Parking in a disabled parking bay

[VividLilac]

I am trying to give my 10 year old a little independence. He wanted to get himself ready after swimming lesson and meet me in car park of leisure centre. I was right on time and it was getting a little dark out so I swung into a close(ish) to entrance disabled parking bay. There are around 10 bays in total with one car parked up (I would never have pulled into these spaces if busy and certainly would not have taken the last space). I stepped out the car, waiting next to it for the 40 seconds until he came out of the leisure centre to wave him over. A small child was walking past hand in hand with their grandmother and she loudly started to speak to the child about how selfish it was to park in disabled spaces. Of course she is right and I wouldn’t do it again, no matter what the circumstances but ffs was there any need.

She was in the right and you were in the wrong

This. OP did not inconvenience anyone.

Then I’ll refer to my previous response to another poster.

I’ll just copy and paste my answer then

1- Many BB holders can walk but not far. The difference between the first place just next to the door and another one or two spaces down will huge for those people. Experience talking here.
2- if you either struggle to walk or use a wheelchair, you’re not going to step out if your car, check if there is a BB displayed agd then ask the person to move. You just park somewhere else. It’s true even if there are no space left and you end up in a ‘normal’ space. The idea that you can just move if needed just doesn’t hold.

If you’re happy to make ‘small infringement’ be my guest. It’s still illegal. But be reminder that what you see as a ‘small’ infringement might well not be for a disabled person.

I’m also going to say that it’s always good to listen to people who are affected. In this case, anyone needing a BB. If they’ll you it’s a big deal, believe them!!

Fuck right off. Seriously, wtf is wrong with you?! I have a profoundly disabled child. We need those spaces. Your little darling can skip 2 metres further from his physical activity.

Completely agree. It is so wearing to have to ask all the time to be accommodated, particularly when the issue shouldn’t even have arisen in the first place. Like asking for permission to exist.

There clearly was a need, because you’ll think twice next time.

Same. And don’t get me started on fucking delivery drivers. I had to get DS out in the middle of the street the other day and he had an absolute meltdown, and accidentally scratched their car in the process with the toy he was carrying as we squeezed past their car. Some justice, at least!

So abled bodied people get to decide do they ? Are you one of these people who are irritated that you don't get" preferential " treatment? That you are just ordinary and don't get what "others" have ?

I really don’t see what the issue is in this situation? You didn’t leave the car unattended and in the unlikely event that 8 disabled drivers rocked up all at once you’d have moved.

I wouldn’t do it because in my head I just don’t view them as available spaces to me. But to be honest, if there are 9 free spaces and it wasn’t busy I can’t actually see the harm. Especially as you weren’t leaving the car.

You don't see the issue? The OP parked in a blue badge space when she doesn't have a blue badge. Surely you can understand that very simple concept?

Stop enabling and normalising this entitled and self absorbed behaviour. If everyone did it then it would be a massive inconvenience for the disabled people 'rocking up'.

Massive inconvenience if people used a disabled bay for a minute or two in the evening picking up their child when there were 8 other spaces available? No it wouldn’t.

And yes @SquashedSquid , I did read the OP. There was no harm done. To anyone.

Non disabled people telling disabled people what they should be upset about is part or the bigger issue.

many people who are either disabled or carers for those who are disabled have pointed out that this is an issue yet still people try to justify it

Yes @Sirzy I mean how dare a disabled person or carers be upset or god forbid angry !

'Massive inconvenience if people used a disabled bay for a minute or two in the evening picking up their child when there were 8 other spaces available? No it wouldn’t.'

They aren't there for able bodied people to pick up their able bodied 10yr old though?

I’m disabled, and have repeatedly made my views known vociferously to none blue badge holders parking in disabled bays; but in this circumstance I’d cut you a bit of slack.

If there are only 10 parking spaces in total then the car park is small, and thus all parking spaces are not far from the entrance.
So you were very unreasonable in using a disabled parking spot, no matter how short a time you were parked there.

That's a personal view isn't it? but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't mean parking or using toilets or sitting In accessible seats etc etc is right though.

That space is not for you. End of.

Park somewhere else.

Well, no. Hence the name ‘disabled bay’. I don’t think their purpose is the point here, since we all know what it is.

Yea probably that. Infuriates me trying to get my mums wheelchair in and out tiny spaces when all the bays are filled with cars without badges

You’re not a disabled badge user then don’t park there - it’s that simple. I’m tired of entitled people thinking they can do this when they don’t see how much of a lifeline it is for disabled people. In my case, getting a disabled/close space is the difference between me going or being unable to go. If you’re not disabled then don’t use the space.

Are you a people pleaser by any chance? Are you thinking "oh no! People are being so mean - I don't like it!"

Please don't feel you need to soothe the "poor OP".

She came on here either to illicit sympathy, or to gauge people's opinions on her actions.

Well, she's not getting much sympathy and her gauge will be showing her that the opinions are strong. She has her answer.

Seems like a plop, and run to me.