Do you regularly park in disabled bays?

spoffle said:
In supermarket car parks, disabled bays aren't illegal to park in if the council doesn't manage the car park. So in such a situation there is no legal recourse to doing so.

So no they aren't set in law either. Legal doesn't mean morally right age illegal doesn't mean morally wrong.
Click to expand...

Yup, I had an operation on my knee which made walking difficult for a few days after... I didn't need to go to a supermarket at the time but in that situation again I'd happily use a disabled bay without having a blue badge for those few days. I did use a special disabled lift at the office for a week - partly because no one had ever used the thing.
 
I knew a student that would pull out a blue badge and put on the dash of his pimped out BMW. He said it was his grandfathers. 3 years of free parking which is funny as the lecturers often had to go out to top up their parking ticket on a daily basis.
 
Never parked in a disabled space as im not disabled. Park in P&C spaces from time to time when I have my little ones with me. To be fair I get quite annoyed with people parking where they should'nt and have had more than one argument with a random over it.
 
Reminds me of the time I was in town and this car pulls up with a big (fat bodybuilder type with 90's horrible fading tattoos but put a vest on anyway so the ladies can 'admire' him) fella casually threw the blue badge on the dash board and got out - totally able bodied - he then went into Greggs for a pie and a casual walk around town - he eventually returned and drove off (so he wasn't collecting his disabled parent/partner....)
Now that **** makes my blood boil as I'm thinking this low-life actually is claiming to be disabled wtf...
 
dowie said:
Out if interest what non-physical impairments would require a blue badge?
Click to expand...

Non physical?

So all physical issues are obvious to an untrained observer who has seen someone probably for only a few seconds?
Some of the "unseen" conditions can include various arthritis types, joint issues, sight issues, heart conditions, various other organ problems. There are probably as many issues that aren't immediately visible that limit people's mobility than ones that are visible to a random person.

To get a blue badge (legally) these days tends to require you either pass an assessment by your local issuing authority (with your GP's back up usually), receive the mobility component of DLA or PIP, or a similar benefit.
For example if you end up in a lot of pain walking, but a stick/wheelchair doesn't help* (or you're too stubborn to use a wheelchair), it probably won't be obvious to people that the reason you've got a blue badge is because of the pain/issues with mobility.

I would say that if anyone sees someone who is obviously abusing a badge, for example using one that isn't theirs when the owner is not in the car then there are numbers to ring - abuse of the blue badge system is taken increasingly seriously, especially as a lot of it is with stolen badges (at least since they increased the security of them to the point where it's actually hard to copy/make them).

But please don't make the mistake of assuming that just because someone isn't on crutches/in a wheelchair/obviously at deaths door they're not valid users.



*There are various conditions where you may not be able to self propel, and a stick wouldn't help much but you can still manage if you can put up with the pain.
 
Yes, but I am a Blue Badge holder :)

It does annoy me to see non Blue Badge holders using disabled bays because it makes me think 'do you want the rest of my disability too?' Think not!

Seems Sainsurys allows it's night staff to use the BB spaces, fair enough as there are always plenty. The bays near my office which I have to visit sometimes (I work from home but occasionally need to visit the office) are generally spare, but there was once a big lorry taking up the three car space, annoying. I feel bad parking in standard spaces because I feel like I am taking up someone else's room when I have 'special' parking.

I'm not a wheelchair user but think I fall into the category of 'looking' disabled, so never been challenged like some people I know, although I have noticed people do look at the car and the badge like they aren't compatible (2 seater sports thing), funny when the badge is in the Volvo, the same looks don't happen :)
 
The main criteria if you aren't on Higher Level DLA is walking a certain distance, but there can be special circumstances such as needing to get to the car in a hurry for anxiety reasons or for medication etc that would mean you can walk fine and don't 'look disabled'. I think it's automatic if you are on higher level DLA so there must be some disabilities which would make people appear able bodied from afar, even false limbs etc.
 
Last edited:
sports_brah said:
Oh and come across a sanctimonious ****.
Click to expand...
As opposed to what? A joyless, fun eater who is only able to take things in a literal sense?

If you thought I condoned the death penalty for anything (let alone parking in a parent and child space) then you're very much mistaken. And I would have said 'just cut off their hand' but then they would probably get the benefit of a disabled parking bay!

As for 'sanctimonious' I'd say my moral views reflect the majority in this thread, which is basically don't be a ****, just park in a normal space and suck it up sunshine! I'm sure a grown adult and their mummy can walk 100 yards to the entrance of a supermarket rather than use a space reserved for those with kids under the age of 35.
 
Last edited:
dowie said:
I use the disabled loo at work as it's closer to my desk - does that count?
Click to expand...

I just go to the normal loo as it's only 5M further away from my office, but I do see scores of able bodied people using the disabled one. Staff have actually told me that I can use it due to being registered partially sighted and partially hearing, but in principle I still don't use it.
 
Pawnless Endgame said:
I just go to the normal loo as it's only 5M further away from my office, but I do see scores of able bodied people using the disabled one. Staff have actually told me that I can use it due to being registered partially sighted and partially hearing, but in principle I still don't use it.
Click to expand...

why not?
 
I park in them all the time....I have a blue badge though. lol
On the other side of it...I have been questioned many times by nosey people asking (accusingly)why I am parking in a disabled bay, and asking why I have a blue badge....
People should mind their own business.
One old man stopped my car and shouted at me once...SO I showed him my many operation scars on my foot and told him to **** off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom