IWBU but by how much?-waiting in a disabled space?

[CrohnicallyAnxious]

Mitigating circumstances:
Waiting for a family member who has recently had serious surgery and can't walk far, or stand for long and isn't supposed to be out in the cold/wet to come out of the doctors
I knew she was on her way out so would only be there a few minutes at most
The only other available spaces were on the other side of the car park
There is no designated waiting or pick up area, and narrow lanes/one way round the car park meant nowhere to pull over and wait without blocking any other drivers
There was more than one disabled space so I wasn't depriving anyone of the ability to park
I waited in the car and would have seen if the other spaces became in use and would have moved to allow a bb holder to park in mine if need be

I pulled into the BB space as it seemed the most sensible thing to do at the time, but in the maybe 2 or 3 minutes I was there (same song was still playing on the radio) 3 people came past and gave me dirty looks. So how unreasonable was I to have used the BB space to pick up my family member?

But it should be based on need not SSP

I NEEDED a widen space at that point - in a full care park I couldn't physically get out of the car.

My son, who is disabled doesn't need a widened space though conversely it's helpful if we park near the path as he has no road sense but at no point would I say he needs a BB.

So whilst a GP or hospital could issue I think it needs tight regulation.

The issue I had was because I didn't have the 'right' piece of paper I was treated like an entitled arsehole. In fact I was told I was entitled arsehole because I would get better....

It scared me that some people could go a long time in that grey area before they were allowed support... By which point you lose independence and confidence.

Sorry I think maybe I could have made that clearer.

I'm not saying that everyone on SSP would qualify. But if a GP can decide who temporarily needs SSP, can't they also be entrusted with deciding who temporarily needs access to BB spaces?

Agree with vdband Proudas. I had a nasty multiple fracture and dislocation of ankle earlier this year, botched treatment abroad which led to various ops and weeks in hospital here. Discharged heavily drugged for pain and terribly weak. Couldn't walk. Asked council for temp BB badge but these do not exist. So we used BB space to get me into wheelchair and then take me to a safe place to wait while DH moved car. I don't think this was being selfish. No one complained - in fact people were most sympathetic and helpful.

But if you don't have the "right piece of paper" you can't do lots of things, so why should a BB space be any different?

I think you were treated appalling wrt to the disabled toilets. I use crutches, I've never had anyone snarl at me.

If I were temporarily disabled with an injury I would use the P&C bays, not the BB ones.

Fairy

That's fine in a supermarket but lots of doctors, restaurants, shops, hospitals, leisure centres don't have P&C - they only have disabled spaces which are widened...

The point is if you prevent people with a genuine need from using the supports then you stop them from being able to function - it's not so much that I didn't have the piece of paper but more that there is no recognition that I might need one.

Or perhaps you are suggesting that people with injuries or neurological disorders affecting mobility should stay at home and not come out until they are cured? Which perversely might not happen unless they have opportunity for rehabilitation...

The problem with P&C bays is that they are usually full, whereas , say, at our supermarket there are always about 10 BB places free. They are usually nearer to the stores, with access to store with no kerbs or other obstacles to negotiate. Just a slope or odd incline can be scary to negotiate with a lighter weight wheelchair, or if you are very unsteady on crutches.

I think the reason I was snarled at is because locally there is a lack of facilities so a normal rate of chancers seems high :-(

I spoke to the local swimming pool as twice I have seen a lifeguard parking in a BB space with no BB for his shift. There is only 4 spaces for a leisure centre, library and it's one of the town car parks. I was looked at like a complete loon and he still parks there even though it's ticket regularly by wardens...

I understand the attitude on stopping people with no genuine need but I had a genuine need and wasn't allowed either - my son witnessed me struggling in a car park because of it and I still find that upsetting 2-3years later as it was the only time my lack of mobility seemed a struggle to him.

TinklyLittleLaugh you may not have noticed, but the point was there were several empty spaces so the question wouldn't arise.

As other people have said, you don't know how many need the space,

Yes, so it's just as well the OP was there in the car isn't it which negates that point.

You need space to get out of the car? Park on the end.

Cant park on the end? Park across two bays and stick a note in your window. You're not breaking any more rules than you would be in a BB bay, just you are being slightly less of a twat - only affecting people who have another option wrt parking.

Council on street bb parking - park on double yellows or in a loading bay. Again, you are being slightly less of a twat than by using the bb bays.

Yup, been there with the broken ankle and dislocation and using a wheelchair. And did not use a BB space because I didn't have a BB! Like you I had a long period in hospital and several ops before they were able to save my foot from amputation. So I know exactly how bad it can be, but it still does not mean you can deprive a person with a BB from using that space no matter how hard you can try to justify it. You get out of the car and stand with crutches while driver parks and brings over wheelchair.

The point is if you prevent people with a genuine need from using the supports then you stop them from being able to function

I can't believe you are telling me this! I know because I am disabled, and people who aren't disabled think it is okay to use the facilities provided for us every single day of the week! They don't give a shit that we can't function, that we can't get out of the car, that we have yet another bloody struggle to make and hurdle to jump!

And it's funny, because there is always the argument on MN that there are 10 disabled bays empty, so it doesn't matter.

That is bollocks, absolute bollocks. Try being disabled, you will find that half the time they are full of people just needing them for 5 fucking minutes!

So what if 10 disabled bays are empty? You don't know that 10 disabled people might be coming along to meet each other.
Selfish actions deny disabled people the ability to lead their lives. Babies (sleeping or not) can be lifted out of prams on a bus but a wheel chair user rarely has the luxury of being able to manage without their chair. If you don't qualify for a BB then you are not entitled to use a BB space.

Everyone's injury is different, Katie. I was not safe to do as you suggested. I could just about get out of car and into wheelchair with help. We were not depriving anyone of a BB space - there were plenty free, not just a few - when we used to do this. And we parked for up to 5 minutes. The parking attendants were fine about it. I don't see anything wrong about doing that. I have found people very kind about this.

The 10 spaces pisses me off. I once had a polite word with a lady who identified herself as carer to elderly mum (not with her!) parked in closest bb space to door of supermarket.

She said that she was nipping in to get hoover (and was not displaying bb), I spoke to her as she was leaving.

I said that I would not use space without disabled DD at which point I gestured to DD sat in back. She was apologetic but still....

You have working legs fucking use them!

and the 10 spaces pisses me off as in our area you are lottery lucky if u get a space!

Yes, I know every injury is different, because as mine was at the highest end of salvageable and has left me with major damage and limited mobility 20 years on. And after going through months of physio learning how to walk again I am bloody grateful that I don't require a BB.

I learned from the experience how difficult life can be for people with disabilities and it made me more aware and more considerate of their needs, which is one of the reasons I feel so strongly about people who abuse the system.

I find it staggering that despite people saying what it wrong with using a disabled bay, when you don't have a BB, be it for 5 mins or 5 hours, people always say "I don't see anything wrong about doing that!"

It's always the same on these threads. At least the OP had the good grace to admit she was wrong!

Yes, I know we are lucky up north. But there again, we were going to places that we knew had very good parking. Out of town, etc. avoiding peak times. But land is cheaper and there is far more parking available. I lived in London for many years, and I know what a nightmare parking is there. Circling around looking for a space rarely happens except at Xmas, etc.

If the parking attendants arent disabled, they arent going to 'get' it and will give away spaces willy nilly to anyone who they think deserves it. They arent supposed to be the people making the choice, they should just be upholding the rules as they stand.

You want a change where short term injuries 'count', you campaign for it.

I'm very sorry for the poor longterm outcome of your injury, Katie, and I'm just praying that mine is not going to be like that. I've realised that there are many different degrees of of ankle injury, and mine is also going to take a long time to improve.

I do think this all has to do with pressure on BB spaces in different areas of the country, and I still say I don't think I was being unreasonable stopping for 5 mins considering spaces available.

The moment I could stand safely for a while on crutches, and not immediately have to get into a wheelchair, I never used a BB to get out.

I do think there is a need for temp BB. People can be severely immobile for a while after accidents, operations, illness etc.

thank you, Staggering. Wishing you all the best for a full recovery, which wasn't possible for me due to the mechanism of the injury. It used to be my "good" leg as I've had major issues with the other one since birth. Now they are both rather crap...!
Ah well, as I said I am very grateful to still have my foot and to be walking even if I do stagger in a rather ungraceful fashion.

Mine wasn't an injury but neurological but I too couldn't stand initially.

Once I was on crutches I too didn't need a widened space but I did need grab bars near the loo for a long time.

I was in hospital for a long time so actually I didn't need to use much at all. I wasn't passed fit to transfer to a car for a while but I felt for people who were in my situation for longer and trying to cope at home.

I think GP / consultants could isdue short term BBs - it could make a bit difference.

I don't understand the anger if there is genuine need. I think the penalty for using a space with no BB should be higher... The lifeguard I complained about in my opinion should have been warned by his employer but instead his manage didn't see the issue and the parking attendentent (employed by same council) turned a blind eye.

I chose my name before my injury, but singularly apt now!