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.

That's a huge presumption. It's very much the business of other blue badge holders who can't find an appropriate space. It has no impact on non-blue badge holders

Also - in response to others - OP doesn't say anything about challenging or policing. Simply that you shouldn't.

People should just do the right thing without needing the fear of someone catching or confronting them. It's so frustrating when other blue badge recipient's and their families abuse the system because it only harms other disabled people.

Given OP didn’t return to her thread, I think it’s a fair presumption by that poster.

And no, the public can’t question people about the badge in the car, even if they are a BB holder themselves. Why would you try and normalise that?

To be fair to @TheHeadOfTheHouse.

Yes her son didn't get out of the car. But the badge is his so he must have some mental or physical disability which means he probably didn't feel up to getting out of the car but she needed him close.

OP did return
And in what way have I normalised asking people about their blue badge?
I specifically said people should do the right thing without needing to be challenged!

I am so very sorry for your loss, and I wish we could all remember that any tiny niggles we have with someone, if they are a stranger we don't actually have any idea of what is going on in their lives. You made the right choice for your dear partner and you.

You sound like you were a wonderful partner, which will have made your dear partners life so much better than without you. I obviously don't know how long ago that happened, but if you haven't already, I sincerely hope that you find someone else as lovely as you to share your life with, as you deserve so much happiness xx

My brother is paraplegic. He came to pick me up the other day. He pulled up in a disabled space. He didn’t get out of the car, however I had to move the various bits of his chair into the boot. (Obviously when he loads his own chair into the car he can only put it within arm’s reach, so the seat part goes in the passenger seat and the wheels in the back seat.) I needed the extra space to open the doors and move the equipment. Could have just about managed it in an ordinary space but would have been tight.

She replied once within the hour but didn’t return so hasn’t engaged. Just a plop and run.

And in what way have I normalised asking people about their blue badge?
I specifically said people should do the right thing without needing to be challenged!

You said:

“It's very much the business of other blue badge holders who can't find an appropriate space.”

Actually, you can blame people for making assumptions.

Your friends shouldn't be waiting until things are really bad to use a space that they are entitled to use.

One of the reasons that I'm often approached is I look fine when I arrive at the shop. I will have spent hours making sure that I'm physically able to do my shopping. I get out of the car at the shop and might even be able to pick something up of the floor if I drop it.

What the people who believe I shouldn't park there don't see is me when I come back out and my entire body is seized up so that I can barely walk. Having lived with my condition long enough, I know that my body will react this way and plan for it.

Having strangers come over and tell me I should be ashamed of myself spoils the few minutes of the day where I'm moving quite well and mightve actually felt OK about myself.

I’ve got all this potential questioning to look forward to. I’ve recently been awarded enhanced mobility pip and with that I’m entitled to a blue badge which I have just received. I’m early 50s and as I told the pip assessor there are times when I look perfectly ‘normal’ but it can change in a moment and I will literally freeze on the spot and struggle to put one foot in front of the other. Challengers, I’m ready for you!

....to talk about it on this thread, and to have expectations yes.
Not normalising.

However I do think people abuse the system or outright ignore rules and actually politely asking for clarification or even reporting so it can be investigated is not wrong....that's just sensible.

Oh thanks for the edit ;)

I do believe that it is in fact our duty, as non disabled people (despite being myself disabled for over 40 years, and recently more so- but believe I can cope without badge as they are for those who trula really NEED them) should be looking out for those in need, and challenge abuse from others.

The garden centre where I was the other day only had 4 disabled spaces, all taken but the one where the definitely NOT disabled man, who has a disabled wife who was NOT with him). That space should have been kept clear for a disabled person.

My son has a blue badge for autism not mobility and I admit I’ve parked in disabled space and left him in the car. The reason being is that he will often refuse to come in shops or be a nightmare if I try and force him. If I’m nipping in and out I can leave him in the car and the disabled spots tend to be outside the shop where you can see and be back quickly. I wouldn’t be able to leave him in the car if I parked at other end of car park so it’s catch 22

Should we not challenge people who don't give up their seat for someone who is disabled, heavily pregnant, very elderly, etc, especially young people. Or those men in suits on commutes, with bag on the seat next to them, laptop out and headphones- to make sure they can block everyone out? Etc. and those who sit in priority seats, whent they clearly do not need one?

We are supposed to look after each other, and especially the 'weaker' members of society, no?

Sometimes the disabled person can't make it out of the car that day but they wanted to try or their mind or body failed them before they arrived.

Why waste your time with people who have no right to challenge you? I sometimes am aware of "looks", when I exit my car. I just get on with whatever I have left my home to do. As long as my badge is displayed properly, then people can look all they like, that is their prerogative. I will not allow other people to make my already difficult life, more difficult, due to their wrong assumptions.

Those people will continue to be hard headed, and not listen to people here. One day they may wish that they had. No one has the right to challenge anybody.

Yeah, but you sound as though you've made it your vocation.

@Mrsredlipstick

Please do you have a link for the blue badge security locks?

Thanks for the support.

Us 'weaker' people on here voicing our own opinions and feelings on the matter can shush now and let the strong people sort it out.

I've been challenged a few times on the train for sitting in priority seats. I sit there because I need the tiny amount of extra leg room you get. Normally, I'll say no and if they continue I'll say it's nothing to do with them why I'm sitting there and to mind their own business. Unfortunately, you still get twats who think you should share your medical history with them.

How would you know it was the disabled person in the car? The disabled person might have got out the car and the other person was waiting for them.

The problem is it often normalizes the supposed entitlement to harass the disabled, in the name of looking out for the 'genuine' amongst the 'not genuine' a sport promoted by the Nasty Party.

I'm clearly visibly disabled, and transferring in and out of a vehicle into a wheelchair, (in other words not able to stand up and get in or out of it) returning, often buried under shopping, and a surprising number of people feel the need to challenge what I'm doing, when I'm doing it, how I'm doing it, who I'm doing it with, if I really need my chair, why can't I use a delivery service, why can't I have someone do it for me, where's my carer, why can't my passengers shop for me, and if I'm entitled to be doing it, and if there is a way I can do it faster/ at a different time/ not at all, all so they can get their vehicle where mine is, or feel justified in standing over me while I load, regaling me with the stories of how they can't take their elderly relative shopping, or had to drop them and park, because all the BB bays are in use, and they work. (So do I, but whatever.)

They are 'just checking' or just 'letting me know' their thoughts, invented additional 'rules', misinterpretation of actual ones, or 'making sure I'm genuinely disabled' or complaining that I can't get my chair/goods in and out faster. Fundamentally it all comes down to there must be a way in which their needs including their 'feelz' could be prioritized here, even if it's just to be told they're a good person looking out for others.

We shouldn't get stressed or upset at any of it, because these self appointed idiots have decided it's in everyone's interests.

Sometimes I object, they they double down and it gets nasty. Occasionally I get nasty back, then it often gets serious.
All those 'defenders of the BB bays' become entirely invisible when someone in wheelchair ends up loudly yelling to have their passengers or themselves 'Bloody well left alone', at one of their number.

I have to carry a grabber in my vehicle purely to remove the idiotic notes periodically left on my windscreen (always in the middle where I can't get them!)

I really hear those who have less visible disabilities and get the misery caused to them by these judgemental 'assumers' giving them 'the look' or 'under the breathe comment', but note it is often passive aggressive, rather than followed up with direct challenges.(I know it takes it toll too and sometimes isn't)

Is it because those doing it are actually concerned these folk might just be able to do something about them, and they don't feel as safe to directly challenge them? Is it because they are at face level with their victims? Is it because the are less certain of their 'otherness' and they might actually be right and it might get dangerous for them? Do they only challenge direct when they're sure they have someone who can't have at them?

It strikes me the truth is these 'guardians of the disabled bays' see me and others as the " 'weaker' member of society" that they think they can safely pick on, boss around, and make up additional rules for, to justify their sense of superiority, strength and hierarchy, while hiding behind the claim of 'greeeaaater goood' and 'protecting others'.

There are more expensive ones, but IME if they're going to break your window and take bolt cutters to the cable, the chances are they're going to get through most cables.
More money gets one with a clock holder if that's wanted.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-e&q=lockable+disabled+badge+holder#oshopproduct=gid:7415244769983328616,mid:576462612180027006,oid:5575766678314919668,iid:10885651612537961704,rds:UENfNzQxNTI0NDc2OTk4MzMyODYxNnxQUk9EX1BDXzc0MTUyNDQ3Njk5ODMzMjg2MTY%3D,pvt:hg,pvo:3&oshop=apv&pvs=0

@Elleherd thank you. I couldn't link.
Mine came from Amazon.

Mine was stolen when I used my key fob to lock the car (the beeb beeb wasn't mine!). I now check the door before moving away.

I’ve had one for a year, I’m 45… some days I use a walking stick so I suppose I look disabled then 😐 whatever that means 😂 but some I don’t

Nobody has said anything nor have I noticed anyone even paying attention tbh.

So despite what it seems like online I don’t think it’s that common tbh.