To think that there are too many disabled parking spaces?

[Vagabond]

I have just returned the Uk after a 13 year absence and cannot believe the number of disable parking spaces - everywhere. Of course, I absolutely agree that there should be spaces allotted for the disabled. But the percentage of disability spaces in any given parking lot are not commensurate with the number of disabled shoppers. I feel that this is 'tokenism' as opposed to practical planning.

BTW - I have a 'badged-up' disabled parent who completely agrees with me.

Another 'badged up' poster here.

It would appear the entire nearest town to me is disabled if we are doing percentage of disbaled to non disabled parking spaces.

There are plenty of spaces at all bigger shops/supermarkets and in the main car parks.

We even have on road disabled bays all through the town! The only place where the car park is poorly planned for disabled drivers/passengers is Sainsbury's.

How interesting am I?

see riv at the end of the day, imo that is what it is all about.
a lot (not all) of people don't want disabled people getting in their way and think they should stay at home(but not claiming benefits)
otherwise why are there so many threads like this......

Riven, I wasn't talking about disabled & P&C spaces.

I was talking about those who don't qualify for a blue badge because their disability or mobility problems are temporary.

I didn't suggest the removal of blue badge spots.

Well how nice for you maryz.

I had a mastectomy and can't carry a bloody handbag with my right arm, let alone a child.

Getting him and out of the car without the extra space would've been impossible. In fact, getting myself in and out of the car in those first few months was difficult.

P &c spaces are a good idea, they help people so I think they should stay
but the moaning about them should stop, they are not than important

disabled people are important and special (only if they have a blue badge though ) and people like wubbly and me are all conspiring to keep you indoors and blight your lives shopping because we have the power to tell Sainsbury's how to plan their car parks!

Let's not debate any possible solutions and ignore the fact that no one has ever said do away with disabled spaces or in finding a solution make your lives harder.

Let's also ignore the fact that over 50% of badges issued are fraudulent.

Let's ignore the rest of those in society that may have 'needs' from time to time because they were born able bodied.

Could you link to the stats that 50% of blue badges are fraudu;ent please?

It's nigh on impossible to get a bue badge via DLA fraudulently- ahve a look at the forms if you don;t beleive. Where I live in Wales you can;t even get one with severe ASD or any non physical impairment (my friend whose son has GDD< VI, and severe ASD cannot get one).

From what I have read (extensively) DLA is one of the elast fraudulently claimed benefits

However it is true GPs can ask a council to issue a blue badge when needed, though anyone who may extrapolate blame from that to the disbaled community in any way is clearly a fuckwit.

Now I understood what blue badge fraud there was exists mainly from people stealing, duplicating, and falsely hanging on to blue badges to which they are no longer entitled (signs all over our local mall stating that blue badge holders are being harrassed for their badges).

Those people I suppose are NT. but I don;t blame all NT people for the fuckwits, neither so I ask that NT services be cut.

Of course anyone who wishes to spend an hour queuing for a space in a crowded Christmas car park with my boys (ds1 ASD, ds2 ADD, dyspraxia, ds3 ASD, ds4 NT) scareaming stimming and fighting is quite welcome to sample the experience.

lets not ignore the fact that able bodied people do not face the same challenges as disabled people.
lets not ignore the fact that you have not backed up your 50% claim
lets not ignore the fact that the op admitted she has re thought this about a day ago, yet you still can't see it, even when people who walk the walk have explained it.

sure, here's an example
www.benefitfraud.org.uk/bluebadgefraud/index.html

It doesn't matter who the culprits are. They are the ones causing the parking problems for disabled users not P&C bay users.

Just because P&C bays are new it doesn't make them less valid. Lots of things are new doesn't mean we don't need them.

Wubbly

why in cases luke yours when is a genuine need there should be some sort of termporay badge available

Brass

No ones saying it's not tough I had 3 dc before ds3 was born so yes I been gratefull for P&c parking but I now know whole differnt ball game sadly :(. When you need a blue badge

2 shoes we do have the same wav I love it though peoples eyes when say it's my first ever car lol

i think this a head banging against a wall thread.
yes some people use BB when they shouldn't. but for a lot and I mean a lot of people they mean the chance of a normal life.
anyone who can think that P&C bays ares as needed or as important as disabled bays, should go and live with a disabled person for a week.

2shoes I'm genuinely interested in solving a parking problem especially in supermarkets.

You seem hell bent on beating the disabled stick and making it a row between disabled vs able bodied.

I'm talking about everyone with 'needs' being able to use a car park without stress or difficulty. All I keep getting here is we don't give a shit about anyone else and I find that hard to accept.

And the remark about OP is ridiculous. So what? I don't agree with the explanations you've all come up with because no one has said anything productive yet. Mostly you sound angry at able bodied people for things that are not their fault and beyond their control!

well as I am able bodied myself that kind of makes that a bit silly.....
I am going off to rl now as I find this really silly.
legally there have to be a certain amount of disabled spaces. yes by law thank god.

aarrggghh

why can't there be disabled bays and P&C bays carefully planned so that it works for everyone?

why do you insist on reading it as one or the other?

you know stores like toys r us actually allow disabled children inside too, just like my ds?

or do you think disabilities only apply to the elderly?

Whats a WAV ? is it alot higher than a discovery? hasten to add i dont drive a disco, before the anti 4wd brigade jump on me

bumpsoon yes they tend to be as you need to be able to get a person inside while their siting in their wheelchair so headroom is a must

A temporary badge would work and there is certainly a lot of folk who would benefit from it.

The problem I see with that is it need more funding to administer because I believe the numbers eligbile would be vast, although over a short period, in comparison to someone who is permanently disabled. It would also mean that there are fewer spaces available to those with the permanent blue badge.

The P&C spaces are often used by people who struggle with mobility or temporary disablement but who wouldn't dream of using an official disabled spot.

If we could persuade supermarkets/shopping centres to simply make spaces bigger in general and better plan the allocation of disabled spots and ensure that all spaces have access to a safe walkway, then that would be great. It would take away the need for specific P&C spaces as access and safety wouldn't be a problem.

In addition, I think the labelling of certain spots near the shop as priority for the elderly or infirm then perhaps people would be considerate. Not all of them of course, but then not all people are considerate at the moment.

If everyone was happy with the status quo then there would be no argument for change, but everyone moans on about it constantly.

It's all very well whingeing on about P&C places as totally unneccesary, perhaps they are in some cases, but not all and to suggest we do away with them without any alternatives is just silly and spiteful, since their mere existence doesn't actually inconvenience anyone.

I've never heard of that herb! No-one has ever mentioned that to either me or my DM.

When I was going through treatment, I actually checked out our local council website and called for advice, nothing mentioned then either.

It's worth knowing, thanks herb. I've made a lot of friends still going through the treatment, it might help them out. Ta.