Parent and Child spaces

MrSix · 17 Nov 2009 at 13:50

Following on from Booner's thread about parking I thought I'd put this out there to the OCUK massive...are there technicalities which state that you have to be under a specific age to qualify as a child to let your parent park in the bay?

Similarly to Booner, my mother and I were out shopping a few weeks ago and it was widdling down with rain - We were only popping in to Saino's for a few minutes so I forced her to park in the parent and child space as technically she's my parent and I'm her child...

Are we illegalz?

[TW]Fox · 17 Nov 2009 at 13:50

They have no legal status. They are a marketing excercise.

MrSix · 17 Nov 2009 at 13:51

Sweet...so you don't even need a child then?

Luke · 17 Nov 2009 at 13:52

It's not a legal issue, it's a perceived politeness issue.
Regardless of whether or not you agree with the provision of spaces for children or not it's obvious you don't qualify in the spirit of the scheme.

antijoke · 17 Nov 2009 at 13:56

It really @#*$'s me off when people without children park in these bays, it generally tends to be people with disabled badges who use these spaces when all the disabled spaces are taken (at my local Morrisons), as if there wonder badge gives them the god given right to park in these spaces.

:mad:

Then there are the invisible children couple, who use these spaces and then walk off to the store leaving the invisible child in the car.

:mad:

they may not have any legal grounds for enforcement but people should be courteous enough to not abuse these spaces and realise they are there to help parents get their children out of cars without causing damage to cars parked next to them.

Edit: Having reflected I can understand the reason why blue badge holders use these spaces, the red mist descended as this is something that personally annoys me and just the other day whilst visiting morrisons a young man used the last space available for P&C.

4T5 · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:00

I Always park where they have Kindly put my Initials.

MC.

Conscript · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:00

If parents are gonna **** and cry amd insist no-one parks in these spaces, then I'm gonna do the same when you come barging through busy shops with prams the size of shopping trolleys with your screaming kids bawling in my ear.

I mean, its only a politeness issue, right?

MrSix · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:01

What about disabled bays? Can I park there if I walk with a bit of a limp?

antijoke · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:02

Conscript said:
If parents are gonna **** and cry amd insist no-one parks in these spaces, then I'm gonna do the same when you come barging through busy shops with prams the size of shopping trolleys with your screaming kids bawling in my ear.

I mean, its only a politeness issue, right?

Ok sweet, I'll make sure I park next to your car in the normal spaces, just don't come crying to the forum when you find you have dents in your car.

Get it?

Rotty · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:02

For me it should be kids in pushchairs only

MikeHiow · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:03

I don't enjoy having my car bashed my elephants getting into their cars, and as such, I always park in a Parent/Child parking space when I can, usually as far away from the store as possible.

Last time I did it, a banged up old Escort pulled up behind me, with a kid that could have been no younger than about 9, and complained about me taking the space that they were entitled to, I just pointed them to the space the other side of the bollards and ignored any more comments from them.

Dr Who · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:04

I disagree, parents with children at supermarkets make everybody elses lives hell, I think its others god given right to make us struggle accross the car park so they can do a quick in and out..

But seriously, I would give my parent and child space to a disabled person as they have way more need than a parent. You go on about courtesy, I don't think it's about courtesy, it's about ability to walk longer distances. The only reason for a parent and child space is to allow the parent easier access to getting child seats etc out of the car, we have no disability preventing them us walking a bit further.

So IMHO disabled > parent/child > everyone else.

And child is technically under 18.

Conscript · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:05

anticonscience said:
Ok sweet, I'll make sure I park next to your car in the normal spaces, just don't come crying to the forum when you find you have dents in your car.

Get it?

Of course I get it. But you totally went off on one at people who park in these spaces, when I don't think it was neccessary. As it happens, I dont use the sapce, but ranting at people who do sometimes (especially as half the time in my experience. when I go to the shop, all these spaces are empty and unused anyway) seems a bit over the top.

Rotty · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:05

anticonscience said:
It really @#*$'s me off when people without children park in these bays, it generally tends to be people with disabled badges who use these spaces when all the disabled spaces are taken (at my local Morrisons), as if there wonder badge gives them the god given right to park in these spaces.

.

disagree there, disabled folks (genuine ones) are higher priority, if the disabled bays are full then they should be ok to use these, not vice versa though

Luke · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:05

These threads do tend to bring out the worst in people.

Dr Who · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:05

anticonscience said:
Ok sweet, I'll make sure I park next to your car in the normal spaces, just don't come crying to the forum when you find you have dents in your car.

Get it?

Yeah because parking space size has a bearing on your ability to open your door couteously or not...

Sorry my mistake it's brain size

IAmATeaf · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:05

Conscript said:
If parents are gonna **** and cry amd insist no-one parks in these spaces, then I'm gonna do the same when you come barging through busy shops with prams the size of shopping trolleys with your screaming kids bawling in my ear.

I mean, its only a politeness issue, right?

Here, here!

antijoke · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:05

What on earth are you going on about distances for?

drunkenmaster · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:06

anticonscience said:
It really @#*$'s me off when people without children park in these bays, it generally tends to be people with disabled badges who use these spaces when all the disabled spaces are taken (at my local Morrisons), as if there wonder badge gives them the god given right to park in these spaces.

Then there are the invisible children couple, who use these spaces and then walk off to the store leaving the invisible child in the car.

they may not have any legal grounds for enforcement but people should be courteous enough to not abuse these spaces.

Is this a joke, because you choose to have kids you should have life be more convinient and it makes you angry when disabled people use these spaces to help them out with something they didn't choose?

As the last poster said, we get to put up with kids being loud, getting in the way, being a nuisance and somehow that should qualify you for an easier time parking.

Perceived politeness was a great way to put it, theres nothing polite about letting someone with a kid park closer, theres no reason for them to be closer. You had kids, you choose it, you live with it. Disabled people have a real physical reason why parking closer is helpful, people with kids have no reason to be closer. It does my head in when people have kids then deem themselves as somehow worse off than other people, more in need than others and more expectant of help than anyone else.

4T5 · 17 Nov 2009 at 14:06

Damn straight, If you Must have kids then at least have the decency to leave them at home when you come out !!!