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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what disability a person could have

378 replies

Margomyhero · 13/03/2018 17:22

to park outside the gym and run 30 minutes on the treadmill?

I am genuinely curious about this one.

I got out of my car and parked in a car park near the leisure centre. It's a LOT cheaper than the car park in the leisure centre grounds. As I locked up and headed towards the leisure centre I saw a young man park in the disabled space and get out and go the same way as me.

He went on the treadmill and ran for 30 minutes. I know that as I was doing the same.

So - before I judge him unfairly what disability which warrants a blue badge could this man have which would allow him to run for 30 minutes - after sprinting up the 2 flights of stairs to get there?

Was he a genuine recipient of disabled space parking or was he just avoiding paying the charge (which by the way is 5p for the first hour ).

OP posts:
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PushMyButton · 14/03/2018 14:04

Lol! That sounds like my reply @fleshmarketclose

carryondoctor · 14/03/2018 14:12

If you tackled me, I would say politely that I've known many people abuse the system and that I was just trying to help ensure that people who do need the spaces get to use them.

You could hiss and spit all you liked; it wouldn't bother me!

BishopBrennansArse · 14/03/2018 14:13

Nice that posters like Hillingdon are right behind the questioning, beady looks and downright abuse I get for using Grandma's badge (only she doesn't have one, it's mine).

BishopBrennansArse · 14/03/2018 14:17

And I would tell you about all the abuse I've had @carryondoctor including criminal damage to 2 motability vehicles.

If you have a concern then report to the appropriate authority - council or owner of car park. Don't tackle it yourself.

Spikeyball · 14/03/2018 14:21

If you did it around my car you may get spitting.

carryondoctor · 14/03/2018 14:27

Bishop - then I would sympathise hugely and carry on my day. Spikey may well find herself reported to the police for battery, however, and possibly also assault depending on how threatening she was.

As I said, I've never actually done it. But if I saw something as flagrant as the act committed by my own friend (young woman jumping out of car and running under awning to keep her hair dry), and I happened to be near the car, I'd definitely give it a side eye to see if she actually had a blue badge.

Spikeyball · 14/03/2018 14:31

It won't be me spitting and the police won't be interested in the person who is doing it.

fleshmarketclose · 14/03/2018 14:31

Oh yes Spikey back in the day spitting would have been the least worrying reaction from ds to someone unwanted in his vicinity or speaking to me. Thankfully he's only likely to give you a shove nowadays if you are particularly annoying, silver lining and all that Grin

Spikeyball · 14/03/2018 14:44

Yes ds spits when he is anxious and that is one of the milder things that he does. Although I can probably make sure I take the punches I can't stop the spitting.

Hillingdon · 14/03/2018 14:49

If there is significant abuse then surely the only way to stop it and not spoil it for the genuine is to report. There seems more and more people on MN telling people to look the other way, keep their beaks out and that applies to benefit fraud as well.

Surely if we don't report the people who are doing this they will then just know full well they can get away with it.

PushMyButton · 14/03/2018 15:09

It's different when it's something you know and you know their situation. It's not on to do it to strangers.

PushMyButton · 14/03/2018 15:09

Some ONE you know.. silly phone

Shedmicehugh1 · 14/03/2018 15:35

What would one say when tackling someone about whether they are entitled to use a BB?

Shedmicehugh1 · 14/03/2018 15:51

I mentioned the stats earlier.

2.8 million holders in uk 2017.

1,300 people prosecuted for misuse.

Is there really a need for blue badge vigilantes!? Don’t disabled people have enough difficulties and stigma already. Bigger picture, grander scheme of things.

Can’t we find something else to get our knickers in a twist about.

OutsideContextProblem · 14/03/2018 15:51

“Oops, you seem to have accidentally left Granny at home!”

(Only if the badge indicates that it’s the property of an octogenarian female and there’s no such person in the car)

Shedmicehugh1 · 14/03/2018 15:55

You can use the badge to pick granny up!

BishopBrennansArse · 14/03/2018 15:58

Yes, report. They'll soon find out if it's genuine or not.
Don't deal with it yourselves if in any doubt whatsoever. On poor MH days it's really knocked me.

What do they say?

"Give yer granny her badge back"
"You're not disabled, piss off"
"These spaces are for disabled people"

Then you get this sort of thing (can't find any of the paintwork but it was about 8 years ago now)

To ask what disability a person could have
Shedmicehugh1 · 14/03/2018 16:05

Thread is going in circles.

You could be collecting granny, she doesn’t have to be in the car.

“The badge is for your use and benefit only. It must only be displayed if you are travelling in the vehicle as a driver or passenger, or if someone is collecting you or dropping you off and needs to park at the place where you are being collected or dropped”

As we have already established several times, not all disabilities are visible.

I give up. Grab your pitchforks, let’s go disabled badge hunting 🙄

BishopBrennansArse · 14/03/2018 16:08

Shed you're telling the wrong people

Shedmicehugh1 · 14/03/2018 16:11

Sorry Bishop that wasn’t aimed at you. Just at the thread in general, going in circles Smile

Graphista · 14/03/2018 16:19

Mental illness (inc agoraphobia which could mean he feels least anxious parking close to buildings)

"I would assume that to get a blue badge a person must have some physical impairment which makes it harder for them to walk to the venue - hence parking closer." Why would you assume? It's hard but not impossible to get a blue badge for mental health conditions.

Autism

Amputee

Various fluctuating physical disabilities like ms where exercise can really help slow progression.

Transplant recipient

Cancer

Cystic fibrosis

Recovering from stroke, heart attack etc

Cerebral palsy

Yes it's abused but I'd not assume that's what happened that's for authorities to assess. Much more education on invisible/variable disability and mental illness effects on mobility needed.

BishopBrennansArse · 14/03/2018 16:22

Autism isn't automatically eligible to be fair. You also have to demonstrate the severe mental impairment element - my son is considered virtually unable to walk unaided as he just can't keep himself safe outside even for a few seconds.

x2boys · 14/03/2018 16:26

Yes we tried and couldn't get it for ds2 Bishop (he does have severe autism and learning disabilities) .

Shedmicehugh1 · 14/03/2018 16:32

Autism doesn’t necessarily have to be severe. Hypermobility for example is common in autism, causing severe joint pain. You could be ‘high functioning’.

So many variations to the criteria.

x2boys · 14/03/2018 16:34

Yes I know but we were going for the severe mental impairment reason.

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