Parent and child spaces - would you sign this petition?

[confuseddazed]

A woman has set up a petition for safeguarding parent and parking spaces for under 5s here

Sing - it would work by moving the P&C spaces and making the existing ones available to those who required a wide access space near the store fir reasons other than solely having a young child.
How would your system of "temporary disabled badges" work? Other than adding to local government workloads that probably wouldn't be able to turn around these in under six weeks, who would render them useless for a broken foot.

Zazzie- a quick google of the National Autistic Society website suggests that people with autism are eligible for blue badges. I'm rubbish at links but-
"Local authorities often interpret all of these criteria as being related to a physical disability. It may be worth mentioning that the view held by many professionals is that autism also has a physical cause because it is a disorder of brain development.

If you are applying for a blue badge under this rule it is important to show how your or your child’s behaviour affects the physical and practical ability to walk, taking into factors which may affect distance, speed, length of time and walking manner".

Soldier- why couldn't doctors issue them when they issued your crutches??

You really think BBs are only about mobility so a person or child with autism would not be entitled to one? Really?
Think again. A child with autism might use a Maclaren Major and be able to walk.
Their need is MUCH greater than any tiny inconvenience you might have in assisting your 8 year old with her seatbelt.

Well, because the NHS has nothing to do with the local authority.
Because doctors have enough to do.
Because nurses usually hand out crutches.
Because they would have to be monitored and called back when no longer needed.
Because the NHS is already over stretched and under funded

And that is just for starters. But as I don't believe you are genuinely asking the question or even that you actually think that only people with mobility issues are entitled to a BB I'll stop there.

Soldier you misunderstand. I was replying to the comment "my ds can walk" which I imagine to be a barrier to getting a bb which after all is a mobility aid.

Would it be so hard for a doctor (nurse whatever) to say "here's your crutches and here's your temporary badge". Really?

Some people with autism who do not use mobility aids do qualify for a BB. It's often not just about a physical ability to put one foot in front of the other and move, but an ability to do so without endangering yourself and others

No indeed as I have commented below

www.disabilitynow.org.uk/article/not-all-childs-play

This article talks of people with disabilities (and blue badges) being fined and verbally abused for parking in a parent and child space. Unite a few of the people leaving comments seem to agree that you shouldn't be able to use them, even if you have a blue badge. Its's a bit depressing really.

I must add that I'm sure the "most needy and vulnerable" would have disabled badges!

Not necessarily so - my friend's ds (5) has a genetic condition, he has learning difficulties, he has zero sense of danger, he uses a sn buggy, he has huge meltdowns, meaning it can be a real struggle to get him in and out of the car. He has been turned down for a blue badge.

I imagine that the fact that he can walk is the reason why he doesn't get one. BBs are only about mobility surely?

Or severe mental impairment, or having a medical condition such as epilepsy that may require emergency medical treatment, or having a medical condition that involves bulky medical equipment, or if you are blind or have a severe visual impairment, or if you have severe upper limb disabilities.

You really believe that blue badges are only about mobility?

Well that just confirms your staggering ignorance, Sing

Sing, you're being wilfully obtuse rather than astoundingly thick, aren't you?

Then I suggest you look at the criteria Punk.

I have to add, perhaps my supermarket is unique but I have never known a situation where there are no disabled spaces left but there are p&c ones left. Usually it's very much the other way round.

BBs are primarily about mobility. They are there to make it easier for people with SNs to get about. Have a look at the criteria and note how many times the word 'mobility' is mentioned.

If you are genuinely so dull that you can't see that there are many disabilities which can affect mobility without the sufferer needing a wheelchair/crutches/walking frame, then I just feel sorry for you.

Oh golly... Have woken up to find this debate is still raging! Clearly many many more folk need extra wide parking spaces than are currently being offered so maybe our angst should turn toward companies who provide parking spaces.. Will continue to tut at those who clearly abuse the system we have now.

We don't use them, never have as it's not worth the hassle and every time we drive past and see someone using them unfairly it just annoys me so we avoid them.

We have a toddler, I am pregnant and we often have DH disabled uncle and his wheelchair in the car, we still use normal spaces as we usually forget the disabled badge. Never had any problems.

Judging and tutting seem to be some people's dull past time.
You have no idea what's going on in someone's world that makes them need to use closer parking temporarily.
We look like the perfect picture postcard Disney family . Things are never what they seem .

The petition has a pathetic 339 signatures in 3 weeks so it is going nowhere fast!
I like the comment in the newspaper that you could charge for a permit. That sounds a good idea. I think if people had to pay for one they would simply take pot luck and park somewhere else if the spaces were full.

I bet a petition asking supermarkets to do away with the spaces, or situate them in a far corner, would fill up quicker.

I will continue to tut at a bunch of teenagers who park in these bays because they can't be arsed to walk a little bit further to use a cashpoint. I will continue to tut at a suited man on his way home because he's in a rush and I will tut at anyone who OBVIOUSLY doesn't need to park in them.

So many many places don't have P&C parking spaces but somehow we all manage to cope!

I wouldn't tut at a bunch of teenagers or a suited man because I would have no idea if and why they needed an extra wide space, or a space close to the entrance. I'd probably consider their reasons equally valid as "I have a young child" though.

So as I and others have suggested lets get P&C spaces re-designated to being extra wide spaces for those in need.

Well, the bun fight was predictable!

That won't work 1morewine because, as this thread demonstrates, some parents of young children don't want to share what they perceive as 'their' spaces (by right) and certainly wouldn't want to ask themselves if they actually need to be nearer the door than an 80 year old with arthritic hips. Why think of others when you can concentrate on your right to open your door wide so you can help a 5 year old with their seatbelt? That very minor help is going to make all the difference to your day and is all that matters.

Although at least the unpopularity of the petition suggests that it's not a popular idea anyway.