Parent and child space - disabled driver

emsywoo123

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Whilst I would never park in a disabled zone, I'm sorry to say that I'm one that doesn't give a tinker's cuss about parent and child spots, they're the same as any other space as far as I'm concerned and I have no qualms about parking in one.

Really? I assume you do not have children? You park in a parent and child space without a child?

What is wrong with a bit of common decency and acknowledging the service offered by the supermarket?

emsywoo123

Stephb1986 wrote: »

So because I've decided not to have children yet I shouldnt get to park in these spaces if I want to?? What makes parents and children better than me?? Shouldn't these spaces be called guardian and child spaces, what happens if a grandparent or aunt/uncle are minding kids shouldn't they be able to park in these spaces too??

No, you shouldn't park in these spaces if you do not have a small child. And yes of course, they are available for grannies/uncles/guardians etc!

mishkanorman

Stephb1986 wrote: »

So because I've decided not to have children yet I shouldnt get to park in these spaces if I want to?? What makes parents and children better than me?? Shouldn't these spaces be called guardian and child spaces, what happens if a grandparent or aunt/uncle are minding kids shouldn't they be able to park in these spaces too??

its not because we are 'better than you' its because generally speaking our needs are greater.

when you one day face the chore of getting a baby out of a backseat of a 2 door car you will realise why they are so coverted by us parents.

Most major supermarkets have an indication of who should be using the spaces and whilst they are called mother & baby or parent and child it does go on to qualify those with children under ....

Oldernotwiser

Person_one wrote: »

Maybe they go on their way back from the park or the library?

I would love to think so, but somehow I doubt it.;)

Brighton_belle

Stephb1986 wrote: »

I did read the OP but I didn't see anywhere where the OP said that she has special needs??? She is able bodied might sound harsh but true she is putting the child in a buggy or what ever, on the other hand if the child has special needs why doesn't the OP have a blue badge?? I agree that the woman who parked in the parent and child space was inconsiderate but it's also not a god given right that because you have a child that you should get priority parking.

The OP has only just adopted her disabled child, she is adjusting to a big change in lifestyle: yes she happily chose that, but it is still unfamiliar territry. She did not realise she might be eligible for a blue badge until posting here and some other poster kindly pointed this out, as the chid receives the higher rate DLA.
On top of this, her child has been poorly for a number of weeks.

She also did not know (as I did not) that any tickets issued by the shop can be ignored so was not prepared to park in a disabled bay as she has no blue badge.
Yes, you are correct, no one has a god given right etc etc, but in the circs, a little kind understanding goes a long way.
I never understood the whole special spaces for parents & child either, until a colleague explained how difficult it can be to get a small child out of a car seat when you can't open your door fully - really back breaking. Never questioned it since.

Oldernotwiser

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Whilst I would never park in a disabled zone, I'm sorry to say that I'm one that doesn't give a tinker's cuss about parent and child spots, they're the same as any other space as far as I'm concerned and I have no qualms about parking in one.

That makes two of us - P&C parking spaces are just a marketing tactic as far as I'm concerned.

Millionaire

I have 2 young children and whenever I go to the local supermarket I go firstly to the child/parent parking area and drive past to see if spaces are available. Mainly just for the extra space to get kids in and out and convenience of a shorter distance.

If I find none, then I just park further away, where I know not many cars are parked, and if possible there is a walkway to the shops.

No big deal and nice to get some exercise.

Personally I don't think child spaces need to be near the store.

milliebear00001

Blimey - quite an off topic set of responses here.

Seems to me there are many people on this thread who seem to think being disabled, and qualifying for a blue badge, entitles that person to be damned rude in addition.

The disabled driver had a selection of disabled spaces to park in, yet she chose to ignore those and take the only space designated parent and child. Rude and inconsiderate.

Parents with children clearly don't have needs as great as those who are disabled, but, should they have a young baby in a carry-seat, they do have needs greater than the general populace. Not because of the distance to carry, but because of the need to open the car door very wide. This is irrelevent though, to the point being made, that this particular driver - disabled or not - was ignorant and rude.

emsywoo123

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That makes two of us - P&C parking spaces are just a marketing tactic as far as I'm concerned.

So you park in them without a child?

Mupette

flutterby_lil wrote: »

No they can't - I once got a ticket for parking in a mother and baby space.

I would also get one for parking in a disabled space too.....considering I am not disabled.

you would of received an invoice, not a ticket if it was a private carpark.

Although parking spaces are provided just for BB and Parents, these are not enforceable in supermarkets.

I have a BB but i would never dream of parking in a parent space, i didnt think it fair, but the whole point is a lot of people still think that they will get a ticket, they dont they get invoices which are not enforceable in supermarket carparks.