AIBU to think Blue Badge holders can use parent and child spaces?

Is there really any need to be so unpleasant. This is not disability/parent top trumps. The question was clear. Is it acceptable for BB holders to park in P&C spaces when there are no disabled spaces. The answer is just as clear - yes it is, and the law recognises that.

Did you mean to tag me, because if so I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was answering another poster who used the ‘struggling mammy’ narrative.

I worked as a disability outreach worker for over twenty years and in the last few years I’ve watched the tide of opinion turn against disabled people and the support they receive. Mostly because people with little or no experience of disability, believe without question the various narratives of the governments of the day, which then translate into the nonsense printed by the Daily Mail etc.

What really used to piss me off was when people would blithely say ‘Well if Stephen Hawking can work………..’ If all disabled people were able to access even half as much support as he received - both in and out of work - the unemployment rate for that demographic would be much lower. Unfortunately for us mere mortals that doesn’t happen because we are not national treasures.

I genuinely fear for the future of the disabled in the UK - especially when I see some of the throw away attitudes on forums like these.

You have some bizarre axe to grind.
Babies have two parents, this is the third or fourth time you’ve chosen to use a misogynistic, patronising poor “struggling mammy” insult.

Someone parking in a P&C parking baby with children has nothing to do with the life of anyone else, wheelchair or not.

Purely within the context of BB holders parking in P&C space. A struggling mammy with a baby in a car seat that needs to get the pushchair out of the boot then wrestle the toddler out, then come back with her shopping to pack away in car, has chosen that of her own free will by having kids. In contrast a disabled person who may have pain and difficulty mobilising or have to get a wheelchair out and get into it, then go and do their shopping and pack it away in the car on their return, then put the wheelchair away, doesn’t really have a choice do they ? That’s the difference.

Having a disability is something that can happen to anyone. People would do well to remember that.

This!

They really are shit bags aren't they? I think the person making the comments on this thread was probably just rage baiting but very unpleasant.

It’s all so ridiculous isn’t it.

I am one of those most hated disabled people - I’m so disabled I can’t work. I used to work, in a very well paid career, and then I slowly became so disabled with very complex and rare autoimmune issues (one of my issues affects less than 1 in 100,000 and can be life threatening) I cannot work now. I haven’t worked since I was 35, I’m now 45. I wish people would understand that some people genuinely cannot work for a whole myriad of reasons and it doesn’t make us any less deserving of empathy than those who are able to.

Having a disability is something that can happen to anyone. People would do well to remember that.

😄

I only clicked on this post because I misread it as Blue Peter Badges!

The assumption is if you’re disabled you haven’t got a job - don’t you know PIP makes you rich 🙄. I came across the same thing when I worked in a city centre. I’m in a wheelchair and used to pop to the shops or sandwich shop in my lunch hour. Couldn’t tell you how many people used to make shitty comments about being out shopping ‘in the middle of the day, when other people are working’. Once again a well known two word phrase put paid to the conversation when I couldn’t be arsed responding. I’d say that the majority of people I’ve met are only too willing to be kind and helpful, but there are a very vocal minority just as determined to be shitbags.

But it's usually yummy mummies. Although they are probably using an oversized car that their husbands insisted on buying as a status symbol and can't park it in a normal space (despite the parking assistance you get with modern cars). But you can always park in the further reaches of the car park if you are worried about space.

And they are entitled because they use them with 12 year olds, even though they are very obviously targeted at parents with small children who they need to get in and out of car seats.

Yes, we had this in a supermarket once. We forgot to display the BB, I received a fine for £60 when we got back to the car. The manager of the supermarket signed a letter saying he saw the badge and badge holder and the fine should be rescinded. The private company refused, so we appealed to POPLA, who denied the appeal and said I need to pay. I refused to pay and said I'm happy for them to take me to court. They then reduced the fine to £10. I still refused to pay and they disappeared into the mists for 5 years 10 months, at which point they sent a last gasp fine again for £60. I refused to pay.

Well they've shot themselves in the foot there because being near the door also appeals to the "just nipping in" brigade, which is, as other people have pointed out, disproportionately made up of fit and able young men wanting to by a Mars bar, a sausage roll, a bag of crisps and a can of belchy pop, which they tend to sit and eat in a leisurely way, then sit some more to belch their way through the pop, still in the P+C space.
I'm disabled but I've never applied for a badge because I know from experience with other family members that driving around looking for disabled parking is just as stressful as what we do now, looking for a space that will just about do.

It's the opposite here. Council car parks have loads of PC places near the exits while there are just a few BB places much further away. It is nuts as many people with BBs have them cos walking a distance is a problem with breathing or pain.

This thread has been enlightening, as usual, and highlights some of the attitudes that disabled people have to deal with, in their lives.

Of course they should be able to regardless if they have children or not

Only entitled selfish twats would think they shouldn’t and sadly there are a lot of them around

Nobody with a blue badge would choose to park in a parent and child space if there disabled parking spaces available that are nearer to the shop.

Legally, no idea. Ethically, I can't see a single reason why someone would begrudge a blue badge holder a parent and child space if the disabled spaces are all full.

That certainly is not the case where I live, and several other posters have said the same thing, about a lack of BB spaces. I guess it really does depend on what area you live in, as you have stated.

@Brightpurplerain2 If that is the most irritating thing for you, then consider yourself blessed. I can, and will continue to use a P&C space if all available BB spaces are taken.

Theres nothing more irritating than someone like you who has no regard for those with young babies in car seats and pushchairs and young children below the age of 6 I’d say.

No it isn’t. The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal for retailers to make it difficult/impossible for disabled people to access goods and services. Private car parks have just as much of a legal obligation for reasonable adjustment under the Act by providing adequate and accessible parking for disabled people. I have appealed tickets on behalf of claimants on that basis. As I said upthread, most providers rely on people not knowing their rights.

This is probably area specific but they really shouldn't in our area. There are about 50 (always empty) disabled spots to every parent and child one. And yet some still choose to.