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Using a Blue Badge

(31 Posts)
BigBertha1 Fri 21-Oct-22 15:11:59

I recently was awarded a Blue Badge as I have a degenerative spinal condition. I have used it a few times and it's a great help. Unfortunately a couple of stores I have been to (one was Waitrose) only have a small number of designated bays as does out small high street and they always seem to be full. I'm not sure where else I can park. I know someone is going to say read the manual, but I was just wondering if anyone had any parking tips. Thank you in advance.

MiniMoon Fri 21-Oct-22 15:28:07

I'm pretty sure you can use the parent and child parking bays if you are a blue badge holder. It would be worth checking with your Waitrose branch and other stores to see if its allowed.

Oopsadaisy1 Fri 21-Oct-22 15:33:05

You can park on double yellow lines with a blue badge, the badge details will tell you, or you can Google it.

MaggsMcG Fri 21-Oct-22 16:33:50

When you park on double yellow lines check for the two yellow lines across the ends of the kerb. If they are there you cannot park on any of those double yellows. Check the notices in the carparks where there are not a lot of disabled spaces, some of them allow you to park for free in the other spaces as long as you display your badge. Some of the charging car parks have a discounted fee for people with disabled badges. Best to have a read of the manual because that is the most up to date info. Just read a couple of pages at a time. My granddaughter has had one for many years as a child and now as an adult, and even she has to keep checking the manual . Just remember that no one can use it if you are not in the car. Unless they are picking you up or dropping you off.

MaggsMcG Fri 21-Oct-22 16:35:35

Oh, also there's usually a four-hour limit on parking on double yellows. Thats what your clock is for.

Charleygirl5 Fri 21-Oct-22 16:41:32

Be careful because even if a bay is marked disabled, it may not be wide enough as I found to my horror a week or so ago. This was a local council park next to an M&S Food Store.

My local hospital charges those with blue badges to park so please check if you have an appointment.

Charleygirl5 Fri 21-Oct-22 16:42:54

Please double check but I think the limit is 3 and not 4 hours and this is for everywhere.

icanhandthemback Fri 21-Oct-22 16:57:10

You can park in any of the bays with a Blue Badge, it doesn't just mean the designated bays. You can park in Resident Permit bays in a lot of areas plus on double yellow lines and wherever there are meters, quite often you can park for free too for as long as you like. I Google an area before I visit to find out what the rules are.
I think it is three hours that you can park on double yellow lines (not the no stopping yellow rlines with stripes on the kerb) but you can't do that in every city. For example, certain areas of London forbid it.

Grammaretto Fri 21-Oct-22 17:05:43

You must never park on double yellow lines.

You can park however in parking areas which are pay and display, free.

I drive MiL around and the blue badge makes a difference. Hospital carparks are impossible though as everone has a badge!

icanhandthemback Fri 21-Oct-22 17:28:27

Grammaretto

You must never park on double yellow lines.

You can park however in parking areas which are pay and display, free.

I drive MiL around and the blue badge makes a difference. Hospital carparks are impossible though as everone has a badge!

Sorry, you are wrong. You are allowed up to 3 hours on Double Yellow Lines provided you are not causing an obstruction under the Blue Badge Rules.

midgey Fri 21-Oct-22 17:31:16

Remember to always use the blue badge and the clock, I had a fine for not doing that!

nadateturbe Fri 21-Oct-22 18:10:37

You can park however in parking areas which are pay and display, free.
Only on roads. Not in car parks.

Grammaretto Fri 21-Oct-22 18:20:57

Oh dear! You are correct I canhandthemback.
I am shocked. I thought the reason we had double yellow lines was to make life safer for all road users.

I knew about the road parking only. I was thinking of road parking.
I shall leave the room now, humbly

Grayling1 Fri 21-Oct-22 18:34:49

A wee note just to say that the rules used to be different in Scotland but can't check now as returned DH's badge after he passed away. I do remember however we did not have a clock on it but was aware that English friends up on holiday did have.

icanhandthemback Fri 21-Oct-22 18:51:39

nadateturbe

^You can park however in parking areas which are pay and display, free.^
Only on roads. Not in car parks.

You can actually park in some carparks (usually Council run ones) for free but you always need to check. Sometimes you can park for free in carparks as long as your car tax class is Disabled AND you display the Blue Badge.

icanhandthemback Fri 21-Oct-22 18:53:24

Grammaretto, no need to leave, we all make mistakes. You do have to be very careful though and I think the rules about Yellow lines with Blue Badges are open to interpretation with some Traffic enforcement officers!

Blondiescot Fri 21-Oct-22 18:54:53

Grayling1

A wee note just to say that the rules used to be different in Scotland but can't check now as returned DH's badge after he passed away. I do remember however we did not have a clock on it but was aware that English friends up on holiday did have.

My inlaws have a blue badge and there's no clock on them - we are in Scotland.

Marydoll Fri 21-Oct-22 19:00:31

I was given a clock with my latest renewal a few years ago, in case I need to use my badge in England. I am in Scotland and LAs will give them out on request.

nadateturbe Fri 21-Oct-22 20:31:51

Thanks Icanhandthemback. I should have added that.

Serendipity22 Fri 21-Oct-22 20:55:28

You can park on double yellow lines providing you're not obstructing anything, you're allowed 3 hours ( according to my local council ) but NIT on double yellows where there are 2 lines off edge of the pavement.

Some places are not local council owned and so a Blue Badge does not allow free parking.

I have a Blue Badge and am pretty clued up to the do's and don't's but I dont know if each council sets different rules.

confused

BigBertha1 Fri 21-Oct-22 22:15:59

Thank you that is all very helpful xx

Teacheranne Sat 22-Oct-22 02:39:08

I am too scared to use my badge to park on double yellow lines, I think years of driving before I got my badge have indoctrinated me! I would worry all the time that I was causing an obstruction even if I thought it was fine!

I find I need to check every time I use a new car park, there are so many variations on when to pay, which spaces I can use, for how long etc.

I always check on Street Map before need to park somewhere new to see in advance what the parking is like, especially street parking in shopping/restaurant areas. Even with my badge, there are still some places I cannot go as I cannot be sure of getting close enough, I am unable to walk more than a few yards.

In fact, parking is a major anxiety for me and I get very cross with myself for over thinking things!

nadateturbe Mon 24-Oct-22 08:55:01

Teacheranne I agree, a blue badge doesn't solve parking problems completely. And it's stressful going somewhere new.
But for areas you are familiar with, if you follow the guidance and feel it's safe, what about leaving a note on the dashboard beside your blue badge stating if there is a problem please ring this mobile number. I sometimes do that.

welshchrissy Mon 24-Oct-22 09:22:42

I would always check the notice board in any car park. In the main council car park in my nearest town mold you can park for free with your badge but only if in a disabled bay otherwise you must pay. In Denbighshire you pay in the council car parks but get longer for your money if displaying a badge. Every council or supermarket seem to have their own regulations so always check

Charleygirl5 Mon 24-Oct-22 15:18:18

I agree and where I live Sainsbury's allows 2 hours of free parking for everybody and in a local Aldi, it is only 1.5 hours so one must be on the ball.