Thankyou to Mr Bluebadge Holder.

milliemonster

Can I give my twopenneth worth?

I think if all the disabled bays are used up a disabled person has every right to use a P&C space or any space they choose that is available. I don't think a parent has the right to ever park in a disabled spot or any other person for that matter.

I speak as a parent, a daughter of a disabled parent and the mother of a disabled child. However, I do not think that everyone who is defined as disabled should be entitled to a badge, my son is classed as disabled due to a medical condition so in effect we could have a badge, but I choose not to as physically he is fully mobile and I feel with the limited spaces available for disabled people anyway, only people whose mobility is restricted should be entitled to a badge, there is no other reason for able bodied people, medically disabled or not, to need to park close to supermarket entrances etc

Regarding P&C spaces, a lot of people are talking as if parents have kicked up a stink and demanded these spaces, well I certainly never did but when my children were babies and toddler I was very grateful for them as yes they made my life easier, what's wrong with that?, when I was pregnant I suffered from a hip displacement which meant I had to walk on crutches for the last few weeks of my pregnancy but didn't dream of asking for a badge as I knew the condition would go when I had given birth, I can quite honestly say at that time we did use a disabled bay as I couldn't walk very far and was in constant agony, so it upsets me slightly when people 'assume' that pregnant women expect special rights aswell, no we don't but we don't all have normal pregnancies. I do think it is unfair for people who don't have young children or babies to use these spaces, I have never parked in one when I haven't had my children with me because I don't need it so why do others feel they need to use them when they are intended to help parents? when did community spirit and common courtesy disappear? don't you realise you may actually be taking up that space from a disabled person who could have parked there if all those spaces are taken up? these people are selfish.

As for the comments one poster has said about banning children from supermarkets so everyone else can shop in peace, I am appalled at that comment, next it will ban fat people for getting in the way, ban girls with short skirts for causing a distraction !!!!!!! why doesn't everyone just shop online now and it will solve the problem once and for all.

And why is everyone so against things that are designed to make life easier for certain sections of society?, it just smacks of sour grapes to me and childish behaviour because everyone is so me me me now, the very children you are complaining of are the ones going to be paying out your pensions when you retire

poet123

Many of us who dont see the "need" for P&C spaces have children(I have 4). Contrary to what you say,the reason these spaces came into being was that parents groups lobbied for them,and to appease them they were incoporated into most supermarket car parks. I don't think it is about life being made easier,I think it is about life being made easier for some,at the expense of others. Having kids does not mean you need concessions,it may mean you want them,but that is a very different argument. Imo the disabled should have these spaces,noone else needs them. I speak as an able bodied parent of 4.

taxi97w

If you can manage to get a 6-8lb baby out of the female aperture, I'm sure you could manage getting a 4mth old out of a car in a disabled bay with less ranting and raving- but obviously not.

sarahg1969

How often do you see the driver remaining in the car in a supermarket disabled bay?

If they are the disabled person, and the person who has gone in the shop is not, then thery don't need the space.

If they've let the disabled person go into the store, then why not drop them off then park elsewhere, and leave the space to someone who needs it?

And how many people who have blue badges use them in supermarket car parks just because it's their right, even if they may not need to on that occasion?

I'm not going to comment about people "looking OK" or not appearing to be disabled - that has nothing to do with me or anyone else, but you have to wonder if they ALWAYS need to use the wider spaces near to the shop, or if they do so because they are entitled to?

My gran has a blue badge, which comes in really handy when she's visiting the hospital or doctor's or something like that, and it means she can get a little bit closer to make things easier. But she doesn't need a wider space in a supermarket, and wouldn't dream of using one. She can't be the only one?

marleyboy

The same argument can and IS being said about parents with kids, They don't NEED it, having children does not in anyway constitute a disability. I would be more inclined to say a BB holder, whether they sit in the car or not, entitles them to park in ANY spot they wish, without prejudice. A parent on the other hand, speaking from experience DON'T need privileges any more than anyother perfectly able bodied person. I would go far as to say why dont you give your space up for the dear old 80yr old lady, struggling with her shopping, OBVIOUSLY needs it more than someone with a child. Or is it because it says P&C and not O.A.P, that you think gives you more RIGHTS to it?

Ultimatley a BB means they can park in ANY spot, whether it says P&C or Disabled, they simply have MORE rights to it, there is a reason they have more rights and being a parent ISNT one of them.

marleyboy

savemoney

They may still need the space, the driver may well just be waiting in the car having a fag or reading paper whilst the disabled person is shopping may well be with another person. When they come back they may well cant go far, some disabled also use electric wheelchairs etc in store for example.

Its not always easy to simplify things.

I have on the every off occasion been in town with OH and BB holder and go back to car because I get fed up of shopping

We have no idea how many people use car parks simply because its there right to park there, you cant make assumptions liek that without knowing the full facts

People make too many assumptions on peoples ability to use a space, they have no idea what condition they have, or how it effects them.

sarahg1969 wrote: »

How often do you see the driver remaining in the car in a supermarket disabled bay?

If they are the disabled person, and the person who has gone in the shop is not, then thery don't need the space.

If they've let the disabled person go into the store, then why not drop them off then park elsewhere, and leave the space to someone who needs it?

And how many people who have blue badges use them in supermarket car parks just because it's their right, even if they may not need to on that occasion?

I'm not going to comment about people "looking OK" or not appearing to be disabled - that has nothing to do with me or anyone else, but you have to wonder if they ALWAYS need to use the wider spaces near to the shop, or if they do so because they are entitled to?

My gran has a blue badge, which comes in really handy when she's visiting the hospital or doctor's or something like that, and it means she can get a little bit closer to make things easier. But she doesn't need a wider space in a supermarket, and wouldn't dream of using one. She can't be the only one?

pollypenny

Halloway wrote: »

I don't see why disable badge holders get to park on double-yellow lines. Double-yellows are there for reasons of traffic flow and pedestrian safety; I don't see why that entitles disabled badge holders to park there and avoid parking fees in car parks.

As with any good scheme (which, fundamentally, the blue badge scheme is), the selfish, lazy, anti-social !!!!!!s ruin it for those with a genuine need.

Spot on Halloway! In my town there is no free car park and a very busy high street. There is a difficult 'dog's leg' cross, with yellow lines near the junction and the post office is in that street. Of course, there are always blue-badged cars parked on that junction!

At the bottom of the road is a sharp-right turn; yet again people think it is their right to park there! The chances are thta their cars will be ok, but others have to take a right bend on the wrong side of the road! :mad:

advent1122

milliemonster wrote: »

I speak as a parent, a daughter of a disabled parent and the mother of a disabled child. However, I do not think that everyone who is defined as disabled should be entitled to a badge, my son is classed as disabled due to a medical condition so in effect we could have a badge, but I choose not to as physically he is fully mobile

You are only entitle to a Blue Badge if you get high rate mobility allowance, therefore if he is fully mobile you will not be on High Rate Mobility and not entitled to the badge anyway.
People seem to think all disabled people are given a blue bagde. This is not true.

advent1122

pollypenny wrote: »

Spot on Halloway! In my town there is no free car park and a very busy high street. There is a difficult 'dog's leg' cross, with yellow lines near the junction and the post office is in that street. Of course, there are always blue-badged cars parked on that junction!

Blue badge users can park on double yellow lines provided an obstruction is not being caused.
What is classed as an obstruction is anyones guess.