Disabled car park.

No one should park in a disabled bay if they haven't got a blue badge. I would gladly give up my blue badge if I could exchange it for being able bodied and live without pain and exhaustion.

People don't always look disabled but different disabilities cause different suffering. There has been many times I have been so grateful for a disabled parking space, if you can get
one , otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get where I need to go. So if you haven't got a blue badge and you're in good health be grateful for what you've got .

Where was that picture taken Georgesgran? It’s a strange sign!

Georgesgran

AND what on Earth does this mean:-

Very odd...
Did you ask?

I am disabled,in a wheelchair and completely rely on my blue badge. They are very difficult to obtain and have to be renewed on a regular basis. I don't think people are being malicious when they park in a disabled spot. They just can't imagine what it must be like to be elderly and frail. Perhaps an advert on television might make it clearer along with a warning about the heavy fines that can be imposed.

The sign caught my eye outside Home Bargains at North Durham Retail Park - the other side of Arnison Centre, where Aldi is, for those familiar with the area.

MaizieD

^ I have parked in mother and baby slots, with permission from the supermarket, and received verbal abuse from able -bodied parents because they can't park close to the store.^

Mother and baby slots have nothing to do with disability, though. There is more [space between the parked cars to enable the adult with the child or children to get them in and out safely and to manoeuvre child seats or pushchairs.

I'd never park in a disabled space or a mother and child space.

I was once ordered to move out of a supermarket Parent & Baby space by a supermarket employee because I was clearly the grandparent and not the parent of the baby.

I used to work in a library with a small car park. When people parked in the disabled bays without a blue badge, I would sometimes put a notice on the offending car saying " you've got ny space, now would you like my disability?"

I think it's important to note that not all disabilities are visible, and just because someone may be able to get out of a car and walk, it doesn't mean they aren't entitled to a Blue Badge. My friend's daughter is 21 and visually impaired - but to look at her, you would never know. My friend is regularly challenged by people who think she has no right to park in a disabled space because of this.

If you are displaying a Blue Badge, no-one should be challenging you.

Last week, I challenged a young man on a moped, who was delivering fast food. He had abandoned his moped on the chevrons between two cars, which were parked in disabled bays.
There was no way, the owners could have opened the car doors.

I once saw an elderly couple watching me moving away from my car. They waited until they thought I couldn't see them and went up to check if I had a badge.
They won't be doing that again, for I called them out and asked if they had a problem..

Georgesgran the following should explain it. This is how the Disabled car park operates at our local hospital.

“If a car park indicates the Blue Badge scheme is not operated, it means that Blue Badge holders are not granted any special parking privileges in that car park, such as free or extended parking, or the ability to park in designated disabled bays. Instead, the car park operates under its own rules, which may or may not offer any concessions for Blue Badge holders, so it's essential to check the signs and parking regulations of the specific car park.”

Marydoll

If you are displaying a Blue Badge, no-one should be challenging you.

Last week, I challenged a young man on a moped, who was delivering fast food. He had abandoned his moped on the chevrons between two cars, which were parked in disabled bays.
There was no way, the owners could have opened the car doors.

I once saw an elderly couple watching me moving away from my car. They waited until they thought I couldn't see them and went up to check if I had a badge.
They won't be doing that again, for I called them out and asked if they had a problem..

No, they shouldn't be challenging you, but unfortunately some people seem to think that unless you actually 'look disabled' (in their eyes!) you've no right to be using a disabled space.

After coming back from long term sick leave, I was confronted by the Director of Education, who told me I wasn't disabled, when she saw me parking in a disabled bay. She stomped off, when I produced my badge.
I am very aware that all disabilities are not visible.

I’ve told this before - when very glamorous DD2 pulled into a disabled bay, before she could open her door, she was challenged by a woman passing by. DD2 made it perfectly clear that the wheelchair (visible) in the back wasn’t a f**king fashion accessory!

If you’ve ever had someone disabled in your family no way would you ever park in a disabled bay if not entitled. I would rather walk miles or give up trying to park and go home if the only empty spaces were disabled bays.

I used to live in the black country even though there where disabled bays on car parks at hospitals we still had to pay for parking even if you where going to be there all day for treatments like chemo , radiotherapy,kidney dialysis, day operations because the councils had sold the car parks to private companies. Lot of other car parks in towns where the same . So even if you have to use a disabled bay still had to pay same as everyone else. Having a disabled badge just makes life easier for disabled drivers or if it's a disabled passenger. People who have disabled children the disabled bays are better for them no matter the child's disability.

I don't look disabled sitting down but it's obvious when I lift a cup or eat and when I stand up and move . If there is only a table for 4 available in a cafe or restaurant and I sit at it I have had people should said not where I live now but when I lived 100 miles away tell me to move if there are 3 or 4 of them and that I am capable of standing to have my drink and food if there is a bar to eat at . I always refused and had abuse shouted at me . Thankfully I went to my favourite places and staff always intervened. As a lot of the time if I was having just having a cuppa which I always had in a bigger mug than the size of the drunk and cake I always asked then to cut it up for me because my hands shake all the time .

I know this started off about disabled blue badge but many on GN have a disability of some sort which effects how we have to use and get help other ways. And have been subjected to abuse because of ignorant entitled able bodied people.

As already been said not all disabilities are visible but that person is still disabled. And entitled to the same rights as anyone else . We have to fight too get what little considerations we have.

Of course no one should park in a place designated for people with disability, unless the person the badge was issued for is with them.

I, no longer drive - but still have my Blue Badge. If someone takes me anywhere in their car, then they display my blue badge when parking. Blue badges belong to the person - NOT to the car.
Without a blue badge, a disabled parking place should NOT be used.

You were able to park on the grass some distance away .

If you're not disabled then DON'T PARK IN DISABLED BAYS.

Disabled people have enough problems as it is without those capable of walking quite a distance taking up their spaces.

grannysyb That's absolutely brilliant, very well done!

As stated before, disabilities aren't always visible. My OH has Alzheimers and although relatively OK physically, is entitled to a blue badge. At first, we rarely used it, but now he has difficulty getting in and out of the car, we use it more frequently. Also, we have to travel to London by train for medical appointments, and using the blue badge in the station carpark means free parking, so obviously it gets used on those occasions.

I would like to reiterate that a blue badge belongs to a person and can be used in any car in which they are travelling.
It infuriates me to see able bodied people parking in disabled bags and I think there should be heavy fines for that.
Having said that, in our local multi story car park almost a whole floor is taken up with disabled bays and they are ALWAYS empty, while we have to drive round and round on busy days looking for a slot. I think the problem is that the disabled bays are on the ground floor but the shops are accessed from the third floor so it is actually easier for disabled people to park on the third floor rather than have to get the lift. Bad planning!

eazybee

I would never park in a disabled spot although it is infuriating when they are empty in busy carparks. I have parked in mother and baby slots, with permission from the supermarket, and received verbal abuse from able -bodied parents because they can't park close to the store. Felt no guilt about that whatsoever.

My understanding of parent & baby spaces is that they are wider to enable parents to safely get the child out of a child seat belt and/or into a buggy. That would mean the extra width is protecting other cars from scratches, as well as the safety of parent and child. Nothing to do with the able-bodied

Most of the spaces are too small as so many drive those big people carriers.

Chardy

eazybee

I would never park in a disabled spot although it is infuriating when they are empty in busy carparks. I have parked in mother and baby slots, with permission from the supermarket, and received verbal abuse from able -bodied parents because they can't park close to the store. Felt no guilt about that whatsoever.

My understanding of parent & baby spaces is that they are wider to enable parents to safely get the child out of a child seat belt and/or into a buggy. That would mean the extra width is protecting other cars from scratches, as well as the safety of parent and child. Nothing to do with the able-bodied

Yes, exactly. It's not about parking as close to the store as possible - it's to make it easier and safer to get a child out of a car seat and into a buggy. I would never park in a parent and child space either, for that reason.

M0nica

I would make one comment about the problem of being someone who on occasion gives someone who is disabled a lift to various locations. I need to use the facility of a disabled parking space, but do not have a badge.

I usually get round this by pulling up outside the venue, regardless of double yellow lines etc, helping the person out of the car then abandoning them with their walker on the pavement while I go and park where I am permitted to and then walking back to accompany them into the building. and doing the reverse procedure when we come out.

Does the person not have a badge? If they do, you can use it in your car if you’re driving them.