Gransnet forums

AIBU

To stop the traffic at the station this morning ?

(92 Posts)
GrannyTwice Wed 18-Mar-15 08:15:21

I clearly live in a very disadvantaged part of the country (Surrey ) since you ask. The adult literacy rates of the rail station users is appalling. A great many of them cannot read and understand 'this parking space for the use of blue badge holders only'. They appear to misread it as 'a very useful space if you want to wait to pick someone up, pop in to buy your rail ticket or get train information'. When I arrived at the station this morning all bb spaces were occupied and only one had a bb. So I parked my car in the middle of the road blocking the exit from the station, went into the ticket hall and asked very loudly whose cars were parked outside in the bb spaces without a badge. Meanwhile taxi drivers etc were tooting their horns ( they are one of the serial offenders). After a while an embarrassed looking man went to move one of the cars. I offered him literacy lessons but did point out that if he couldn't read, maybe he shouldn't be driving and that he certainly should be able to understand symbols. Apologies to those of you who perceive this as a 'poor me' post - I nearly felt sorry for the --uneducated selfish git--poor bloke. I will now await a wealth of posts about misuse of blue badges. Direct action is very empowering I have to say.

ginny Thu 19-Mar-15 09:28:03

What you did this morning was correct and hopefully it will make those people think. When my Dad was alive and had a BB there were several occasions when I parked behind a non BB car parked in a disabled space and blocked them in. However I must agree that on the first day you may have caused problems for a number of people who had nothing to do with the situation.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 19-Mar-15 09:25:35

"...one of them clearly just saw old lady with stick..."

My God! If only he knew!!!

grin

Well done GT. Hope it works.

nightowl Thu 19-Mar-15 09:20:10

You're right petallus there might be very serious consequences for someone missing a train, more than just being late for work. Someone could miss a job interview, lose their job, miss a flight, miss a hospital appontment or treatment, fail to get to the bedside of a loved one who is dying. Sometimes one person's inconvenience is another person's disaster. Perhaps we should not allow those who behave badly to become our teachers.

petallus Thu 19-Mar-15 09:09:30

Fair enough!

GrannyTwice Thu 19-Mar-15 08:52:31

Well I don't give a fuck because I'm one of the innocent people in danger of mussing her train.

soontobe Thu 19-Mar-15 08:50:28

Go GT!

petallus Thu 19-Mar-15 08:31:30

I know from my own experience how annoying it is when all the BB spaces are filled by non BB cars.

However, I would hesitate to punish innocent people for the inconsideration of others. Might be serious consequences for some in missing a train.

Of course, Grannytwice you might not give a fuck!

thatbags Thu 19-Mar-15 08:22:24

Well done again, GT. Wish I was there to join in. Blimmin' toerags!

GrannyTwice Thu 19-Mar-15 08:16:41

Ok - part two. One space left this morning - other two spaces taken by station taxis whilst drivers had coffee outside kiosk. Went up to them and explained that they should move. Went to ticket office to complain and buy ticket. Have got official form to complain but he said he would tell the station manager ( who of course is never at the station) and even have a word with BT police. I then went outside several minutes later and they were still there drinking their coffee, I took several photos, told them that I was taking this further - one of them clearly just saw old lady with stick and said 'I can do what I like'
Have now emailed photos and covering letter to local paper and am now going to forward it to my local councillors one of whom is on the taxi licensing committee.
I'm not holding my breath but it's helped pass the train journey! But wtf should I have to do any of this. If only one of the gawpers whilst this was going on had stepped forward and said do what the lady says move your taxi
<sighs>

Nelliemoser Thu 19-Mar-15 07:36:20

At one time my work manager was in charge of appeals about blue badges . One appeal from a parent was that his 11 yr old son was very deaf (no significant mobility issues.)

His father was arguing that because the lad could not hear traffic he would be particularly at risk when trying to cross a busy road and needed a BB so he could park near to where he was trying to get to.
This was an interesting question.

IMO that boy in particular needed to learn a lot of extra skills for crossing roads with his lack of hearing and his parents should be teaching him these skills regularly not trying to protect him from the situation. If this was not done that child would have been even more at risk when trying to leading an independent life. I never did find out the outcome of that one but I would have refused.

There is a trade in stolen BBs.

thatbags Thu 19-Mar-15 06:56:49

You are describing the case of someone who is a disabled parking badge holder staying in the car so that whoever is with them in the car, but who is not disabled, can cheat. In such a scenario the disabled person is cheating too. This puts other, noncheating disabled people in a bad light and reduces people's 'faith' in those blue badges. Any disabled person who cheats like this is not helping herself or any others.

I expect would like to think such happenings are rare.

Nelliemoser Wed 18-Mar-15 23:18:00

Jingle Dream on! What planet are you on! grin
It needs more than a few complaints to the" relevant people "to change this situation. There will always be someone who will try it on by parking in a disabled parking space if there's a gap, s its only "just for a moment" because they CBA to walk a little way to get to where they want to be.

Quite often you see drivers in Disabled parking spaces who leave the badge holder in the car when they go into a shop or such and that is a misuse of the terms of holding a BB.

There needs to be more serious consequences for those who misuse disabled parking spaces.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 18-Mar-15 20:33:21

Yes. But! If you "put the effort in" by complaining to the relevant people, you might get the situation resolved permanently, and that would benefit other BB holders as well as you.

amarmai wtf confused

amarmai Wed 18-Mar-15 20:26:32

the whole human race does not intentionally break posted rules and regs- only a small % . Maybe 1% ?? Any guesses as to the %?

rosequartz Wed 18-Mar-15 20:11:23

We get people parking very inconsiderately near us - we were told by the police NOT to put even a polite notice under their windscreen wipers (let alone a sticky one) or else we would be the ones in trouble!
At least one of them was embarrassed to move his car, GT - when I have politely asked people not to park in a place which makes it awkward for other road users to get past, I have had a mouthful (from school mothers in a not very disadvantaged area).

It is amazing, though, the number of people who seem to be able to drive, hold down a job but not be able to read and are oblivious to other road users.

Crow Wed 18-Mar-15 19:49:07

Well done GrannyTwice I admire your courage.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 18-Mar-15 19:38:45

Oh no. It's the other one.

You could still tell me though.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 18-Mar-15 19:36:56

that was this thread wasn't it? confused

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 18-Mar-15 19:36:23

Yes, but what does that string of letters mean? Go on. Tell me!

GrannyTwice Wed 18-Mar-15 19:33:04

Not unremovable - hard to remove - bit like a car wrongly parked

GrannyTwice Wed 18-Mar-15 19:31:53

Well jings I certainly despise those who park in bb spaces without a bb. Just why the fuck should I have to put in all the effort to get other people to behave like decent human beings? Stopping the traffic this morning was quick and effective - will do the same tomorrow if necessary. As for the literacy comment - oh come on- sarcasm!! As for direct action being dangerous - dahling this is Surrey! Lots of people not wanting to meet my gaze, embarrassed shuffling... No bravery needed just brass neck but then I'm a northerner

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 18-Mar-15 19:31:29

Plastering a windscreen with un-removeable adhesive?

JessM Wed 18-Mar-15 18:54:57

Criminal damage feetlbaum ???

harrigran Wed 18-Mar-15 18:32:03

It is quite risky to confront people like this, in parts of my city you would be lucky to get away with just a few profanities.

Nelliemoser Wed 18-Mar-15 18:25:41

GrannyTwice Well done that woman! I don't blame you at all.
You have a badge you can display so you have the right to park in these spaces.

Given the circumstances I think resorting to direct action is the only way of making people get this parking message. Wouldn't it be good if it got into your local paper!

Other disabled people should try this when their rights to disabled access are overidden by the lazy and selfish.

My local MP has been observed parking in a disabled car parking space while she was attending a function at a local school. There were plenty of spaces available on the site but not many at the front door.

No names no pack drill but it was in Cheshire East.