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?

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.

No it's not, it's completely flawed. A BB is valid for 3 years so someone with respiratory problems could need a wheelchair 18mths in. They'd then have to go through all the faff of reapplying for a new badge and piss about in a smaller space until it was allocated, which can take weeks.

The scheme is fine as it is. It needs to be left alone.

Ds is a blue badge holder. He is also a part time wheelchair user. A lot of the time it isn’t the wheelchair that means he needs the space.

Something like this will always create a hierarchy even if that’s not the intention. All blue badge spaces should be wide and have the hatching on both sides (and people using the spaces shouldn’t park in the hatching making it a nightmare for others)

If you have a blue badge you park in the best space to help you.

My husband doesn't need a wheelchair, but he does need the door wide open in order to get in and out...your idea wouldn't work.

Ds has severe respiratory problems. He has mobility problems. He has autism. I wonder which category he would fall into for those who want to fit people into boxes?

I totally agree with you. Ultimately some people need more space around the car, others genuinely need to be closer as walking is an issue but I do think blue badge are given to easily for people who don't really need them in the context of their disability and as a result, make it difficult for other disabled people who couldn't go where they intend to go without the space and close proximity.

I think there just need to be more BB spaces in a lot of places.

Not moving BB spaces to less preferable spots in the car park would be helpful too! There's quite a few places near me that have been doing that recently, mostly supermarkets. They've made loads more parent and child spaces and put those in the 'best' spots right close to the door and next to a path. The BB spaces have been moved to somewhere that's still close but in with the regular spaces and where there's no path and you have to cross traffic to get to the shop.
(Really bloody annoying for us as a large part of the reason my dd needs the BB is because she's a serious danger to herself anywhere near traffic)

but I do think blue badge are given to easily for people who don't really need them in the context of their disability and as a result, make it difficult for other disabled people who couldn't go where they intend to go without the space and close proximity.

That's nonsense in my experience. I don't have a blue badge but in helping family members I cared for to apply it was far from an easy process.

I'm interested to know which disabilities that qualify people for a blue badge , you feel are undeserving of them?

I’m saying this in the nicest ‘not meant in a mean’ way I can. Please don’t start ‘disabled top trumps’. I have a disabled son whose condition isnt always obvious. More than once I have been yelled at by someone else wanting to use the parking bay I’m in for him. I try to ignore but it gets him upset and now I just refuse to explain why I’m using that space. He has his blue badge and that should be enough. We always use other spaces if he is able to that day but when he needs them we use spaces for the disabled and now I simply don’t explain to anyone why anymore.

ha, fairlylea... ds is the same, though no blue badge here.

Dd can walk a reasonable amount, but not quite enough to ttravel everywhere like others. some times I am heard muttering there should be an interim badge for those who don't quite need a blue badge, but do need a parking space at a destination that requires most people to walk or use a bus. (autism for no bus use, hypermobility for variable walking) like a second tier badge. not the nearest places, just a place.

Anyone who thinks getting a blue badge is easy has obviously never had to fight for one who needs it

but I do think blue badge are given to easily for people who don't really need them in the context of their disability and as a result, make it difficult for other disabled people who couldn't go where they intend to go without the space and close proximity

This is SUCH bollocks.

The thing is that you wouldn't feel guilty if there were always enough BB spaces for those who need them. The solution isn't to provide different types of spaces, but to provide enough spaces that there are always some spare, and to enforce the restrictions and penalise those without a BB who use a BB space.

@Dontdisturbmenow Try telling my husband (and his ex wife) that! They both waited 9 weeks after their applications before phoning and being told that supplying the information asked for, which included names of hospital consultants and GPs, was not enough, and they needed printouts of medical records as well. I'm glad it IS as difficult as it is, because it weeds out those not entitled, but it didn't help my husband who had to work out whether he'd be able to manage to get in anywhere we were going, or whether he'd have to sit in the car while I went in. It had a massive effect on my life as well, because there were lots of places we couldn't go to because we couldn't park near enough for him to manage. If you have to park 200 yards away from a supermarket, for example, you might manage to walk that, but it's 200 yards less you can walk once you get in there.

I'm a badge holder but can walk but need to fully open the car door to get in and out otherwise my legs get tangled up

@Dontdisturbmenow, blue badges are not given easily at all and who are you too judge ,my son has just been awarded high rate care and high rate mobility under SMI rules which automatically qualifies him for a blue badge it was a hard won decision at a tribunal it certainly isn't given easily .

I wasn't proposing different badges just different sized spaces. Nothing that has been said convinces me this would be a bad thing.

People who need the large spaces would use them. Those who don't would use the smaller spaces. It doesn't need to be policed just users being courteous to other users.

My father has a blue badge. He is not a wheelchair user but does need extra space as limited mobility means he needs to open the door fully to get in and out, which would be impossible in a narrower space.

I sort of get your point, but I don’t see how it would work in practice for people who don’t have mobility equipment but do have other needs that mean they require more space.

IMO, it wouldn’t work - do you know OP, what percentage of people with BB don’t need wide spaces? If it’s an insignificant number, then what is the point?

As pp have said, what about those whose needs fluctuate? Apart from the fact DD has LD and flings the car door wide open, some days she does not have a seizure while out and is ok. Another day, she will and one of us might have to go back to the car to get the wheelchair for her; or she’s so out of it, we have to put her selt belt on for her - which can be a struggle if she has sat on it and can’t understand a word we say!

The real problem we have is that we can rarely get a BB space where we live; as many companies do not provide 4% of BB spaces per guidelines - and they are not going to, as they can cram more ordinary paying customers in!

Surely all that is needed is more disabled spaces which are all suitably wide?

Or even better get rid of most parent and child spaces and convert them to disabled parking then hopefully nobody would be unable to go out because they couldn’t park in a suitable space for their disability

Lots of people without wheelchairs need wider spaces. Ds needs it for behaviour around the car and safely physically assisting him in and out of the car. This would end with people challenging those without wheelchairs about using the spaces.
If there aren't enough spaces then more spaces need to be created.

I understand where you’re coming from. But the issue would be if they had 3 much larger spaces with extra space to the rear etc for ramps and then say 10 smaller but equally big enough at 2 sides to open doors fully blue badge spaces instead of 11 of the largest sized spots it’d be fine as long as there were never more than 3 wheelchair users at one time.. or any inconsiderate person who parked in those largest spots because they were closer. Or there fancy jag doesn’t deserve a possible scratch.

So ultimately 11 all equally suitable spaces guarantees a lower chance of someone being stuck with a space that doesn’t meet their needs.

Blue badges are definitely not easy to get here, dgm has been turned down twice despite the fact she can’t walk up her garden path and uses a mobility scooter or zimmer.

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

Tbf, OP, you're not obliged to use a disabled space at all on days when you can cope without.

The only alteration to the scheme I would like to see is a temporary badge for people with a short term need, eg post surgery recovery period.

They could easily be policed with the right technology, say a readable chip embedded in the card.

If companies thought they could get away with smaller disabled bays, that is all they would ever provide.

Someone pulls up and only needs the smaller space but they're all full. Do you propose they use the bigger space they're entitled to or feel guilty and park further away?

Before my parent was a wheelchair user but was still disabled with a blue badge we still needed the space to open the car door fully as they couldn't bend their legs enough otherwise.