Disabled parking bays

simondavies_2

I work in a shop and my biggest gripe is when I see people using the designated disabled spaces and then wondering round the shop and trying all the furniture out and you CANNOT tell they have anything wrong with them! They usually have a 'blue badge' and this seems like one big con. I'm sure some people are entitled to them, but if they have no difficulty walking around a large shop why should they get preferential parking spaces?

My brother in law is permanently in a wheelchair and it's this kind of scenario I expect disabled bays to cater for, not healthy looking people (who incidentally often seem to have a low sports car/coupe, which are not the easiest to get into, are they?)

lisyloo

One explanation is that the badge belongs to a family member and it is being mis-used.

I think the blue ones have photos on now, but off course unless anyone goes to check and challenges the person then that doesn't make much difference.

lisyloo

For the sake of accuracy I would point out that you can use someone else's badge if you are picking up or dropping off the disabled person.

Occassionally people get severely criticised for genuine use of the badge when to outsiders it looks like mis-use.

There is however a great deal of mis-use and even a black market in badges.

Galstonian

I happened upon a TV programme the other day called (I think) "sort it out man". Basically two ludicrously dressed guys pretending to be superheroes and "righting some wrongs".

Using hidden cameras they filmed some perfectly healthy people parking their cars which had blue badges. Eight hours later (yes, they had used the space all day while at work!) SortItOut Man and his sidekick come bounding up to the people in question with a large wad of cash and inform them it is theirs if they can perform a few simple tasks. Of course the tasks are largely based around the physical tasks that you have to be unable to perform to be eligible for a blue badge! Needless to say they were performed almost effortlessly at which point they moved on to ask how the victims got to work and ask where they are parked. Of course they don't admit it but our superheroes go right up to the cars and point out the blue badges with their names on. I'm surprised my TV managed to cope with the depth of red that their faces went.

Worth the license fee by itself I thought! Truly super heroes!

Mandy_Thompson

I don't have children and I am not disabled. But I would never park within these spaces.

The problem today, is that unfortunately there is a small number of people, do not care less for the misforture or inconvience of others.

But I can remember a day at my local Tesco, when I noticed a mum and a very young baby, trying to cross to the end of a car park in very heavy rain, because there were no mother and childrens places left. Funny that as there were very few kids in Tesco that afternoon!!!

Sorry, but I also hate it when people park over two spaces, especially when they are disabled/m&C spots

Savvy_Sue

For the sake of accuracy I would point out that you can use someone else's badge if you are picking up or dropping off the disabled person.

Occassionally people get severely criticised for genuine use of the badge when to outsiders it looks like mis-use.

Indeed. So don't be too quick to judge. I used to give someone with an orange badge a lift into town occasionally and it must have looked like a scam when I scurried off about my business and he walked slowly off about his. However he had severe ME, and even if he looked OK when he left the car he was usually wrecked by the time he got back, and barely able to leave the house for a few days afterwards.

I was never challenged, but now if I ever felt tempted to challenge someone I would do it politely as you can't always see a reason for the badge.

System

which supermarket is it which thought upon the good idea that they will put parkin sensors on there disabled/parent and child bays...this way wen sum1 parks there a attendant comes along to help them out (and spot if ppl r misusing them) i dont know if they have brought it into action yet but i luved the idea. can u be clamped/towed if misusing these spots...i hope so

mslottta

which supermarket is it which thought upon the good idea that they will put parkin sensors on there disabled/parent and child bays...this way wen sum1 parks there a attendant comes along to help them out (and spot if ppl r misusing them) i dont know if they have brought it into action yet but i luved the idea. can u be clamped/towed if misusing these spots...i hope so

Do you get a free parking space for not talking properly as well? As for why there's 3,792 parking spaces for disabled people at your average supermarket and 4 spaces for non-disabled people that's another matter. Anyway don't park there, unless you want that that 2-minute packet of fags shopping trip to turn into a 'we fought in two wars for you sonny' type expedition...

dark_star_3

Do you get a free parking space for not talking properly as well? As for why there's 3,792 parking spaces for disabled people at your average supermarket and 4 spaces for non-disabled people that's another matter. Anyway don't park there, unless you want that that 2-minute packet of fags shopping trip to turn into a 'we fought in two wars for you sonny' type expedition...

Come on, own up....are you Jeremy Clarkson??

Trix

I have two children, one with cerebral palsy and a wheelchair user. This means we can use either the parent/child bays or disabled bays, yet rarely get them due to people who feel they are being cheated out of something using them.

In fine weather I don't care about being closer to the shops as long as the bay is wide enough to have the door fully open so I can lift my daughter in and out of the car.

However, cold weather makes the muscles of my daughter with CP contract further causing her pain so I do really prefer to park closer then.

No solutions going to be ideal for everyone - disabled, people with kids or others. Maybe valet parking should be brought in so no-one has to walk further than the front of the shop. Or how about a bus service/tram constantly going from one end of the car park to the other that can be stopped as you need it. ( these are not serious suggestions btw )