Do you use parent and child spaces without children?
Discussion
I used a P+C space for the first time recently. Felt like a massive fraud for not having a beaten up old people carrier. But the P+C spaces at Bluewater are brilliant, ridiculous amount of space either side. I did wonder though, if I hadn't have left the kiddie seat in the back of the car would I come back to some militant mumsnet type keying the side of the car or ramming a buggy into the side of it.
Mini Lufbramatt was still in the car at this point, felt obliged to take a pic due to the novelty of being "allowed" to use the space
Mini Lufbramatt was still in the car at this point, felt obliged to take a pic due to the novelty of being "allowed" to use the space
It's a bit discourteous and selfish if you do. Until you become a parent you don't realise how helpful they are, that's not to say you couldn't live without them. We did in the 'old days'!
My local Tesco (5 P&C spaces) has reduced the age limit to below 5 and it's well signposted, so from the 2017 I won't be using them anymore and will make way for parents of younger kids that will benefit from the convenience of them.
I would never park in one without the kids irrespective of whether I had the car seat in the car or not.
My local Tesco (5 P&C spaces) has reduced the age limit to below 5 and it's well signposted, so from the 2017 I won't be using them anymore and will make way for parents of younger kids that will benefit from the convenience of them.
I would never park in one without the kids irrespective of whether I had the car seat in the car or not.
DonkeyApple said:
Sticks. said:
Both of these examples are more than enough to remind me why I do the majority of my shopping online.
Indeed. Far more logical to come face to face with a psychopath in the privacy of your own home than in a large public car park. 
lufbramatt said:
I used a P+C space for the first time recently. Felt like a massive fraud for not having a beaten up old people carrier. But the P+C spaces at Bluewater are brilliant, ridiculous amount of space either side. I did wonder though, if I hadn't have left the kiddie seat in the back of the car would I come back to some militant mumsnet type keying the side of the car or ramming a buggy into the side of it.
We had an RX-8 as the primary baby wagon for the first 2 years of MiniDruid#1's life. Very occasionally we'd get a few dirty looks which changed when you got a pushchair out from the boot (minor assembly required) and then a baby from the car....Have to be honest though I've never ever felt the need to park in the P+C spaces (apart from with the kids in tow) even when they're empty and it's late. If I was going to be that much of a t*** I'd just park in the disabled bays, they're closer.
Although with both our nearest supermarkets there are "normal" spaces that empty at night and closer than all of the P+C *and* most of the disabled...Fastdruid said:
We had an RX-8 as the primary baby wagon for the first 2 years of MiniDruid#1's life. Very occasionally we'd get a few dirty looks which changed when you got a pushchair out from the boot (minor assembly required) and then a baby from the car....
Have to be honest though I've never ever felt the need to park in the P+C spaces (apart from with the kids in tow) even when they're empty and it's late. If I was going to be that much of a t*** I'd just park in the disabled bays, they're closer. Although with both our nearest supermarkets there are "normal" spaces that empty at night and closer than all of the P+C *and* most of the disabled...
TBF the only reason I went for that space was Mrs. Lufbramatt was still recovering from an emergency C-section and it was the first time she'd been out shopping for a while. Didn't want her to have to walk miles and miles so found the closest space possible Have to be honest though I've never ever felt the need to park in the P+C spaces (apart from with the kids in tow) even when they're empty and it's late. If I was going to be that much of a t*** I'd just park in the disabled bays, they're closer.
Although with both our nearest supermarkets there are "normal" spaces that empty at night and closer than all of the P+C *and* most of the disabled... Don't think I've used one since.Moonhawk said:
Vipers said:
Our local Sainsbury's.
So it's 12 here.
Fair enough - but pretty bonkers - what parent of a 12 year old needs the additional space/convenience of a parent and child space. So it's 12 here.
Moonhawk said:
Fair enough - but pretty bonkers - what parent of a 12 year old needs the additional space/convenience of a parent and child space.
It is, but then again how many children below 12 understand how to open a car door appropriately so as not to damage a car parked next to it?Reminds me of an incident when a lady and child (12/13) in a Porsche, pulled up next to me in a homebase car park. I looked over, clocked kid, he clocked me and then bam! The little idiot opened his door slamming it against my car! Serious wtf moment.
I was driving a banger so didn't matter to me, but kids car was a Porsche ffs.
Edited by Dr Murdoch on Tuesday 28th July 16:45
Vipers said:
Moonhawk said:
Vipers said:
Our local Sainsbury's.
So it's 12 here.
Fair enough - but pretty bonkers - what parent of a 12 year old needs the additional space/convenience of a parent and child space. So it's 12 here.
https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules
Most 12 year olds can walk totally unaided though.
Edited by Hol on Tuesday 28th July 16:43
Hol said:
Vipers said:
Moonhawk said:
Vipers said:
Our local Sainsbury's.
So it's 12 here.
Fair enough - but pretty bonkers - what parent of a 12 year old needs the additional space/convenience of a parent and child space. So it's 12 here.
https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules
Most 12 year olds can walk totally unaided though.
Edited by Hol on Tuesday 28th July 16:43
Vipers said:
Hol said:
Vipers said:
Moonhawk said:
Vipers said:
Our local Sainsbury's.
So it's 12 here.
Fair enough - but pretty bonkers - what parent of a 12 year old needs the additional space/convenience of a parent and child space. So it's 12 here.
https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules
Most 12 year olds can walk totally unaided though.
Edited by Hol on Tuesday 28th July 16:43
Dr Murdoch said:
It is, but then again how many children below 12 understand how to open a car door appropriately so as not to damage a car parked next to it?
Are most under 12 incompetent morons these days.My memory may be a bit fuzzy - but i'm pretty sure I was in high school by that age and perfectly aware how to open a car door without damaging somebody else's property.
Are there any parent and car parking spaces away from Supermarkets / shopping places? Such as railway stations or public places?
If not, how do people who have children manage there? Do they drive up, find they cannot get out of their car with the minimum of effort and just drive off again? Er, ....
Or is this parent and children parking just a away to attract part of the general public who spends money, rather than wide parking bays to aide access? So perhaps the wide parking bays are not really really needed but a bit like first class on the Airbus A380 where you feel pampered?
Let's take this for an example, I saw a shortish lady offloading her toddler from the back of the Discovery the other day. All went well as she had lots of width and she took her into the store. She came out later. Put the child back into the car. Have you seen how high you have to lift a toddler into a child seat on top of the rear seat of a Discovery when you are only 5 foot 4? She did a clean and jerk to get it up there. I was impressed.
I was thinking about it then. The kid came out easily as it was "downhill" but putting it back in took over 1000 calories. What would happen if she had a Caterham? Taking the kid out would be worse as you have to lift them up, but putting them in would be simple, you just drop them in. In fact they can probably climb into it themselves. It would save 50p on the Postman Pat ride as well.
Slightly seriously, being a blue badge holder after those infernal motorcycles I once parked in the parent and child section as all the disabled spaces were taken. I put my badge up and got out only to get abuse from a woman and kid who was trollying bye. I pointed out all the disabled spaces were taken and she replied "Well that's not my fault"
This shows that people think that parent and children spaces are a hallowed space to make life better. If you think that they you are wrong, they are cost counted space to make more money for the shop. If the supermarkets could get more money from young men and could squeeze them in, rather than mums, then guess how many Parent and children spaces there would be?
Do Majestic wine have parent and child spaces?
If not, how do people who have children manage there? Do they drive up, find they cannot get out of their car with the minimum of effort and just drive off again? Er, ....
Or is this parent and children parking just a away to attract part of the general public who spends money, rather than wide parking bays to aide access? So perhaps the wide parking bays are not really really needed but a bit like first class on the Airbus A380 where you feel pampered?
Let's take this for an example, I saw a shortish lady offloading her toddler from the back of the Discovery the other day. All went well as she had lots of width and she took her into the store. She came out later. Put the child back into the car. Have you seen how high you have to lift a toddler into a child seat on top of the rear seat of a Discovery when you are only 5 foot 4? She did a clean and jerk to get it up there. I was impressed.
I was thinking about it then. The kid came out easily as it was "downhill" but putting it back in took over 1000 calories. What would happen if she had a Caterham? Taking the kid out would be worse as you have to lift them up, but putting them in would be simple, you just drop them in. In fact they can probably climb into it themselves. It would save 50p on the Postman Pat ride as well.
Slightly seriously, being a blue badge holder after those infernal motorcycles I once parked in the parent and child section as all the disabled spaces were taken. I put my badge up and got out only to get abuse from a woman and kid who was trollying bye. I pointed out all the disabled spaces were taken and she replied "Well that's not my fault"
This shows that people think that parent and children spaces are a hallowed space to make life better. If you think that they you are wrong, they are cost counted space to make more money for the shop. If the supermarkets could get more money from young men and could squeeze them in, rather than mums, then guess how many Parent and children spaces there would be?
Do Majestic wine have parent and child spaces?
Moonhawk said:
Dr Murdoch said:
It is, but then again how many children below 12 understand how to open a car door appropriately so as not to damage a car parked next to it?
Are most under 12 incompetent morons these days.My memory may be a bit fuzzy - but i'm pretty sure I was in high school by that age and perfectly aware how to open a car door without damaging somebody else's property.
Kids in cotton wool and now parents it seems.....
I read somewhere tht all these spaces were going to be scrapped as the modern British society of debt riddled self entitlement and furious masterbation over orange people who once appeared on TV just isn't ready for such a complex and advanced parking system.
All the supermarkets (which in no means ever act as a cartel) agreed to get rid of them in unison as it was costing so much time and money needing to do more than just sell copies of Closer, fizzy drinks and crisps to the mentally unstable element of their client base.
All the supermarkets (which in no means ever act as a cartel) agreed to get rid of them in unison as it was costing so much time and money needing to do more than just sell copies of Closer, fizzy drinks and crisps to the mentally unstable element of their client base.
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