Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People using blue badges in parent spaces, when disabled spaces are free!

251 replies

Pop2017 · 04/01/2020 13:17

Hi all, I don’t want to start a debate. If all disabled spaces are taken I have absolutely no problem with somebody with a blue badge using a parent parking bay. They are in greater need but yesterday in the supermarket, the majority of disabled spaces were free. Only 2 were taken yet someone with a blue badge parked in the parent spaces. I’ve seen this happen in the same place a few times.

The disabled and parent spaces are opposite each other with a path in the middle and pretty much equally as close to the shop so no difference there.

Both my children have autism, we don’t have a blue badge so I kinda rely on the parent spaces to get my kids in and out safely and close to the shop as my son is prone to bolting off.

Aibu to be annoyed?

Like I said I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if the disabled spaces were free but they pulled in to a parent space rather than a disabled?

OP posts:
ChristmasCarcass · 04/01/2020 16:45

It may not be illegal for them to park in P&C spaces, but YANBU if a) they knew they were parking in a P&C space not a BB space (I know several frail older drivers who frankly don’t have that level of situational awareness), and b) there was no difference in the spaces (and it may not be obvious to you, as people have said). It’s definitely dickish if it makes no difference to them and they do it on purpose anyway, but more than likely that isn’t the case here.

Plenty of non-BB holders park in P&C spaces, and this is no worse than that. For the sake of my blood pressure, I’d assume that if they are old and frail they got confused and thought it was a BB space. Now if anyone can find a reasonable explanation for white van men parking across two P&C spaces to eat their lunches, I’m all ears.

FarTooSkinny · 04/01/2020 16:51

Is there an age limit on parking in P&C spaces? My children are teenagers - is it ok to still use them?

ChristmasCarcass · 04/01/2020 17:15

Skinny it depends on the shop - some say under 5s, some don’t have any restrictions. And as people have said, it’s not legally binding anyway. Park there with teenagers if you want. Park there on your own. It’s between you and your conscience whether you are taking the piss or not.

messolini9 · 04/01/2020 17:22

Hi all, I don’t want to start a debate.

Says OP, posting a contentious topic on a chat website ...
What DID you want then, if you don't want people to discuss your topic?

clpsmum · 04/01/2020 17:26

I have a blue badge and it's co scantly on display. My son is a child with add that's why we have the badge but if parent and child spaces are free and closer/more convenient I'll park there as we qualify for that too!!

clpsmum · 04/01/2020 17:28

@Pop2017 btw get a blue badge and sod everybody that judges you. How dare they. It's none of their business. If a blue badge will help get one xxxxx

QuiQuaiQuod · 04/01/2020 17:34

Here we go again,. Theres already a thread about disabled people and its got disablist.

FrancisCrawford · 04/01/2020 17:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsbyers · 04/01/2020 17:49

How do you know the disabled bags were free when they parked up ?

PurpleDaisies · 04/01/2020 17:59

Being pissed off with someone displaying a blue badge parking wherever suits them best is pretty low.

Samcro · 04/01/2020 18:28

Another day on mn, another disability bashing thread

Namethecat · 04/01/2020 18:36

My dh has a blue badge . He does not need a wheelchair , but has heart problems and sight problems . We need to park fairly close to entrances but if there are ' normal ' parking spaces close by we do use them, as to leave the wide spaces available for wheelchairs.
If there were no other close ones , no disabled , and he was having a bad day, we would consider a p &c parking one.

abbs1 · 04/01/2020 19:07

I totally get where you are coming from but I have seen parents with children and non disabled people use designated disabled bays with no blue badge when other normal bays are full or they cant be bothered.
My father is disabled and has a badge but if there are no disabled bays I drop him at the front of the store and he waits at a bench while I go find a normal bay to park in. I wouldn't park in child and parent bays as those are not for disabled people.
I think some people use and abuse disabled badges and think they park wherever they feel like it but as I know how frustrating and infuriating it can be for other road users I always think twice where I park and make sure it's legal before parking whether my dad has a blue badge or not. I think some users think they can ignore all the rules of the road and parking just because they have a blue badge but they come with strict rules that not everyone abides by.

Marriedtoapenguin · 04/01/2020 19:14

There are some utter knobs with badges who think they can do whatever they want.

From my experience the more tenuous the claim to a badge the higher the sense of entitlement.

FarTooSkinny · 04/01/2020 19:24

it depends on the shop - some say under 5s, some don’t have any restrictions

Do I have to have my kids with me when I park in one. Or are they recompense for the pain of childbirth?

windycuntryside · 04/01/2020 19:26

Maybe the disabled person is a parent...... shocker , they parked in the parent spaces

PurpleDaisies · 04/01/2020 19:27

Do I have to have my kids with me when I park in one?

Of course you do. Just like the person with the blue badge has to be there when the badge is used for it to be valid.

youkiddingme · 04/01/2020 19:27

From my experience the more tenuous the claim to a badge the higher the sense of entitlement.

Do you know a LOT of disabled people and are privvy to full information as to the nature and severity of their disabilities as well as being in a position to make a fair and objective assesment of the degree of their sense of entitlement then? That would suggest you at least work closely with disabled people - but then would you call them 'utter knobs with badges'?

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 04/01/2020 19:32

From my experience the more tenuous the claim to a badge the higher the sense of entitlement

Really? And what is your experience of those who get badges? Which part of pips do you work in. Or are you just talking out of your arse so you can try to feel superior to those with disabilities? How’s that punching down, working out for you?

ChristmasCarcass · 04/01/2020 19:37

Do I have to have my kids with me when I park in one. Or are they recompense for the pain of childbirth?

As they are not legally binding, if you feel at ease parking in there on your own, knowing somebody with a baby will then have to try to try to wrestle her child out of the car seat and through a tiny gap in a normal parking space, you go for it.

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 04/01/2020 19:41

Do I have to have my kids with me when I park in one. Or are they recompense for the pain of childbirth?

I don’t think people are appreciative of your wee joke, FarTooSkinny, but I thought it was funny. 😁

Notthetoothfairy · 04/01/2020 19:43

I haven’t RTFT but I would absolutely apply for a blue badge if you’re entitled to one (it sounds like you need it). Your grandmother doesn’t need to know and it’s none of her business anyway unless she is offering to do all of your food shopping with your kids in tow. People probably would check for the blue badge first before challenging you.

FarTooSkinny · 04/01/2020 21:29

As they are not legally binding....

Cool. I'll be parking my massive 4x4 in one from now on. Even though my children have grown up and left home I fell I deserve it.

ChristmasCarcass · 04/01/2020 21:30

You wouldn’t be the first, skinny.

SuperMeerkat · 04/01/2020 22:34

@Pop2017 You seriously need to apply for a BB rather than getting your knickers in a twist over this. I have epilepsy and was recently awarded one and it’s been a god send. It’s a lot easier now the rules have changed for hidden disabilities.