AIBU to park across two yellow disabled parking bays

[Worrysaboutalot]

AIBU to park across two yellow disabled parking bays, when :-

1. I have a blue badge
2. The private carpark owners told me to do so.
3. It is the only way to safely park in that location.

The reason being, their car park yellow spaces only have side hatching and no back hatching. So if I was to park my large car into one of their yellow spaces, I would have to hoist my powerchair directly onto a busy car parks road.

They have yellow spaces in sets of four at several locations in their carpark. (labelled D in green on the picture, S in blue are standard parking spaces) The purple car is their suggested place I should park, so I can safely hoist my chair into position marked with a purple cross.

There are 3000 car parking spaces in total on this site, with many yellow spaces but all set up as above in sets of four at the end of every row.

However it worries me for two reasons. 1. I am using a second space and that means I might be preventing another blue badge owner from parking and 2. I am worried that my car might be damaged because of the 'bad parking' and I am only leasing it, it needs to be returned in a good condition.

Any suggestions? As I have many reasons that I need to park at this location and this is the only carpark.

With all the above taken into account, AIBU to park as suggested?

I think as op says she is new to this then it's fine to use both spaces. Once she gets used to it then maybe she'll feel comfortable parking with nose in.
You've been given permission to use both bays op, it absolutely fine.
Make sure to have a sign stating you need clearance at the back for a wheelchair hoist

Could the car park owners print a paper sign for you on their headed paper to display in your car?

It might give you more confidence if the sign is 'official'.

Something like 'This vehicle has permission from car park company name to occupy two spaces due to its wheelchair hoist. Please contact the car park office on telephone number with any questions."'

Yes, I take the point that once I get better at parking and quicker at using the hoist, I might feel better at hoisting straight into the car park road but atm I am very new to the hand adaptions and everything is that bit harder at the moment.

Good idea about getting the car parking company to give me offical sign. I will ask.

I also take the point, that they should make better provision on a permanent basis. My initial suggestion was too repaint two of the four spaces, to make an offical longer space for larger car (with blue badge) and those with ramps/hoists. But that would require more effort and reduce their ratio requiring more yellow spaces to be painted. Which they will not do on one person's request.

I will try their interim suggestion and see if it works for me, at least for a start.

Their space isn’t legally compliant.

And when they make their disabled bays compliant they need to take the space from other bays, not reduce the number of Blue Badge bays.

Notice for now though.

But disabled people shouldn’t have to deal with all this extra worry and faff.

Sympathy OP.

@UpTheJunktion Are the yellow spaces required to have the back hatching?

I ask as the councils dentist has neither side nor back hatchings (next on my list to ring) Uckily my parents dropped me in my chair and my daughter off at this location.

However if anyone parked next to me, I could not exit or re-enter my car. They have 3 of these spaces but in reality it would make one disabled space with side and back hatching. One space I can access is miles better than 3 which I can't access.

Then I need to deal with my dentist, who has suggested on numerous occasions that I park on their disabled space (as I have a large car with 4 kids) which I NEVER took them up on. I parked on the nearby roads sometimes needs a few minutes walk but that was fine then.
But as that space is always full with a car without a blue badge, they must tell everyone to park there. Unsure how to approach it, as it is their private carpark which I presume is up to them if they offer yellow spaces or not.

Guess I need to read up on who should be providing what, make a list and have a chat with my local councillor and local mp.

You need the extra space.

It’s bad enough lifting Ds wheelchair out of the boot when spaces don’t have the clear hatching at the back so I certainly wouldn’t judge someone with a hoist needing the double space.

Like many disabled facilities most blue badge parking is a tick box for the number rather than actually thought out how they can be of use to those who need them

Is the car park "monitored" by a private parking company? If it is, be prepared to be invoiced by the scammers who treat the Equality Act with total comtempt. If this is the case, raise it with the landowner before you get scammed

In the nicest possible way, you’re worrying about nothing! When I had to drive a massive van, I had no choice but to park over 2 spaces like that as it would overhang way too far if not. No one ever said anything. You’ll be fine and if anyone says anything you can just quickly explain that you need to park like that to be able to access your vehicle.

By all means make signs specifically for this car park, with the management's number on it (no one will ring it – putting it will be enough!).

But I'd recommend making a generic sign saying: "Rear access required for wheelchair hoist" and using it permanently. May save you a lot of grief.

BTW, Worrysaboutalot, you sound absolutely lovely, and very, very thoughtful of other people.

Right now you need some consideration from other people back to you! You ARE the person these facilities exist for!

You say there are many yellow-hatched spaces, and the (barely existent) plan of the car park management is that those who need rear access use two spaces, then don't hesitate.

Suggestion for convo with dentist:

"Hi dentist, you very kindly suggested I use your disabled space when parked my car with kids, but I never quite liked to in case a disabled person needed it. Well, such is life, I'm now the wheelchair user who needs it – but of course it's often occupied by someone who may have taken up your kind suggestion but doesn't actually need it. What shall we do?"

They may fall over themselves to help you at this point. You can always get snotty and legal later on if they don't.

Sorry you're having all this hassle.

@WiddlinDiddlin I’m sorry; that’s just insane to read that people are such complete and utter arseholes to someone already dealing with such a situation as trying to manoeuvre their wheelchair. I cannot even imagine a woman revving her engine at you - that’s when you wish a police officer had come around the corner and caught her at it, because there could be absolutely no excuse in the world for that kind of behavior.

We got a ticket once for parking across two spaces with our WAV. Blocked in so many, many times- which is stressful, but sometimes more for the person who's blocked us in, as occasionally they've ended up with a warning from from police when they've had an attitude about it.

We still park how we need to when nessessary, because there often isn't a choice. WAV + drive from wheelchair= no front drivers seat, so can't pull out to get in. We have signs asking politely for a gap to be left, and in certain places we're allowed to park out of a space by agreement after being blocked in for hours. It's all you can do.

If it's a workplace carpark or similar where it's usually the same people using it, I think the current arrangement may be better than making some of the disabled spaces double length. The double length spaces might just end up occupied by people who don't need the space at the back, but are still perfectly entitled to take that space because they have a blue badge. Lots of people would prefer the longer space without actually needing it.

Right, planning to print this out and place in front and rear windows.

"Authorised Disabled Parking Permit For Car Registration

This vehicle has permission from to occupy TWO yellow disabled spaces.

As driver requires two metres of access behind the vehicle to offload motorised wheelchair.

Please contact the on with any questions."

Does that sound, OK. I will pop their logo on the top, from Facebook, as the permission is official.

These threads are always such an eye-opener to me. This all sounds so stressful when all you want to do is park your car and go someplace. I'm sorry it's so hard.

In reality what do you do if someone hasn't left you enough room for your hoist or ramp? Do you just have to wait till they come back? I guess if you're on your own you don't have much choice.

Yep, leaving the house requires military planning, and the logistics are incredibly fragile.

As soon as one element changes, like you find a builder's dumped a heap of sand at a critical dropped-kerb, the whole plan can fall over and you have to give up and go home without doing the job you came into town for.

@Rae36

These threads are always such an eye-opener to me. This all sounds so stressful when all you want to do is park your car and go someplace. I'm sorry it's so hard.

In reality what do you do if someone hasn't left you enough room for your hoist or ramp? Do you just have to wait till they come back? I guess if you're on your own you don't have much choice.

I know it is just crazy, isn't it.

Every tiny thing needs to be planned to the tiniest detail and things can be derailed by someone else's actions or a tiny step over 5cm!

Honestly, it is like living in a totally different world. One which I was totally unaware until I fell to pieces physically last year.

Certainly no 'popping to the shops' for me any more! Unless I REALLY need something, lol

I promised to take my oldest to the cinema tonight. If we make it there and back and park reasonably, it will be a miracle.

But I have to try, what is the alternative. Plus I had to pre pay for the tickets, so I am committed. No idea what happens if I can't park. Guess I go home and eat the cost of the cinema tickets.

But I have to try, what is the alternative.

THIS!

Good luck for tonight. Hope the stars align and a lovely time is had by all.

@PerkingFaintly

Yep, leaving the house requires military planning, and the logistics are incredibly fragile.

As soon as one element changes, like you find a builder's dumped a heap of sand at a critical dropped-kerb, the whole plan can fall over and you have to give up and go home without doing the job you came into town for.

Crossed with you whilst writing my long post.

Yes, a van parked across the whole pavement, earlier this week. I asked him to move, as I needed to cross at this point. He wanted to know why the other (higher ) drop kerbs weren't suitable, so I explained.

He then moved his van in a u turn ONTO the opposite drop kerb which I needed to cross up onto! Honestly, why! So I had him to move again, whilst we waiting IN the road.

All this happened whilst me and my youngest two kids were stood (or sat in my case) in the pouring rain. Just walking 5 minutes home from primary school.

Things shouldn't be this hard.

Thank you. I reckon after the last year I have had, I deserve some good luck

I think I've seen some of your other threads. You really bloody do!

[quote PerkingFaintly]I think I've seen some of your other threads. You really bloody do!

Hope you get to the cinema tonight op. I've not been in ages. Anything good on?

Mainly reruns, not been in months. First time going since the cinemas reopened.

Just nice to get out of the house under my own steam

Got drinks, snacks and my laminated car notices. I will put one in the front window screen with my blue badge and one will have to go on the outside back window under the window wipes, once parked.