Disabled cars in Parent and Child spaces

[Durhamchance]

There's an argument going on on a Facebook page for my local town at the moment. A disabled lady with a tiny two seater quad car thing has parked in a parent and child space, because apparently the disabled bays were all full.

Some people are defending her actions and stating that the parent and child places are the next best thing for her, and some are saying she has no right to park there. I will point out that this particular supermarket has at least double more disabled spaces than parent and child and that her car is much smaller than an avarage hatchback.

I appreciate this may be biased as we are all mummies here, but what are your thoughts?

My personal opinion is that she has no right to park here. When the parent and child spaces are full I have to park in a normal space or come back later. I couldn't just leave my car in a disabled bay. I feel that due to the amount of disabled spaces at this supermarket, she would only have to wait 5/10 mins and one would be vacated. It gets me so cross when I can't park because other people have parked where they are not entitled to!

 

[Lyllian]

A car with two elderly ladies pulled into the last patent and child space at the Dobbies at mine on monday right in front of me so we ended up having to park miles away over two spaces (on thr Saturday someone perked so close to my cat I had to get hubby to reverse out and out lo into the car in the middle of the road bit) and walk a good distance with my baby in the freezing wind. My blood was boiling, i saw them inside and asked them if they left their kid in their car and got a bank look. If i can't park in a disabled space, they shouldn't be parking in the patent and child spaces. Is my new pet peev!!! Biggest shopping centre in Glasgow multistorey cat park has literally ten times at least the number of parent and child spaces as disabled spaces. You have to go to the top floor and take a lift to have any chance (every second floor literally has eight parent and child spaces). Last thing I want is to end up stuck in a lift with my baby. Is all wron, funny the things you don't notice until you have one!

 

[Lyllian]

Oh I'm all riled up again!!lol

 

[Becibelly]

I don't think it's ideal, however. I have 2 children (one is 3 months old), and I would rather park at the furthest end of the car park than see a disabled person struggle! It gets on my nerves when people who aren't disabled and have no children park in mother and child spaces as that's selfish! X

 

[Iwant3]

our local 'blue' supermarket is huge and has 2 really long lines of disabled bays and another load over the other side even nearer to the doors. Never in all the times I have visited even at the busiest times and near Xmas etc have all those bays been full, in fact they are usually half to 3/4 empty! Needless to say there are a quarter of the amount of parent and child bays!

When I was pregnant with my 2nd and 3rd child I was so big if I parked in a normal bay I wouldn't have been able to get out of my car or back in if someone parked that little bit too close! so if the parent and child bays were full I would park at the end of the disabled row! if someone wanted to question it they would be starting an argument, lol.

 

[MrsG81]

If someone is genuinely disabled then I would happily give up my parent parking space for them. I've got two perfectly healthy legs and can easily carry a child seat / push a pushchair from further back in the car park where there is lots of space for me to get everything out of the boot etc.

I'd actually feel really cheeky making someone who was disabled park at the back of a car park just so I could have a bit of extra space for getting my child out of the car.

 

[MrsG81]

I don't think it's ideal, however. I have 2 children (one is 3 months old), and I would rather park at the furthest end of the car park than see a disabled person struggle! It gets on my nerves when people who aren't disabled and have no children park in mother and child spaces as that's selfish! X

I totally agree and YES, that really bugs me too. If you are not disabled and don't have a child there is no reason to use those spaces.

 

[BunnyN]

I was under the impression aving a disabled badge does give you the right to park in lots of places you couldnt otherwise so I would have thought it might have given her thr legal right to park there anyway?

Morally I'd say it depends on the situation but I'm kind of with Becibelly on this one. If it is someone with true mobility problems I wouldnt want to see them stuggling across the car park or going home because there were no spaces that were suitable.

 

[Lyllian]

Just realised I sound like a right bissim when I say elderly they were about 60 and fully mobile,no disabled badge. I didn't go off on one at two old dears lol

 

[Louise2013]

As someone who has a disabled sibling who has genuine need for a blue badge, and all the extra space a disable bay allows, and also as a Mum of one nine month old, personally, I have no issue with this at all. People have babies by choice, and if getting in and out of a car in an ordinary space in a supermarket car park is of such an inconvenience to people with children, I think they need to reevaluate their priorities! Having a child is a choice and people should be able to deal with the consequences. Having a disability is NOT a choice. I would gladly get rid of all parent and child spaces if more disabled bays were needed. Parent and child spaces are a luxury, NOT a necessity and I have to say, I'm a bit flabbergasted anyone would have a problem with this..... Comparing a disabled bay with a parent and child space is actually pretty appalling, not mention insulting, too. Having a child is NOT a disability, and to even compare the needs of these two different groups is pretty shocking. I cannot fathom how anyone can genuinely feel they have a 'need' to park in parent and child space as much as a disabled person 'needs' to park in a disabled bay.

 

[Emily0505]

Getting in and out of a normal parking space with a baby is not an inconvenience but can sometimes be impossible!

I'm afraid I do get annoyed by people who park in those spaces who do not have children or who wait in the car with the children while their partner pops into the shop.

I'm not bothered about them being closer to the shop but the extra space to get lo out is necessary. Park too close to the car next door and you can't get bubba out of the car.

I am undecided on how I feel about a disabled person using a parent and child space. I think it would peev me if I'm honest after all, disabled spaces are provided.

XX

 

[Louise2013]

Getting in and out of a normal parking space with a baby is not an inconvenience but can sometimes be impossible!

I'm afraid I do get annoyed by people who park in those spaces who do not have children or who wait in the car with the children while their partner pops into the shop.

I'm not bothered about them being closer to the shop but the extra space to get lo out is necessary. Park too close to the car next door and you can't get bubba out of the car.

I am undecided on how I feel about a disabled person using a parent and child space. I think it would peev me if I'm honest after all, disabled spaces are provided.

XX

I assure you, it is far greater an inconvenience when you are unable to get your wheelchair out of the car, or in assisting a fourteen stone mobility-restricted adult out of a vehicle. Getting a baby out of a car by comparison is a positive doddle. If you find it 'impossible', yet distance is not an issue, then park in a space with no vehicle on the other side. Parent and child spaces remain a luxury and are NOT a necessity. If they were, they would be required by law, the same way disabled bays are.

Not directed at anyone personally, but I am so shocked and saddened that people here genuinely believe their own needs are greater than that of the disabled, just because they have a child.

 

[MrsG81]

Even when I went to the supermarkets around Christmas and the place was heaving, if I was willing to park at the back of the car park there were always spaces with enough space to get a pushchair in and out of. I think it is FAR easier for a person with a child to walk the longer distance to the doors of a supermarket than a disabled person.

In a large supermarket I would say it would be a rare occassion that there would be no spaces at all further back in the car park for a parent to use that would give them the space they needed.

 

[Durhamchance]

I think I need to point out that this car was a qpod (Google it!) it took up just over half the space. Had it been parked in a normal bay the doors would still open fully. It was also pointed out on Facebook that this car is actually quite difficult to get in an out of, so if this person is a blue badge holder it is not for their mobility.

and they left their dog in it!

 

[Becibelly]

Mobility does not always indicate physical issues, my oldest son has autism and can have extreme difficulties walking distances although can get in and out of a car - it's not always what the eye can see I'm afraid.

 

[Becibelly]

By the way I don't have a blue badge! Nor do I want one!

 

[Durhamchance]

Fair enough. I'm going back in the fence now having read these replies. I'm very doubtful that all of the disabled spaces were taken, but I guess if they genuinely were then I too would give up my space for them. But this car is literally so small that it doesn't need a wider space.

 

[Louise2013]

I think I need to point out that this car was a qpod (Google it!) it took up just over half the space. Had it been parked in a normal bay the doors would still open fully. It was also pointed out on Facebook that this car is actually quite difficult to get in an out of, so if this person is a blue badge holder it is not for their mobility.

and they left their dog in it!

With all due respect, The type of vehicle is irrelevant. So is the point abot the dog. It is the nature of the disability that is important and unless you know a person's full medical history, you can never judge or assume as to their reasons for needing it. Either way, it has warranted a blue badge; the reasons for which these are issued are numerous, from mobility restriction, to passenger learning disability, to epilepsy, and hearing impairment; many disabilites are hidden from the eye; I could go on. The issues are not always associated with the immediate need to get in and out of the vehicle; things like the proximity to the store, limited crossing in the pathway of carpark traffic, access to staff assistance etc. are all valid.

I am not for a single second saying people don't take advantage, because they do, and plenty of people cheat the system, but these are the minority who taint it for the majority. It warrants giving the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Emily0505]

Getting in and out of a normal parking space with a baby is not an inconvenience but can sometimes be impossible!

I'm afraid I do get annoyed by people who park in those spaces who do not have children or who wait in the car with the children while their partner pops into the shop.

I'm not bothered about them being closer to the shop but the extra space to get lo out is necessary. Park too close to the car next door and you can't get bubba out of the car.

I am undecided on how I feel about a disabled person using a parent and child space. I think it would peev me if I'm honest after all, disabled spaces are provided.

XX

I assure you, it is far greater an inconvenience when you are unable to get your wheelchair out of the car, or in assisting a fourteen stone mobility-restricted adult out of a vehicle. Getting a baby out of a car by comparison is a positive doddle. If you find it 'impossible', yet distance is not an issue, then park in a space with no vehicle on the other side. Parent and child spaces remain a luxury and are NOT a necessity. If they were, they would be required by law, the same way disabled bays are.

Not directed at anyone personally, but I am so shocked and saddened that people here genuinely believe their own needs are greater than that of the disabled, just because they have a child.

Park with no vehicle on one side, go and shop then come back and find someone has now parked next to me and I now can't get my baby back in the car!

I can assure you that I do not believe my need is greater than those of a disabled individual, quite the opposite. It would peev me if they chose p&t space over a disabled space, which I saw just a couple of weeks ago infact. However, if there are no disabled spaces and extra room is needed to get in and out of the vehicle then p&t space is the next best option.

Like you say I think there are those who take advantage, which is a shame.

My biggest bug bear is people parking in p&t and one parent sits in the car with the kids while the other goes into the shop. If you're not getting the kids out of the car then you don't need the extra room! That really does annoy me!!

XX

 

[Lyllian]

As someone who has a disabled sibling who has genuine need for a blue badge, and all the extra space a disable bay allows, and also as a Mum of one nine month old, personally, I have no issue with this at all. People have babies by choice, and if getting in and out of a car in an ordinary space in a supermarket car park is of such an inconvenience to people with children, I think they need to reevaluate their priorities! Having a child is a choice and people should be able to deal with the consequences. Having a disability is NOT a choice. I would gladly get rid of all parent and child spaces if more disabled bays were needed. Parent and child spaces are a luxury, NOT a necessity and I have to say, I'm a bit flabbergasted anyone would have a problem with this..... Comparing a disabled bay with a parent and child space is actually pretty appalling, not mention insulting, too. Having a child is NOT a disability, and to even compare the needs of these two different groups is pretty shocking. I cannot fathom how anyone can genuinely feel they have a 'need' to park in parent and child space as much as a disabled person 'needs' to park in a disabled bay.

Priorities? If my.husband hadn't been with me on Saturday I'd have to have left my lo.in her car seat in the middle of a car park, reversed onto the road bit and put her in there myself. Hardly safe. That's the reason why the spaces are wider!