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Original poster

Parking Disabled Spaces

179 replies

babsanderson · 16/01/2023 14:44

Do you ever park in disabled parking spaces?

My DH has a blue badge and it seems so common for non disabled people to do this, especially when waiting in their car for a child to leave an activity. He just winds down his window and asks them to leave - they usually do. But it is annoying.

OP posts:
strumpert · 16/01/2023 17:49

I do. But I have a blue badge.

On the rare occasions I can get one. Couldn't get one in either Tesco or lidl yesterday. Had to park miles away and walk in Lidl which I'm suffering for today and parked in a parent and child space in Tesco. Which I'm expecting to get slaughtered for on here now but it was that or go home as I can't get out if I can't open the door and I needed food.

x2boys · 16/01/2023 17:49

pinkflop · 16/01/2023 17:13

I have in the past.

My son has had several operations on one or both of his legs over the years. At one point he was in a wheelchair for 6 weeks. Normal spaces don't allow you to open car doors fully and getting a 7 year old with both legs in plaster in and out of the car isn't easy.

I'm sure some will argue that I shouldn't use the spaces as we don't have a blue badge.

Yes I would ,if he needs a blue badge apply for one ,whilst your using it you are depriving an actusl.blue badge user of using it ,my son has a blue badge due to.severe mental.impairment ,he has been assessed by the appropriate people as needing one ,you don't just get to.decide yoyrself.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 16/01/2023 17:51

strumpert · 16/01/2023 17:49

I do. But I have a blue badge.

On the rare occasions I can get one. Couldn't get one in either Tesco or lidl yesterday. Had to park miles away and walk in Lidl which I'm suffering for today and parked in a parent and child space in Tesco. Which I'm expecting to get slaughtered for on here now but it was that or go home as I can't get out if I can't open the door and I needed food.

I park in C&P sometimes even if there are BB spaces if the C&P are closer

7eleven · 16/01/2023 17:51

I did once, at the cinema, with a friend who had a broken foot. I did go in and ask if I could do that (independent cinema). Been driving for 40 years.

Original poster
babsanderson · 16/01/2023 17:52

My DH parks in child spaces as well if they are closer.

OP posts:
pinkflop · 16/01/2023 17:56

@x2boys he wouldn't get a blue badge. He's not disabled enough. In fact he's not classed as disabled at all. He was born with bilateral talipes which has affected him physically since birth. Trying having a disability that's not good enough to get any benefits.

MaryBerrysCamelToe · 16/01/2023 17:57

I park in the disabled bay as I have a boy who is autistic and is a flight risk. We are however awaiting his blue badge and don't have it yet. I've been told we will get one but our local authority has taken a long time to get it sorted due to remote working.

Meseekslookatme · 16/01/2023 17:58

babsanderson · 16/01/2023 14:44

Do you ever park in disabled parking spaces?

My DH has a blue badge and it seems so common for non disabled people to do this, especially when waiting in their car for a child to leave an activity. He just winds down his window and asks them to leave - they usually do. But it is annoying.

I did when I was temporarily in a wheelchair. BBs aren't given for short term conditions, but I needed it so I used it.
Anyone confronting me would have been told to fuck off and mind their business.

Original poster
babsanderson · 16/01/2023 17:58

@pinkflop is it because the plaster is temporary only? If so that makes sense, you have to have difficulties for over a year to get a BB. If it is an ongoing issue then I would try and get your GP to support your application.

OP posts:
HunkieDorie · 16/01/2023 18:01

No I would never. It's the same with parent and child though. I can't remember when I have ever managed to park in parent and child since having my DD.

x2boys · 16/01/2023 18:03

pinkflop · 16/01/2023 17:56

@x2boys he wouldn't get a blue badge. He's not disabled enough. In fact he's not classed as disabled at all. He was born with bilateral talipes which has affected him physically since birth. Trying having a disability that's not good enough to get any benefits.

Have you actually applied for one?
The issue is though t they are blue badge spaces for people with blue badges ,. Who have been assessed as needing one by professional,s .
have you applied for DLA,for him?
People do get turned down but if he has significant care needs above and beyond a typical child of the same age and you have the evidence to prove it ,fight for it .

pinkflop · 16/01/2023 18:04

@babsanderson it would only be classed as a temporary thing although he does struggle all the time, just not enough.

IncessantNameChanger · 16/01/2023 18:04

Only when with bb holder. Normally there are plenty of disabled bays, unless you use the local swimming pool when all the disabled bays are taken by parents who I refuse to belive ALL have blue badges. My disabled child can't access the bays there due to entitled fuckers.

At the local kids local gymnastics one parent refuses to belive anyone but her can use the sole disabled bay, even when her disabled child is not with her, it's HER space!

lieselotte · 16/01/2023 18:05

Winterday1991 · 16/01/2023 15:00

No I don’t do this. However it does annoy me to see a packed car park with rows of empty disabled bays!

Yes this. I would never park in one, but I think there are too many spaces in some car parks and nowhere near enough in others. I don't know how they decide how many to provide.

BayandBlonde · 16/01/2023 18:06

I have done it a few times but I have good reason.

My late elderly dad would travel with me, amongst other illnesses he had dementia and would use a wheelchair for safety reasons. But of course the bloody local authority wouldn't give him a blue badge because he could walk unaided and apparently having dementia didn't require the need for a blue badge. Totally disregarding his other conditions, and that's a whole other story.

Anyway, I did used to park in disabled bays and not one person ever told me to move or showed their disapproval. I think they would have been totally unreasonable to do so if they did.

strumpert · 16/01/2023 18:07

IncessantNameChanger · 16/01/2023 18:04

Only when with bb holder. Normally there are plenty of disabled bays, unless you use the local swimming pool when all the disabled bays are taken by parents who I refuse to belive ALL have blue badges. My disabled child can't access the bays there due to entitled fuckers.

At the local kids local gymnastics one parent refuses to belive anyone but her can use the sole disabled bay, even when her disabled child is not with her, it's HER space!

Are they displaying a blue badge?

MaryBerrysCamelToe · 16/01/2023 18:10

pinkflop · 16/01/2023 17:13

I have in the past.

My son has had several operations on one or both of his legs over the years. At one point he was in a wheelchair for 6 weeks. Normal spaces don't allow you to open car doors fully and getting a 7 year old with both legs in plaster in and out of the car isn't easy.

I'm sure some will argue that I shouldn't use the spaces as we don't have a blue badge.

I would think this is acceptable, you child was unable to get out from a normal space and for all intents was in that moment disabled. I live in a small town and the bays here at the supermarket and marked as disability bays and not specifically blue badge and just says 'for the use of the disabled' or similar wording.
I don't think people who have had surgery or a temporary situation like a cast on leg or a wheelchair should be exempt from using them just because they don't have the blue badge ( maybe temporary could be issued from the LA for periods of recovery and rehab).

strumpert · 16/01/2023 18:10

The whole blue badge system needs over hauled.

x2boys · 16/01/2023 18:11

BayandBlonde · 16/01/2023 18:06

I have done it a few times but I have good reason.

My late elderly dad would travel with me, amongst other illnesses he had dementia and would use a wheelchair for safety reasons. But of course the bloody local authority wouldn't give him a blue badge because he could walk unaided and apparently having dementia didn't require the need for a blue badge. Totally disregarding his other conditions, and that's a whole other story.

Anyway, I did used to park in disabled bays and not one person ever told me to move or showed their disapproval. I think they would have been totally unreasonable to do so if they did.

The criteria has changed now people can get them for conditions that make them unable.to.walk safely ,my son has severe autism and learning disabilities,he can walk for miles but had zero.danger awareness ,he actually is automatically entitled to.one as he gets High rate mobility under severe mental impairment rules ,but even if people are not automatically entitled they may find they meet the criteria .

JenniferWooley · 16/01/2023 18:12

Our local Asda has a McDonald's inside & it's usually just eat or deliveroo drivers parking in the disabled bays - I have been known to block them in & go in to complain.

I have a BB but it's not on constant display (I only put it up when I park as it slides along the dash) like a PP I get dirty looks when I pull into a disabled bay with no badge on display but I take great pleasure in looking them dead in the eye while I slap the badge on the dash.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 16/01/2023 18:13

I have a BB and don't drive
It isn't registered to a particular car because it's for the person not the car
I have 3 sons, and friends who drive me around and I use it with them
If someone without a badge thoughtlessly uses the disabled spaces. This could make the difference between me going into the supermarket or not

IncompleteSenten · 16/01/2023 18:14

bloodywhitecat · 16/01/2023 16:09

Where is the mythical car park with 100s of blue badge spaces?

Yes, I do park in blue badge spaces when I am with my little one as he holds a blue badge.

Absolutely nofuckingwhere.

100s = 10, maybe 20 if it's a really really big car park.

x2boys · 16/01/2023 18:15

MaryBerrysCamelToe · 16/01/2023 18:10

I would think this is acceptable, you child was unable to get out from a normal space and for all intents was in that moment disabled. I live in a small town and the bays here at the supermarket and marked as disability bays and not specifically blue badge and just says 'for the use of the disabled' or similar wording.
I don't think people who have had surgery or a temporary situation like a cast on leg or a wheelchair should be exempt from using them just because they don't have the blue badge ( maybe temporary could be issued from the LA for periods of recovery and rehab).

Show quote history

It's not up.to you to decide though m not trying to be goady,but people are assessed for blue badges for good reasons ,and if they don't have one even if they think their reasons are valid they could well.be fined .

MaryBerrysCamelToe · 16/01/2023 18:40

I haven't decided though maybe son IS getting a badge and has been approved for it, we've just had a few teething problems such as his photo getting lost so had to send in again and it taking time for the LA to send out. My son can run in front of cars in the car park and has done in the past so I will take the risk of a fine and park where it is safer for him to walk into the supermarket/ wherever. I'm not going to risk his safety and if I do get fined then I will take that financial hit to do what is best for my son. I wouldn't park there any other time.

Topseyt123 · 16/01/2023 18:45

I've never parked in blue badge bays except if I am taking my mother out. She is a blue badge holder who uses a mobility scooter or a wheelchair, so perfectly permissible to use them then.

If I'm on my own then I just use a regular space.