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Original poster

rant about parent spaces

62 replies

Fran1 · 10/10/2004 21:05

After a recent discussion here about parent parking spaces being misused, i've become more aware of whose using them (never used to take much notice, but you know what its like once you start thinking about something.)

three times in as many weeks i have witnessed them being used by childless people at mylocal supermarket and it has really wound me up now!

The first occasion, as i was walking back to my car, after putting my trolley away neatly in the trolley bay with dd in arms, i noticed a lady just walking away after dumping her trolley directly behind my car so i could not get out of space, and then got in her childless car and drove off!!! i was so fuming if i hadn't of had dd struggling to get out of my arms i would have gone and said something to her.

The following week, a man loaded his car in a parent/child space whilst i loaded mine next to him. I asked him where his children were, he arrogantly replied, i've got four at home.

And again this week, a young childless couple came speeding into the carpark, music blaring, dumped their care in a parent child space and got out.

I wouldn't mind if the car park was full and they were the only available spaces, but each time i have made a point of looking, and have been able to count at least a handful of empty spaces.

So sorry to rant, just had to get it off my chest! phew.

OP posts:
NomDePlume · 11/10/2004 20:30

I've got a 2yr old DD and I've been known to park in M&B spaces when it is just me in the car and I'm popping in. I did this because I'm a fairly new driver and parking really isn't my strong point, I've needed the extra width in order to avoid scraping someone elses vehicle!

It never bothered me hugely that others were parking in the spaces without children, but recently I've noticed that a few doing it when there is only one M&B space left and I'm behind them with DD in the car . Fickle I know, but I've been making a conscious effort to park in the normal spaces when I'm minus DD.

Not only has it sharpened up my parking no end, but I no longer lurk in fear of a parent shouting at me in the car park !!!

EvesMama · 11/10/2004 20:33

your only human hun!

NomDePlume · 11/10/2004 20:36

feel like I've cleansed my soul now !!!

zubb · 12/10/2004 20:14

came across this today - was leaving waitrose at 4ish, it was pouring with rain, and quite busy with the after school shoppers. A woman parked in one of the last few P&B spaces with no kids, so I waited for her to get out of the car, wound down my window, and after she'd taken a few steps shouted 'I think you've forgotten your child'. She turned round as did loads of other shoppers, but then turned back and carried on walking to the shop. Felt good though

Jimjams · 12/10/2004 20:54

childmindersam- not sure about the answer to your question but I actually find it harder to find a free disabled space than a free P and T space. (although my local supermarkets do have more than 5 P and T's). Mind you the disabled spaces are usually full of white van men.

misdee · 12/10/2004 21:01

same here jimjams. tho we find that if we pop to tescos after picking dd1 up early in teh week (3.30pm) we can usually get a space close to the store entrance.

Hulababy · 12/10/2004 21:05

I can also honestly say that I have never parked in a parent and child parking space, when I haven't had my 2yo DD with me. I would never dream of it, honestly.

TBH now that DD is older and less of a struggle, as she can get in and our of seat herself, can walk competently and doesn't run off, I don't use them so much now at all.

Just want to be brave enough to say something to those who do - but I doubt I ever will get that much courage

Hulababy · 12/10/2004 21:06

Evesmama - not all two seaters mean no child BTW, sporty or otherwise.

paolosgirl · 12/10/2004 21:09

Acnebride, we've been seperated at birth! I loved your posting!! I once told my friend - in all seriousness - that rules are there to be followed or else society crumbles. What was I on??!

Dingle · 12/10/2004 21:16

It is a sore point for me!! No I have never parked in a M & T unless I have the children with me. I find that I am usually inclined to park as far away from the shops as possible in the hope that other drivers don't park so close that I can't get dd in the car. She is nearly 3 & has DS.We don't qualify for a disabled bagde and the chances of actually finding a M & T is non existent at times.
Even though I parked in the farthest car cark at our local centre the other day & there were loads of empty bays all around, some idiot parked so close I could hardly open the door, let alone get dd in and belted! I was forced to unload the shopping off the buggy, get dd in the other side & get ds(who is only 5) to hold her until I could lean across to put her belt on.

jenkel · 12/10/2004 21:25

ooohhh, this gets me so mad. I have never parked in a parent and baby space without a baby, just like I have never parked in a disabled space. I now have 2 under 26 months and you need the extra width both sides to be able to open the doors wide enough to get my two dds out, espeically as one is in the car seat thingy that you take out. And the other day, I was totally gobsmaked when I seen a police car park in a parent and baby space and 2 police officers get out and go into tescos. I shouted out the window to them but they didnt hear me so i stuck a note on their car. And it does make me mad when old people park in the spaces, they have their own spaces and if there is no space available they have to park like the rest of us do. Ok, rant over now, feel a bit better

paolosgirl · 12/10/2004 21:29

I would never, ever park in either a disabled space or P&T space. There is no excuse - ever. It shows a complete lack of consideration for others. To those of you who do park in the spaces when you shouldn't, shame on you. And I make no apologies whatsoever for my rant.

jampot · 12/10/2004 21:33

So if you wanted to use the cash machine at a supermarket late at night where would you park

(a) customer collections only
(b) P&T
(c) Disabled
(d) Proper parking spaces?

JoolsToo · 12/10/2004 21:37

how well I remember the days when my dd was little - off we went to the supermarket ON THE BUS - tootled round the supermarket and then sat at the bus stop for an age then back on the bus with dd, trolley (thats what they were called in those days) and shopping. Oh, and when it rained we didn't melt. Is it really that much of a problem if you have to walk a couple hundred yards extra - really? (no - I never park in M&T spots)

I'm putting up the shield now - HELP!

paolosgirl · 12/10/2004 21:38

Normal spaces - always. Our local supermarket is 24 hrs - disabled drivers have the right to park in one of their spaces 24 hrs too

harrassedmum · 12/10/2004 21:43

It gets us hugely cross as well, even those who have children but are easily old enough to walk. Its when they are young and you have fiddle with car seats that you need the space. We have never parked in a P+C soace when we've not had the kids with us, or a disabled space. Wish i was brave enough to say something. Will have to get dp to do it, he's good at that sort of thing.

Branster · 12/10/2004 21:47

lol JoolsToo
I sometimes come across some of your messages and think 'this lady is so sensible and never gets bothered about the small stuff!'!

joanneg · 12/10/2004 21:50

The only reason that I use mother/baby spaces is because I dont want to ding peoples cars when having my car door flung wide open trying to get ds out of his car seat (dont have doors in the back of my car so have to lean through the front).

At least with the mother baby spaces there is extra space to allow for this.

lou33 · 12/10/2004 21:52

Drop off point or normal space

jenkel · 12/10/2004 22:47

no its not a problem joolstoo, its not the walking that bothers me, its trying to squeeze between parked cars to get dds out of my car without cliping somebodies car and then you see a man in a white van park in the p & t space. If supermarkets didnt have them it would be fine, its the fact that people misue them. See, I told you this gets me wound up. There, I'm finished now lol

Original poster
Fran1 · 12/10/2004 23:04

Glad to see i'm not the only one!!

The most frustrating thing of all - is that i never used to particularly care or notice what went on in P&T spaces, and would only park in them if i hadn't already found a space elsewhere, but since the previous discussion on mumsnet, its put a bee in my bonnet about it, and i'm like the P&T police now - and i really don't want to be!!!

so apologies if this discussion brings on similar symptoms in other previously carefree mumsnetters.

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 12/10/2004 23:26

@ Branster

Aero · 12/10/2004 23:31

Personally, I'd be more than happy to walk right across the car park if the P&T spaces were there. Getting them in and out of the carseat is a real pain! I suspect though, if I did park at the other end of the car park, as far away from the door as possible, I'd have fewer problems as no-one ever parks there unless they have to!!

wizzysmum · 12/10/2004 23:43

Once when I was much younger and much braver (and probably had a much cheaper car in case anyonev took revenge) I left a dirty nappy on a car bonnet in sainsbury's Bromley. Have since moved. Would never park in a parent space without my baby. The worst are other parents out without their kids - they know how hard it can be for the rest of us. Have also once followed someone into Tesco and asked staff to tell him to move, and also emailed their head office when i saw a young male staff member in uniform parking in parent bay. Dh says I need to lighten up before I lose it...

Jimjams · 13/10/2004 09:46

Dingle- when she's 3 reapply- bet you would qualify for higher rate care and mobility (if you fill in the blasted form "correctly") I wish I'd applied for mobility earlier as I reckon I needed it for about a year before I received it. The blue badge has made a difference at times.