rant about parent spaces

[Fran1]

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.

JoolsToo

Just to point out, for me it's not about the distance to the entrance of the shop it's about the width of the space. With 3 ds's of 3 and under in the car (OK,usually only go with 2), I need to be able to bring the trolley to the side of the car to put them in one at a time so I'm not making sure one of them isn't running into the road.

It's incredibly difficult to hoik a toddler out with a narrow gap and it's impossible to get the baby seat (Rock-a-tot ones they go in as small babes) out when you are in a normal space.

All of this is even WORSE if you are pregnant and your bump makes the operation even harder!

BTW, if I go to Tesco at 9.30-10pm then yes, I'm afraid I'm a lazy git and might just park in one - there are about 15 so if they are all empty I doubt 15 people are going to suddenly arrive with their toddlers.

skate - well if its not about the distance to the shop - why not park further away where say there are two spaces together - voila! enough room to get everyone out safely. I just think in a stressed out world people are making themselves more stressed by making an issue out of this.

Because sods law says someone will come and park right up next to you!

Without hijacking the thread Jimjams-What do you mean by correctly?[confused emoticon] I have the forms & keep on putting them off. Off the orthotics tomorrow- dd may need AFOs!

Best way to fill them in "correctly" is to see the forms that have been filled in by someone with the same disability who has been successful. For example I got hold of someones appeal- where they had quoted a court case relating to autism and higher rate mobility. At the end in the any other info bit I asked them to take that court case into consideration when considering our case- we got it.... (whereas the "helpline" had told me we didn't qualify). First time I filled them in a SW gave me lots of tips about the care element- and how to avoid exclusing yourself from qualifying for higher rate etc.

@ thr AFO's- but in which case you should defintely get a blooming blue badge!

Ooh I've been on about my confrontations before. My most recent was last weekend, a very busy day but I had stupidly run out of bread and milk and pull-up nappies!

So packed ds twins (33 months) in the car and off to Tesco. There was a woman and an older man in a P&C space packing their bags in their car. Annoyed but figuring they were leaving anyway I put my indicator on only for the rude witch to say she wasn't leaving, I pointed to the sign right in front of her car and she gave that silly-me look that passes for lack of manners these days.

The reason she wasn't leaving - she wanted to gossip with her friends near by!!! I had to wait until another space freed up or else walk my boys through a very busy and full car park. As I passed by I gave her a look DH says is my "souring milk" look and said to ds twins, "When you grow up you'll have manners."

The Tesco folk weren't interested so I said they shouldn't bother having them then.

IMHO it is a lack of manners. People are so damn selfish for example the woman who pushed by my ds twins at the book club gathering in the library today just so she could sit nearer the front! Bring back good manners!

I think my Tescos has got it right. The P&B spaces are a long way from the entrance. They're next to the building, but right at the other end from the doors. So nobody parks there unless they need the extra width, as its not very convenient. But there's a trolley park there with all the different child trolleys in it so it's no problem to walk along with the children (the walk is on pavement and under cover too, not through the cars).

Although actually, I think the real solution is called Internet shopping! Oooh, I love my computer...

Quite right Lou33 - in fact, my Dad often parks away from other cars because he's got a rather nice car he doesn't want denting/scratching and he ALWAYS comes out of the shop to find someone next to him!!!

JoolsToo - OK so it is a bit about being near the shop but not from a laziness aspect, but from a safety aspect. Don't want to walk through the carpark with the 3 of them to find a trolley and then have to keep an eye on them while putting each in the trolley in turn. At this age, it is easier and SAFER to be near the trolleys and entrance.

Fruitful - you see that would suit me! I just want to be near the trolleys so I can get them in safely. Don't mind then pushing the trolley to the entrance.

OH I miss p and t parking spaces - over here they have spaces for parents with prams - no wider than a normal space but close to the doors - distance doesn't bother me but having space to get dd and soon baby out does...... So i lament the lack of 'proper' parent and toddler parking spaces....

Joolstoo,

How many small children do you have? Just asking because I am assuming its just the one otherwise I would anticipate that you might understand where Skate is coming from (the safety aspect and not wanting to traverse too much distance is a busy car park when there are little ones with no road sense to consider). If you have more than one small child then I stand corrected! - but I am curious to know all the same....