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.

Two people in a car, park up, one gets out and one stays sat in the car….. how do you know the one that stays sitting in the car is disabled?

Good point!

Stop your amateur surveillance of disabled drivers.

What's actually happened to make you post this @Mokel? How do you know for a fact that the blue badge holder definitely isn't getting out of the car, that both people don't hold a blue badge, etc.

This reminds me of the time I parked in a parent and child space to drop children off to their mum and someone tried to have a go when I got back to the car unhindered by children. They didn't know the full story and it was none of their business anyway. Similar but disabled parking is obviously the priority over parent and child spaces.

I'm relatively young and have a blue badge. So does my dad. You'd probably assume the disabled person was staying in the car if I got out.

I think it’s tricky, there’s a disabled spot outside local chemist, nearest car park a good 10 minutes away. If a blue badge is designed to make life easier it makes sense to park there and have driver nip in rather than having to wait ages in a parked car.

I’d like to think people use common sense and minimise time in disabled spot but should have a choice.

perhaps they are swinging their wooden leg out of the sun roof?

sorry! this is the case where a blue badge holder could't wait for a minute for a parking space and feel they are so much more entitled than others that they have to moan about not parking their sports car in a disabled bay.

i dont think people realise, a supermarket car park is a private place.. the parking bays are usually not enforceable.. anyone can park there if they chose too.. its more courtesy..

But they do have a choice.. several!

Wait in the carpark.

Get out of the car using the blue badge to park in the accessible space.

Stay at home in comfort and send minion out to fetch prescription, minion to park in carpark and walk.

See. Choices. This is exactly what we do, I'll either wait in the car in the carpark or send the minion out without me (or go on my own in my chair and not use the car at all since the blue badge space outside my pharmacy is useless to me, can't rear-unload from it).

Thank you @topcatt you've got it.
In true MN fashion it's all about "it could be seen to be abusing the system" and as a woman I apparently need to be concerned about not what actually is, and adhering to what the actual rules are, but what others might think or assume it is, or whatever extra rules they've decide to make up in their judgemental heads!

It's bloody exhausting trying to exercise my already limited independence without the idiocracy of others incorrect assumptions.
Like all other disabled people I frequently can't park when or where I'd like, because all the bays are full.
I don't start looking round to see which ones have passengers in them and think Oohh I wonder if they ought to be there or if I could harass them out of the space so I could have it. I either queue or quit like most normal disabled people.

Interestingly it's usually women who try to have a go at my family, "you shouldn't be parked here" and men who try to have a go at me if I'm in my works vehicle with " If you can drive that you don't need a disabled bay."
Both are wrong. I'm not obliged to drag my passengers around with me, they aren't obliged to be de facto carers, and the fact I can drive all sorts doesn't negate my need to be able to fully open the doors to transfer between vehicle and wheelchair.

You don't. If one is minded too, they could always toss a coin, and guess, I suppose.🤔

I am deeply saddened that over 65% of people think it is OK to challenge disabled people. I am disabled (12 pointer on the mobility scale) with a BB. I have recently ungone chemotherapy and it's altered my bowels. I can get to a shop and find I need to go to the loo and then back to the car quickly. My husband is still in the shop. I cannot get into the car unless I can open the door fully. Without the hatched extra space this is highly unlikely to be possible. I have had to park in normal spaces and have come back to find I cannot get into my car because people cannot line their vehicle up properly. 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.
It is very difficult to access disabled concessions, do not wish for the pain and small life experiences that come with it. I am going to London next week and I have to book a seat in the disabled carriage. If I don't someone able bodied will be in that seat 99% of the time. If I ask them to move the abuse is horrendous.

My daughter is profoundly disabled, quadriplegic, blind, non verbal, epileptic and needs suctioning. She loves days out shopping however she sometimes becomes distressed, she is often calmer in the vehicle adapted for her wheelchair. If I have her adult big sister with us I often leave them both in car whilst I finish off errands. I need them to be close to the place I am so I can get there quickly as my daughter often requires suctioning, oxygen and rescue meds for seizures, I also need wider side access to vehicle to administer these. Are you saying it is unreasonable for us to use the disabled spaces? I would say it’s a reasonable adjustment to allow my daughter and I to try and live as normal a life as possible, unless you think she should stay at home all the time to avoid these situations what else is there?

your GP may be able to help: they can sometimes request a pharmacy (in your case one with parking) get a drug in stock for a patient

Sadly not. The short version of the answer is that we've been unsuccessful in trying that since 2020.

I've a lot to juggle. My mum's disabilities and getting her to her appointments, taking her out so she's not stuck at home all the time. Making sure we're near a loo. Making sure we're near somewhere she can sit. Make sure we get her home in time for her next meal. Coupled with my own depression and neurodiversity, a full time job, getting home to cook a family meal. If I had to factor in finding a space in the event she wants to get back in the car mid-errands, it would add more stress.

These occasions are quite few and she doesn't use her badge often so I don't feel terrible. I will move if I see someone in need.

If the disabled person isn’t leaving the vehicle then you and the driver behind are equally not entitled to park in the disabled bay as neither of you is a blue badge holder. You are first in the queue so you park in the available space.

I opened this thread thinking it was about me as this happened to me today, but after the time this thread was posted!

I pulled up in a disabled bay at the Coop, turned the engine off and said to ds7 (who’s badge it is) “come on let’s go!”

he wanted to stay in the car whilst I went in the shop.

i didn’t move the car even though he didn’t want to come in.

We all have a lot to juggle.

I am sure the conditions of the blue badge are being complied with.

If you took away those people who are able bodied and drive an SUV instead of a smaller car, and those too lazy to walk short distances, I am sure OP any issue of space would be solved.

Plus disabled badge holder could be stripped of their badge

Yeah, that’s not going to happen. It’s absolutely impossible to police.

Person with blue badge sitting in vehicle, if challenged, could give 1001 plausible stories such as:

1. I did go into shops, felt unwell, had to return to car to rest.
2. I was planning to go to shops, became suddenly unwell, took meds, waiting for them to kick in to go join partner in shops, won’t be long
3. I did go to shops but due to nature of disability I have the blue badge for can only go for short stretches which is enough to choose my items but not enough to get a shop through checkout so someone is going on my behalf.

And the list goes on, and on.

No one is being stripped of their blue badge OP, best get a life and focus on something else, you will never win this one.

"handicap"...no just no are you in your 80s?

Then maybe you should read it before you pontificate. I’ll enlighten you as your obviously just out for an argument /troll, It states clearly that if the person who is entitled to the badge isn’t leaving the vehicle then they are not entitled to park in a disabled space

Yes, but I have to juggle my mum's needs as well, so double the juggle.

why would the disabled person go out shopping leaving the able bodied person in the car?

My ex (BB holder) IS able bodied and often left me (also able bodied) in the car whilst he went to grab some shopping, pay for petrol etc. Not all BB holders are not able bodied, they may have a BB for other reasons, in my ex partners case it was due to a TBI.

I’m severely disabled. The disabled spot near my chemist is always full. Of non disabled people.

Then you abused the badge. It isn’t yours.

Oooh goody a thread bashing the disabled. Just the job @Mokel .