Parking in disabled when pregnant

[Notagainsusan]

So I don't actually think I am bu but I just need someone else to wtf with me and have no one I can rant to in real life other than dh who may soon cut his ears off rather than listen to me again 😛

Good friend is pregnant. I have a 10 week old baby. Yesterday we went to the supermarket together. As we were driving round my friend commented on the lack of baby and parent spaces to which I said oh don't worry he's in his pram anyway so not like I really need the space (I mean he won't be running in front of cars etc and spaces at this shop are quite big so I could easily get the buggy out 😊).

Friend then comments how she can't walk very far atm.
I did internally eye roll at this. She is 7 weeks pregnant. So far in this pregnancy she has had every symptom known to man kind and keeps commenting how her bump is huge already. At 10 weeks post partum I have more of a bump than she does, she is literally stick thin. However I realise I'm being a bit mean here and she is very excited to be pregnant.

Anyway! As we drive around she pulls into a disabled space. I didn't think she had realised so I said oh this isn't parent and child it's disabled. To which she tells me that as she is pregnant she is fine to park in disabled?! I replied saying I didn't think that was true and we should probably move. She said she wasn't and tbh I didn't want the hassle of an argument as she had done me a favour by driving so I shut up.

We get out the car, do the shop, all fine. When we are getting back in the car I was folding the buggy etc when a lady approaches and starts having a go at me for using the space?! Saying how it is not for child and parents. I didn't get a chance to say anything back to this woman as she stormed off mid shout about how inconsiderate I was. Friend just stands there and then raises an eyebrow to me.

In the car I bring up the woman shouting at me and friend just says 'oh don't let her ruin your day'. 😳😳 I said maybe this is a lesson in not using disabled bays unless you're actually disabled and she went in a huff saying how she was feeling really hormonal and not sleeping well so she didn't want to have to walk far ?! She dropped us off at home and it was all a bit awkward.

I'm annoyed that I got the blame for her wanting to use a disabled bay! And that she is using one in the first place!

Prepared to be flamed as I probably should have got her to move but I've no idea how and couldn't face an argument with ds in the back waiting for his stinky nappy to be changed 😂

The system is shit but that doesn’t make it ok for people to abuse it.

The rules are pretty clear - you need to be displaying a badge in order to park in the spaces.

Of course.people can have mobility problems and not have a badge banners but unfortunately it's the law, my son has severe autism and learning,disabillties he has to have 1:1 at all times cannot cross a car park safely as has zero awareness of danger ,he doesn't get high rate care DLA because he sleeps at night and there for doesn't currently meet all the criteria for high rate mobility under the SMI rules ( and an automatic entitle ment to blue badge) now hopefully the change in the law will help but untill.or if d's gets a blue badge we can't park in disabled parking spaces

yabbers*

It isn’t the law. Not in private car parks. If you require the space you can use it. The law is on your side. The DDA regulations don’t just apply to those who are badge holders. They apply in many circumstances where having a blue badge or claiming disability benefit is not a requirement.

Saying a pregnant woman who has a mobility issue can’t use a BB space is the same as saying she should use the stairs and not the ramp. In law when it comes to private car parking, these spaces are provided under exactly the same set of rules.

On the odd occasion we forget the badge we say 'ffs' and park/go elsewhere

Your choice, of course, but you should know the law is on your side if you choose to do that. In ten years we’ve never had our tyres let down. On seeing our DD’s wheelchair, nobody has ever challenge us. On the odd occasion it hasn’t been spotted, the few challenges have been met with a polite response about how we’ve got a wheelchair so need the space and a thanks to the person for being the kind of person who speaks to people about it. Never had a problem there.

my son has severe autism and learning,disabillties he has to have 1:1 at all times cannot cross a car park safely as has zero awareness of danger ,he doesn't get high rate care DLA because he sleeps at night and there for doesn't currently meet all the criteria for high rate mobility under the SMI rules ( and an automatic entitle ment to blue badge) now hopefully the change in the law will help but untill.or if d's gets a blue badge we can't park in disabled parking spaces

You’d almost certainly be eligible under the Scottish system which has had this guidance in place for a few years so hopefully your application will be accepted.

But again, know the law. You can park in these spaces in a private car park as you can clearly show a requirement. You may be ticketed but it would be against current legislation if they refused to cancel the ticket. Cases have been won on this basis.

@yabbers

“Saying a pregnant woman who has a mobility issue can’t use a BB space.”

This may be incorrect. The Equality Act is clear on long term meaning 12 months or more. This would not apply to a woman who, for example, had SPD at the end of her pregnancy unless it continued.

Abuse of BB spaces by both badge and non badge users is terrible and needs to be addressed, but are we so lacking in humanity we can’t recognise when people need help and allow them to have it?

I feel sad for those people who don’t have blue badges but those rules are there for a reason. I would like to see the system be better at deciding who needs a blue badge. As I said earlier, P and C spaces would be a suitable place to park without a BB.

why can't people get that BB bays are for BB holders only.
it doesn't matter what made up story you make up. only people with BB can park there.
as for the lazy bloke using one to wait for his wife !!! tosser

Abuse of BB spaces by both badge and non badge users is terrible and needs to be addressed

I'm not sure how I can misuse a BB space.

If I misuse my BB, eg lend it to someone else, I can be fined £1000 and lose the badge. If someone misused a BB space (and it isn't private land) then their max fine is £50.

Yep really fair isn't it.

I had a friend who told me at 6 weeks that she was really struggling and couldnt take much more of this. I pointed out she had another 34 to go and needed to knuckle down or it was going to be a long ride for her (and me).....

Your friend is a dick. She's not disabled and has no right to use disabled spaces. Hope she does it on the street and gets fined.

Your friend is an idiot, OP

And @beaverdam you need to have a word with yourself

I’m a blue badge holder, and it often makes the difference between me being able to go out and not.
I do think though that there could be a temporary blue badge system, for those with short term needs, such as a broken ankle or pregnancy related spd. You could get it from a gp or hospital clinic, much in the same way as a sick note.
But sorry op your friend was being very very very unreasonable.

Saying a pregnant woman who has a mobility issue can’t use a BB space is the same as saying she should use the stairs and not the ramp.

I struggle to see how any fit and healthy woman, who is 7 weeks pregnant, needs a BB space?

Why don't the non BB but self-diagnosed 'disabled' people like in the OP or ones with sprains and milder mobility issues just use the P+C spaces and leave the BB spaces for the people who have one?

How difficult is it to do that? Really.

Hmmmm she parked in the wrong place.
She's not a mass murderer or Boris Johnson.

Seriously - many women spent decades fighting for the right to keep their jobs after having children. Many fought for the right not to be overlooked for jobs or promotion because they 'might get pregnant' or were pregnant. Having spent so long, and at great personal costs' to be treated as equal while pregnant, not infirm or disabled, we now have some pregnant women thinking they must be treated as special or 'disabled'!

Many adjustments have been made to help people with disabilities to be able to go about their daily social and working life without limitations on the ability to access the things and places people without disabilities can. There is still so much more to do.

Outrageous that pregnant women feel it is their right to undermine the little that has been done for the disabled.

Hmmmm she parked in the wrong place.
She's not a mass murderer or Boris Johnson.

When I lived in London and didn't have friends and family near not being able to pick up meds was serious. Parking in BB spaces caused pain, illness, and just might lead to a death. This is how serious it can be.

@Schuyler

It isn't to do with the Equality Act, it is to do with the DDA regulations.

I would like to see the system be better at deciding who needs a blue badge

Agreed. There should be an allowance made for those who require a temporary badge.

A girl at DD's had both legs in plaster for 8 weeks and required a wheelchair. The school allowed her to use the BB spaces. As they should. When our DD was in double casts for 6 weeks we would have really struggled without the badge.

I'm not sure how I can misuse a BB space. If I misuse my BB, eg lend it to someone else, I can be fined £1000 and lose the badge. If someone misused a BB space (and it isn't private land) then their max fine is £50.

BB misuse is huge. And fines are rare. There are many ways it can happen. The one I see most is the person with the badge staying in the car whilst companion gets out. This happens a lot in our school car park. Grandparents with badges sitting in the car in a BB space for half an hour waiting for able bodied kids to come out of school and come to the car. Particularly frustrating at our school as there are lots of kids with disabilities being picked up.

I struggle to see how any fit and healthy woman, who is 7 weeks pregnant, needs a BB space?

I never said they did. I was referring to pregnant women with mobility issues.

Why don't the non BB but self-diagnosed 'disabled' people like in the OP or ones with sprains and milder mobility issues just use the P+C spaces

Because they don't have children with them. And they are usually full. We can use either, having a child with a disability. It's rare to find P&C available and BB not.

Haha @Beaverdam I assume you don't have a disabled relative you need to get around from time to time and have no clue how hard it is for them to get out of cars or into wheelchairs or how hard and painful each step can be!?????
Obviously NOT!
I do - and it's a fucking ball ache when people who are not disabled park in these spaces.
My poor mum. She suffers enough, bless her.