Blue Badge

4.4.1 Travel behaviour and mobility problems
People with learning disabilities

Many respondents with learning disabilities stated that their condition
affected their mobility. Walking difficulties for some meant that walking
was limited to short distances. Depending on the severity of the
condition, respondents preferred not to use public transport due to the
following factors:

• Fear of safety and personal security;
• Lack of awareness and understanding amongst the public and
transport staff of their condition;
• Difficulties understanding public transport timetables and
schedules.

Transport & Travel Research Ltd Page 35 November 2007
Eligibility for the Blue Badge Scheme


For many respondents (with severe conditions) journeys by
public transport were only possible for them when accompanied by their
carer.

People with Mental Health Difficulties

In general, due to the wide range of mental health difficulties, it is difficult
to place a definite answer as to whether or not there is a direct effect on
a person’s ability to access and use public transport. Some will
encounter no problems, whilst others will create serious barriers. The
research has found that:

• For people with anxiety disorders including panic attacks, using
public transport can be problematic and can trigger an attack.
• For those with severe disorders (e.g. schizophrenia) using public
transport could trigger extreme forms of mental distress.
• Unclear, unambiguous signage can cause problems for those with
conditions such as anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

For people prone to panic attacks, some may start to associate particular
places and situations with having a panic attack. In an attempt to avoid
another attack, one may start to avoid places where attacks have
previously occurred. In this way, a person may put increasing restrictions
on their day-to-day activities and develop agoraphobia or social phobia.

Many respondents with anxiety-disorders and panic attacks noted that
public transport is difficult for them to use due to feelings of being
enclosed and vulnerable, which could trigger an attack. Crowded buses
and trains could also have the same effect. Other problems such as the
fear of crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport discouraged
use. Taxis, like buses and trains, also posed the same problems in terms
of not being in control and feeling of enclosure (over and above the
expense element).

4.4.2 Aspirations and perceived benefits in relation to parking
concessions
People with learning disabilities

The parking aspirations identified for people with learning disabilities
included the concession to park as close as possible to the destination.
The avoidance of crossing main and busy roads would be highly
beneficial to many of the respondents with learning disabilities. It was
Transport & Travel Research Ltd Page 36 November 2007
Eligibility for the Blue Badge Scheme


reported by respondents that often they are not able to make
journeys if it entails crossing a road.

Respondents indicated that they require longer time limits than those
currently enforced at many car parks due to the slow pace of many
people with learning disabilities. For people that could not walk at all, this
need was greater. For some respondents, the problems encountered,
particularly with walking and behaviour, were such that the availability of
parking bays determined the destination trying to be accessed.

Concession to park on single- or double-yellow lines

This concession was regarded as beneficial and ‘important’ among most
respondents with learning difficulties especially for city centre shopping
trips, making doctor and dental appointments, and for going to the
cinema and theatre. The average lengths of time in which respondents
would benefit from the concession to park on single- or double yellow
lines varied form 2 hours for shopping trips, 30 minutes to 1 hour for
doctor and dental appointments, and up to 3 hours for leisure and
recreation purposes.

Concession to park at a parking meter, or in an on-street pay-and-
display parking space

This concession was regarded as ‘important’ and beneficial to
respondents with learning difficulties especially for shopping and leisure
trips and for visiting local amenities (post office, shops) and for making
hospital appointments. Respondents said that they would benefit from a
parking time of 1 hour for these journey purposes.

Concession to park in an off-street parking space reserved for disabled
people

This concession was also regarded as ‘important’ and beneficial to
respondents with learning difficulties. Respondents’ aspirations for this
concession included a parking time of 1-2 hours for making trips to local
amenities (Post Office, shops), leisure centres, job centre, making
doctors, dental and hospital appointments.

People with mental health difficulties

Whilst driving was described as the only feasible mode of travel for
people with panic attacks and agoraphobia, the following issues were
highlighted:

• Problems finding a parking space caused anxiety and panic. A
person will abandon a trip altogether due to the inability to find a
space.
• Those with more severe agoraphobia will not leave their house due
to walking distances. Even for those with a less severe condition,
quality of life would be greatly improved if they could park close to
their destination (all severity levels would benefit potentially).
• Problems going shopping. Parking far away from shops caused a
great deal of stress and often meant that trips were abandoned
because the anxiety triggered panic attacks.
• Multi-storey car parks were also difficult for respondents to face
due to feeling of enclosure, which could lead to a panic attack.
• Feeling of getting lost if car is parked far away and can't be found
easily. A Blue Badge would mean that respondents could park next
to destination which would reduce the anxiety.

Respondents with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) encountered a
lot of problems in reaching their final destinations. The lack of normal
parking spaces meant that having a badge would mean being able to
park close to the destination. Problems also exist with objects such as
barriers, bollards and signs being “dirty” – in addition, parking close to
visible dirty objects (for example, litter) caused huge problems.

With Tourette’s Syndrome, repetitive behaviour can hinder the use of
public and private transport. They might affect a person’s ability to board
a bus. Obsessive Compulsive Behaviours may also distract a road user
from the road (for instance, compulsive mirror checking).

Concession to park on single- or double-yellow lines

This concession was regarded as beneficial and ‘essential’ among most
of the respondents with mental health difficulties particularly
agoraphobics and people with anxiety-related disorders. Respondents
said they would benefit most from this concession for making shopping
and social trips in which a 3 hour parking time would be beneficial.

Transport & Travel Research Ltd Page 38 November 2007
Eligibility for the Blue Badge Scheme


Concession to park at a parking meter, or in an on-street pay-
and-display parking space

Again, this concession was regarded as ‘essential’ to respondents with
agoraphobia and anxiety-related disorders. Shopping was the only trip
nominated for this concession in which respondents said that they would
benefit from a parking time of up to 3 hours.

The same aspirations in relation to the concession to park in a reserved
off-street parking space for disabled people were expressed by
respondents with mental health difficulties.

4.4.3 Perceptions of the Blue Badge Scheme and its administration
People with learning disabilities

The administration of the system was found to be positive overall. There
was a feeling that the criteria should be widened to include those with
walking difficulties associated to any condition, not just learning
disabilities. This was due to the problems caused by walking difficulties.

There was a general agreement that people with “hidden” disabilities
should be included in the eligibility criteria. The reasoning behind this
was that there were numerous problems facing people with various types
of hidden disabilities, for whom it was felt would benefit if they were to be
included. A strong belief was held that people should become newly
eligible if in receipt of the lower rate of the mobility component of the
DLA.

Whilst there was an element of uncertainty over the number of Blue
Badges in circulation, the research found that more badges would be
beneficial to those who need them but presently cannot hold one.

People with mental health difficulties

The eligibility criteria of the Blue Badge were regarded as not broad
enough. The research uncovered a feeling that more people should be
entitled to the Blue Badge. Problems with lack of assertiveness caused
anxiety sufferers to find it difficult due to low self-esteem. There was a
general stigma attached to agoraphobia and panic attacks. A major
perception was that if quality of life was undermined as a result of
needing and not having a concession, then one should be included.