to think disabled parking spaces are there for a reason, not for the lazy

[stopandstandup123]

We have a Tesco express at the end of our road. It has one disabled parking space by the front door of the store. The non-disabled parking is at the back of the store, so a bit of a walk to the shop, but not excessive.

It really rankles me to see white van man, young, fit, clearly not disabled drivers, young mums sending child into store, etc using this only space as it is so close to the door of the store. Not a disabled badge in sight. Meanwhile, elderly and frail drivers make the long walk from the car park at the rear. I have seen a driver pull into the disabled space, stay in the car with engine running, while the passenger pops in for supplies. Unbelievable!

This disabled parking space is rarely empty, and there cannot be that many disabled drivers in our town.

AIBU to think we need to leave disabled spaces for those who need them.

In almost all cases of course YANBU.

But there will be exceptions (like nokids , for example) who need it and can't have it and exceptions like my mum (who has it but doesn't always need it) so, where possible, I think it's good that there is a bit of give and take.

My mum likes to use her blue badge, simply because it's there. If I take her shopping, I prefer to drop her near the shops then go and park because there's simply no need to take up a blue badge space as I, the driver, can walk a long way. Or if there are other spaces a short walk away I'll use them instead as my mum can walk a short way and we don't need an extra wide space for her. But both these actions my mum who says that if the space is there she has the right to it and wants to use it. Of course I will use one if there are several free and other spaces are a distance away but I don't see her as a priority in the way that someone like nokids is, even though nokids doesn't have a blue badge and my mum does. That's just postcode lottery, I assume, because my mum can walk up to about 300m without pain.

A lot of disabled parking spaces are disabled parking spaces, no blue badge spaces. As long as people use them compassionately and sparingly I think a self assessment on whether you use those is fine.

I've actually never met anyone in real life who thinks it's ok to park in disabled spaces without a disability. Or in P&C spaces without a need actually. Both those things seem to be very much mumsnet things to me.

Yes, Nokids and Lud not all disabilities are visible and some that may qualify for a bb do not get them, some are too proud to apply. I have friends and relatives in most camps. A very close relative has fibromyalgia, and another has problems to do with diabetes which means on a good day they can walk, on a bad day barely put their ulcerated feet to the ground. Both drive. Neither would abuse a privilege, including parking spaces. Both need these spaces.

This is probably why I get so mad at the thoughtless person, who uses the disabled bay just because it is next to the front door of the store. They then get back into the car/van and continue on their working day as a roofer, plumber, electrician, young mum on mobile watching young child go in to get milk whilst sitting in the car, engine running, texting, and the list goes on....... but only one disabled bay.

I think as far as teaching citizenship in schools is concerned, the teachers are not going to succeed unless the adults/parents give a good example out in the community that the children can witness to underpin the teaching. Without that it will not sink in as the right thing to do, just a choice to do the right thing or to do what other (thoughtless) people do.

I think using disabled spaces without a bb opens them up to being abused. The ones outside the doors of the local leisure centre are often abused particularly when there is a children's party on. Five spaces and no bb in any of them.

Perhaps they could add a section onto the driving test. But if there are no consequences for parking in the wrong place, drivers will continue to do what they like. Some will obey the law, others will ignore it.
My DS used to tell people they weren't allowed to park on the zigzags outside school. He was ignored when he was a child, or told to sod off. Less so now he's large, possibly more intimidating and less easy to ignore.

This is probably why I get so mad at the thoughtless person, who uses the disabled bay just because it is next to the front door of the store

It's worth noting that it's possible to make car parks - certainly larger ones - much better for BB holders. The best example was an ASDA in Cornwall. They had laid out the car park so although the BB spaces were next to the entrance, you actually had to drive round the entire car park before you got to them.

The whole thing could be sorted if there was a swipe mechanism to enter the disabled spaces based on the bb wallet having a chip to swipe just like you do to enter a work car park. No swipe, no entry.
It would cost to put up entry barriers I know and probably more expensive than the dental repair costs for my grinding my teeth each time I see the bays abused.
I hope my (very nice but thoughtless) electrician neighbour is reading this thread as ..... YES.... I do mean you. I know you pull into the disabled bay to get your lunch on your way to a job every day!! And .... NO .... you are not disabled nor is anyone in your family and there is no bb badge.

YaBU. My DD likes to go to beach in evening. There are disabled spaces there and we have a badge. In summer we can rarely get a space there due to people with no badges parking there and going to gym..there are usually spaces further up street or round corner but people clearly must park right next to gym before a workout.

Same when trying to attend the additional needs soft play session at shopping centre. Disabled spaces on same floor always full of people going to the next door gym who clearly can't go up or down to next level before a workout.

Went to beach last night and a couple were parked in disabled space with no badge and brought out and assembled a huge pram for their baby.

We have been asked several times if traffic wardens ever stop us there ..as DH looks fit and healthy and people sometimes don't see DD in car...by people wanting to park there with no badge.

Once a girl parked there with no badge and a man cane rushing over..just to tell her to be careful as "traffic wardens are really nippy here if you have no badge which is terrible"

Lazy selfish arseholes one and all.

CosyNook don't be so ignorant.

If they have a badge then probably the only way they are able to have energy or be pain free to do their shopping is to park close and then use their limited mobility for the shopping.

Not sure why that's a hard concept to understand.

Why does someone have to be old and frail to be disabled? I've known people who got metal work in their leg and barely walk far but to others they look youth and healthy or hidden illnesses such as nerve damage, MS,ME, heart problems. The park attendant has the right to make that judgement not yourself.

Or maybe they find it hard to get out of car. Who knows.

People often claim they will move if someone disabled comes along.

Well if we approach and there are no spaces we don't tend to wait around so then it's too late. Or why should we have to ask people to move.

There are literally no reasonable arguments here for you being U, OP.

I've actually never met anyone in real life who thinks it's ok to park in disabled spaces without a disability. Or in P&C spaces without a need actually. Both those things seem to be very much mumsnet things to me

We encounter them nearly EVERY day.

It makes me laugh when people with BB's park outside the supermarket door due to disability, but then walk around the supermarket doing their shopping.

DFOD You mean people like my husband, who could walk around the store because he had some energy? The same energy that he would have exhausted if we had to park further away from the store? You have no idea what you're talking about.

I also notice spaces are kept clear in daytime but are used at night or on Sundays when no traffic wardens around. Suggesting that is the only reason they are left free.

The whole thing could be sorted if there was a swipe mechanism to enter the disabled spaces based on the bb wallet having a chip to swipe just like you do to enter a work car park. No swipe, no entry.

The problem with that, is BBs are issued locally. So goodness knows how many variations you have. Although (Brexiters note) they are (allegedly) acceptable across the EU.

Worcester BB used to be (haven't been in years) well laid out. It had it's own floor in the multi storey car park which was slightly "off-grid" and next to shopmobility.

The trick is to ensure BB parking doesn't confer any perceived advantages over "normal" parking. Making it as longer journey reduces abuse. Also (sadly) making BB parking cost the same as normal parking has reduced BB fraud
.

Are disabled folk not allowed to use pushchairs?

I have a BB. I do not look disabled but I struggle to walk far and can sometimes get stuck. I have a baby, therefore I need to use a buggy. It actually helps to support me when I'm walking.

It's embarrassing enough using a BB when you appear young, fit and healthy but to be written off as a fraud for using a buggy is a real icing on the cake

Misread post- couple with pram had no badge! Apologies

That's fine. Yes they had no badge. Just a big car and pram.

It makes me laugh when people with BB's park outside the supermarket door due to disability, but then walk around the supermarket doing their shopping.

Wondered how long it would be before some spouted that rubbish

It makes me laugh when people with BB's park outside the supermarket door due to disability, but then walk around the supermarket doing their shopping.

If you'd seen someone like me in tears and in ridiculous paid after forcing my way around the shop you'd maybe have more sympathy.

It pisses me off when the BB spaces are packed with parents on rainy days. I wasn't aware rain caused instant disabilities. I took my DH to tesco on a rainy day as he wanted out if the the house, but we parked so far away from the door he couldn't come in. The spaces were full of cars with baby seats and no bb. I was fucking livid.

Everyday people act like arse holes in one way or another. Always have and always will. Part of the human condition. Can't really get worked up about it TBH.

You might get worked up about it if it caused you personal discomfort like it does to many on this thread.

But you're alright Jack.

You assume the same issues do not affect myself or any members of my family Fanjo
You have also missed the point of my post but hey ho. This is AIBU after all