To find this odd ? Disabled parking spaces.

[itsgettingwierd]

So today ds and I travelled to a sporting event for para sport somewhere we've not been before.

We knew there were lots of public car parks.

So we arrive, park, and I do to the machine to buy a ticket for 4-6 hours.

Note: car park is 24 hours and all ticket options available.

At the machine it says blue badge holders get 3 hours free. Fab I think and ask the attendant if I have to come back after the 3 hours to pay for the remaining time or how does it work.

Nope - I'm allowed 3 hours in the car park only. That's it.

It seemed really odd to me. My county allows 3 hours only if you park on double yellows which I've never done but all car parks you've paid as everyone does and can have as long as you need. At sports centres we've never been limited to time and it's been free like it's free to everyone.

The attendants reasoning was "to make it fair". But I don't get that. How's it's fair if you're disabled you can only stay somewhere for 3 hours but if you're able bodied you can stay all day?

I'd be happy to pay as don't think disability is a reason to need free parking - but it is a reason to need accessible parking so you can actually get out of the car!

Wouldn't that be a dream . Proportionally tho only disabled users could use them . Meaning less spaces for everyone else . Also not appropriate. The ideal situation for both us disabled folk and abled folk is make more both use car parking spaces accessible. Not just disabled so some extra wide ones that can be used by both

@Rhumatoidwarrior88

You can move to another space and pay . But it would have to be a regular bay which isn't ideal for wheelchair or aid users. It's an odd rule but yes a fair one too . If disabled spaces are used all day then other disabled users don't get the same opportunity to use.

Write to your council for clarification or private car park owner about what options you have.

Sorry his happened . Often it's almost as tho we can't possibly leave the house and live independently without some barrier

How is it a remotely fair rule?

Why is it ok that people can pay for normal bays all day, but not disabled bays?

Why should the OP’s son, for example, only be able to go to an event for three hours whereas mine could go all day?

It’s blatant discrimination. If there are not enough bays for people to use all day then they need to make more bays. Not discriminate against people.

@Rhumatoidwarrior88

Wouldn't that be a dream . Proportionally tho only disabled users could use them . Meaning less spaces for everyone else . Also not appropriate. The ideal situation for both us disabled folk and abled folk is make more both use car parking spaces accessible. Not just disabled so some extra wide ones that can be used by both

You mean extra-wide spaces for the considerate Chelsea Tractor brigade to ‘share’ with children and adults who are disabled?

It’s actually depressing how many people here who claim to be disabled are happy for other disabled people to be diminished and are actually ableist in their beliefs that disablef children and adults should accept that their lot in life should be less than fair and that we/they really shouldn’t be an inconvenience to the non-disabled. It’s like we should be Uriah Heap-grateful for any crumbs of compassion and consideration that society cares to throw our way - when we’re not being an obstacle to all the important non-disabled folks going about their daily business.

The fact people can’t see it is discrimination shows just how far we have to go.

@Akire

The fact people can’t see it is discrimination shows just how far we have to go.

It's ridiculous. How can it NOT be discrimination. Some people need to go and look up the definition.

As I sit here recovering from a total hip replacement I understand why I don't comment on these threads. Id love every space to be disabled but it won't and can't it's impossible. Try leaving a Mumsnet. Thread once in a while and lobbying with disabled people like myself and charities and MPs trying to do this exact thing and learn a bit about geography and city spaces . Lobby for restrictions on government selling spaces to private car parks . Lobby the people that matter. Not disabled people on Mumsnet who are empathetic to your issue initially suggesting a option of contacting your car park space providers for clarity on rules or options.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

If disabled spaces are used all day then other disabled users don't get the same opportunity to use.

Then they need more disabled spaces. People using the other spaces get to stay all day meaning that others don't get the same opportunity to use. It is NOT fair, it is discriminatory and if someone chose to take it up it is almost certainly illegal.

This. Illegal. But do people have the energy to complain when it's so fucking ubiquitous?

This. Illegal. But do people have the energy to complain when it's so fucking ubiquitous?

This thread has motivated me to watch out for such situations (no one I drive with has a blue badge, so I haven't previously realised ).
I would happily take this up, I have some experience working with people with disabilities so have a confident knowledge of the Equality Act.

@Rhumatoidwarrior88

As I sit here recovering from a total hip replacement I understand why I don't comment on these threads. Id love every space to be disabled but it won't and can't it's impossible. Try leaving a Mumsnet. Thread once in a while and lobbying with disabled people like myself and charities and MPs trying to do this exact thing and learn a bit about geography and city spaces . Lobby for restrictions on government selling spaces to private car parks . Lobby the people that matter. Not disabled people on Mumsnet who are empathetic to your issue initially suggesting a option of contacting your car park space providers for clarity on rules or options.

You stated that the 3 hour rule (that only applies to disabled spaces) was a fair option.

Regardless of your circustances you cannot expect your sentence stating that outright discrimination is fair not to be challenged.

And well done for assuming no-one else challenges or fights anything. I'd imagine that, like myself, multiple people on this thread do exactly that. Whilst not holding the belief that that specific discrimination is 'fair'.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

This. Illegal. But do people have the energy to complain when it's so fucking ubiquitous?

This thread has motivated me to watch out for such situations (no one I drive with has a blue badge, so I haven't previously realised ).
I would happily take this up, I have some experience working with people with disabilities so have a confident knowledge of the Equality Act.

Radio 2 had a piece about the emergency pull cords in toilets, I didn't hear the cause behind it (if anyone knows please let me know) but heard the thrust that was the red alarm strings were often tied up so they didn't touch the floor for 'hygiene ' but if they were tied up and a disabled person fell on the floor they wouldn't be able to reach the emergency cord. I now check toilets and highlight the issue. But I have the time. Rhuma suggestion that the op should be doing more is further proof that they are devoid from reality.

@itsgettingwierd

• Blue Badge holders can park for free in designated disabled spaces in surface car parks • For non-disabled bays standard charges apply • Maximum stay in a designated disabled bay in a car park is three hours • Parking is chargeable for all users in our multi-storey car parks

This is from the website of the council.

It's clear. Max stay is 3 hours.

But it doesn't say that you can't change disabled bay if you need to stay longer than 3 hours.

For street parking there is usually a "no return within [2] hours" sign.

Their instructions do not say this. And any ambiguity is interpreted in favour of the customer. Of course, the ambiguity should not exist in the first place and it would be much easier just to say that if you need more than 3 hours you pay for it.

@itsgettingwierd

Makes me so mad! I actually wish there was a way of doing blue badges into two catagories - one for space and one for needing to be close to the shops/venue - I will walk as long as you want through the car park with my daughter but we NEED the space at the side to get her in and out! :(

That's actually a really good idea.

And for those of us who need space and have that badge a simple being allowed to park in the middle of 2 spaces would suffice. And all those abled bodied people on this thread out there who just think we should park in a normal space and pay won't mind that it may impact their ability to park of disabled people take up 2 spaces. They'll happily accept that they need to make that compromise to their day out to share.

They've made it clear they think so

Wouldn't matter the distance as you said.

OP I know you said it in jest/sarcasm - the park in the middle of 2 spaces thing....

But I think you might be onto something there, seriously.

Overnight you could radically change the number of SPACE accessible parking spaces.

You need to contact a disability charity and get them to campaign for a change to the Highway Code and parking rules. Then any car that displays a blue badge could park like this, legitimately, legally, ethically.

It's a game changer.

Add in an awareness raising campaign and you'd make a massive difference for so many people.

Yes, BH holders SHOULD be able to straddle 2 bays without penalty.(assuming they can find 2 together) But if the car park charges BB holders, they should only pay for a single bay.
Twats who NEED to park their precious porsche in the middle of 2 bays have to buy 2 tickets!

Well today we travelled to an event.

Not sport but an actual day out that didn't involve his training 🤣

And guess what. We could park in the 24 hour car park adjacent like everyone else and pay the same as everyone else and in the disabled bay.

Glad to see other counties like mine do this (this was 2 counties away)

It's just so refreshing when we find we have the same rules and opportunities.

But we shouldn't feel grateful for it. It should just be the done thing.

But still at the number of posters who think disabled people have to share or it's unfair and abled bodied people don't.

We are clearly a less selfish bunch by nature

But it doesn't say that you can't change disabled bay if you need to stay longer than 3 hours.

For street parking there is usually a "no return within [2] hours" sign.

Their instructions do not say this. And any ambiguity is interpreted in favour of the customer. Of course, the ambiguity should not exist in the first place and it would be much easier just to say that if you need more than 3 hours you pay for it.

True it didn't. But the attendant who was patrolling and being diligent said I couldn't.

Fantastic to know in future if rules aren't clear like this I can fight it and it would favour me. (Not sure I need the stress through!)

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

This. Illegal. But do people have the energy to complain when it's so fucking ubiquitous?

This thread has motivated me to watch out for such situations (no one I drive with has a blue badge, so I haven't previously realised ).
I would happily take this up, I have some experience working with people with disabilities so have a confident knowledge of the Equality Act.

Thankyou. We do need more people who don't have to struggle to try and understand and stand with us.

This thread shows how many people this doesn't affect who find it fair game we are discriminated against.

Worse still because they are afraid it'll mean more BB spaces in car parks!