To be annoyed that I get glared at for having a blue badge

I’m not sure it is envy, in my experience it is people entitled to use the spaces who challenge others. As said, it is utterly batshit behaviour . They appoint themselves as parking space police and run around challenging randoms who use them. Without understanding anyone can have a hidden disability, or anyone can be collecting a child.

Disabled people who qualify SHOULD claim benefits. PIP is designed to alleviate some of the difficulties faced by those with disabilities which helps both the individual and society.

I know they do. They shouldn't though and I agree with your post. I don't know why they do it

It’s my child’s bb. Neither of us look ancient or disabled.

Ahhh I am so sorry you experienced that . A year ago I was pumped full of steroids and ballooned to the point I couldn't recognise myself.

I used to get abuse screamed at me by random strangers. It's utterly grim. I feel for you.

And yes to the assumption everyone who is disabled is on benefits. I see that on Mumsnet quite a lot. Not that it is shameful to be on benefits but I wish people would realise that plenty of disabled people work

Are people really suggesting that those challenging others’ blue badges are doing it out of kind concern for the proper use of spaces by disabled people?!

That almost made me laugh. They don’t care that you have the disabled parking spaces you need. They are dicks who are resentful and envious that you have something they don’t! And they are idiots for not realising that they are being jealous of a disability 🙄🤯

I have zero experience of having a blue badge but I assume those who use the spaces largely are entitled to them (some idiots will always abuse the spaces of course) . I don’t look at people to see how disabled they are. What the hell is wrong with people??!

I would be so pissed off if challenged. No way would I smile benignly at them.

What age were you when you got your blue badge?

I think we must be very lucky. Nobody has ever challenged us like this.

@Zebedee999 · Yesterday 20:49

YABU.

OP I don't see your issue. My elderly mother has a blue badge and gets frustrated when the disabled space she uses is occupied by someone not entitled to it. Then when challenged she gets the usual "I was only 5 minutes" "I was in a rush" "Didn't know it was a disabled space" etc etc.

People care that these spaces are only used by those deserving of them, they have your interest at heart. Why not just show them you are justified to use the space and be grateful some people care?

People demanding to see young peoples blue badges - and it IS always young people targeted - is NOT the same as people confronting someone using a disabled space without a blue badge.

Your scenario with your elderly mother is not remotely the same as the OP's dilemma, and that of many people like her, who are poked at and bullied for being a YOUNGER person with a blue badge!

Some folks do though, I was challenged on using a parent and child space when I parked up to get my child from nursery, the woman was hovering and came sceeeching over to tell me I couldn’t park there, all aggressive and righteous, she slunk away when she saw the child seat and I said I was picking up, did the walk of shame.

some people are just really fucking weird. They do stuff like that. Makes you wonder what’s wrong with them. Everyone knows anyone can be collecting a child, man or woman, whatever age, and everyone can have. a disability. And it’s not always visible nor is it age related.

honestly if anyone is out there making like they work for the council or the supermarket, monitoring usage, then they need to stop, get a job or volunteer, as it’s cringe worthy crazy ass behavuour,

Ignore them. Why should you care about strangers' opinions. You've got the badge, you're entitled. End of story.

In my experience older people are no more or less likely to be dickheads about blue badges or disability in general than anyone else- but there is a general perception that elderly = ill/disabled/impaired in some way, and young and ‘normal’ looking= healthy.

I met 3 people at an event yesterday that I haven’t met in person before and they all did a double take when I rolled up in my chair (one even managed to do it twice in 10 minutes)- despite the fact that they have been told repeatedly that I’m disabled and a wheelchair user.

It got to the point I asked a photographer if my lipstick/clothes looked weird because I wondered if that was causing the reaction… nope, not that, so presumably just the ‘oh, she is actually disabled’ thing again.

I get more looks etc from middle aged ish people who are accompanying elderly people- they presume their mum is more in need of a bb space etc than 37 year old me.

My wife is my carer and she also finds that people sometimes don’t take her status as such seriously when they hear she cares for someone her age as opposed to an elderly person.

@PenguinCounter · Today 00:50

Why does it annoy you? Do people who know you doubt the extent of your illness or something?

My colleague is 25 and has a blue badge because of a heart condition. She looks like any other healthy 25 year old. We've been questioned before and she's just smiled and said "yes, it's my blue badge. I have a heart condition". That's it. Conversation over.

Sometimes people have gone to my car to look at the badge as we've continued walking but not in an aggressive or confrontational way. They just seem to want to satisfy themselves that she's telling the truth. It doesn't bother her. It wouldn't bother me if it was mine.

Bless that sweet summer child's soul. Smiling at the nosey intrusive stickybeaks. Wait til she is about 40, and has had this shit for 15+ years, being questioned over and over again as to why she is in a blue badge space. I bet she won't be smiling and explaining herself then. And do you seriously think all these nosey fuckers are going to be happy with her explanation? This kind of person who DEMANDS to know why she is in the blue badge space won't believe her!

Anyone who waltzed over to me and demanded to look at MY blue badge - if I had one, to 'satisfy themselves that I am telling the truth' would get such a loud 'FUCK RIGHT OFF NOW!' from me, that there would be a sonic boom overhead. Who the HELL do some people think they are?!

OP doesn’t owe anyone an explanation.
People aren’t asking because they care. People are asking because they are being confrontational and ignorant.

If someone came over to you and your mum and questioned why you’re parked there, you would be completely shocked and offended.

They don't need a swipe card. They have a BLUE BADGE. It's displayed on their dashboard. That is all that is needed. Its not up to the challanger to challange this.

Yeah but it's not their job to police the spaces is it.

You'll harden to it op. I've had my blue badge a few years now and I just completely blank people who approach me to comment. I've had it all over the years. Best one was recently where I was shouted at that" being fat isn't classified as a disability". I've been pumped with high dose steroids to save my eyesight (I have MS) last month and yes I'm looking puffy and bloated. Did my confidence the world of good. My dh did actually confront this person who then called us scroungers, both of us work. And I'll probably have to retire early which I'm very upset about. These people are just ignorant fools honestly x

But people only do this - park there 'just for a minute' - when they have NO BLUE BADGE. Why are certain people questioning people who DO have a blue badge, tutting and huffing and puffing because they are young people with a blue badge, and in some cases, even telling them to show them the photograph on the blue badge. Your argument doesn't stand up.

Why does it annoy you?

Because it’s no one’s business to measure disabled people’s right to go about their life.

We don’t owe anyone an explanation of our disability, why we are there, what we are doing, why we are doing it, when we will stop doing it or why we can’t do it somewhere else or a different time where we won’t inconvenience normal people.

People need to fuck off and mind their own business- and no, we don’t need able bodied people to police bb parking for us either. It isn’t doing us a favour, it’s patronising and infantilising.

Sometimes people have gone to my car to look at the badge

Then they are ignorant- a bb is displayed photo down so looking at it through the windscreen doesn’t tell you who it belongs to.

It doesn't bother her

She isn’t all disabled people, and since you have said she looks like any other non disabled person she probably isn’t being ground down by constant ableism and harassment.

Nor me. I also have a blue badge, and I’m older. Disability isn’t age related, although generally the older we get the more likely we are to have mobility issues. I get really irritated by people who park in spaces assigned for blue badge holders who don’t display a badge. In a row of six cars at the supermarket yesterday, half weren’t displaying blue badges. I never considered using these spaces before I got my badge, just as I never sat in priority/accessible seats on public transport,

Absolutely.

I can empathise completely, people can be so ignorant, just ignore them, you are displaying the BB, which you are entitled to use.

Mumsnet ageism strikes again.

Mm... I have a blue badge out on the dash. Its there for everyone to see, I won't be showing anyone the (awful and tbh, out of date) pic of me on the back of it, thats not for anyone to see but the badge issuer and police/traffic warden.

I am sure all the 'challengers' out there will say they're championing those with disabilities, doing their bit to ensure no ones encroaching on our rights...

It is bullshit, it is just an excuse to be a nosey parker and have a pop at someone, it is far more often a disabled person who has a badge who gets the brunt of their 'championing' than someone who does not have one, and it makes far more of a negative impact on disabled people too. Those who don't have a badge and don't give a shit, still won't, regardless of being challenged by busy-bodies!

Because she had the blue badge out. The person wanted proof it was hers.

And I very much doubt it was concern for her that he was checking the use of the space wasn't being abused.