To think this is utterly unreasonable... pic included

[ScottishJo31]

Just seen this on my local town Facebook group.....I can’t believe that someone would confront someone with a blue badge for parking in a p&c space.....especially as it’s massive carpark and there were loads of spaces...! [pic edited out by MNHQ - OP do feel free to repost having obscured the number plate below]

We live in an increasingly disablist society.

I have a blue badge and am frequently challenged, it is miserable and frightening. There are also regular snidey comments from people about not having to pay parking charges, free cars from motability and other such bollocks.

This is the endless aggressive minutiae that adds up to people with disability staying home and giving up on life because it is just too bloody difficult to navigate outside.

Someone should also remind her that disabled spaces are statutory, while P&C spaces are courtesy. I doubt a disabled person would park in a P&C space if there was a disabled space available.

It's getting to a point where I think all P&C spaces should be replaced with disabled spaces.

The sense of entitlement is shocking

Whoever this person is is a twat.

To be clear, I meant disabled spaces are always more important than P&C spaces - no exceptions

popehilarious park in any normal space on the end of a row if you really can't manage otherwise.

YNotWoman very well said.

I've never been challenged in the 10+ years that (now young adult) dd has had her BB and she's not a wheelchair user. Some days she needs a visible aid to walk, mostly she needs to lean on the supermarket trolley, other days she doesn't "look disabled" and on those days I've been aware of a few pointed looks, but no-one's ever said a word.

Please don't listen to ignorant people and please don't let them stop you going out to places, you need to do it to maintain your independence.

Next time someone challenges you, have some good phrases ready.
A couple of less confrontational ones are :-
My disability is none of your business.
I don't discuss my medical condition with anyone except my doctor.

@Jaxhog
I doubt a disabled person would park in a P&C space if there was a disabled space available

Sometimes the P+C spaces are a lot closer to the store than the BB spaces.
Lots of BB spaces also involve crossing a "road" in front of the store whereas many P+C spaces have no traffic to negotiate between the spaces and the store.
Sometimes the P+C spaces are better situated for a BB user depending on their mobility issues.

I was out for lunch last weekend and a customer complained to a staff member that someone without a blue badge had parked in a disabled space. The “culprit” had only done this to get an elderly relative out of his car and into her wheelchair then he moved the car to an ordinary space. I know it’s not an ideal thing to do but surely we can understand things like this and wind our necks in. He didn’t have a blue badge because it was a trip out for the old lady. I’m sure it made her day to have someone complaining about a less than five minute stop in one of the only spaces which gave them room to manoeuvre her out.

As for parent and child spaces - do you not have enough to do looking after your children rather than policing spaces which anyone can use. Get a life and get your nose out of other people’s.

blank like I said in my post?
mummyoflittledragon I appreciate that, I wasn't trying to pit p&c spaces against blue badge ones. My point is in some car parks every space risks you being unable to get in to your car unless it's a p&c space. So I could park way out of town and walk half an hour along a main road but you never know if it's worth the risk!

lyra can you point out in my post where I said anything about disabled people? Of course they take priority. I specified twice the people my post was a response to. Nothing at ask to do with disabled spaces whatsoever.

These people are so tiresome.
Yes it's annoying when you have a baby/toddler and need the space if there are no P&T/P&C spaces available but ffs, would you RATHER be in need of a blue badge? Of course they take priority!

I have a 6yo now and never park in the P&C spaces in Australia because they're very clearly marked with a pic of a stroller, so it's very obvious that it's for parents with smaller children only. But we have people in our town who will happily park in not only the P&C spaces but also the blue badge spaces to "save their paintwork from being scratched". Selfish fuckers.

Travis i don't think a Ford fiesta is a large car but that's irrelevant if someone parks centimeters from your door because no p&c spaces are provided.

I suppose if you define literally anything that isn't a right or physical necessity then yeah, they are luxuries. Along with 99% of anything we do or buy!

I think some people miss that cars have a Blue Badge, which could explain some "looks".
But I don't think anyone reasonable would begrudge a BB holder a parking space, even in P&C.

Skittlenommer
I agree, l call them 'the hand that rocks the cradle' brigade and take take great delight at pointing out to them they don't rule my world.

@blanktimes I stand corrected!

It's pretty poor of a supermarket etc. to do this. But then I've seen corporate car parks where the directors' spaces are nearer than the disabled spaces. I guess some companies only pay lip service to the legislation.

I think some people miss that cars have a Blue Badge, which could explain some "looks".
But I don't think anyone reasonable would begrudge a BB holder a parking space, even in P&C.

I think you overestimate the reasonableness that BB holders encounter
My DDs has been questioned at least four times (if it happens when she's out with DH or DS then they don't tell me as they know it enrages and upsets me) by people who not only question her needing a space, but a BB at all.

It's pretty poor of a supermarket etc. to do this. But then I've seen corporate car parks where the directors' spaces are nearer than the disabled spaces. I guess some companies only pay lip service to the legislation.

There's no legislation to the exact positioning of spaces, only that there needs to be a certain % of them.

So shops will go by what makes them the most money - they clearly think people using p&c spaces (not necessarily people with children) will spend more money than those using the disabled spaces. So they make them more attractively positioned, which in turn adds into the belief imo that they are essential.

If they really wanted they could monitor the spaces, but in reality they don't actually care who parks in them as long as they are spending money in the store!

I am genuinely surprised that anyone who doesn't need them even glances
at the disabled spaces and/or the cars that park in them. Bloody awful for people to be making it their business and asking about disabilities unless they're disabled themselves. I know those spaces aren't for me so they don't even register on my radar!

I think until someone experiences a day/week with someone disabled who doesn't look disabled (it's become much worse since DD became a teen - unless she is on the ground she looks like a 'normal' 16yo) it's hard to explain how often people give a look or make a comment about it.

It never ceases to amaze me how often people think that they know better doctors/specialists/DWP/BB dept if someone needs a BB or not.

This is the endless aggressive minutiae that adds up to people with disability staying home and giving up on life because it is just too bloody difficult to navigate outside.

That's so sad if it is true.

There was a similar thread to this yesterday and it got deleted. I think this one may be as well.

popehilarious
Lots of people without badges park in bb spaces. I do look and seethe. Especially athletic types.

In response to your comment addressed to me. I know it must be shit to be in this situation if there is no decent close parking and having to walk miles with a lo is not an option. And I appreciate you did not compare it to the bb situation.

I suppose in the past people used to move their cars and leave their child in the trolley. Or put them in the footwell / boot / on their lap until they could move their dc into a better place. Both of which are no longer acceptable.

I'm sure it's not just me getting old, but car parking spaces in most supermarkets seem to get narrower and narrower, while cars seem to get wider and wider. I have bad knees and can't get out of the car unless the door is just about fully open. I would never qualify for a blue badge though. I just try and park in a quiet spot away from the doors - that usually guarantees some space being left around me.
The P and C places should be much further away from the doors, but set in a spot where there is a safe walkway to the store. Bet they wouldn't be so popular then.
Disabled places should always be closest to the doors imo.

It’s not you @longearedbat, spaces are very tight now, not helped by the massive 4x4s that every other person seems to drive but nobody seems to be able to park properly.

Genuine question and excuse my ignorance but why might this thread get deleted?