable for their needs is the only option for the customisations they need.

But of course, if you're disabled you should wear a cardboard sign around your neck and look suitable apologetic for even being there.

Also...there are some wealthy disabled people too!

pisces - did p&c spaces appear with compulsory car seats I wonder?

The extra width is useful is when wrangling a baby in a rear facing jobbie.

MrsC : I used to work with motability and I grant you, they weren't the cheapest of leases.

FWIW, there are some people who are allowed blue badges (previously orange ) who aren't disabled themselves, but are required to transport disabled people around. Same goes for motability motors.
However, most people who are in this position, would never abuse it.

NO THE BADGE IS FOR THE DISABLED PERSON

But their carer/driver can use it 2shoes

only if the disabeled person is in the car

Actually - come to think of it - no!
My Dad was headteacher of a (physically) disabled school and he had a badge for when he was driving the ambulance - it had his name on it - and he's most definitely not disabled.

I absolutely hasten to add that he never EVER abused this - ever - he was adamant that it would be detrimental to the access rights of disabled people.

then he must have lied to get it or it was a special on for coach/bus drivers.
a blue badge can only be used if the disabled person is in the car.
I know this as I have one OK

LOL he lied to get it - OK then

if an able bodied person has a blue badge...............

Too many posts to read, and I'm sure it's been done to death but I'll stick my tuppenceworth in anyway!

I have 3 small children and find the M+T spaces a godsend wrt not having to traipse them all across the car park (only 2 hands!), being able to lean in and get all 3 out of car seats etc

BUT my mum was disabled for years before she died. Far far far more difficult to hoist her from the car and get her into a wheelchair in any non-disabled space. in fact, got to the point where if I took her out for a treat, shopping, and there were no disabled spaces we would sometimes have to go home

The two are not comparable. Mum with 3 pre-schoolers in a normal parking space= pain in the arse. Disabled person without disabled space= can't get out of the car, let's go home

Hold on wouldn't there be a special rule for group transport for a school for disabled children - the coach or bus would have a pass and it wouldn't be allocated to one of the students, it would be a more permanent arrangement. In the headmasters name, for instance.

You can't say that sasamaxx's father is a liar and a cheat

For posters who are wondering why some disabled people have new cars... DH is disabled, and he has a new car because he has a job for a company that provides people at his level (both able-bodied and disabled) with a company car.

I had a badge for DD but I wasnt allowed to use it without her in the care even if I was doing stuff for her.

I am a bit confused about the car though. I have been told that its not right for a non disabled (not a parent) person to use the motorbility car without the disabled person in it.
This doesnt make sense to me. I have to do all the shopping, running the kids around etc because OH cant. So that would mean we would have to have two cars which would seem to be unfair as non disabled couples wouldnt be forced to do this.

Or I would have to make OH come everywhere with me like some sort of mascot instead of him having a nice rest whilst I do the supermarket/school run/everything else.

Or do we just carrying on assuming that disabled adults do not have partners and children and all that stuff.

Who works for an organisation which is transporting disabled people...

I don't like what you are insinuating - I'm afraid it is rather offensive