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

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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?

Oh I'm entitled even tho I'm advcoating for everyone with additional needs. Yeah that makes sense , not.

If parents has additional needs in tne same way that people with disabilities do then tne October soaces would be a requiremental by law and protected. The fact is they are not. If a parent uses oxigen then surely they would have a blue badge, if a parent is suffering after a couple section then use tne PC soaces or if it's that bad try applying for a temp blue badge . Being a parent a dealing with normal parental duties eg car seats etc does not come under additional needs. If it did like I said tne spaces would be a requiremental by law, they are not.

Excuse tne insane autocorrect 😂

Parent spaces aren't a thing. I have 3 DC. At one point all 3 were all under 3 years old. I have never used a parent space. Use a different space.

If I accepted my disabled child's lot and made do with the shite provision that people with his disabilities are generally given, he would have zero quality of life so I chose not to do that.
I don't bow and scrape. I do everything that is lawful to give him a decent quality of life. If others choose not do that, that is their choice.

Well said underhis

It’s the businesses that permit blue badge owners to park in p&c spaces

We're not talking about people with bb using p&c - we're talking about people without bb using p&c because they feel they need the space even though they don't qualify for bb.

Nope. He wasn’t considered eligible because he didn’t actually need it.

And you know that how? You should know that some people are in a grey area and can still get a bb even when they don't have top rate mobility allowance or meet the standard criteria. But as I said we didn't persue it because we managed to make do without - and not once did we park in p&c because they are not for infirm people that don't have a bb.

We're not talking about people with bb using p&c - we're talking about people without bb using p&c because they feel they need the space even though they don't qualify for bb.

I think you’ll find that people ARE actually arguing that those with blue badges shouldn’t use the spaces. 🤷‍♀️

And you know that how?

Erm, because you already stated they said he wasn’t eligible. 🤷‍♀️ 🤷‍♀️

@Underhisi

I don't really understand what relevance that has. You're entitled to use p&c with your child.

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

well that worked out well, didn't it? If you don't want to start a debate it's probably not a great idea to start a thread in AIBU about one of the top 10 most divisive subjects on MN.

Yanbu it's annoying. I can't open the rear door open wide enough to get my baby and her car seat out in so many normal spaces, I really need the p&c spaces. In the scenario you describe I'd be fuming if a bb holder had taken the last p&c space when there were bb spaces available... meaning I'd likely have to turn around and go home.

Erm, because you already stated they said he wasn’t eligible.

No I didn't I said we read the criteria and felt he didn't really fit. We never applied so were never told no - we decided not to pursue it.

I think you’ll find that people ARE actually arguing that those with blue badges shouldn’t use the spaces.

I don't think anyone said someone with a bb shouldn't use a p&c space if they feel they need to. People have said some bb holders seem to use them for the sake of it or just because they can, which is rather selfish. But the conversation currently is more in regards to people with bb using them because they feel they need them even though they don't actually qualify for a bb.

"I don't really understand what relevance that has. You're entitled to use p&c with your child."

He is 15 so according to your criteria no actually I am not. He will also be equally disabled when in a few years he is an adult so presumably in your eyes, definitely not.

OP, loads of the elderly people in my town do this. It often seems to be very smart looking cars that do it, i commented on this to my own elderly father. He immediately said that of course, his friends with blue badges always do this because the disabled spaces are by a row of trees and they don't want birds pooing on their jags! He also pointed out that you see it less in summer in the same supermarket because those same trees provide shade on a hot day .

OK, I am posting here as a Blue Badge holder.
ALL my blue badge does is it allows me in my car or indeed anyone's vehicle to use "Space reserved for Blue badge holders in a marked/designated space" It does NOT give me the right to park where I like!! IE as one poster has said they have seen people parked on pavements, by dropped kerbs!! Etc. THES ARE CLEAR BREACHES OF THE LAW! And the best advice I can give is exactly what I would do. TAKE PICTURES of the badge, the vehicle reg. And one showing the offence and send it to the police via 101. And also a copy to the local blue badge issuing authority(Usually the local Council) And report the offence. It will be followed up I assure you.
Now the question of a suspected offence in a Supermarket/Private Car Park. Even easier! Report ut to the store itself!! Again with pictures if appropriate. Then IF the person is parked quite legitimately it just shows that you ARE looking our for others! But only the actual car park owner in this case can do anything about the problem. But 100 x of 100! The larger shops and supermarkets WILL have a Car Parking company watching the car park and I assure you they would be ONLY TOO HAPPY for you to report any miss-parking incidents! Like the person who reported me for occupying a blue badge space and NOT DISPLAYING my blue badge!! Unfortunately, I Was doing just that!! I was at that time resident in France! And the French Blue Badge was NOT like the UK one!! And they were MOST insistent I pay them £120 for disobeying the parking rules!! And I was Equally unhappy with the rubbish the company was spouting. So I said "SEE YOU IN COURT! But then said that my Postcode was not valid?? I ASSURED THEM IT WAS! AND so was the full address the vehicle was registered to. 53800. But, being much cleverer than me they didn't agree?? But Funnily enough, after I went back to the store nect time in the UK and went to B&M nd told the store manager the tale! Mum got no more mail??)
But the moral is that No-One is above the "LAW" Be it UK traffic law. Or TESCO/ASDA/B&M law!! 😊

Good Luck. 😉. (Yes, I AM a male!)

My apologies Pulp, I did misread what you said. I thought you had applied and been turned down.

As for those parking in p&c when disability parking spots are available, I can’t see them doing that unless they actually have a good reason, such as an incline that able bodied people wouldn’t notice, closer to the doors, if they’re easily tired, easier to get the trolly, so don’t have to walk too far from the car, etc. I doubt any of them park their just to inconvenience able bodied people for shits and giggles.

Yes, I AM a male

Unless you used your penis to type that post, which would be impressive, I don’t see the relevance of that.

YABU parent parking is not an entitlement, your snowflake will not be harmed having to be transported a bit further to the shop door

Parents survived for thousands of years without needing them.
OTOH it must be awful to hold a blue badge and not be able to park close to the shop.

Yes pulp we are talking about bb holders using PC spaces. The clue is right there in tne title of tthe OP. Floaty if you started fuming at a bb holder in a PC space you could be charged for abusing someone with a disability so don't try it.

Drabarni
Parent spaces are much wider to accommodate the need to fully extend the door to allow for removing babies and toddlers from car seats/in baby carriers. It did not used to be a requirement to use car seats or baby carriers which is why this did not use to be relevant.

The proximity to the store is just a nice plus.

Maybe the owner of the blue badge wasn’t actually in the car; a blue badge only entitles you to park in a space if the person named on the badge is there. It could be that the blue badge is used for a relative of the couple you saw getting out of the car who wasn’t present, in which case the couple weren’t entitled to use a disabled space regardless of having the badge in the car. However they may have their own mobility problems which meant the P&C space was more convenient than a regular space far from the store. I have blue badges for 2 of my children but I can’t park in disabled spaces if the children aren’t with me even if the blue badge is still in the car.

If you need access to disabled parking for your disabled children then you need to apply for a blue badge. You can’t choose not to apply for one and at the same time complain there wasn’t any available parking close to the store. Apply for a blue badge and you won’t have the problem in the future.

Car seats whetre required by law long before PC spaces where created.

What is it with posters RANDOMLY CAPITALISING WORDS on this thread?

What is it with posters RANDOMLY CAPITALISING WORDS on this thread?

Maybe his penis was inadvertently hitting the caps-lock key. I dress to the right
so mine tends
to catch the
carriage return now

and again.

Seriously, OP. If your DC meets the criteria for a BB, and it sounds as if he does, just apply for one. Only an arsehole would challenge someone using a BB, and who cares what they think?