To use disabled parking bays when on crutches?

[Glamgwen]

Boring parking question. I’m currently on crutches following on operation. I need to park in a multi-storey car park today (no other options) that doesn’t have a lift. I can’t manage stairs or slopes, so can only park on the ground floor but these spaces are all disabled. Would it be acceptable for me to park in one & leave a note in the window explaining the situation & giving my mobile number in case anyone with a blue badge needs the space? I should add that there are loads of disabled spaces & I’ve never known them all to be in use.

Find it impossible to believe all you like. But I am in a group for people with my rare condition and it's a story I hear time and again.

Yes, it's interesting how earlier in the thread it's "BBs aren't given out like sweeties" and "do you have any idea how hard they are to get?", but now it's like "I find it impossible to believe you didn't have one".

...

Plus, because it is rare, the average length of time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis, is 5 years . 5 years where you are without treatment, or understanding.

And that's just to get a diagnosis.

Battling to get PIP/blue badge is often at least as tough again.

And yet here I am in bed, like many with my condition there are long stretches where I can't even easily lift my head off the pillow, or swallow.

Quite.

In my area, a few years ago, the LA decided to use PIP Mobility Enhanced Rate as a qualifier for a BB. Anyone who had previously had a BB but did not subsequently receive that benefit had their application for renewal denied. Some also lost their motability cars.

My DD's, BB was due for its third or fourth renewal when that came into force and she was also halfway through the non-automatic transfer from DLA to PIP.

We had an interview and observation session at the LA offices done by their OT and they scored my DD less able to walk than the PIP assessor had. DD was given the BB renewal solely on the independent OT assessment for the LA.
The PIP Tribunal took that assessment into account and awarded DD enough points for renewal in the future.

She has specifically said there are lots of disabled spaces and they are never full. We've all seen the car parks where they have over catered on the disabled spaces and there are plenty to go round.
So you think she should struggle on past them?

Mamansparkles · Today 18:35

She has specifically said there are lots of disabled spaces and they are never full.

Morrisons at Preston Grange, in Tynemouth has quite a large disabled parking provision. Sometimes, there are only a few cars parked there, but at other times, there are no spaces and several cars waiting for them.

It's irrelevant whether they are taken or not just don't use them, unless this person site there all day monitoring they can't say that they are empty.

@Astralitzia I am sorry that your dad didn't get awarded a BB.

I have been disabled for years. I've only had a blue badge for about the last 3. I wasn't entitled to use the spaces before I got my blue badge. That's just a statement of fact, it's not a judgement on your dad - the system is designed on a council by council area and where I am you need 10 points for moving around or you don't get a badge.

@SerendipityJane Some places go further - it's not enough to have a Blue Badge - the cars tax must also be exempt (nasty shock near me when that was bought in for a lot of cunts).

Can you link to further information on this? My understanding is that the blue badge is linked to the disabled person, not the car.

No, not OK.

"Enhanced rate isn't an automatic entitlement, you need to have points in the right place too."

Yes ds has an automatic blue badge on DLA. When he transfers to PIP he will be at the mercy of the council despite entitlement to a motability car.

It all sounds very reasonable but if everyone with temporary ailments used them there wouldn't be space for those with disabilities.

You need to either get a lift, use a taxi or learn how to use the stairs.

You can apply for a temporary blue badge ...my DM had one for six months. Morally you can but the traffic warden will ticket you without a blue badge. You can park in disabled places at national trust though with crunches and no blue badge if you tell the staff as their car park is manned differently. Hope you better soon. My six month with mum in the wheelchair was educational on how bad disability access it. One example... disabled toilet down down steps...poor mum had to get out of her chair and crawl on her bottom to the toilet. Awful. I supported her as best as I could and the disabled door was so heavy too.

Not everywhere in the uk has a provision for a temporary BB.

My council don't give out temporary blue badges.

And I think this is the biggest issue with the system as it stands. Beyond the automatic entitlement side of things (for which the bar is set too high) there shouldn’t be such a postcode lottery as to what the rules to get a badge are.

Absolutely agree @Sirzy

I do feel for the pp whose father couldn't get a badge despite needing one.

But then I am big enough and bad enough just to use the P&C spaces and deal with the dirty looks.

I was just as disabled before I got pip and had an entitlement to a BB.

I completely disagree that "morally you can".

On MN, ethically fine is any activity which suits the individual whether or not it is legal or socially/morally/ethically acceptable

However, this only applies to them; if someone else was undertaking such activity, 569 posters would be venting their spleen

I don't agree with the "morals" / "ethics" point either. You have a period of a few weeks in which your life is a bit restricted. Get food delivery, but anything urgent online, go to places you can manage, be grateful when it's over. That is not remotely the same as people with a lifelong condition using spaces set aside so that they are not permanently excluded from activities.

I don't really care if someone thinks what they're doing - in any sphere - is morally fine. That's a personal standard.

The use of disabled spaces is governed by the rules around being awarded a BB and it's an offence not to abide by them. If it's a private car park you run the risk that you will be ticketed.

It's literally that simple for me.

I didn't use them until I had a blue badge.

My Foster son has a mobility car for severe learning disabilities but when I applied to council for the blue badge I could not get one for him as he can walk 20 meters. I had an application declined.

I don't think you should park there without a BB, no. I do agree that the system is far from perfect though, but ultimately that doesn't mean people should be able to park in hard fought for spaces without one as some will think a stubbed toe is good enough reason.

I had to have extensive surgery on my hip years ago and it was a nightmare at hospital apps- the regular spaces weren't wide enough for me to get myself out (sitting in a car was agony enough) so had to be dropped off outside the car park and wheel myself or use my crutches to walk in. Ultimately it was just for a few months and I'll admit as I knew it was short term I didn't spent time fighting for fairer access to temp passes or whatever; selfish I know on reflection but I didn't think of it at the time (selfish I know). I expect this is the same for many others too.

The rules changed in 2019 which meant more groups of disabled people could get one. Have you tried since then?