Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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:
Underhisi · 05/01/2020 07:29

Ds has one under smi rules. Our main reason for going for hrm was to get the badge. Unfortunately for adults there is no automatic link so I am glad it is has been made clearer legally that some people with autism need a badge.

notsohippychick · 05/01/2020 07:32

under although in my county the badges are being refused left right and centre! Another fight we have to fight! I got one because I challenged the initial decision. No new evidence I just asked them to look at it again and they issued one.

It’s all a mess here!

Pulpfiction1 · 05/01/2020 07:32

God this debate again.

I have bb and a baby. Sometimes I park in p&c if there arnt many bb left so as to save them for bb holders without kids. Sometimes I park in p&c because its closer to the trolleys. Sometimes I park in p&c because they are the first spaces I get too.

Obvs people with bb can park where they like. Alough I agree it's a bit off to use p&c just because you can when there are loads of bb spaces that are no different and you don't have kids. It's seems like taking somthing away from other people just cause you are entitled too.

But as a side note - p&c spaces are for parents with young kids. Not people who feel they should have a bb but don't. Either you have a bb so park where you like - or you don't so park in the appointed space.

Underhisi · 05/01/2020 07:47

notsohippychick I know. You have to be very careful with your wording and even then prepared to be turned down the first time. We had that when applying for hrm under smi rules. No one who knows our son would think he didn't qualify but we still had to go to MR.

Pulpfiction1 I disagree. There are lots of severely disabled people without BB. They are still entitled to reasonable adjustment. We had an older child who was profoundly disabled with severe challenging behaviour and used a wheelchair for safety but didn't have a BB. There was no way someone with a young kid but without anyone in a car having a disability, needed the space more.

Bl3ss3dm0m · 05/01/2020 07:50

I am disabled so have a BB. I use an electrically powered wheelchair, and therefore have a Motability wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV). On windy days my DH has to take into account what way the wind is blowing, or it could damage the ramp for my wheelchair, therefore in the scenario that you mention OP we may have to park on the P&C side of accessible spaces, rather than the BB side - sorry. Also, as a PP mentioned, if there is even a barely noticeable slope (especially if it has an awkward camber too), then I feel as if my wheelchair is going to tip over, and get very scared, so if that affects the BB spaces (which it often does at motorway services for some reason), my husband will park wherever else there is a wide enough space to get my wheelchair alongside my passenger door, and that has less of a slope/camber - again, sorry.

Underhisi · 05/01/2020 07:51

And yes it is now easier for children and adults like my son to get a blue badge but some councils are still arses about it and so in the meantime whilst they are fighting, they should have any reasonable adjustments that enable them to have as normal a life as possible.

x2boys · 05/01/2020 07:53

We had to.go to.a tribunal to get high rate mobility under SMI rules @Underhisi Hmm

Underhisi · 05/01/2020 07:59

They initially said no to us because ds has a safespace bed which means he can be left awake alone for short periods. They tried to argue this meant he didn't need constant supervision and so failed to qualify under that criteria. I had to go searching for case law. Bloody ridiculous. I know a few who have to go to tribunal and then had the decision changed.

SirChing · 05/01/2020 08:08

OP as a disabled person with a Blue Badge and a daughter with autism, I think it is shocking that you are more bothered about being "judged", by random people who you will probably never see again, than you are about your child's safety.

My disability is not visible. I don't give a single shit what anyone thinks of my parking in a disabled space. I know I need the BB and so do the council. They are the only people whose opinion matters. Protect your child appropriately for heavens sake.

Celticrose · 05/01/2020 09:08

I take my mum who has a blue badge shopping and will only park in the parent and child space if the disabled spaces are all gone as I know the disabled spaces can only be used by blue badge holders. I will move the car if a disabled space becomes free. This particular situation is only once a week for this shopping centre. I admit I do feel guilty about it but mum needs the extra space to open her door

FarTooSkinny · 05/01/2020 09:52

I'm ttc - can I use a P&C space?

Pulpfiction1 · 05/01/2020 10:03

There was no way someone with a young kid but without anyone in a car having a disability, needed the space more.

It's not about needing the space more. The shop put them there for parents with young kids that's their choice and so thats who they are for.

Fwiw I think there should be a 3rd space for ill/infirm/old that can be self regulated like p&c.

my2bundles · 05/01/2020 10:25

Penny you need to research autism, and by that I don't mean watching rain man. If you had any experience of caring for a child with no awareness of dangers, who bolts without warning and who has severe meltdowns you would understand exactly why parents of autistic children/teenagers need the extra space.

my2bundles · 05/01/2020 10:36

Pulp.The PC spaces are actually a marketing ploy. Anybody can use them esp the elderly or disabled because they are not legally required unlike bb spaces.

nowayhose · 05/01/2020 10:42

IMO it's basic manners to NOT take a parking space which has been put there for certain reasons.
i.e I would NOT use a parent and child space if I was a blue badge holder, nor would I use a blue badge parking bay if I had young children.

I don't agree that you can 'mix and match' these special bays at all, they are CLEARLY marked for specific users. If there is no suitable bay free, then they wait for one to become free, just like everyone else has to do.

Misscromwellrocks · 05/01/2020 10:45

I have no problem with p&c spaces as long as they're not right up beside the door of the supermarket. When they are damn right disabled, elderly and temporarily unwell or infirm people should be entitled to use them.

SinkGirl · 05/01/2020 10:46

Apply for a blue badge - we have one for our twin whose only diagnosis is ASD (still haven’t gotten around to applying for the other who has more disabilities as they are usually in the car together, but it’s on my to do list now EHCPs are done).

my2bundles · 05/01/2020 10:48

Norway hose do you actually have or need a blue badge? Because if you don't how can you possibly say what you eould or wouldn't do? Your post makes no sense, parents legally carnt use the bb spaces unless they have a blue badge anyway. PC spaces are a courtesy and a marketing ploy, I don't think I want to know a parent who would deny an elderly, inform or disabled person using those spaces.

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 05/01/2020 10:49

Oh please noway, are you actually saying there’s a comparison between having kids and being disabled? Disabled people NEED extra wide spaces closer to the doors or they can’t go into shops, etc. It’s just more CONVENIENT for those with children.

C130 · 05/01/2020 10:51

The difference is that a bb holder can use a parent and child space, where as you would need a bb to use a disabled parking space. What this has to do with manners is neither here nor there.

Pulpfiction1 · 05/01/2020 10:51

@my2bundles

I'm fully aware they are a marketing ploy and just a courtesy. That's my point. The shop put them there for parents with children. Yes they may be people that need them more, but that's not who they are there for. They are there for parents with children. It might not be fair but that's what the shop has decided to do.

The fact is if you can't get a bb you should just manage with a normal space. The p&c spaces are there for parents with children. If you think its unfair then campaign for a 3rd space.

candycane22 · 05/01/2020 10:53

Are the parent bays closer than the disabled bays?

candycane22 · 05/01/2020 10:54

Sorry you answered that already

my2bundles · 05/01/2020 10:55

Deary me. They are not legally enforced therefore anybody can park in them . No one needs to campaign for anything.

Misscromwellrocks · 05/01/2020 10:57

How can someone with a bb badge 'just manage with an ordinary space?'

What an ignorant comment.

Swipe left for the next trending thread