TLDR: Is dropping off/picking up a disabled person from premises with zig zags outside mitigation for stopping on them?
I volunteer for a community transport scheme, using my own car to take older and disabled people to appointments etc.
I was taking a passenger to the hairdressers which is right next to a pelican crossing. As we approached, I saw an empty disabled bay on the opposite side of the road just beyond the zig zags. She has a disabled badge, so I pulled in. She objected to being asked to walk that far (about 20m and crossing the road at the crossing - she has a wheelie walker thing and walked about 10m from her door to my car as I couldn’t get right outside). She said other drivers pull up on the pavement outside the shop.
So I did as she asked: turned round, pulled up immediately outside, half on the narrow pavement and half on the road, helped her into the shop, then went away to park elsewhere. Same procedure to pick her up.
I was deeply uncomfortable with this, and resolved to tell the organiser (it is a charity, very well organised and run) that I will not take this lady to that hairdresser again. I’ve since looked into it further, and I was risking not only a fixed penalty notice, but points on my licence.
I don’t think it’s fair of the lady to expect volunteers to break the law and put themselves at risk in that way. She should either walk the 30m, or find another hairdresser.
I am going to raise this with the organiser - it’s one thing to refuse to take her myself, but really the charity should not be allowing any of their volunteers to do this.
But before I do - is her disabled badge sufficient mitigation that a penalty would be waived?