“What’s your problem? Parking is free all day with a blue badge” ….

[itsgettingweird]

I’ve seen an increasing number of posts online about how councils are limiting how long BB holders can park in BB bays but they offer free parking in a “normal” space for as long as you want. These are paid without a BB.

followed by a load of ignorant comments about “well it’s free”

As the parent/carer to a wheelchair user this infuriates me no end.

I would happily pay for a space that is for BB holders. We don’t want it for free.

Why?

because what is the point of a free space that isn’t big enough for the user to get in and out of the car into a wheelchair?

Why is it so difficult to understand? We don’t want free. We want equal access?

Do you think this will change with all the sudden hate against disabled people? or get worse?

Is there a solution?

It's awful how ableist this country is getting. People see the articles about cheats, and don't realise how many people are genuinely suffering, and how many of them get no help, and how many people who would benefit from BB don't get them.

So you can have a short stay in a larger space, or all day in a small space?

That seems obviously unacceptable as that means anyone who needs a larger space can't stay all day.

Which party runs your council? Is there any hope of getting traction through coordinated campaigning?

I guess if demand for the blue badge spaces has gone up, they’ve limited the time allowed in those to try and create more availability.

However they’re trying to also give an option for those blue badge holders who want to park all day (and my understanding of blue badge spaces was that it is meant to be free parking, because those people don’t have the option to take cheaper public transport or walk for free).

Obviously it isn’t perfect as it does exclude wheelchair users who need the increased clearance either side, but lots of people have blue badges because they can’t walk far rather than actually needing a wheelchair. Agree it’s not perfect but I guess if providing more wide blue badge spaces isn’t feasible, then it is better than nothing.

One idea I have is that there is BB spaces for wheelchair users with one colour badge (guess it won’t be blue) and the BB that allow for free parking?

Because often it’s those using wheelchairs that also struggle with public transport.

I often find I’m stopping in the middle of a car park, getting ds out and then reversing into the space and doing the same in return.

While drivers are beeping me because I’m in there way. (I just ignore them)

But actually why should other drivers be inconvenienced? Why can’t DS and other wheelchair users be offered equal to their non disabled peers?

Plenty of wheelchair users like ds are cognitively fine and do and can work. They don’t care about paying to park. They just want to go out with their mates to the same places as their mates.

just park in the blue badge space and buy and all day ticket? The only reason I think they might enforce the 3 hour rule is lack of blue badge parking in certain areas and so that users of them all get a fair crack at the parking spaces they need.

Maybe they could make more smaller blue badge spaces for non wheelchair users or those with less severe mobility issues.

Yes wheelchair parking on public transport is awful. I take a wheelchair user on a bus and have to park them. The spaces are only good for short base wheelchairs, I almost have to lift the chair to position it correctly in the space allocated.

You can’t do that when I’ve asked at one place I visited.

24 hour car park or 3 hours for disabled visitors. You couldn’t pay to park in the BB space but could live the car to a normal space which worked because I was there. Ds couldn’t do that alone.

Maybe the solution is that no where offers 24 hour parking? Make it fair and equal?

Surely that's discriminatory?

Well you would think so but apparently not!

There a beach in West Country where you can park for 30 mins in disabled space to use the (now closed) disabled loo or for free on a normal space.

If you’re a wheelchair user you either need a carer to get you out then park or not go.

I cant see that this happens nationally all over if it’s not legal?

Our local car park is now run by europarks. It used to be council run. Blue badges used to allow 3 hours. Now it's 2 hours but even worse, you have to scan your blue badge at the machine to get a ticket!

I doubt wheelchair users can do it themselves. The machines are on paved areas with kerbs!

I have a BB, am physically disabled and if I can't get a BB space i would not be able to get out of the car. This sometimes happens and I have go home again. I think there should be 2 tier badges and spaces, as I often wonder why those increasing numbers with anxiety/depression etc need a wider space when they are physically able bodied. They could even put some BB spaces further away, so they don't appeal to the idle gits who don't have a BB but just like to be near the shop or don't want to pay.

You'd be surprised at how stupid councils (and other organisations) can be.....

ask the equality and human rights commission. They give free advice on discrimination.