To think there is not enough disabled bays for how many badge users there are

These threads always go the same way. People deciding who looks like they need a badge, versus those that look like they don't. If they have displayed a valid BB, that is all that matters. And having a hidden disability which could mean any number of things, does not render someone incapable of being in a busy shopping mall! The ignorance is unbelievable. I take it by hidden disability, you mean Autism.

I think this is a lack of understanding on your part.
Think of a child that is ND, and is a 'runner'... as in they have no sense of danger at all, and when dysregulated might try and leave the safety of their parent and car. In a car park, that is dangerous. Not everyone obeys the speed limits/crossings. In a shop, it is not so much of a problem that could end in serious injury.

My best friend has a BB for photophobia. In the summer, she is classed as blind outside. She wears shades, a visor, and still slams her eyes shut. She can just about manage in a shop, but in the sun... nope. She has to be arm and arm with someone.... and she has a BB to reflect that.

I mean, you said your mum was in a wheelchair. If she is being pushed, then doe it matter how far away you parked?

I was responding to someone who specifically mentioned parent and child bays

I think this would be sensible.

I have a blue badge but I don't need extra space at the minute, just proximity.

It's not abuse if they have a BB though. Just because you don't think o they should have one, and I'm not disagreeing, doesn't make it abuse. It's just a system you don't like.

I agree

my mum had lung cancer and in a wheelchair towards end of life. We went to Trafford centre an no disabled spaces so had to park a long way away. Was difficult with kerbs etc. Got inside and no one looked like they needed a disabled space. Yes people say “hidden disabilities” but how can they not cope with the car park but can cope with the inside of the busy Trafford centre. Massive abuse of the privilege for sure - it’s so annoying

It is just as well that the people who set the criteria, think differently then.

how did he make it round the shop then??

well shopping centres and supermarkets are private car parks and nothing to do with government so they wouldn't necessarily keep up to date with increases in blue badges. frankly they should be for wheel chair users and those that are vulnerable to cross a car park only. having a bowel condition or diabetes and getting a blue badge is ridiculous

parent and child spaces? This thread is about blue badge spaces

That's my point. Different LA's have different criteria or assessors arrangements for discretionary bb's where there is no automatic entitlement. Limiting this to automatic entitlement would help especially as the people who would qualify have been assessed as such. It would standardise the process.

You don't have to be on DLA/PIP to have a BB. My best friend has a BB and doesn't claim anything (she tried but was turned down).

Same

Yes, you are right, thank you for pointing that out. I worded it particularly badly.

My intent was that only people in the age bracket for dla/pip who automatically qualify should recieve it. I hope that makes better sense.

I was very conscious of pointing out that non mobility needs could still qualify as I didn't want to get jumped on for that.

Edited to add for info that those with high rate dla for mobility automatically qualify but not standard mobility or any care rate.

Interesting, always bloody loads of disabled spaces in car parks near me. Usually with cars parked wonky in them... I often wonder if the people should be driving at all

@Perzival

Enhanced rate mobility isn't an automatic entitlement to a BB, in fact many people on standard mobility will have an automatic entitlement whilst others will get enhanced rate but still not have the automatic entitlement

edited to add, it’s having the points in the right place that dictates automatic BB entitlement

I think there are also discrepancies locally as you can apply for a bb without meeting the automatic qualifying criteria of pip/dla (with the exception of the elderly who wouldn't be eligible as they would claim aa). One la may give a bb and one may not if the person doesn't get high rate mobility.

I think for people who are on the age bracket to claim dla/pip bb's should only be given where high rate of mobility has been assessed.

High rate of mobility can be given for autism and other needs which aren't strictly physical.

I think it’s 5% on private premises and 6% in public parking areas. Sometimes this is under or over supply. Depends on area. New build areas usually have loads of them plus ev bays - so it’s others who have nowhere to park!

And for those on long NHS waiting lists (some have been waiting years) who have had their movement and mobility badly affected but cant get a disabled badge as the disability caused by the wait is seen as temporary no matter how long the waiting list is!

Why feel guilty? You must have had enough reason to apply for it in the first place. If you don't feel the need to use it, then just don't.

I agree with this. My current car is a bigger 7 seater and I can't open the door fully and take out/put in the youngest who is a baby in a car seat. My older kids- it's not a problem... I usually just park really far away where there might be an empty adjacent bay so I can open doors fully.

I see hardly any parent/child Bays but lots of empty disabled Bays. I say this as someone who regularly drives around a disabled relative who has a blue badge. Never had any trouble finding disabled parking so maybe it depends on your area. I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with this though, I've seen how distressed my family member became during the long wait for the badge though.

You don’t have to use it all the time, if you’re having a day / in a location that DD needs to use it and there’s space to use it then use it without guilt. If you’re somewhere where a different layout means she’s fine in a regular space or having a better day and doesn’t need it or whatever then just don’t use it.

I know what you mean op. In my town on our high street there were two bb parking spaces 25 years ago. Now there is three.
The population of the town as at least increased by 5 times in that time and there has been a correct increase in the entitlement of bb. Also we have a significant aging population with the related mobility issues.

Use of those parking spaces are not enforced well. One outside the supermarket is constantly used by people just popping into the supermarket for milk/bread/paper.

The other is constantly blocked in by the owner of a business that it is placed outside or by people dropping kids to pick up takeaways. The last one is in badly picked place and half the time the nearby residents use it rather than there designated parking spot.

I complained to the traffic warden and was asked did I have a bb and when I said no I was told it was not my business to complain.

DD was recently granted a blue badge.

I've found it really quite difficult to use and quite often I can't find a disability bay anyway.

I've been surprised at the number of places that require you to preregister your blue badge with them before you can use it in their car parks. Apparently we're expected to know exactly where we are going to go and where we are going to park at least a week in advance.

It is still helpful in some situations but it hasn't been as helpful as I hoped it would. I also feel DD is more mobile than some other blue badge holders so we are sometimes feeling guilty about using any available spaces in case someone else with greater needs can't get parked.

I go to supermarkets and its almost always difficult to park regardless of the time