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.

I got 'worked up' about it because when a person has the energy or motivation to leave their house but then have to stay in their car, because of selfish arseholes, then that is a big deal. That doesn't encourage them to go out and can affect their mood/mental health. So, yes, it us a big deal.

people always say there are exceptions....there are not
if you don't have a BB badge you should not park in a disabled bay. those are the rules.

yes its awful that a lot of people need BB and can't get them.

I have a disability but have never applied for a BB. Some days I have to stay in the car in a normal bay if we can't find a space close enough to the shop. This gives me the opportunity to observe behaviour in the disabled parking, which in my local supermarket is next to the pick up/drop-off point. What you see there is a different version of the 'I'll only be a couple of minutes' mentality. The pick-up point fills up very quickly because tossers use it as an alternative parking spot. That line of cars spills out of its designated area and starts to block off the disabled parking.

Nobody's bothered enough to go and park properly in a space because 'they'll only be a minute'. Thus, the disabled parking spaces I can see are out of use for up to an hour constantly with different people thinking they'll only be a minute.

FanjofortheMammaries I'm not being ignorant - I have seen this.

I have a BB and I struggle to get in and out of my car, but I am able to walk across a car park and around a supermarket. I don't use the disabled bays as I feel there are people more in need of them than me (at the moment).

I also wouldn't criticise a heavily pregnant woman using a disabled bay if she was struggling to get out of her car.

We all have different opinions on these subjects.

OK do you suffer extreme discomfort and inability to work necessitating a blue badge and find that daily you can't access a space due to lazy people but are able to shrug it off then you seriously deserve a saintly medal ithinkiamsinking. .not being facetious either.

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.

Well if it was me you saw that single trip to the shop would wipe me out for the rest of the day. It'd also mean both ankles and big toes swelling and starting to feel like they're full of broken glass.

That swelling also does permanent joint damage.

But as long as you get your laugh, eh?

You have seen people shopping and judge them? Even though people have explained on thread they need a badge but can shop,,that is ignorant, sorry

It's always weird how people come out with disablist views on these threads then when challenged they reveal they have blue badges/ disabled relatives. Almost seems fishy

I have a BB and I struggle to get in and out of my car, but I am able to walk across a car park and around a supermarket. I don't use the disabled bays as I feel there are people more in need of them than me (at the moment).

Yet you think it is ok to judge others because they may not be as 'heroic' as you.

You have no idea what other people's disabilities are.

I have a BB and I struggle to get in and out of my car, but I am able to walk across a car park and around a supermarket. I don't use the disabled bays as I feel there are people more in need of them than me (at the moment)

Well bravo for you. My DH would take his 5 different painkillers and other meds, have a sleep for an hour, then we'd go to, for example, tesco and TRY to get a parking space near the door. If you saw him walking on the nice flat surfice you'd think the 53yr old man was fine. You wouldn't think he was terminally ill. If he had to watch traffic, kerbs, wet ground and wait for me to get the trolley, he'd have no energy left.

^^
Definitely agree with this fanjo . There's no way that all the people who claim to have blue badges, be disabled or have disabled/ASD children can be telling the truth. There's just too many of them to be realistic compared to the numbers in the real population.

I used to get riled about p&c spaces and then DH got a BB and I realised where the real problem lies. As many posters have said he can't do stuff if he can't park close.

I used to say something as it got me so annoyed but quickly realised that if you're the kind of knob who parks in a disabled bay you aren't going to respond well to being challenged...

The people who take up these spaces think they're above everybody else.
I'm finding as my parents are becoming less tolerant however. They are in their 70s and not disabled but complain about how the disabled parking spaces are always empty in various car parks.... Makes me cringe as they may well need them in the coming years. Should add they wouldn't actually park in them but they do like a moan.

Maybe we need some TV adverts to remind us to leave these spaces for bb holders.

A name and shame type advert done using actors but using real stores/parking bays would be good.
We did this with the "don't drink and drive" and "don't use mobile phones whilst driving" campaigns and for the most part (except the eternally selfish) it worked.

We did this with the [..] "don't use mobile phones whilst driving" campaigns

and a fat lot of good it's done. 10 minute drive today, MrsLH counted 5 drivers yakking away.

We could bring Charlie back.

"Charlie says don't be a twat, leave the disabled parking for people with blue badges".

You hit on another of my pet hates Lurking! Some days while walking the dog I count the number of mobile phone users driving past me. I have never reached your record of 5 drivers in 10 mins but have got close at times!

I think I am becoming less tolerant as I get older Vinorosso. Maybe it is because I AM a parent and taught my children to have consideration for others, and no excuses for not doing the right thing.

"I also wouldn't criticise a heavily pregnant woman using a disabled bay if she was struggling to get out of her car. "

good greif....just being with child does not make you need a disabled bay.
(p and c one maybe)

Blankmind can you link that picture thing in the early part of this thread please? Id like to print it for my car.

I cant find a link anywhere and I cant copy and paste from your post. thanks.

as for the fuckers- they are disablist, it should be a crime, and yyyyyyy to parking and blocking them, bb in full show.

It drives me nuts. I work in a customer facing role and sometimes our car park gets full so someone will whisper to me "I couldn't find a space so I've parked in a disabled one, it'll be ok won't it?"
I always say that no it won't be ok, it's even more important to leave that space for someone who needs it when the carpark is full. You can go out and park on the road and walk back.

Some days while walking the dog I count the number of mobile phone users driving past me. I have never reached your record of 5 drivers in 10 mins but have got close at times!

It wasn't me, it was MrsLH in passenger mode (and given she's partially sighted).

A new "thing" is people clearly texting/emailing/facebooking while driving. It won't be so obvious now (lucky for them) but in the dark mornings/evenings the blue-glow-face is unmistakeable - even if they try to hide the phone on their lap.

I honestly would have no problem if the punishment for using a phone while driving was confiscation of the car.

Oh, and I used to be a champion for Bluetooth headsets. No more, after Mythbusters scared the bejesus out of me showing it's using the phone, not how you use that, that's the danger

www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/hands-free-vs-handheld-minimyth/

I have now set up my phone, so when the cars bluetooth connects to it, it puts it into "driving mode" where all calls are diverted to voicemail, and callers get a text message saying I'm driving.

I'll probably be killed by a thoughtless texting driver, which would -ironically - be proof (after I die) there is a God. And he hates smartarses.

But you run the risk of people who have blue badges being abused. Like my friend who is young, looks fit and healthy, walks fine but has a blue badge. She has had abuse off people before for "not being disabled" and using a disabled space

Well that's also wrong.

I already get that abuse. Because children can't be disabled (the kids) OR a late 30s woman with weird coloured hair and tatts.

Ok then.

She shrugs it off, I get really cross
But like I said she's early thirties, fit, walks well etc and no "visible" problem