Really annoyed at Someone parking in a Disabled Bay who is definitely not disabled!

[daisychain01]

I'm normally quite a placid person, who goes about her business and doesn't interfere with other people, but Im absolutely fuming.

Im staying at the Travelodge for two nights, last night was my first night, tonight is my second. When I arrived in the carpark yesterday evening, I was walking towards the entrance with my bags when I was nearly run over in the carpark by a woman in a BMW, texting on her phone while driving, trying to find a space.

It stopped me dead in my tracks! Anyway she then proceeds to drive straight into a disabled bay next to the entrance, obviously there to make it more accessible to a blue badge holder.

She got out of her car and I walked up to her. She was still on her phone, yabbering away, but looked at me. I said very politely, "um excuse me, but do you realise you are parked in a disabled bay .." To which she said as bold as brass "yes I know". So I just thought maybe I will cut her some slack, maybe she will check in then move her car.

I mentioned it to the receptionist and she didnt really want to know, because the parking belongs to the Toby Carvery next door. Out of curiosity I nipped out before going to bed and her car was still there, and still there this morning when I left...

...and there when I have just turned up tonight!

If she had said to me last night "yes thanks for letting me know, Im just unloading my heavy bags but I will move my car shortly" I wouldnt be frothing, but the Toby is really full tonight and whats the betting there is some poor person inside who has had to struggle all the way over from the furthest corner of the carpark because of that selfish cow.

The thing is, should I report her now? I just dont know if Its just me being pissed off at her attitude, and a bit up my own arse...im just feeling vengeful, like I want to teach her a lesson. The Toby is open and full of people.

I get the feeling that some people are suspicious of anyone using a gym and needing to use a disabled place, like they are mutually exclusive. My physiotherapist (private) is attached to our local gym. My sessions with her are often in the gym itself using the equipment to try and build some muscle strength.

Exactly fanjo. When you see strapping fellas pull up in the disabled bay, stroll in and head for the cardio machines, you do have a little thought to yourself. It usually contains a swear word.

Fanjo It's much the same as the nonsense over the disabled access toilets. When I take ds1 into one (using our radar key) and he is not in his wheelchair, we get looks and comments from others. When I take ds1 into one when he is in his wheelchair, well, apparently that's alright then. It's maddening the assumptions people make. And god, if one more person asks me why he is in a wheelchair, I may just scream. Why do they think they have ANY RIGHT TO KNOW?? (and why the fuck do they ask this directly in front of ds1 as if he isn't there or doesn't have a brain to understand them )

The examples I gave were of people who either share hard core classes with me, or who have come to use the weights and machines.

Our gym has lots of physio stuff too, the doors are labelled as such.

"
If you have a BB - display it or come across as a selfish dickhead taking up a space reserved for those with disabilities."

"come across as a dickhead"- that is a judgement of interfering busybodies, like the op though. I don't need to prove to anyone on private property my entitlement to park in a disabled spot- I may to yje mamagement if they enquire.

Why should I have to prove that to a random stranger?

Morris actually I don't really have that much of a think about it tbh. I am well aware, due to my ds1's disabilities, that many disabilities are not obvious, so I would just assume they have a disability of some sort that I cannot see.

OP could you get a hobby? A few hours in a charity shop maybe?

Lou. No. I know people with disabilities use gyms. These are massive guys who look like they are on steroids and pump huge weights.

LiverpoolLou
As long as you display your blue badge nobody would have a problem.

Ohh I've had looks in disabled loo's as well Alice. I have EDS and a worsening scoliosis. On a good day I'm fine and use normal loos. On a bad day the handrail in the disabled toilets makes my life a whole lot easier because I need it to hoik myself up.

I don't have a blue badge (stubborn thus far) but on those days I don't think twice about using those toilets because I genuinely do need that assistance. I'm not going to justify my toilet habits to a random stranger. They can judge me as much as they like, I smile sweetly and hobble off.

And none of them have badges. So if they had disabilities they'd have badges to allow them to park there surely.

If they did I'd be more willing to give benefit of doubt..and my own dD has invisible disability.

So you don't think able bodied people ever abuse BB spaces? And that my gym has 'parking awareness week' for no reason?

At least some of the non-badge displaying parkers must be genuinely blagging it. And if somebody whizzes past me into a high impact aerobics class, yes I will guess they are in the blagging category.

Our gym has a swimming pool which my wife finds invaluable physio (for her MS). So it's Luckily on the (admittedly rare) times there's no parking at all, I can drop her off, park elsewhere, and walk up (which I try to do as much as possible anyway).

Of course they do Morris. I see loads of them every day. People in Edinburgh seem particularly inconsiderate of spaces, its depressing.

Morris I think if your gym was seriously concerned about it, they could easily make people check in giving their car details (mine did when I belonged to a gym years ago), and the car parks checked regularly. A simple check of anyone parked to see if they are displaying a blue badge, and if they are not, then find the person in the gym, request to see their blue badge. If they do not have one, then tell them that they need to move their car. If they refuse, they can be requested to leave the premises. If they park there again, their membership can be withdrawn due to this behaviour. (I say this because this is exactly what my gym did in the states)

I wish they would Alice. It's not just because I think it's unfair for those in genuine need, it's also annoying for other non disabled drivers who have walked down from the top of the hill to see that some arrogant sod thinks the rules don't apply to them.

I'm not sure if the car park is private or not, it's a council run gym.

Everyone parking in the disabled spaces should have a blue badge, thats what theyre for. If my very painfully disabled friend had to walk a long way because people who dont need the space are parked there, and nothing is being done because everyone is too scared of offending someone to ask, then I'm not going to not care - I dont see that saying IM not affected by that means that I should merrily and comfortably walk away singing Not My Problem.
Having a blue badge doesnt mean you cant park in a normal space if youre having a good day, it just means you can use the disabled space if you need it.

I fail to understand how you can KNOW she isn't disabled from looking at her. Yes, there are people that take the piss by parking in disabled only spaces when they're not. However, that doesn't mean that everyone who 'looks able bodied' is taking the piss. I have an 'invisable' illness, at to many people I look fine, but I'm exhausted and in pain. A few of my friends with the same condition have BB (I don't), and the amount of people who ask every single day that they're out, why they're parking there when they are 'clearly not disabled', is soul destroying for them. They're trying to get on with their lives, but are accused every single time of not being disabled, it's ridiculous.

LiverpoolLou
As long as you display your blue badge nobody would have a problem.

I think you might find that this isn't the case. Every time I've been challenged on using a disabled space my badge has been clearly displayed. Unfortunately my disability isn't. There was one occassion (in the police station carpark rather ironically) where a woman who was passing by got irate because I wouldn't take my badge out so she could see the back as she didn't believe it was mine. When I refused she tried to use force to get past me to get it. I fell over and ended up with a dislocated shoulder as a result. There is a reason I am fearful of people challenging me. Actually there are many reasons, 20 years worth.

But, the rules are that you must display a blue badge if you park in a "disabled space".

If you don't display your badge, you can be fined.
I think that is perfectly reasonable.
If someone is disabled and doesn't want to apply for a blue badge, that is entirely their own business.
If you do have a blue badge, you don't actually have to use it, unless you need to use a disabled space.

I honestly can't see what the problem is with that.

Xposted LiverpoolLou.
In that case that was assault and I am sorry that happened to you.

It is a pity that there is so much fraud as it causes problems for people who have a less visible disability.

combust22 - why not jut display your badge? If you choose not to, then, yes, I will judge you - blame the years of my life with a man in a wheelchair.

No badge - don't park in the disabled bay or I will judge you. Deal with it.

FRAUD does not cause the problem. Fraud can be reported. If someone sees a vehicle in a BB space that is not displaying a BB, report the vehicle information.

Aggressive vigilante people that feel that they have a right to patrol the spaces but don't use the common sense got gave a grapefruit are causing the problem here.

whatthe- But I don't have to display a BB on private property. Deal with that.

there's always one