AIBU to think there should be different types of blue badge spaces?

[IHateBlueLights]

I'm very lucky where we live in that there are usually more than enough BB spaces for anyone who needs one in the town and supermarkets.

However, while visiting tourist attractions (National Trust etc) we have had some difficulty finding a space where we can get the wheelchair in and out of the car easily. All the BB spaces have hatching around them to enable wheelchairs to be unloaded and loaded. But many BB holders are not wheelchair or pushchair users, so don't need the extra space around the car.

If some BB spaces were the normal size but still close to entrances and exits there would be room for more overall.

AIBU to hope that spaces with the hatching for wheelchairs should only be used by those who actually need the space? And that there should be more "standard size" BB spaces for those who don't need the space?

That might work in huge parking lots but still don't see how it could be policed. Different blue badges issued? What if you are an occasional wheelchair user? My niece is registered disabled but can walk fine if not too far, but at other times uses a wheelchair. Also it's not just wheelchair users that need the extra space, I can't open my doors fully in a normal space and some people may need to in order to get out comfortably but don't require a wheelchair.
I get what you're saying but sounds like a logistical nightmare.

the trouble is it isn't just wheelchair users that need the extra space. If you have limited ability to bend your legs you may need to swing the door open much wider, equally you often need to do that to get an assitance dog in/out. I realise that in principle there will be some people that don't need the extra space, but might this encourage a race to the bottom with places thinking it is ok to just have a couple of bigger spaces and the rest tiny?

I would hope that users would police themselves. If I'm not using the wheelchair I don't use a BB space if there is a space near where we are going.

Why would you take up the space with the extra room if you don't need it and there are other spaces nearby?

Good idea. Not everyone needs the wider spaces.

There's been a few times where I would take my disabled sister out, but would have to go elsewhere because we couldn't get a big space. Before she became too ill, it was possible to just stop, put the hazards on, get the chair out and assembled and get her out the car, then park. She got to the point I really couldn't leave her like that so if there were no disabled spaces she couldn't get out of the car.

We have a blue badge for our son who has autism. He doesn’t use a wheelchair but we need the extra space around the space as he has epic meltdowns which mean he can fling open the car doors and bash the car next door and also requires the doors opening wide to get inside the car to strap him in.

I think it would cause more judging of those who need the spaces and cause even more “I am considerably more disabled than you” type top trumps.

My Mum can't get out the car if the door isn't open all the way. She needs to turn and get out the car facing out the car iyswim. I often have to help her too. She doesn't need a wheelchair yet.

I sympathise with the pressure in spaces but don’t feel that sub-dividing Blue Badge holders into ‘the right kind of disability ‘ is the answer. And if the ratio isn’t right, or more of one kind of need is represented in any particular day the sub division of bays could make access even worse.

When I have been out with a family member who needs space to transfer, I have parked across two non-BlueBadge bays and left the badge and a note in the dashboard.

I didn't say only wheelchairs users should use them. I said only those who need the extra space (for whatever reason) should use them.

I would hate for a wheelchair user not to be able to access the place they wanted to visit because we were there but I was having a day when I didn't need the chair. I feel guilty taking up the big spaces which is why I'd like the choice of smaller ones.

I think that would make things a lot more complicated than they already are. Making the spaces accessible for everyone who needs to use them works, if you don’t need the extra space at the side then that’s ok.

I just wish there were some blue badge spaces a bit FURTHER away from the busiest parts of car parks. Getting the ramp down and reversing DD out into the equivalent of the M61 isn’t fun. But I understand most people want to be right by the door, so not complaining. (We still need a wider space for the front van doors to open, so standard spaces further away aren’t ideal)

There won’t ever be a perfect system - but at the moment the one we have isn’t too bad

I’d have thought that the majority of people need the space even if they don’t need a wheelchair, so it would make it a waste of time to implement a whole new system when the current one works ok. It would make more sense just to provide more regular bb spaces in the places you’ve found a problem.

Your post does imply the larger spaces should only be for wheelchair users to me. I have three family members with a BB. One is a wheelchair user the other two are not, yet, but need the 3xtra space provided to get 8n and out of the cat due to limited mobility, and the fact they need the door wide open yo get out

If you want to carry on doing what you do then fine, I will carry on parking in a BB space thanks

So as long as you're okay then eh? Do you police levels of other people's disabilities? Do you have a go at people who don't 'look' disabled too? Disabilities aren't just wheelchairs and wider spaces aren't just for wheel chairs either. They're needed for people to open doors widely as possible too.

So as long as you're okay then eh? Do you police levels of other people's disabilities? Do you have a go at people who don't 'look' disabled too? Disabilities aren't just wheelchairs and wider spaces aren't just for wheel chairs either. They're needed for people to open doors widely as possible too.

@Instagrump Not sure why you bothered posting, I've said all that already. Just trying to live up to your name, maybe?

“I feel guilty taking up the big spaces which is why I'd like the choice of smaller ones”

Don’t feel guilty!
Or if and when possible just use a regular space close to the entrance and out your BB in it

Truly, disabled people trying to make it easier to fit more BB’s in is not the answer. The right to provision for spaces was hard won.

Creating one extra space out if two lots of yellow hatching just compromises everyone, and providers will not create more space overall.

Just an increase in in-fighting and admin.

@Chloemol

If you want to carry on doing what you do then fine, I will carry on parking in a BB space thanks

Why so snippy? I was wondering if there was a way to make sure the large spaces were available for those who actually need them (and you are such a one)

I forget AIBU is full of people who like to be shitty for the sake of it and don't bother reading what's been said.

It's not disability top trumps ffs. I need the extra room because I can't get out of my car without the door being opened wide. Sometimes I use crutches, sometimes I use a wheelchair, other times I use a Mobility scooter.

If someone has a BB they can use the space and everyone else, disabled or not, can mind their own business.

The problem with that is what would happen if the only BB places left are the wider ones and someone who is disabled but doesn't need a wide space turns up. Are they supposed to ignore the BB spaces and park further away even though that would cause them major difficulties?

Agree, Etihad - DMum uses a wheelchair, and needs car doors open wide to get in and out, but I push her so we don’t need to be particularly close to wherever, just have the extra space.

I sort of agree actually about the provision of different levels of space. DM has a blue badge. Sometimes we go out with a wheelchair and we need a big space but are entirely happy for it to be two hundred yards away from the entrance at the far end of the car park, especially if that makes it quieter. Sometimes she doesn’t want the wheelchair so a normal size space would be fine as long as it’s absolutely next to the door.

A mix of the two, along with some large spaces near the door with a note saying “please don’t use these unless your disability requires both the extra space and the location” would arguably be the best solution for places like the one you describe. It is more complicated though and unlikely to be implemented anywhere except really huge places - which probably have enough space for just lots of large BB spaces anyway.

The OP presumably isn’t judging people like my mum who use large close BB spaces but don’t need the space, because they’ve got no other choice at the moment.

It's coming to something when disabled people start pitting against each other, it really is

I forget AIBU is full of people who like to be shitty for the sake of it and don't bother reading what's been said

Yep!

OP: to be fair, your OP heavily referenced use of wider spaces for wheelchair users, and only in your last para do you say “for those that need them “. Which is ambiguous as all the way through your post you wrote of wheelchair users.
Also in your OP you at this is because YOU find it hard to find spaces for getting the wheelchair out, so by implication, YOU want wider spaces and narrower ones for others.

This is what had prompted the ‘snippy’ replies you are receiving.

If you arrive at a NT place and are having difficulty, tell them. Constant pressure and feedback to increase provision will be more effective than trying to sub divide the existing provision.

It would be impossible to police.
My friend is not wheelchair bound but needs the extra space to open the door wide as she is unable to 'slide' out through a narrow gap.

The blue badge scheme should somehow recognise those for whom extra space is needed and those who cannot walk very far for reasons such as respiratory conditions. So the basic idea of two forms of blue badge seems good.

The parking space issue would be a lot less if all cars for those without a wheelchair were a standard size and none were Chelsea Tractors.

Tbh the best solution is not to faff around with sub dividing larger spaces, but just to add some extra large BB spaces in quieter areas further away for those who are happy to use them.