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Original poster

Is it right that disabled people should get free parking??

397 replies

SleepyJess · 19/09/2005 15:48

Discuss.. (please)

I am having this discussion elsewhere and amazed at some of the views. Just wanted to see what the general concesuss was on here.. without spouting my own views!

SJ x

OP posts:
compo · 19/09/2005 15:48

yes

sweetheart · 19/09/2005 15:50

I can see the point in them getting priority parking but am not sure why they should get it for free.

Am I gonna get lynched now!!!!

handlemecarefully · 19/09/2005 15:50

Special parking provision with large accessible spaces close to the entrance of the building - yes!, Free of charge parking - ?, I don't know. I suppose that given that many disabled people tend to be on a reduced income then it's probably fair.... I don't feel strongly that they shouldn't get free parking anyway!

expatinscotland · 19/09/2005 15:50

Oh dear!

Personally, yes, absolutely I think it's right. For many people, their disability effects their earning potential. Many have to rely on state benefits to top up their income or indeed for any income they have.

I feel society has an obligation to try to help persons with a disability enjoy life as much as any able-bodied person can, and that means things like free parking and disabled bays, free transport, etc.

In fact, as a taxpayer, I'd like to see more of our money going towards improving the quality of life for those who have a disability.

QueenOfQuotes · 19/09/2005 15:50

yes

handlemecarefully · 19/09/2005 15:51

Please tell us what the 'amazing' views were though!

sweetheart · 19/09/2005 15:52

I did think of the reduced income argument before posting - but lots of non disabled people are on reduced income too and I don't think they'd get let off a parking fine if they didn't buy a ticket.

QueenOfQuotes · 19/09/2005 15:53

but sweetheart - if they're not disabled then in many instances they'd be able to easily use public transport, or even walk to where they wanted to go. Whereas most disabled people need to use the car.

madmarchhare · 19/09/2005 15:54

Agree if on reduced income. If not, no, why?

sweetheart · 19/09/2005 15:54

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong - it's just my opinion.

flutterbee · 19/09/2005 15:55

well firstly it's wrong to think that all disabled people get free car parking because they don't they have to be assesed, there has just been a well documented news story in my local area about a registered disabled man had been turned down an orange badge because he was not disabled enough (he has one arm) they claimed that because the disability was in the upper part of the body there was no need for him to have to park as close to the stores as people with lower body disabilities. This to me seems bizarre but apparently this is a national rule.
Secondly in answer to your question yes I do think that anyone who is registered disabled should be able to park free of charge nearer the stores than able bodied people.

expatinscotland · 19/09/2005 15:55

I'm not disabled and I am a low-income wage earner. BUT, not having a disability, I have many more opportunties to increase my income than say, someone in a wheelchair who cannot take on a second job waiting tables, or someone with a severe learning disability for whom doing a degree course to get a higher-paying job may be impossible.

ScrewballMuppet · 19/09/2005 15:55

yes because of the reduced income thing.

weesaidie · 19/09/2005 15:56

Agree with QoQ and expat.

Many disabled people don't even have the opportunities that able people have in the work place...

weesaidie · 19/09/2005 15:56

oops, crossed posted expat. That is what I meant!

QueenOfQuotes · 19/09/2005 15:57

and SJ - why did you have to start this thread just as I was about to go and tidy up downstairs

chonky · 19/09/2005 15:59

Yes, because of their reduced income and their limited options to increase their income due to their disability.

tortoiseshell · 19/09/2005 16:00

Yes they should, because they don't necessarily have the choice to walk/cycle/bus etc.

misdee · 19/09/2005 16:00

of course they should. earning potential is so much lower for many disabled people. theres no way peter would be able to hold done a job right now.

noddyholder · 19/09/2005 16:02

Definitely yes!disabled people have to go everywhere by car and would be paying a fortune in parking if it wasn't free

misdee · 19/09/2005 16:07

last year on holiday, we spent over 14pounds on parking. a couple of years before, when we went to the same palce, we paid about 6 im bus fares. we used to walk from teh site to town etc, but with peter walking distances isnt an option. it turned out his badge arrived the week we were away. typical.

Jimjams · 19/09/2005 16:10

Seem to keep posting this

I resent having to pay for parking (do sometimes) with ds1. If we go anywhere the trip usually last 5 or 10 minutes- so if I've paid a fiver for beach parking I'm well annoyed. It stops me trying stuff. Likewise trip into town is usually to practice- 1 item-park as close as possible- 5 or 10 minutes.

gingerbear · 19/09/2005 16:12

yes

Jimjams · 19/09/2005 16:14

TBH I'm getting sick of having to justify stuff we get for ds1 as if its some sort of effing perk.

How about reduction in council tax (by a band) because one room of our house is used as a therapy room for ds1. Oh lucky lucky us eh?

Wanders off muttering about people having no effing idea!.

laughinglil · 19/09/2005 16:14

yes agree with it but not when they give it to a 17 boy racer that parks in the middle of the road and can run to the shops to get fags