To think it is appalling Asda are using disabled spaces?

[NightSpot]

For their click and collect orders?

Our Asda has a hut in the middle of the carpark. During lockdown understandably this became busy and was blocking the flow of traffic so they moved click and collect to the side of the store. All fine.

Went to get my order for the first time ina few weeks and realise they have now moved it to the other side of the carpark.. using the disabled bays as the collection point.

Yes, they have other disabled bays, but as I understood it they needed a certain amount or they wouldnt have been originally installed? When questioned, they said it was because they are only using one of the entrances, "hardly anyone " was using them. Surely that is not the point? They are there for a reason! And the queues to the entrance they are using are quite often up to these ones anyway so the person would have to walk further to reach the end of the queue!

Things are different at the moment with the effects of Covid. Many who use the disabled spaces are still shielding, therefore not the same demand for them. Supermarkets have had to make changes because of the increase in Online and Click & Collect shopping. It is probably far more feasible to have Click & Collect as close to the store as possible.

I think this is a non issue and you are being rather “precious” about it. Are you just looking for something thing to complain about? You say that they have got other disabled spaces, so unless they are all full I really don’t see what the problem is? I was shopping earlier today (the 1st time in 4 months) and the disabled spaces at the 2 supermarkets I visited were less than half full! By the way I do have a Blue Badge!

Many who use the disabled spaces are still shielding

I am intrigued by this though, a lot of disabilities that cover someone for a blue badge aren't covered by shielding. Of course some who are disabled will have been advised to, but many many won't have, it's weird why people assume so.

'Precious' for wanting disabled bays to be used for the proper purpose? Christ, I've seen it all now.

This may be a temporary measure due to the current pandemic? Click and collect is in high demand due to the restrictions in place.

My dad is sheilding due to severe copd and his wife has found supermarket click and collect invaluable. This group of vulnerable people have to be given consideration.

Complaints would have weight if customers are unable to find a vacant disabled space.
Disabled people are treated appalling in other instances; benefits awarded for disabilities are a disgrace for example.
I just don't think this is an issue if there are always available spaces elsewhere.

There are not always empty bb spaces, you just notice empty ones when you can’t park!
This is an old argument that’s been recycled on here for years.

I think there's been some kind of emergency situation. You may have heard of it.

I saw your post and thought surely hardly anybody could think you’re unreasonable - absolutely shocked by the poll results.

If the entrance they are close to is in fact closed it seems a sensible use of resources to me.

My twins have blue badges, I don’t give a crap how close they are to the store. We need a wider bay in a safe place, that’s all. The same is true for many blue badge holders. If there are many, we will not use the ones close to the entrance so are available for those for whom proximity is important.

Ever since COVID started it has been abundantly clear how little disabled people matter and that very few people give a shit. I’ve seen so many SM rants about the impact on various groups and the shocking detonation of disabled people’s rights, access to social care and education and accessibility is scarcely mentioned. Until of course someone wants to exploit mask exemptions, then they’re all about disability rights. Disgusting.

Of course YANBU OP but this is Mumsnet where ableism is not just tolerated but the norm.

I think there's been some kind of emergency situation. You may have heard of it.

And there’s no other possible solution that doesn’t involve reducing access for disabled people? What about P&C spaces which aren’t legally required? Of course not. Can’t inconvenience parents, but fuck disabled people.

Tesco were using their disabled changing room as a storeroom. I asked to use it and they demanded to know what my disability was. Even though it was full of junk anyway, you couldn’t even open the door with all the stuff and it had a padlock and chain on.

At least the disabled people in your scenario have other options.

And there’s no other possible solution that doesn’t involve reducing access for disabled people?

Has the access actually been reduced though?

The OP states that some disabled bays have been closed, but there are still bays available. Unless those bays are constantly full and they cannot shop, which would suggest that the closed bays are necessary as there is no longer enough provision for the number of disabled shoppers to use then the number of bays may be reduced but the access isnt actually reduced.

I work in a supermarket. We have 40 disabled bays in two areas either side of the doors. I have never seen every single disabled bay full at one time. Currently the emptiest part of our carpark are the two areas of disabled bays as many f our regular customers who use them are shielding/elderly and they are still not shopping in store.

Our local hospital uses the disabled bays for material storage when work is being done.
It causes a lot of problems for patients who need them.

@LastTrainEast

I think there's been some kind of emergency situation. You may have heard of it.

Do you think? Gosh.

I personally can’t imagine a single solution that doesn’t involve fucking over disabled people.....

As usual disabled people are low on the priority list.
I would like to remind people that you can become disable at any age.
It might not be you now but you never know!

Having now had to use a wheelchair for a couple of decades I really understand the need for disabled access and parking. I also really know the "non disabled peoples lack of interest and concern.

May I just say that BB holders can get to all sorts of areas that have opened up if they have a car and a willing partner if they do not drive. Just going shopping is hardly the most fun thing to do. I think it makes far greater sense to let someone else do the shopping if they will and get out into other areas for a bit of pleasure. I have never really seen shopping as pleasure and surely we all have to be a bit more understanding of supermarkets right now. Many of their staff have worked long hours and we need to acknowledge they may not get everything right but they have worked hard and supplied us with food. If unused slots are reduced for a bit, then that's OK right now.

YABU and a martyr for no reason.

They told you they weren't being used and they always make more than the minimum amount anyway.

wouldn't worry about it - most people using the disabled bays here park in the parent and child bays if there aren't any specified disabled bays

@pigoons

wouldn't worry about it - most people using the disabled bays here park in the parent and child bays if there aren't any specified disabled bays

And rightly so as they are very much entitled to do so

MyOmy** are you always that patronising to people with disabilities? What about (and this May shock you) people who work and have disabilities? People who live on their own? People without access to help?

Yes why would someone who is disabled have the audacity to want to go out shopping, how selfish. Cripes, it's scary that some people feel this way in real life.

Tesco and B&Q locally have been using the disabled bays as a queuing system into the store. Tesco went one step further and put all the trollies in the parent and children spaces.

The shopping has to be brought from the store to the customer do you suggest that the click and collect should be at the back of the car parks ? The Disabled bays are closest to the store therefore it makes sense to use them. I have yet to see every disabled space full in any supermarket car park and yes my DH does have a blue badge and never goes near a supermarket car park on his own

@Badbadbunny

Supermarket car parks are generally a lot quieter these days due to people not shopping as often or buying online, so there's less need for the number of disabled/child spaces. I presume they've not blocked them all in the store you're referring to? Could you not actually park near the entrance at all - was it that busy and were there no other disabled spaces?

Our car park is pretty full most of the time. There are the usual disabled spaces but the click and collect do not use these its in a different area. It's a large car park like most supermarket car parks no need to.use bb spaces. No need to make things more difficult for people to access the shop at all.

And for goodness sake a huge majority of people who have a disability do not need to shield. How narrow minded are people on here?

You can look at it both ways not ideal but by expanding click and collect many people including many disable and shielding can benefit rather than 1 person using space

Since they let John Prescott be in charge of planning, most supermarkets have far too many disabled parking spaces. This makes life very difficult for people who have an intermittent disability but do not qualify for a blue badge.

Unless they are using ones right next to the door, it's probably not unreasonable.

@rwalker

You can look at it both ways not ideal but by expanding click and collect many people including many disable and shielding can benefit rather than 1 person using space

Agree