To ask what disability a person could have

[Margomyhero]

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 ).

Epilepsy.

I have a severely disabled child and gave my plate full fighting the authorities for her education and social care. I don't really have the time and resources to start policing BBs. I told school who chose to ignore it. nothing happens anyways. I just pointed out that BB abuses do happen... not sure why you find that so offensive

Who found it offensive Chocolate?

@carryondoctor theft of badges wouldn't entitle the thief to congestion charge exemption anyway so that makes no sense. The tax exempt status of the vehicle creates the exemption.

My first thought was deaf but there have been lots of other suggestions.

However I also note all the pps who have said there are those who fraudulently use the badges. I'm a lawyer and I represented someone at court for an unrelated offence who it turned out was using a blue badge to park illegally throughout the trial! At court!

But I think op you have to assume the badge was his.

I would be suspicious in these circumstances too but would be worse to get it wrong and question him.

Another goady thread! A lot of non disabled posters with too much time on their hands? Get on with your own lives, ffs!

That's not what the article linked to by a PP said, bishop - it looks as if a blue badge holder is entitled to a 100% discount on the congestion charge?

Although looking at the TFL site it does seem that it would be hard for a thief to use it, there nonetheless seems to be quite a lot of stuff online saying that congestion charge is a factor in theft:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2018/feb/15/thefts-disabled-blue-badge-parking-permits-England

@carryondoctor not strictly true.
B.B. holders can apply for exemption for one registration number for a fee, and needs regular renewing. However if you have a vehicle that has disability class tax (as I do, my PIP is used to apply for that taxation class) you are automatically exempt and they do this by ANPR.

Carryon it’s evident from this thread the majority do not understand the eligibility criteria and circumstances in which it can be used. Despite having it explained several times, by several posters. It’s difficult to challenge something you don’t understand. Which is why lots of posters have taken the time to try and explain.

Not true @BishopBrennansArse , I don't have a tax exempt vehicle, but I can register for a congestion charge exemption.

@PushMyButton yes, for a fee and on one vehicle only, it also needs renewing every so often.

I'm talking about automatic exemption without having to do all that. Which trying to do all that on a stolen badge wouldn't be wise as you are giving lots of identifying info.

@Shedmicehugh1 those of us with badges live in fear of losing them because of small minded people who don't think we look the way we ought to.

If you KNOW someone is abusing one, by all means report it, but putting people through unnecessary stress just in case they might be abusing it just to make yourself feel better is not on.

I would judge if I knew someone was using it fraudulently. Otherwise I would think the person is entitled to privacy about their disability (among other things).

pushmybutton I can imagine. I’m not a holder, I do have friends with BB’s who I often give lifts to, I do have some understanding. I also have a son with a disability, some mobility issues, who has to live in this world.

Well meaning people, with no understanding of the criteria or uses, wanting to prevent the misuses, for the sake of BB holders, potentially causes more harm than good!

Exactly @Shedmicehugh1

I think calling the OP goady, disablist etc is unfair.

Many people are well aware of invisible disabilities, ‘flare up’ conditions etc, some are not. It is reasonable to ask if you don’t know, and spreads awareness to explain.

Many people are well aware of the mass misuse that goes on, but perhaps are not aware of the grief and judgement that B.B. users routinely get subjected to. A statement of “As a disabled person it is more important to me to go about my business without anyone wondering if I am using my own badge than to have you report potential misusers, so let it go ‘ is all that is needed.

There is a LOT of talk on MN with posters (rightly) vehemently about disabled spaces being a right not a courtesy in supermarkets, emphasising how disabled spaces must only be used by B.B. holders, etc, so it is natural that lots of MNers feel aggrieved if they suspect that the spaces so valuable to disabled people are being misused.

Just explain:

Better a misused space than a genuine person judged or suspected.

I have a chronic condition to do with my nerves that can warrant a blue badge and disability benefits. It varies from day to day and gets worse as you get older with no cure. I personally worked until recently and have given up to be a sahm ( have a child and one on the way) but another decider was that I was struggling in my job. I will go back to work when my child is older but at a slower pace job. My partner earns enough for us to live and suggested I stay at home. One day I will warrant a blue badge, but drs encourage physical activity to help with the condition so maybe one day I might be parking in the disabled bay of a gym. There's a lot more conditions nowadays that are classed as invisible illnesses, they need a lot more publicity

I don't see the harm in asking this question on mumsnet or if very suspicious taking note of the car registration and getting it checked out by the authorities. This guy will never know what we discussed, nor is the OP suggesting anyone be confronted. I'm getting a very definite feel of 'how dare you question anything to do with the disabled'.

No harm in asking questions IF you are truly interested in the answers.

Alternative if you are really interested in BB criteria and uses, you could always read the criteria yourself.

Many people are well aware of the mass misuse that goes on

What mass misuse?