To have parked in a disabled spot today

[AuntiePickleBottom]

my mum recently broke her leg, she has a full cast on, I took her food shopping today so parked in a disabled bay as there is no way my mum could of used crutches far or get out of a normal spot, my mum used one of the wheel chairs supermarkets offer for the customers.

[orangehead]

A friend of mine has a blue badge as she has bladder problems so needs to use the toilet alot with great urgency. I actually have same problems but wouldnt apply for a badge. It seems madness my friend can park in a disabled spot because she has bladder issues but someone can't when they have a full leg cast on.

[Sevenfold]

but if all these people with broken legs park in them, where do you suggest the forever disabled people park??

[Lillyofthevalley]

just marking my place ...will contribute tomorrow, for now my bed is calling.

[Whatmeworry]

Only on Planet MN could a broken leg in plaster not be clear proof of a disability....

[Backinthebox]

Obviously disabled parking places should be labelled 'forever disabled' places, to stop those pesky temporarily disabled people from lusting after them. If it's not worth letting people who only need to use a space for a certain length of time use them, why do supermarkets go to the length of making P&C spaces? Surely anyone with a small child should just wait till they grow up before they wish to venture out to the shops again? In the same way people with broken legs shouldn't go out till they are fully better.

[Sevenfold]

on on mn could someone equate a broken leg as being the same as being as being disabled.

[Ghoulwithadragontattoo]

No one is saying that a broken leg is as bad as being disabled for a lifetime. BUT on this particular occasion the OP's mum was as in need of the additional space and proximity to the shop as many disabled people. It goes against common sense and kindness to say she shouldn't be able to use the type of space that make her trip to the shop tolerable rather than impossibly difficult. That does not take away from the hardships that disabled people and their families face.

[InnocentRedhead]

I suggest you get advice RE paying the fine. In a private car park, they are often not legally enforceable, and you MAY be able to ignore it, to no avail for the company. (Currently ignoring one at the minute as they have no legal powers to collect it and they will not go to court - however much they threaten)

See GREAT advice I reckon you will not have to pay with it being a supermarket

[SparkyDuchess]

Surely there has to be some common sense where disabled parking spaces are concerned?

Glitterknickaz - that's just vile, like you need the stress :(

I don't have a blue badge, because although I'm entitled, I don't feel I need one all the time, so I haven't completed the application.

I work full time, I can manage mostly, but I have days where I have the choice between parking in a disabled bay, or not going out.

On those days, I choose the disabled bay.

If people point and stare - not my problem. I have NO moral issues with my choice.

Most of the time, I park in the rest of the spaces. Some days, I'm not up to the walk.

Surely, common sense should apply across the board? Casts, etc - even if they're temporary, why wouldn't you want their lives to be easier, less stressful?

[Whatmeworry]

I would argue the fine and threaten to go to your local paper and MP as fining old ladies with broken legs for parking in disabled spaces to get their essential vittles is the last sort of publicity the supermarket will want.

[Ghoulwithadragontattoo]

OP - I agree with those who say challenge the tickets. They might well waive it anyway and if not then Innocent's link is useful.

[Merlotmonster]

Walking when non-weight bearing is a massive task! having done this twice, I totally made use of the disabled parking bays, as in my opinion, I was very much disabled..! At the same time, i did actually ask the supermarket person who was lurking if it was ok, and he said yes.... there was also an akward moment when parking in the disabled bay at Evans cycles, (being driven by husband), when mancame out to moan at me (our car is probably typical of people who park where they shouldnt ! BMW z4...) and was very apologetic and embarassed when i got out of the passenger seat with crutches.... Please people, unless youve been there....dont moan at the poor OP - I totally empathise and older people must find it even harder with the crutches.. i am strong, but knackered walking more than 50 metres at a time....

[fluffystabby]

My DD broke her leg last summer.

she was in a wheelchair as it was a complicated break and her cast was non-weight bearing.

I parked in a P&C space (she was 11) and went in and informed the store.

The woman in customer services was flabbergasted I'd even thought it necessary to inform her

But disabled spaces are for blue badge holders. I didn't park in one of those even though some were available.

So, what I'm saying is .... probably you should have parked in a P&C space, after all you are the child, she is the parent

[gluttom]

Car park fines at supermarkets are non enforceable - I always get them for going over time limit - put in bin, wait for threatening letter, put in bin, repeat until no more letters arrive -I recognise the envelopes now so don't even open them - google it - loads of "experts" out there with advice never pay and never contact them.

[Pagwatch]

Yanbu to have tried to make a shopping trip easier for your mum.

Yabu to have lacked the imagination to just drop her and then park.

Yabu to have chosen to get her out of the house by taking her to the supermarket. I would have taken my mum to a nice park, or by the river, or to a nice pub.
She has a cast on, it is fucking hot and the only place she gets taken out to is the supermarket on a Friday. Sheesh.

[Lueji]

Supermarkets are air conditioned.

About disabled parking spaces: years ago, a neighbour was blind and had a disabled parking space in front of his house.
He probably had a blue badge and could park just outside the supermarket.

I would be more comfortable with a person with a broken leg using a disabled car park than someone else driving a car with a blue badge (so "legal to park") but not disabled themselves.

Besides, did it the parking spot state "disabled" or "blue badge holders"?

[Pagwatch]

Nice pubs are usually air conditioned.

[SoupDragon]

Perhaps she wanted to go and choose her own food.
Perhaps she wanted to feel she was doing something useful rather than being a burden.

[SoupDragon]

As a quick hijack... Does a disabled badge entitle you to park on the zigzags outside a school?

[Sevenfold]

your not allowed to cause an obstruction, so I would say no

[Sevenfold]

Lueji I take it you mean people like me, dd is disabled I am not, but if you want to come and push her massive wheelchair across a busy car park, feel free

[Whatmeworry]

Does a disabled badge entitle you to park on the zigzags outside a school?

No, only owning a large 4x4 entitles you to park on the zigzags outside school

[Pagwatch]

Yes, possible I'm sure.

There are probably people who think of the supermarket as an outing. That baffles me but different sorts and all that.
But the fact that both people felt her so burdened and encumbered that they wanted to use a disabled place suggests they viewed the outing as deeply challenging.

Dh is like that and we went out when he was in a plaster. But he did so to try and forget he was in a plaster rather than embrace being disabled iyswim.

I said that it was perfectly reasonable that op tried to make her mother comfortable. But the process, the choice of activity and the need to start a thread about it in aibu is all a bit attention seeking.
Temporary adversity is character building and good for the soul. When it becomes your life then you need to try and make as much 'normal' as possible. If every trip out involves difficulty then special places are needed to stop your whole life being too challenging to cope with.
This is all a lot of fuss really

[Kladdkaka]

A painful, inconvenient, yet temporary condition which entitles one to use facilities mandated by law for the exclusive use of disabled people and all without having the pain and greater inconvenience of actually having a disability. Excellent. Where do I sign up?