Blue Badge 'police'

sueturnersmith

Please do not tar all older people with the same brush!

I was brought up to have good manners, and I always hold the door open for other people, and especially for a parent with a buggy. I love children, and am a retired nursery teacher. I certainly do not criticise young disabled people when they use disabled spaces. I am a disabled wheelchair user myself, and have a blue badge.

We are not all like the elderly people being moaned about in this thread!

sheeps68

sueturnersmith wrote: »

Please do not tar all older people with the same brush!

I was brought up to have good manners, and I always hold the door open for other people, and especially for a parent with a buggy. I love children, and am a retired nursery teacher. I certainly do not criticise young disabled people when they use disabled spaces. I am a disabled wheelchair user myself, and have a blue badge.

We are not all like the elderly people being moaned about in this thread!

There are without doubt some very well mannered older people out there who can teach people a lot however. Unfortunately those who give others grief about use of badges and jump to conclusions if a disability is not immediately obvious and mainly but NOT entirely from that age bracket.

only_mee

sueturnersmith wrote: »

Please do not tar all older people with the same brush!

I was brought up to have good manners, and I always hold the door open for other people, and especially for a parent with a buggy. I love children, and am a retired nursery teacher. I certainly do not criticise young disabled people when they use disabled spaces. I am a disabled wheelchair user myself, and have a blue badge.

We are not all like the elderly people being moaned about in this thread!

I do have the door held open for me, It feels so wrong being younger than them, but they do get the thanks

daska

sheeps68 wrote: »

But if the disability is they cant walk they can stay in a car and the person running into shop for them or for themselves can use a normal space. Anyway doesn't it state when you get a badge it gives guidelines as to how to use it or risk losing it.

Eg
"You must never give your badge to friends or family to allow them to park for free without you, even if they are visiting you.
Do not allow other people to use your badge to do something on your behalf such as shopping or collecting something for you, unless you are travelling with them."

I've noticed a change of wording here on the latest book as it used to say you (blue badge holder) needed to leave and return to car as it was parked and then driven away. But surely its common sense as well as good manners to not block limited spaces if not needed for owner of blue badge.

Here's exactly what they say on the matter:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=35329375&postcount=86

lucylucky

daska wrote: »

Here's exactly what they say on the matter:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=35329375&postcount=86

Seems like a sensible reply.

Ginger_Poodle

sueturnersmith wrote: »

Please do not tar all older people with the same brush!

I was brought up to have good manners, and I always hold the door open for other people, and especially for a parent with a buggy. I love children, and am a retired nursery teacher. I certainly do not criticise young disabled people when they use disabled spaces. I am a disabled wheelchair user myself, and have a blue badge.

We are not all like the elderly people being moaned about in this thread!

When nearly 9 months pregnant and struggling with my shopping, an elderly man approached me and gave me his shopping trolley saying that 'I needed it more than him'. His kindness still makes me want to cry nearly 3 years later. There are good people of every age, just like there are rude ones too.

I am not disabled, but my sister is a blue badge holder and I have read this thread with interest to help me understand the issues she faces. She finds parking wardens the worst. Whilst it is understandable that they need to check validity of her card (particularly as she is in her 30s and her condition may not always be immediately obvious), it is the manner that some adopt that can upset her.

Thank you to everyone for helping me, and I'm sure many others, understand a little more.

lyniced

Ginger_Poodle wrote: »

When nearly 9 months pregnant and struggling with my shopping, an elderly man approached me and gave me his shopping trolley saying that 'I needed it more than him'. His kindness still makes me want to cry nearly 3 years later. There are good people of every age, just like there are rude ones too.

I am not disabled, but my sister is a blue badge holder and I have read this thread with interest to help me understand the issues she faces. She finds parking wardens the worst. Whilst it is understandable that they need to check validity of her card (particularly as she is in her 30s and her condition may not always be immediately obvious), it is the manner that some adopt that can upset her.

Thank you to everyone for helping me, and I'm sure many others, understand a little more.

Thank you for that. Yes, I think we can all learn from each other, to make a more tolerant society.

pippy1971

I agree that we all need to be more tolerant and in particular not to jump to conclusions. My daughter is disabled and has a Blue Badge. Often when going to the supermarket I will park in a disabled space and carry her to a shopping trolley (she cannot walk at all or stand unaided) so that she can sit in it next to my son, which she really enjoys. If I have a lot to get, it is also far easier than trying to juggle her buggy and the shopping and my son. At first glance though, people will assume I'm the one with the Blue Badge and that there is nothing wrong with me. If there is a parent and child space available I tend to park in those to avoid conflict. I find it very hard to get her into the car in a normal space, if someone parks close to our car on the side where her seat is it is almost impossible. Also, because she has a buggy rather than wheelchair, it adds to the appearance that she is just a small child in a buggy rather than disabled.

My Dad also has a Blue Badge due to spinal problems and severe arthritis. My brother in law took him to the supermarket recently, and after getting Dad into the shop realised he had left his mobile phone in the car. Rather than try to get Dad in and out the shop again, he left him there and ran to the car and back to get the phone. When they returned from shopping someone had left a really vile, nasty note on the windscreen accusing him of fraudulently using the Blue Badge. Again, things are not always what they seem.

kusadasi040667

My friend was using a BB parked in a disabled bay whilst taking her disabled father to do his weekly food shopping. She had to go back to her car as they had forgotten the reusable bags as she was walking back into the supermarket she glanced up as she had that funny feeling that you get when someone is watching you. To her astonishment she could see a man who was parked in a D-bay go over and scratch her car !! The police were obviously called,when they viewed the CCTV the man in question could clearly be seen going to his car reach in pick up an implement and then boldly walk over and scratched her car from one end to the other.In his statement he reported that he'd acted this way as the lady obviously (in his opinion) wasn't disabled and stranger that she was too young (this however my friend loved as she is 54 yrs old ha ) and that he hadn't realised the man on the scooter in front of her had come from that car, he had failed to notice this fact as he was parking. He was made to write a letter of apology and pay the £1000 repair bill. Maybe he won't be so quick to judge next time.
With re to the older generation giving out more grief over the BB yes I have to agree it often seems to be BUT also I have to balance that with - when I'm using my hoist to put my powerchair away many , many, more older people come over to ask if they can help,which I always let them know how much I appreciate them asking as may sound corny but it always makes me feel happier that somebody took time out to care & also if I'm honest sometimes humbled when the gesture is from someone who is not much more able than myself . So thank you to them :T

Indie_Kid

kusadasi040667 wrote: »

My friend was using a BB parked in a disabled bay whilst taking her disabled father to do his weekly food shopping. She had to go back to her car as they had forgotten the reusable bags as she was walking back into the supermarket she glanced up as she had that funny feeling that you get when someone is watching you. To her astonishment she could see a man who was parked in a D-bay go over and scratch her car !! The police were obviously called,when they viewed the CCTV the man in question could clearly be seen going to his car reach in pick up an implement and then boldly walk over and scratched her car from one end to the other.In his statement he reported that he'd acted this way as the lady obviously (in his opinion) wasn't disabled and stranger that she was too young (this however my friend loved as she is 54 yrs old ha ) and that he hadn't realised the man on the scooter in front of her had come from that car, he had failed to notice this fact as he was parking. He was made to write a letter of apology and pay the £1000 repair bill. Maybe he won't be so quick to judge next time.

That's disgusting!

With re to the older generation giving out more grief over the BB yes I have to agree it often seems to be BUT also I have to balance that with - when I'm using my hoist to put my powerchair away many , many, more older people come over to ask if they can help,which I always let them know how much I appreciate them asking as may sound corny but it always makes me feel happier that somebody took time out to care & also if I'm honest sometimes humbled when the gesture is from someone who is not much more able than myself . So thank you to them :T

How lovely!