To be annoyed that I get glared at for having a blue badge

[Sparklebelle1024]

I try not to let it bother me but I’m young ( 35) and I have a blue badge because I have a few health problems which put me into the category of disabled and entitle me to pip and a blue badge. I do work (only part time as that’s a struggle but I do it for my own mental health but I think even that might have to go soon but I’m trying to last as long as I can) and almost every time I pull my car into the disabled spaces I get dirty looks and “badge checked” by the older generation and it’s ALWAYS older people !! It’s like younger folk can’t have disabilities!! Yet I can literally go from being okayish one day to hospitalised the next (I have a very understanding manager) and my car is a lifeline. I do try to brush it off but today I had a run in with an older man and he asked to see the photo on my badge to prove it was mine, I obviously told him he’s not entitled to that information and it’s not an elderly badge it’s a disabled badge and I cried when I was driving home.
it’s not fair…. I’m sick of being judged because I’m not “old” and don’t “look disabled” whatever that should look like. I know it shouldn’t bother me but it really genuinely does. So AIBU to be annoyed at being judged by the older generation because I use a badge I’m legally entitled to??

You’re not understanding.

The problem is people using relatives’ or stolen blue badges or using spaces without having any badge at all.

A disabled person pulling up in their car behind a car parked in a disabled space can’t see the badge displayed at the front.

If the occupant of the car gets out and is not visibly disabled, this means that they are more likely to not be entitled to use the space. It is obviously not conclusive proof.

Yes, many blue badge holders are not visibly disabled. However the vast majority of people who do not appear disabled are indeed not disabled. So it is perfectly fine to ask someone who does not appear disabled whether they have a blue badge, as long as it is done politely.

Believe me, the amount of “sorry mate I was just nipping in quickly, just let me move” responses he gets make it worthwhile.

Obviously the blue badge thieves/misusers will just say yes, and I am not suggesting that the questioner then check the badge in the manner of a traffic warden. But it might make them think twice about doing it again when they are challenged directly by someone who has a right to the space.

Yes, and as long as you have the badge there is no issue. But the striding is what makes it more reasonable to ask the question, because people use the spaces without entitlement all the time and, like it or not, you can’t be distinguished by sight from a space misuser.

I have a friend with a blue badge. She regularly travels in my car. We regularly park in blue badge spaces. Always ALWAYS when parking someone passing will take a moment to look at the car and look for the blue badge displayed. Me and friend actually see this as a positive thing as these people are the ones who are watching that badge holders are parking in the spaces.

Yes, they could mind their own business and leave it to the parking warden to check. But what if there's no parking warden around? By the general public keeping an eye that only people entitled to park in these spaces are parking in them it means that these spaces are generally available to those who need them.

I acknowledge that others people's experiences might be more negative, but I suppose that depends on your perspective. Me and my friend are entitled to park there. So we don't feel attacked or targeted by anyone asking if we are entitled to park there. Once the person sees we are entitled to park there they move on. Only once someone "pointed out" to us that it was a BB space, when I said "Yes, we know thank you" and took my friends wheelchair out of the boot the person simply smiled and moved on.

If my paraplegic brother can’t park in a space that allows him to get his chair out, he might ask the space-user if they are entitled to be there because he needs the space himself

Love this! Will have to try and remember it for next time someone harrasses me, lol

It would be nice if you could let disabled blue badge holders go about their days using the facilities provided without harassing them. What you are doing is similar to demanding to know if child who isn’t white is British in school incase they aren’t entitled to be there.

Wtf? No, I'm not going to smile at someone making me feel anxious and uncomfortable for doing something as simple and normal as parking my car.

They aren't looking out for us, by the way. If they were, they'd leave us the hell alone. ----

Wtf else would she do?

People who can stride about can still have blue badges!

Good for you.

Why do you think it's OK to be stared at and have your car checked every time you park somewhere with your friend? How on earth do you think that's OK?

You can see that without harassing people- either a badge is displayed or it isn’t.

Good one 😊

I'm in the same boat. I'm 25 and have a blue badge / PIP and I dread old people with blue badges. I have a weird combination of health problems and my mobility can be shocking on bad days and I'm a crutch user . I genuinely think old people don't think younger people can have disabilities or health problems. Where I live there's a whole bunch of old people who will question you and stare at you if you park in a blue badge space and it's horrific to the point I chose not to go out where I live and go into other villages / towns nearby . I work but as a combo of WFH and in the office but also my nan or friends will come to the theatre or cinema with me as a carer because I find it to difficult alone.

I feel your pain OP I got my first orange badge (I'm that old) in my 20s. I've often been accused of using my grandmother's badge.

I used to work with some who was challenged. He responded by throwing his false leg at them.

It would be nice if you read my posts properly and understood that nobody is stopping blue badge holders from doing anything by simply asking them to confirm that they have a BB.

Lat time I checked, children of all races were allowed to be in British schools. So being non-white does not make it more statistically likely that a child is not entitled to a British education.

However people without blue badges are not entitled to use BB spaces. And being able to move freely does make it more statistically likely that you do not have a blue badge.

Like I said, his experience of flushing out able -bodied chancers bears out that it’s worth double checking. Nothing to stop you doing the same.

Would you like me to draw you a diagram which explains why you can’t see a badge on the windscreen of a car when it is in a car park parking space?

He can’t get out to go and look at the windscreen. That is literally the point.

The BB is a physical visual indicator that someone has permission to use a priority parking space. The only people parking in those spaces should display the physical visual indicator. This allows the general public and the warden to see that the person is entitled to park there. If someone asks then believe it or not THEY ARE looking out for the people who are entitled to use the space. By asking, they are by very definition making sure that the person parking there is entitled to be there!!

If you are entitled to park there then there's no problem. If you're not then you'll suffer the wrath of the little old dear who will give you an ear full for parking in a space you're not entitled to use.

I'd imagine there's a lot more people NOT entitled to use the spaces who are confronted by these passerbys. They ARE looking out for people entitled to use the space.

The same people are likely to check the windows of empty cars as they walk by and report it to the shop/warden etc if they see a car parked not displaying a badge. Again - looking out for the people who should have the use of the spaces

Lat time I checked, children of all races were allowed to be in British schools. So being non-white does not make it more statistically likely that a child is not entitled to a British education. and yet so many are asked their status, and more likely to be asked if nonwhite.
The thing “stopping me from doing the same” is I’m not an arsehole who interrogates people about their disabilities.

This is so bad, and it’s really dismaying you can’t see it. My friend has a blue badge, she has two different types of arthritis, and a multitude of other issues, some days she strides, on good days. On other days she is in a wheel chair.

I don’t believe for one moment you or your brother are flushing out chancers all the time . If a disabled person needs to use a disabled spot I can see why someone would ask, but the blue badge should be displayed, negating ghe need.

I obviously told him he’s not entitled to that information and it’s not an elderly badge it’s a disabled badge and I cried when I was driving home

How about instead of crying over it, tell him to go fuck himself. Much more productive (and feel good).

OK sure. My disabled brother trying to do his shopping is totally the same as a xenophobic racist child-hater who doesn’t understand the law. Gotcha. All clear now.

Nope- you don’t have any right to question people because you don’t think they look disabled.

It doesn’t matter what excuses you make or how you dress it up- other people’s disabilities are not your business, and questioning someone because they don’t look the right kind of disabled to you is dickish ignorant behaviour.

Bloody hell. HE ONLY ASKS IF HE CAN’T SEE THE BADGE!

You absolutely do have the right to question someone if you think they might be parking in a BB space without a badge. Even more so if you are someone who needs the space.

Yes, because we need able bodied saviours to look out for us, we couldn’t possibly manage it ourselves.

No.

Use your eyes and look for the bb if you must be a busybody- if you asked me you would be told in no uncertain terms where to go. You have no entitlement to anyone’s medical information and it’s frankly laughable that you think you do.