Parking in disabled spaces when disabled person sitting in car

[Mokel]

If the blue badge holder isn’t going to leave the car, the car shouldn’t be parked in a disabled bay.

The purpose behind disabled bays is for disabled people don’t have to walk far to entrances to shops, doctors etc. If not leaving the car, there’s no need to park up there.

If a non disabled person is going to leave the car leaving the disabled person in the car, they should be parking in a normal parking space.

As I say, jealousy.

If the trip isn't to help the BB holder get out and about then that's wrong. And if they regularly make their parent sit and for them then I'd say that's tantamount to elder abuse.

As a disabled person, and blue badge holder I couldn’t get worked up over this, I would just assume that badge holder wasn’t upto getting out of the car when they arrived, if they like me suffer from extreme fatigue.

“ I am in tears in this situation and either have to walk back to the store to use the tannoy (usually not possible) or wait for the person to appear.“

Whilst I sympathise with your situation rather than using the store tannoy to get another shopper, would it not be quicker to phone/tannoy your husband to come and move the car?

Be less judgmental, my first husband had very unstable diabetes, occasionally it was much safer to park in a very close disabled bay so I could run in and out the pharmacy/shop and not leave him for long, and the car still be in eyesight.

Don't even get me started on dropping him off at his very part time job. Get the wheelchair out the car, take him to where he's going, walk back, get yelled at as I am not disabled.

Pick him up, get yelled at because I parked in a disabled bay, and walked to get him.

Cars can't fucking teleport, when the driver has to get out, and no, I wasn't going to leave him in the carpark while I found another space.

This happens loads at our hospital where there is limited parking. Often several cars with drivers/passengers just sitting there waiting for ages and taking up a space. It means I have to drop DM off, park, go and find her and then get her to her appointment. Sometimes there's nowhere to drop her off because it's too busy and I can't leave the car in the middle of the road and get her somewhere safe (she has limited vision and can't navigate herself). So she has to come with me to a normal space and then I can't get the mobility aids out of the car. But you really can't challenge people unless you're 110% sure they're misusing their badge.

Are you saying the able bodied person is in the car? Or the disabled person?

But it IS your business if they're inappropriately using a space that you need!

The badge isn’t there to be able to use a spot closer to the store because a 7 year old doesn’t want to go in the shop so the alternative is either move the car to leave a disabled bay incase a disabled person needs it (I would actually expect a blue badge holder to be more considerate to others) or yes you tell the child their going in the shop

I agree that for the most part it can be annoying if the disabled person is sitting in the car, however sometimes it might be circumstances that are not obvious. I had end stage osteoarthritis in both hips which caused me EXTREME pain 24/7 because I had no cartilage left, bone rubbing on bone, and bone spurs catching on each other. I couldn’t walk at all without crutches before I had both hips replaced. Sometimes if my husband and I went shopping, after a while the pain would get too much for me and I’d have to go and sit in the car while he finished the shopping. To anyone just arriving at the carpark it would look as if I was just sitting in the car.

I see both points of view but what I personally see a lot of the time is a middle aged daughter or son put a blue badge on the dashboard but then leave their elderly parent in the car with no intention of parent ever leaving the car

You're making assumptions though. I'm a middle aged daughter who does exactly what you've outlined regularly. BUT I'm the BB holder - not my Mum

I don’t want to get over it thank you, it’s really offensive in the UK , it makes my insides curl up to be honest.
I have no problem asking people not to use this term , if they happen to be American then I’ll ask them not to use this term , particularly in the UK.
They might ask me not to call them Yanks, I’d gladly stop if it was offensive to them.

Don't be that person. I get accused of 'stealing' a BB space all the time because I don't look disabled enough.

What do you think I would prefer, a cracking parking space or not to have a chronic pain condition that leaves me struggling to walk most days?

The people who come over shouting and make a scene put me off going out because I don't want to face that again but I can't manage parked further away.

I suppose I should be a good disabled person and quietly sit at home.

As it has been explained so many times on here, people explaining why people should not make assumptions. How on earth would you know who the BB holder is? It is not for other people to challenge anybody, if a BB is being displayed. It is not their job.

@LiterallyOnFire
I think people just want us to conform to their idea of disability better.

Yes, because we're making it for them harder to judge, and assume, if we don't behave the way they have decided we not only ought to, but ought to want to, because we should be focused on what they think of us.

Yes there will always be some people who are doing something they shouldn't really. Some will have really good reasons, others not so much, but a level of give and take makes the world function better, because any really disabled person already knows they don't know the other persons circumstances.

Someone asked earlier why a disabled person would leave an able bodied person in a vehicle. Because obviously a disabled person must be dependent and pitiable, and if there's an able bodied person around then why, oh why, aren't they giving up their life to 'caring.' (no matter how unwanted or crap they might be at it)
The idea of independence at whatever level we can achieve it being precious, is beyond them.

It's also like they've never wanted to just get on with something without having to deal with and drag around half the family to achieve it, because what people might think is their priority.

Someone asked earlier why a disabled person would leave an able bodied person in a vehicle. Because obviously a disabled person must be dependent and pitiable, and if there's an able bodied person around then why, oh why, aren't they giving up their life to 'caring.' (no matter how unwanted or crap they might be at it)
The idea of independence at whatever level we can achieve it being precious, is beyond them.

I know. My jaw is still hanging open at that one.

I leave passengers in my car for all the reasons people leave their passengers in their cars. They're tired. They're whingey teens. My errand doesn't involve them. It's easier to get things done without them. Etc.

I would love to be a fly on the wall when you challenge someone and they tell you that they have their blue badge because they’re terminal and have less than 12 months to live. What are you going to do then, report them or tell them to move their vehicle?

That sounds like an unlikely scenario, wouldn't the carer be going to a shop, inside a building etc.

If the BB holder can't get out of the car then they don't use a disabled space.

It's other BB holders like me who get screwed over by people abusing their badges.

That is very unfair. The man was NOT disabled- he told me himself it was his wife's badge and that she was at home. And I certainly did NOT shout at him, or was rude. My comment was quietly made, and with a polite greeting.

I was in terrible pain myself, due to knee operation, but parked far from entrance where spaces were available as I would never take a disabled space, and didn't have a badge as temporary conditions do not warrant one.

Since then, pain continues and some days I can hardly drag my bad leg as knee won't bend. I do not take a disabled space and manage best I can, in pain. Hence the reason I do get annoyed (but remain polite and friendly) with those who abuse the system.

There are some very angry non disabled people posting on this thread.
Do not think for one minute a disabity is something to want? Ooh free badges, last week it was free cars!
I have been entitled to a blue badge for over twenty years. I gave it up at one time because of the abuse. I now absolutely would not able to function without it. People have explained that they sometimes need to return to their cars. What really matters are people using spaces without badges. I will visit our local Marks tomorrow and I can tell you there will be the usual low slung expensive sports cars in the disabled spaces without badges. I might even take a picture for this thread (yes I am aware of the law). Our store assistants get abused if they challenge these people. Too many people being dragged up. They don't give a sh*t! Shame on them.

Unless you are blocking traffic and been there since they parked up and left, how do you know if they have previously left the car and felt unwell and returned or are waiting to leave the car?

Next, you will be approaching people and saying they don't look disabled

Thinking about it, one thing I do fairly regularly is pull up at motorway services, park on a yellow disabled space, send everyone else into the loos first and stay with the dog. Then go in myself.

I've never before wondered how this looks. Still don't care TBH.

A blue badge is for a named individual. I am not sure you can share a blue badge.

Who said anything about sharing? They could each have their own BB.

You cannot share a badge, still does not answer the question of how does someone know who it belongs to, does it?