Do you use parent and child spaces without children?
Discussion
I got called an inconsiderate tw@t yesterday for parking in what seemingly was the last parent and child space at a supermarket by some bloke in a people carrier who admittedly did have kids with him.
I do have a little boy but he wasn't with me I did however have the child seat in the car which kind of gives me a bit of a ticket to park there.
I do use them if I see one as they're not really a right for people with children, bit harsh being called a tw@t though!
I do have a little boy but he wasn't with me I did however have the child seat in the car which kind of gives me a bit of a ticket to park there.
I do use them if I see one as they're not really a right for people with children, bit harsh being called a tw@t though!
Here we go again...
For the record I don't use them at all any more - not even with my daughter as she's old enough to climb out of a car (and in fact will ask for someone top open her door if she's concerned about hitting the car next to us).
When she was smaller these spaces were invaluable for getting her in and out of her car seat without damaging my car or anybody else's. Having seen the benefit it's obvious as to who would use them.
IMO the OP has been informed correctly by the people with kids of his status in life, and if he has kids should know better.
For the record I don't use them at all any more - not even with my daughter as she's old enough to climb out of a car (and in fact will ask for someone top open her door if she's concerned about hitting the car next to us).
When she was smaller these spaces were invaluable for getting her in and out of her car seat without damaging my car or anybody else's. Having seen the benefit it's obvious as to who would use them.
IMO the OP has been informed correctly by the people with kids of his status in life, and if he has kids should know better.
gfunk said:
Upto what age child is acceptable to park in these bays?
It's not really an age thing, it's how much help they might need in getting strapped in safely and the requirement for the door to be opened fully while this is going on. From a tiny babe in arms, through to a toddler who can scramble up to their seat themselves - they all need the car door to opened fully to get them ready for a drive. Once all the kids on board can sort out their own seat restraints, the parent/child parking spaces aren't really needed.
jdw1234 said:
No legal reason not to use them.
There is also no legal reason to offer your seat to a pregnant lady/elderly person.
It's up to you how you act.
Notwithstanding that a mate and I parked a Ford Capri across 3 disabled bays in Sainsbury's car park once when we were teenagers (driving a Capri at the time, it just seemed the thing do do), I don't use those spaces unless my kids (1 and 4 yo) are in the car. They're usually in supermarket car parks, and manoevering a trolley load of shopping and 2 kids is tricky - you need that bit of extra room, so if someone who doesn't need the room takes those spaces, it is pretty f'ing selfish.There is also no legal reason to offer your seat to a pregnant lady/elderly person.
It's up to you how you act.
I quote you, jdw1234, because it's true, there's no legal reason not to use them. But if there had to be a law against something before you didn't do it, it would be a pretty sad place to be. After all, there's no law that says you shouldn't fart loudly in a crowded restaurant, but it would surely tell the rest of the room something about you if you did.
So, sure, it's up to you how you act, but you can expect to be judged on it. And that judgement may be made known to you quite reasonably, I think.
Lastly - get up out of your seat for pregnant ladies and the elderly unless there's a very good reason why not. It's just good manners.
EggsBenedict said:
jdw1234 said:
No legal reason not to use them.
There is also no legal reason to offer your seat to a pregnant lady/elderly person.
It's up to you how you act.
Notwithstanding that a mate and I parked a Ford Capri across 3 disabled bays in Sainsbury's car park once when we were teenagers (driving a Capri at the time, it just seemed the thing do do), I don't use those spaces unless my kids (1 and 4 yo) are in the car. They're usually in supermarket car parks, and manoevering a trolley load of shopping and 2 kids is tricky - you need that bit of extra room, so if someone who doesn't need the room takes those spaces, it is pretty f'ing selfish.There is also no legal reason to offer your seat to a pregnant lady/elderly person.
It's up to you how you act.
I quote you, jdw1234, because it's true, there's no legal reason not to use them. But if there had to be a law against something before you didn't do it, it would be a pretty sad place to be. After all, there's no law that says you shouldn't fart loudly in a crowded restaurant, but it would surely tell the rest of the room something about you if you did.
So, sure, it's up to you how you act, but you can expect to be judged on it. And that judgement may be made known to you quite reasonably, I think.
Lastly - get up out of your seat for pregnant ladies and the elderly unless there's a very good reason why not. It's just good manners.
P.S. The only way parking the Capri like that can be acceptable is if it was done using the handbrake.
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