disabled and parents parking

hoyles10

I've been told by a parking attendant in a shopping centre carpark before now that if I was intending on using my crutches rather than my wheelchair could I park in a P&C as they've still got extra space and leave the disabled spaces for wheelchair users only.

I haven't had to use my blue badge for a couple of months now or a disabled space and hopefully will never have to again but if I did and all the disabled bays were taken and I needed extra space to get out of the car either into my wheelchair or on my crutches I wouldn't hesitate in using a P&C space rather than risk damaging someone elses car by trying to open the car door as wide as it'll go to get out. If I was being pushed in my chair I may park towards the back of the carpark where it's quiet but if i'm on crutches I usually find somewhere slippy with them and go flying so the closer to the door the safer it is

ukjoel

Funnily enough the only time I have parked in a disabled spot (I admit I have no badge or disability) I was accosted by two security guards within minutes.
I was waiting for my wifes gran at motorway services who was 102 and her zimmer was on the back seat.
I explained the situation and they said they would still have to book me as I didnt have a badge.
I took my mobile out and hit the record button and explained the situation again very clearly. They left

I have the displeasure of sitting around waiting for my wife in car parks on a regular basis and what I have noticed is that parent and child spaces do tend to have a parent and various children using them most of the disabled spaces are either used by old people (with no obvious disabilaty apart from age) or people who seem pretty fit and healthy to me.

I appreciate not all disabilities are visible but blue badges (and my work involves their allocation) are abused to a degree that makes them worthless.
I think the forms have now been tightened up and GPs are being asked simply if the person can walk 100 yards.
If the answer is yes then its an automatic rejection.
Which I think is right.

gregg1

jblack wrote: »

The 'Disabled' spaces are not for disabled people. They are for Blue Badge holders. How many times have you heard about people using their Mum, Dad, friend etc badge? More than once I'm sure.

Technically I could class myself as disabled as I am a Diabetic. Does this mean I can park anywhere I like?

Having a child is not a disability. However, being overweight due to self-inflicted overeating seems to be one of the 'biggest' claims of disability whenever I go to the supermarket. Surely they should be made to park further away, the exercise would do them good wouldn't it?

I have an 18 month old and drive a transit size van (for work and as a private car). The P & C spaces are great due to the extra width. I've had people staring and gesturing at me to vacate the space so they can use it. They soon wind their neck in when I open the sliding door and unclip him though, lol.

how the hell do you know that. I know of people with disabilities who have a weight issue as a result of their disability not the other way round!

gregg1

sarahg1969 wrote: »

It doesn't matter what they say. They often say they will issue a penalty too, but that's also rubbish.

Actually the ones at my local shopping mall do issue fines for people parking in the disabled spaces. They have parking attendants doing constant rounds to check that badges are displayed but you are right - that is the only place I have seen this happening - nowhere else seems to do anything about it.

jblack_2

gregg1 wrote: »

how the hell do you know that. I know of people with disabilities who have a weight issue as a result of their disability not the other way round!

I'm sure you do, just as I know of many people with disabilities due to the weight they carry and they freely admit it.

diver32

Perhaps they should design wider parent and child spaces at the furthest end of the car park, why someone with a buggy has to park outside the door I don't know. Before I had my knee replacements I had a blue badge for a couple of years now I park as far away from the door just because I can

trisontana

gregg1 wrote: »

Actually the ones at my local shopping mall do issue fines for people parking in the disabled spaces. They have parking attendants doing constant rounds to check that badges are displayed but you are right - that is the only place I have seen this happening - nowhere else seems to do anything about it.

If it's a private car-park (i.e. not owned by the council) then they are not "fines", they are unenforceable invoices and can be ignored. And once again they are breaking the DDA by limiting those spaces just to blue-badge holders.

Comyface

I took my Dad shopping on Wednesday. We parked in a normal bay but it was right next to a P&C one and my Dad was made up that he had more room on his side to get out (he's 73 and has had both hips replaced).

I made a joke that we should have parked in the P&C spot, as we are parent and child! Wouldn't have done it, though. However after reading this thread......:)

trisontana

And shouldn't it read "guardian and child"? Otherwise that's another form of discrimination.

sarahg1969

Becles wrote: »

It's the extra space that is handy when you have babies and toddlers, rather than a need to be near the supermarket door.

So, would you be happy with very fat people using the P&C spaces?