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?

Well I think it's totally unfair that I didn't even have a car when my 2 children were little. I had to actually, ACTUALLY walk to the supermarket and......carry the shopping home.

The depravation. Sometimes, I would look at those people with mobility scooters and think "Life is so unfair"

saslou are you a doctor???

no, she's a shamen.

bernadetteoflourdes no not judgy at all. I just don't understand why people continually expect special provision for being a parent.

You wrote "Space size differs throught car parks so I challenge you to get frisky large baby and irritable toddler in a narrow gap with a frozen shoulder and keep your sanity intact." I do understand how hard it can be; when DD2 was born she was severely disabled, was on oxygen, had an apnoea alarm as she was prone to stopping breathing when moved and was tube fed. So when she was 2.5 I had an older child, disabled DD2 and was pregnant with DD3 and suffered severe SPD; they offered me crutches or a wheelchair but I couldn't use them and push DD2s buggy so declined. We weren't allowed a Blue Badge until DD2 was 3 so I know what it's like to struggle. But you know you just adapt and get on with it. Sure, M&B spaces are a nice perk if you can get one, and of course they make life easier. But instead of demanding more M&B spaces or resenting those that have a Blue Badge, why don't people just realise that life changes when you have children and you have to adapt accordingly?

I very quickly learned that home delivery is the way to go and now avoid shopping and car parks like the plague!

Hobnobsaremyfave- as stated I do know people who have abused this system. I do not shout abuse at people in the street, so please don't judge me on your friends experience. I take everyones point that people may appear fine, who are not and I do believe that disabled spaces are necessary and important. However I also believe the same is true of P&C spaces. No, it is not the same as being disabled, but to be able to safely get children in and out of cars and have somewhere safe for them to stand is not a luxury but is necessary.I'm saying that there should be both and that they should be equally respected. To me , a childs safety is as imprtant as the wellbeing of the disabled person. The two are not mutually exclusive and if there is a choice then the disabled person should use the space set aside for them as should the parent with children

No one has said it have they? I just cant stop myself, I know its a bit corny but what the hell.....

Saslou - please feel free to pop round and pick up our blue badge, look at my big ol handsome strong looking OH and judge him, but be sure to remember to take his progressive, neurological disorder on the way out.

When I go to the supermarket I do see loads of people who dont look disabled and park in a blue badge space but if they have a blue badge they are disabled as far as I am concerned
Because I have yet to be blessed with second sight and xray vision.

I love to hear about all these people that have badges because they are old, fat, lazy or whatever. They must live in parralel universe because it wasnt that easy for us and certainly isnt for the parents of children I work with.

The sign at my local sainsbury's says you have to have a child up to the age of 12 to use a P&C space. 12! FFS why in holy hell would you need a special space to keep your NT 12 year old safe and dry.

I love a P&C space tbh, they are nice. I have yet to ever turn away and come home because I couldnt find one though. Unlike when my DD wanted a rare trip out and we couldnt park near enough or with enough room to get her w/c out. Never mind eh? Far more important that a spoilt parent with a five year old gets a good space than a terminally ill 14 year old.

FFS

pmsl at all this.
I have to admit though it's always hard to find a disabled space!!! then there's the abuse from the "older generation" for not needing the space for a child with down syndrome, heart and lung probs, mobility probs etc. Do they really need me to list his endless issues.
Should we really need to justify why children even use disabled spaces!!!
I have even left notes on police cars prked in disabled spaces saying I think it's great how the force doesn't discriminate in employing disabled people.
The one I feel a tiny bit guilty about though is when the young pregnant couple took the last disabled space and I asked them to move...to be told she needed it more than me...so I told her I hope child isn't born with as many problems as mine and that one day she really needs the space!!!
I think it's bad enough the abuse you receive without parents etc who don't need the space starting. Life is tough enough for disabled people and a disabled child means a disabled family!! I also have to say I would never take a P&C space when my child is entitled to a DISABLED space!!!!

Ok Sidge point taken and I apologise that sounds a nightmare for you. And I totally agree with you on H/D Ocado is the way forward.

Because parents with babies DON'T actually need a dedicated space, where as disabled people do?

Saslou if you aren't capable of getting your children in and out of a car safely unless you are parked in a P+C space then you have a problem ! They are not a necessity! FFS what do you do when there aren't any? Do you just give up and go home? Get a grip!

bernadette thanks, nothing personal to you. I really ought to stay off these threads as they really wind me up!!

Life is hard enough when you have a disabled child without additional aggravation over parking. I love home delivery

Che,again, do not see why these things are mutually exclusive. Of course people with genuine need should have blue badges.My point is that if disabled bays are empty then disabled people should use them rather than park in P&C spaces. Where I shop, the p&c spaces have a place away from the road so children can stand there safely while parents get babies out etc, and the disabled bays are closer to the road. I am not having a go at disabled people, just think that where there is a choice people should use the places intended for them

Che,again, do not see why these things are mutually exclusive. Of course people with genuine need should have blue badges.My point is that if disabled bays are empty then disabled people should use them rather than park in P&C spaces. Where I shop, the p&c spaces have a place away from the road so children can stand there safely while parents get babies out etc, and the disabled bays are closer to the road. I am not having a go at disabled people, just think that where there is a choice people should use the places intended for them. Agree with you that 12 is too old to need a special place

But it could be that the disabled spaces were taken when P&C spaces.

P&C spaces really do not have to be near the shop. I tend not to bother and go right to the back of the carpark where it is quieter anyway. As long as I am near a trolly park its fine. Most car parks have safe routes to the shop anyway.

I think you need to understand how difficult it is for disabled people to be constantly given the once over to check if they look disabled enough. It took ages for my OH to use his badge because he didnt want to deal with the tuts and raised eyebrows.

Another thing I find a bit odd is that P&C spaces are not supposed to be used by heavily pg women. Surely if you need a big space close to the store when you have a toddler you need it equally as a 38 week breathless pg woman?

In my local Morrisions pretty much all of the P&C spaces are taken by older people regardless of whether they have a badge or not. I can see why TBH. They must think its all a bit mad to have special spaces for healthy young parents whilst they have to shlep across a car park.

The problem is the huge number of people fradulently using these blue badges. Every time I visit a supermarket, shopping centre, restaurant etc I see disabled bays full of brand new gleaming cars, and the number of sports cars displaying a blue badge in these disabled bays is astounding. I struggle to wonder how disabled someone actually is when they're driving a top of the range aston martin for example, a car currently parked in a disabled bay in my street...

I hate playing my 'disabled card' but often have to on MN when someone talks nonsense.

We need spaces, you want spaces. Drive on you selfish fool.

Lucy - honestly? Do you think that a disability makes it impossible for a person to have a good job with enough pay to afford a decent car? Why on earth should a disability affect someone's ability to work for a living?

Obviously some disabilities will make it impossible to work, but most do not. Workplaces can very often be adapted to make it no harder for someone with a disability to work fuilltime than an able-bodied person. And many people with a disability don't need any adaptations to a reasonable modern office environment - all they need is a tiny bit of assistance with a parking space close to their work so that they can get there!

Lucysullivan, how shocking. Disabled people should only drive 20 year old cars. How very DARE they!! Work shy benefits scroungers that they are.

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.

You are not give anything. You pay for it with your DLA and usually an upfront one off fee with can be hundreds or even thousands.

But people don't like knowing that. They prefer to think it's all free so they can feel hard done by. [I NEED A ROLLY EYES SMILEY MNHQ]

"I struggle to wonder how disabled someone actually is when they're driving a top of the range aston martin for example, "

That's one of the most bizarre things I've ever heard! Why on earth shouldn't a disabled person have an Aston Martin?

Oh FGS, I wish these parent child spots were banned. It's ridiculous. And Lucysullivan, are you for real?

My dad is disabled AND OLD and shock horror he has a shiny new car, very proud of it he is too.

After reading this thread I now realise people may look at him if he uses a disabled bay and tut, thinking he's got a blue badge for being old, when in fact he's had it for a long time because of severe breathing difficulties. I would hope no-one would ever say anything though as I know he'd be really upset

Oh this is good news!
hoping to get DH a brand new Aston next year and apparently that means DS2 won't be disbled anymore
hurrah!