Parent/Child Parking Spaces

[Roughquest]

I never realised until today just how passionate some woman can be about dishing out verbal abuse to people parking albeit for a few moments in these designated spaces only for use by 'parent & child'. I received one such wrath today - I wasnt feeling very well and needed to pick up a prescription, so i only parked up for a moment as there was no where else to park closer so i popped my car into this space - NEVER AGAIN - the screaming banshee/fishwife from across the way hurled obscenities at me like you would not beilieve ! I was so embarrassed and annoyed at the same time - I explained that i had left my 'child' at home....and that seemed to do the trick and she never said anything else to me....sorry - yes I was wrong to park there, i hold my hands up, but there was no need for such a strong reprimand from a stranger ! I DO begrudge able-bodied people parking in disabled spaces though, now that does get me annoyed - but that is a totally different thing....why should us drivers without broods get our car doors scraped and banged as we have to park in narrow stupid spaces.

[joko]

so the pharmacy was inside the supermarket?
thats a new one!

if you feel unwell, it will affect your driving.
just because you didn't crash doesn't mean your driving was as it should be. thousands of people drinkdrive and get home in one piece, no harm done - doesn't make it ok.

if you are so unwell that you cannot walk another 20-30ft then you cannot possibly be fit to drive.

the only things that you could have that would affect your walking but not your alertness is a leg injury or arthritis or something - colds, flu, tummybugs etc affect your mental capabilities - making you sluggish and foggy headed.

what was your illness? if you don't mind divulging, may help people understand your actions...?

thing is with this woman, she has probably heard loads of people say 'i was only 5 minutes' or whatever - but everyone would say that wouldn' t they?... when they stroll back 3 hours later - they know no-one is likely to wait that long to watch.

[Roughquest]

Its no matter what my illness is - that is a personal issue - if you read my question again, you will see that i agree i should not park there, i never have before and it was the only time i have - desperate needs and all that.....but i didnt deserve the slating from the woman, it outweighed the crime in my opinion. so calm down ...1, 2, 3 and breath........i would hate to meet you lot on a dark night for sure ! LOL.

[yvette303]

hmmmmm if you were this poorly, with a recurring condition, maybe you should have parked in a disabled space as at least you fulfill some of the criteria?

[joko]

fair enough

and yes she should have approached you in a civil manner.
i suppose its a form of road rage...

i'll bet you won't be doing it again anytime soon though, eh?! lol

[Roughquest]

Yvette ?? What are you talking about dear?

[FoxLee]

Joko - what's your problem with a pharmacy being inside the supermarket? My local Tesco has its own pharmacy.

[joko]

foxlee - does it? a proper one that dispenses prescriptions, or just a chemist store?
i have never seen that before.
must just be in the really big ones.

its not really important, i had just thought it simpler if it was in the street to pull over directly outside it

[My Angel Pie]

well only last week i had to have 'words' with a so called 'disabled bay' parker at my local supermarket. like others on this site i have a child (7ys) and i no longer use 'family parking' and haven't done for a few years now (more background info!!). So i park at the end of the supermarket carpark where we have 'comfort' parking (nice big bays - lovely!) i walk past all the rows of disabled bays and i can't help checking for a badge as i scan past, low and behold a nice little 2 seater sports car Z3 BMW with a lady taking the soft top down (no badge displayed) so i ask her 'where is your badge?' she replies haven't got one, only popped in for a minute (3 full shopping bags are on front seat - so not just a minute then!!) i simply told her i was disgusted with her and that one day she deserved to have a disability to know just how precious those spaces are. She went red, looked embarassed, then her 20 something daughter got in the car with her shopping!!!agggghhhh, so then i pointed out that in france on supermarket disabled bays there is a little sign saying "take my space - take my disability" - that did the trick. You see i don't have anyone disabled to look after, but these people who park there just becaause they can't walk 50 yeards are a disgrace, shame on them. right rant over, oh that feels better.

[Pippa68]

My Waitrose has a pharmacy ~ I often nip in there for my prescription when my GP's pharmacy is closed.

I forgot to add in my last post that I was once 'told off' for parking in a parent & child space as my child is 6 years old ~ apparently this woman took exception as the spaces are supposed to be used for prams and buggies *??* I pointed out that they were parent & child spaces, not parent & baby spaces!

I like using them as my child can get out of the car and stand safely in the yellow box without some idiot roaring into a space and nearly taking her out.

I will add that I never use the spaces when I am alone.

[bednobs]

i know this is a few days old so no-one will read it now, but hey-ho!

My two cents worth, as a disabled bay user is that they should put the parent and child parking spaces a long way away from the shop. then, they wouldn't be attractive to non parent/child people, and the children coulld have all the space they wanted to open the doors etc. it would also be good for the little porkers to do some exercise (ie walking acros the carpark too)
Having children is a lifestyle choice, so i dont thinlk you should be entitled to extra consideration. In some of the shops round here the parent child spaces are closer to the shop than the disabled spaces! why is that???
As i said, put them a lot further away and the problem is solved and both sides are happy!
Ps rq i would have no problem in parking in a child parent space with my disabled badge if there wernt any disabled spaces left

[bednobs]

also joko, i dont know where you live, but i live in rural berkshore, and my nearest sainsburys, tesco and waitrose all have dispensing pharmacies in them

[Pippa68]

I think the safety aspect has to be taken into consideration, bednobs. I agree that having children is a lifestyle choice ~ but surely this doesn't mean that safety shouldn't be considered?

I have no problem with parent/child spaces being further away from disabled bays. Indeed in both my Waitrose, Sainsburys & Co-Op they are further away, There are also less spaces designated for parent/children than disabled bays..and I am sure there are probably more parent/child spaces needed than disabled bays. Again, I don't have a problem with this.

[bednobs]

well then car park designers should just design the car parks better too (in fact, they really should - im sure someone who had taken loads of acid designed my local tesco's carpark), so that it is safe to walk from one side to another

[ummmm]

And I always thought that the best plans were made after dropping acid!!!!!

[annie0000]

So,while we are on the subject, what age do you think the children should be under to qualify for a parent & child space? My two are 6 and 5 now so I never use these any more. I walk past somethimes and see people with kids that must be at least 10 parking in them. I always thought they were for people with babies or toddlers, and found them a god send when mine were little, but i feel that at over 5 they are perfectly able of walking the distance and I either have the child locks on the car or tell the kids to wait until i open the car door for them. I agree that in general, the spaces are far too narrow - I have a little narrow car, but even i find them small - Tesco far more so than Sainsburys.